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Message |
Mark R. Obtinario (Cowlitzcoach)
Registered Member
Username: Cowlitzcoach
Post Number: 135
Registered: 4-2001
Posted From: 204.245.228.242
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 12:13 pm: | |
In another thread someone suggested the possibility of repowering with a Cat 3208.
My only response would be something along the lines of "you have got to be kidding!"
The 3208 family of engines was designed from the start to be a throw away engine. The 3208 was never designed to be a 500K+ engine.
In the family of medium duty engines the 3208 was actually not too bad. But that is comparing the 3208 to the Cummins 555 and the Detroit 8.2L. Comparing the 3208 to the Cummins 'B'-series, the Detroit 6V-53, or to the IHC DT466, the 3208 isn't even in the same ball park.
The 3208 pistons were cast in an oval shape. The idea was as the engine warmed up to operating temperature the pistons would round out. What happened in practice, particularly in school service, most 3208 engines never really warmed up to operating temperature (a little hard to do on a school route that from start to finish may have only been 20 miles long). Since the engines never really warmed up the pistons never really rounded out. The result was oval pistons ovaling out cylinders. Once the cylinders became oval shaped the 3208 became a real hard starter, when they did start they were real mosquito foggers, and then they never stopped smoking.
From a driver's standpoint, the 3208 would really run on the flat. But even when equipped with a turbo, the power band is so short that once you hit a hill you are relegated to the slow lane.
With all of the choices for repower options out there, IMHO, forget about the 3208.
Mark O.
Castle Rock, WA |
Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member
Username: Bob_greenwood
Post Number: 709
Registered: 7-2006
Posted From: 64.136.49.228
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 12:22 pm: | |
AND... they only had ONE ring on the piston |
Kyle Fowler (Busmancow)
Registered Member
Username: Busmancow
Post Number: 10
Registered: 2-2007
Posted From: 152.163.100.13
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 12:48 pm: | |
That was probably my post LOL, But what I meant was that some of the buses I was looking at were built with that engine. We had some 84 Chance Streetcars at METS that had those engines, still have them actually but they are awaiting auction. A couple of them accumulated well over 600,000 miles. They always ran great (and still do) and according to the mechanics they were the most abused and never maintained because of the cramped areas the trolley provided to work on. For exapmple, to change one particular cable they had to remove a fender along with the front right wheel! They would be due for a service and everyone would just fill out a service sheet and say they did it and because of that really they just ran and had fluids added when they overheated or shut down. They are loud though, and a bit too loud for an RV, but then again ours have no mufflers and are running straight pipe.
Here is what one of those trolleys looks like:
http://gallery.bustalk.net/displayimage.php?album=275&pos=10 |
Hans (Buellhans)
Registered Member
Username: Buellhans
Post Number: 27
Registered: 2-2007
Posted From: 199.60.181.9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 4:52 pm: | |
Repowering with the 3208 is right up there with putting a 13 speed in a bus |
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member
Username: Gusc
Post Number: 304
Registered: 11-2005
Posted From: 206.40.238.4
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 10:41 pm: | |
Mark,
If you look on the Cat engine website you will discover that the 3208 isn't even listed as a vehicle engine, it is listed as a pump engine-meaning fire pump.
They were used on fire trucks, I have one. They are good with ATs in town but certainly not a long distance engine.
The worst things are; short life, the stinkiest exhaust you ever smelled and heavy smoke on startup in cool weather. |
Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Registered Member
Username: Pvcces
Post Number: 1048
Registered: 5-2001
Posted From: 65.74.69.234
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 12:22 am: | |
And some of that family of engines would make you real sick if you smelled the exhaust for very long.
One we have that was used in a pump produced the only complaints that we had for diesel exhaust. I didn't like running it.
Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576
Suncatcher
Ketchikan, Alaska |
Laryn Christley (Barn_owl)
Registered Member
Username: Barn_owl
Post Number: 5
Registered: 10-2006
Posted From: 71.254.45.168
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 12:38 am: | |
Out of high school I drove a dump truck with a 3208. No power, no life, wrong application, and guess what? Roadranger 13 speed! Thank goodness I learned to shift without the clutch; my knee might still be hurting! |
Hans (Buellhans)
Registered Member
Username: Buellhans
Post Number: 28
Registered: 2-2007
Posted From: 199.60.181.9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 12:45 pm: | |
I learned to drive on an old dodge with the cantalever fenders and a twenty five speed two stick I can drive no hands beat that . |
Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member
Username: Bob_greenwood
Post Number: 719
Registered: 7-2006
Posted From: 64.136.49.228
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 1:25 pm: | |
I knew a guy,that looked at the moon over his left shoulder... & three years later,...he fell and broke his arm |