I think I found me a new log truck

[Birchwood Logging]

I just hired a guy to do some hauling for me. Put a stock load on the trucks this evening and was talking to him about his truck he is wanting to get out of the business so he offers to sell me his truck for $4000 it's a 98 gmc top kick with a 3116 cat motor and 6 speed trans. I'm thing about getting it what do you guys think 

 

[BargeMonkey]

 Thats by far a better choice than an old ford gas job. 3116 is mechanical and lots of parts still out there.

[brendonv]

I jave a 3116 in a bucket truck.  Low miles high hours from being flown.  Oil samples still come back like it was new, (10k hrs btw, 36,000 miles)

Its been good but its an auto and just a gutless pig.  Not sure how it would be in a stick shift truck.

Just something to keep in mind.

[snowstorm]

goggle 3116 cat. get back to us in a couple days. it will take that long to read it all. a ford guy buying a gmc just isnt right. find a nice old lt9000 ford

[barbender]

I've been around a lot of Cat 3116 engines in asphalt pavers, they were great in that application. In fact, I was surprised to hear what junk a lot of people thought they were. From what I hear, they don't have much of a reputation for truck use, and I know Ponsse put them in their processors for a few years. The Ponsse service guys tell me those are the years to avoid :(

[BargeMonkey]

 Youve gotta compare apples to apples, he's looking at a "medium" duty spec truck, not that a 3116 is the greatest thing going but beats a tired gas engine. We recently turned down a sharp sterling tandem because it had a 3126, and in a tandem around here with 12-16 ton in the box it probably wouldnt get out of its own way. The truck market is full of single axles, but you have to watch specs, we bought a single axle sterling from brookside in MA and with a C-10 Cat its an animal. You might wanna check "truckpaper.com", im sure you can find a heavy spec mack for close to that money with a 237-300 6 and have an even better truck.

[julio]

All the parts for 3116 has to come from the cat house .Where is the nearest Cat place up there now ? They cost about twice as much to work as others.

[BargeMonkey]

 Being an older engine there are alot of places to get parts from other than just Cat. You can get a good pulled 3116 for 5k. Try buying a rebuild drop in C-15 like in my triaxle. 30k large. I think hes making a good step up. Sometimes being medium duty they do price alot of the parts high, brakes, stuff like that.

[terry f]

   Not to keep harping on it, but you might think about one with a couple more axles and a few more tires.

[BargeMonkey]

   Not to keep harping on it, but you might think about one with a couple more axles and a few more tires.

An older mack with a 237-300 for about the same price. Thinking the same thing.

[loggah]

The Macks are good trucks ,but parts are pricey!! If your looking for a good dependable mid-range truck,look into international, Navistar. there tough and those DT series engines are almost bulletproof. My brother has around a dozen of them ,and they really work well. International parts are pretty much everywhere and most of the school busses around here are internationals. Don

[nedly05]

I say buy it. It appears to be in good shape and set up how you like. I assume it has air brakes? It would be a huge step from the old ford. We have a 97 GMC single axle dump with a 3116 and (knock on wood) it has never let us down. Single axles seem to be the norm there, around here you don't see many trucks that haul less than 4 tier, most haul 5. Don't get to that point lol, stay small!!

[Birchwood Logging]

I think I might pass on this truck after watching this truck work for the past week it has to high of gearing and has hyd brakes leaks oil has a bad spider and the motor sounds bad when ideling it is also hooked on starting fluid I would be afraid to get out in it lol. I did find a gmc brigidaire tandem with a Detroit in it I think a 6v92 or a 671 not for sure

[BargeMonkey]

 Thats the problem with medium duty spec trucks. Brakes on that truck are expensive, and your faced with boneyard parts on some of it. Truckpaper.com is the place to look. You can find a nice R model, decent power, not horrible on fuel and 2x what your doing now, plus be able to legally haul equipment on a trailer or on the back if you want.

[nedly05]

Ours had a 6 speed with 4:33 gears and like you say it was too high. We thought about changing to a lower gear but decided to change to a 13 speed and it made a huge difference. Sounds like that truck has some issues though so the tandem may be a better deal. Any pics or specs on it?

[Birchwood Logging]

It is a 82 gmc brigidaire live tandem has a 671 Detroit and a 10 speed trans spring suspension I have a standards to put on it here is a pic they are asking $2000 for it 

 

[Dave Shepard]

What's a 6-71 for hp, 238 I think? I've run them in twin screw farm trucks hauling silage. It'll be slower, but you are hauling twice as much.

[Ohio_Bill]

It is a 82 gmc brigidaire live tandem has a 671 Detroit and a 10 speed trans spring suspension I have a standards to put on it here is a pic they are asking $2000 for it 

 

That is about scrap value.  I don't know how you could go wrong. IMHO
8)

[Dave Shepard]

There is a trick to running an old Detroit like that. The old timers used to say you should slam your thumb in the door first thing in the morning and drive it mad all day long. That's one way. I found that what they really like is to put your foot all the way to the floor. When you run out of rpms, or the hood starts to shake a little too much, lift your foot all the way off the pedal and pull the stick into neutral. Then, just before you stomp that throttle as hard as you can, jam the shifter in the next gear and repeat. Don't get in the habit of trying to use high gear thinking it will be better to lower the rpms. It won't be happy, just let it scream. They are like a two stroke dirt bike, they won't make any power down low. Or much in the middle for that matter. :D It'll let you know if you are lugging it. It will make an awful low pitched reverbrating noise that feels like somebody is sticking their fingers in your ears right up to the ear drum.

[Ohio_Bill]

Dave, what you said about Detroit's made me chuckle. My Father-in-law drove truck for 40 plus years and I have heard him say the same thing several times . He was a good man and raised 7 kids on a truck drivers pay .

[Birchwood Logging]

It might have a 6v92 in it the guy said it had a 6 cylinder Detroit wich one is a better motor the 671 or the 6v92

[Dave Shepard]

I have no experience with the 6v92. It's probably got a little more power, and I think that series is a little bit newer.

wiki says it is 253, 277, 300, or 335 HP. So it's got a little more oomph than a 6v71. It could also be a Turbo engine. Introduced in 1974.

[MikeZ]

Birchwood Logging: I had a 79 IH S2200 semi tractor on my hopper grain trailer. It had a 6v92 Detoit. I was very happy with it, and pretty economical. Yes it is a turbo, like everyone said scream it and it will run fine. Would come out of the field weighing 90,000 GVW. Don't lug it or it will use oil. Just some more insight for you.

[redprospector]

There is a trick to running an old Detroit like that. The old timers used to say you should slam your thumb in the door first thing in the morning and drive it mad all day long. That's one way. I found that what they really like is to put your foot all the way to the floor. When you run out of rpms, or the hood starts to shake a little too much, lift your foot all the way off the pedal and pull the stick into neutral. Then, just before you stomp that throttle as hard as you can, jam the shifter in the next gear and repeat. Don't get in the habit of trying to use high gear thinking it will be better to lower the rpms. It won't be happy, just let it scream. They are like a two stroke dirt bike, they won't make any power down low. Or much in the middle for that matter. :D It'll let you know if you are lugging it. It will make an awful low pitched reverbrating noise that feels like somebody is sticking their fingers in your ears right up to the ear drum.

Hahaha. I bought a 1970 Cabover White with a 671 once, in another life. I was cussing at and about it at the Lie-N-Brag truck stop in Dalhart, TX when an old driver walked over and said; "Been drivin' a Cummins, eh?"  :D
He promptly told me how to drive a Detroit (but he said to slam the door on my finger 3 times before taking off  :D). Worked like a charm. That old Detroit actually started running, unfortunately, I had already grown to hate the truck and there was no kissing and making up. I kept her around for years, but went out and got a KW with a 350 Cummins.

[BargeMonkey]

 For 2k + or - I think your stepping in the right direction. A 671 makes 239hp, non turbo. Does it have a jake brake ?  Thats a big help, but they arent super effective on a detroit. Running it loaded down the hill screaming against the jake will destroy that engine. We have purged our fleet of all but 1 detroit, 8v92 single turbo in a tandem still hanging around. Just keep the oil changed, air clean and straight weight 40 oil in it and you should be fine.

10 yrs ago guys out here "maritime industry"  said the "detroits will never go away". HA. the company I work for went from 200+ 2 strokes to less than 10 in 5 years. These deere 6068 and 6081 have become the new industry standard.

[snowstorm]

10 sp ?? back then that would have been a rt910 or a rto910. not enought of a low gear for off road. the rto has an overdrive. is the motor sliver or green? the later engines were sliver had many updates and were much better. the 6v92 was a good motor. the later ones were 350hp the dedec11 was 400hp. the jake brake dosnt have a lot of retarding hp but it helps. it is 2 stage leave it on high. the jake will not hurt that motor

[sandhills]

Invest in earplugs  ;D, and yes, keep it wound, in my farm semi (318 DD) I start downshifting somewhere around 1900 rpm, as stated it will let you know by the sound.

[BargeMonkey]

10 sp ?? back then that would have been a rt910 or a rto910. not enought of a low gear for off road. the rto has an overdrive. is the motor sliver or green? the later engines were sliver had many updates and were much better. the 6v92 was a good motor. the later ones were 350hp the dedec11 was 400hp. the jake brake dosnt have a lot of retarding hp but it helps. it is 2 stage leave it on high. the jake will not hurt that motor

Yeah it wont hurt if driven like a human. Had 4 detroits in trucks at one time. Dont know about where in Maine you are but its uphill both ways around here. Go from 3800 to 400ft sea level in 5 miles.  :D

[loggah]

I don't think i have ever seen a jake brake on a 71 series Detroit ! ??? i know the Detroits dont have a lot of torque compared to a Cat or Cummins. The old joke around here is 6-71= 6 horse power-71 Leaks !!!! ;D

[snowstorm]

a 71 and a 92 use the same jake unit but they do use different exhaust bridges. i have a 6v92 that i have had for a long time. on jake brakes web site it used to list how much retarding hp each engine made. a 6v 92 was around 200 while a 400 cummins was over 400

[loggah]

I know the triaxle international  i had with a 350 cummins  jake would plant you into the steering wheel,windshield in high position if the truck was empty !!!!

[luvmexfood]

Birchwood. Was at a convenience store/ small truckstop today in Hansonville Va. About 1 hour from Pound, Va. Saw an older red Ford straight truck loaded with logs getting fuel. Thought I remembered you having one. Thought "could it be". Anyway after I got closer and saw the sign on the door it was not.

There are 3 log yards in that area all within a mile of each other. One only buys peelers but the other two buy anything.

[Birchwood Logging]

Is that the place that is paying .60 a foot for peelers

[luvmexfood]

Their sign says $350 per thousand for poplar peelers.

Can get you a list of what I have been getting lately for maple, hickory and poplar with some oak and walnut but not much of that.

[Birchwood Logging]

Well after doing some research and thinking I desided to get the old brigidair I went and picked it up today. After doing some haggling I got the truck for $1500 test drove it and it ran great just like you guys said it loves to be wound out tight. It took me some getting use to the 10 speed trans on the way home if you miss a gear it's over with lol slow down and start over. It needs a few minor thing I got to build a new steal bed and get rid of the wood. All in all I'm very pleased with the truck 

 

[Ed_K]

 And add a 5+4 trany  ;D .

[Birchwood Logging]

now that would be alot of shifting

[Ohio_Bill]

Glad you found a truck and for a good deal . From the looks of the fuel tank , it will cost as much as you paid for the truck to fill the tanks . Looks like it will haul a bunch .

[Birchwood Logging]

lol its got another smaller tank on the other side i would say it would probably cost $1000 to fill them both up 

[jwilly3879]

With the 6-71 in our loader truck the old timer said start downshifting as soon as you see the hill.

[redprospector]

now that would be alot of shifting

Hahaha. I've got a young friend that has a 4 speed behind an RTO910....That's a lot of shifting.  :D

[snowstorm]

now that would be alot of shifting

Hahaha. I've got a young friend that has a 4 speed behind an RTO910....That's a lot of shifting.  :D

i had one for 15 years like that.a 910 with a 4 sp behind it. it worked pretty good

[Dave Shepard]

With the 6-71 in our loader truck the old timer said start downshifting as soon as you see the hill.

When I was a kid we had an IH 1700 with a small six in it. My father used to say you had to start downshifting if you saw a cat dropping in the road. :D

[Birchwood Logging]

Lol I hope it's not that bad because we have a lot of hills around here. On the way home I had to cross a big mountain empty i had to drop 3 gears

[snowstorm]

Lol I hope it's not that bad because we have a lot of hills around here. On the way home I had to cross a big mountain empty i had to drop 3 gears

dose it have a 671 or a 6v92?  sliver or green motor? the sliver was better. if it has a rt910 trans they shifted pretty good. much better if you dont use the clutch. it will take a while to get used to it. before someone screams you dont use the clutch. most truck drivers dont. the only place that trans has sycnros is in the range box

[Birchwood Logging]

It's a 671 natural silver motor thanks for the heads up on the trans I will try that

[luvmexfood]

Birchwood. Congrads on the truck. Sounds like you got it at a good price. Don't know anything about pricing on a truck like that but that sounds good. Hadn't seen you post for a few days before this and wondering if you were stuck in the mud somewhere.

[Birchwood Logging]

Looks like I might be stuck in some mud this morning lol rained all day yesterday and snowed some last night don't think I will try it today. Luvmexfood if you could pm me those prices on white oak and hard maple that would be great