Big V-8’s

Over-The-Road Monsters

Posted October 21 2009 07:56 AM by Mike McGlothlin
Filed under: Diesel Engines, Just the big trucks

Lately I’ve become semi-infatuated with the large displacement V-8’s offered in Mack’s, Kenworths, and others back in the day…

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Did you know that pretty much every over-the-road diesel engine manufacturer offered a big V-8 at one point in time as an option?

-Caterpillar offered the 3408 (a direct injection/mechanical engine was offered in the 1980s, a HEUI version later on, and I believe an IDI version in the 1970s).

-Mack offered the ENDT 988 ci monster, which was available (like most engines) in several different power levels.

-Cummins offered the 903 ci V-8 as well.

The big V-8’s were said to have had broad powerbands, but were absolute pigs on fuel. Imagine that!

I’ve seen a few 3408’s in action at some sled pulls in the past, and it was interesting.

Maybe this daydream will materialize at some point and I’ll get something in the magazine about it. I’d like to get big rigs in the mag more in the coming months/years, mainly because I think that’s what we all really want our trucks to be anyway.

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Reader Comments:

1. I would like to see more diversity in the mag's feature articles. Just to mix it up a little. I would love to see more diesel powered vehicles/machine/ship features. Like commercial trucks, ships, machinery. I would also like to see some features on more "exotic" (shall we say) diesel engines. Engines we don’t see or know much about in the U.S. Like diesel engines made and used in Europe and Asia. I have always wondered about the design of the diesel engines used in Russian tanks and trucks for instance. I would also like to learn more about the huge diesels used in commercial ships. Anything diesel really :)

I love nothing more than discovering a diesel engine that I have never heard of or see before!

SmokenGun - Posted October 21 2009 09:25 AM

2. yeah, what he said!

linmup - Posted October 21 2009 11:09 AM

3. Also, what type of injetion pump does the 281 903ci Cummins V-8 have???

SmokenGun - Posted October 26 2009 03:55 PM

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