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NCSD | So I'm having a little trouble finding the right truck.. Now I'm looking at a '91 KW T600 straight truck. Its got a 400 big cam cummins with about 800K on it. about 100K on an OH. What should I be looking for on an engine this age and mileage?? no major leaks and starts and runs good. What are some known faults of a 400 cummins?? TIA! |
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SE Idaho | I had a friend tell me the Big Cam 4 would get hot. Not sure which motor you are looking at but that was his problem with that motor. 1,2, or 3 were good engines though. |
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west central illinois | Good engine. The overhead needs run on them religiously at 100,000 it probably needs ran again fairly soon. I have a 400 in my 9670 and it has the low flow coolant system, I have no complaints with it but my cummins mechanic doesn't have much good to say about that system. I'm sure yours is the same being a 91. |
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East Prairie, MO | <p>I've got a big cam 3 in an International 9370 tri-axle dump with that low flow system too, don't think anybody likes it, seems easier to get hot if you don't watch what you are doing. I would say drive it and if it feels too strong it probably is, those could have the button in the pump messed with to give them extreme HP and without a sensible driver the head bolts can get stretched. I bought this truck with a bad motor and found a nice 500k salvage replacement but used my pump....found out what happened to the old motor, it was turned way to far up (had a "17" button in it, doesn't mean anything to me really) and my driver stretched the head bolts before we knew what was going on. Not really his fault as we just thought it had guts! Had it put back closer to stock but Fixing to tear it down and put head gaskets and new head bolts on it soon, it's a slobbering mess right now...</p>
Edited by semosandfarmer 12/15/2013 21:35
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NCSD | How do I tell whether its a 1, 2, or 3?? Markings on it somewhere?? Yeah this one has that low-flow cooling thing. Just by looking at it I'm not a fan...too many hoses and cobbled up mess!! Being 10 degrees when I drove it its hard to say whether it gets hot or not. |
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Iowa | good engine. If it has low flow cooling don't worry about it. People get scared of stuff they don't understand. It could be a mechanical N14 too. Around that year is when the N14 came out |
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Northeast CO | Just keep the radiator clean and you'll be ok |
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East Prairie, MO | Hayhauler - 12/15/2013 22:45 Just keep the radiator clean and you'll be ok Yes, this is the key. |
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SouthCentral WI | I would say the "key" is to keep the coolant additive package up to the high end of the scale or you will have liner pitting. To high and you will get to put in a water pump. That was always our issue with the 88 nt big cam 4 which is probably what this truck has if it. Assuming that it is the original engine and it is not an N14. BTDT
Towman |
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| A '91 would be a 365 or 444
444 had more trouble |
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SouthCentral WI | OMG, I completely forgot about the 444 ! Maybe my mind is trying to keep me from grinding my teeth over that memory. Kind of reminds me of someone on here talking about the "great" 903. I still stand by my "key" statement.
Towman
Edited by towman2000 12/16/2013 05:51
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| Some of us "poor" folks still have too close of "encounters" of the old days
neighbor still tries to use his 444 from the field |
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ne neb | I still have a 444. I must be a lucky one cause mine has a million 4 on it and only had bearings and injectors. I know most were junk. |
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NE AR | There should be letters casted in the side of the block, I think on the fuel pump side , Big Cam ? |
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North Liberty and South Bend, Indiana | What makes a 444 so bad. Are they not identical blocks just bigger injectors with a higher pump flow setting and different timing? |
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Dearfield Co. | Well after owning a bunch of low flow cooling trucks I will state yes the radiator needs kept clean and chemical levels checked but thats every diesel engine not just big cam cummins.The only issue I ever had with any of the low flow motors is thermostats and fuel issues on the 444.They only had a dozen or so updates on inj in the first 2 years in the life of this engine.the thermostat issue is unpredictable and all my trucks carried a set when we ran them.I think the 444 and 365 were way better engines than the early big cam 1 engines that had worse issues with the odd head bolts and paper thin cam bearings |
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Piqua, OH | Don't buy a truck with a low flow system. Mechanics aren't as familiar with them and they need constant babying. If you do buy one make sure it's always full of coolant(clear up to the neck) and keep the radiator clean. |
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400 big cam cummins??
