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Hay Hud Ohio

Posted 3/14/2010 22:37 (#1120927)
Subject: cummins 444, any good??

SW Ohio

Having truck troubles.........long story.
Found a 444 in a wrecked truck, supposedly good runner, been sitting for six years in a fence row, haven't heard too many good things about this model
Could fix up my BCIII 400 but would be a lot more money.
Is the 444 worth looking at or should I put my time in the 400?
30,000 miles a year, hard pulling loaded like Rich would do it.

Curt Keiser

Posted 3/14/2010 22:43 (#1120938 - in reply to #1120927)
Subject: RE: cummins 444, any good??

Beresford SD

We have one in a 91 IH Semi. Just the 855 with 444 hp hydraulically actuated injectors that was used before 855 N14 (Electronic Injection) came out. No problems that I have had and aware of that is unique to this version of the 855.

NB4020

Posted 3/14/2010 23:08 (#1120987 - in reply to #1120927)
Subject: Re: cummins 444, any good??

Woodstock,New Brunswick.Canada

I have had 3 of the 444 and 7 of the 400 BC111.For me the BC111 is by far the best engine going,they are tough, simple and cheap to work on,they can be set up to run with the big dogs and still get good mileage.The 444 had that stupid low flow cooling system with the two thermostats that is a PIA at the best,plus the step timing that is a another PIA.The injectors for the 444 cost 4 times as much as the ones for the 400( I just put 6 in a 400 this week),plus the 444 has the C-brake instead of Jake brake, on the 400,on the road the Jake is 3 times as strong as the C-brake.Also the 444 is much noiser in the cab than the 400,I know that because I have replaced the 444 in two different trucks with the 400 out of wrecked trucks.So if it was me I would spend the money on the 400,if you are short on time maybe put the 444 in for a short time until you get the 400 fixed.It does not take much time to change motors ,for us my brother and I can pull one out of a Freightliner Classic and have it going the same day if we don't have bolts that twist off or the next day if we have problems,have done that on a weekend a few times so the trucks were ready to go on Monday.

NB4020

Posted 3/14/2010 23:18 (#1121006 - in reply to #1120987)
Subject: Re: cummins 444, any good??

Woodstock,New Brunswick.Canada

I forgot to add that because the 444 has the low flow cooling system you will a different radiator than the 400 or at the very least different top and bottom rad tanks and hoses.

hillfarmer

Posted 3/15/2010 08:02 (#1121228 - in reply to #1121006)
Subject: Re: cummins 444, any good??

the "365" in the same age is a better motor
at least "pittsburg power" will run a 365 to 600 HP
and don't want to do a 444

1394

Posted 3/15/2010 09:38 (#1121322 - in reply to #1121228)
Subject: Re: cummins 444, any good??

have a 444 with no trouble what so ever. Keep the oil in good shape and let warm up and cool down. Ours is well over 500 hp, will run with 550 cat until you hit a long hill than falls back a little. As far as the low flow cooling they were a problem but we had a baffle removed from the radiator and its pretty hard to get it hot now.

Rufframs

Posted 3/15/2010 09:39 (#1121323 - in reply to #1121228)
Subject: Re: cummins 444, any good??

NB4020 just put his finger on the biggest drawback to this swap, the radiator. I did this swap about 20 years ago when I built a Paystar 5000 glider. I had to change the radiator to make it work. In the case of the IH it was a major fab job, going from a vertical flow to the cross flow radiator that the 444 required. That along with the repair expense and reliability issues with this variable timing engine, if it were me I'd keep looking for a BCIII.

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