Cat 3208?

[Xtremjeepn-Cole Ford]

I have a friend that might be able to get me a smokin deal on a Caterpiller 3208. I have done a little research and found 3-4 references to people putting these in 1 ton crew cabs.

Anyone here know of someone that has done it? Pics? Anything?


This would be for my 74,82,87;) ish Chevy 1 ton crew.

[al24]

Trango?

http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=655&highlight=3208+Cat

[Xtremjeepn-Cole Ford]

Thanks. I have already had an in depth converstaion with Bob about it. I have a neighbor that has worked for Cat for 40 years. (he is the one nudging me in that direction)


...and for fun here is a pic of one in a cool old Ford pickup.

http://www.rtpaz.com/dsc00477.jpg

[Mack]

Bob told me of this insano project you had in mind ;)

Is the 3208 in question Turboed and intercooled? What tranny you going to run behind it? I was telling him I thought a 12V Cummins would be the way to go for your app, but that's my .02.

[CSP]

I can think of better choices (Caterpillars included). The 3208 has no liners so once it's done, it's done. The naturally aspirated versions are only about 250hp and 400-425 ft-lbs or torque. You can get better than that with a modern Cummins, Powerstroke, or Duramax. The turbo versions get very hot very fast (EGTs specifically). Unless you find a low hour engine it will probably smoke like a mosquito fogger and the weight is crazy heavy.

I had one once with the intent of installing it in a mid-80s Chevy dually. The Chevy got an industrial 6BTA instead.

[Xtremjeepn-Cole Ford]

No idea on the trans. It really depends on what my neighbor come up (or home) with.

I agree the Cummins seems like a simpler solution. A Duramax would be great but expensive to swap.

It's just really in the brain storming stage right now.

I would really like to run this truck off Biodiesel. (the trail clean up truck). I just feel like the 454 is a bit counter productive to the image I hope to eventually get with the truck.

[CSP]

Biodiesel would almost be a must because the lower sulphur fuels of today are pure hell on 3208 injector pumps. Bio or ULSD with lubricity additives would be very wise if you go that route.

[bcw1284]

you could run the 454 on propane, or maybe tune it to run on e85...

[Xtremjeepn-Cole Ford]

Those were my original plans. I like the propane idea but I have had a hard time finding a good dual fuel set up. I am just afraid that I would not be able to find enough propane to get from here to Moab (for example).

E85 would be easy.

[Xtremjeepn-Cole Ford]

Found this picture of one in a 77ish crew cab chevy.

http://www.t-mobilepictures.com/photos/photo19/be/14/6d53083ffa3b.jpg

Not as clean as the one in the Ford.

http://www.rtpaz.com/dsc00477.jpg

[Leon Phelps]

Fawk, that looks shoehorned. I'd be askerred to fawk with a 3208 in a 1 ton or less configuration

I agree with EVERYTHING CSP threw out there. Been there, done it in a old box truck I drove years ago now. Overall the 3208 was a piece, in my experience.

[Rex Ashton]

If you do decide to go CTD over Cat, I have a donor 12V '93 with a good (but stock) auto tranny I'm getting ready to put on CL....136K miles....Wrecked truck with bent frame, but includes everthing else (rad, intercooler, condenser, etc....runs and drives long enough to load on trailer (wrecked in front, no radiator attached) ---basically the entire truck without some sheetmetal.

maybe more than your looking for since it also has the T-case, D60/70 axles, T-case, fuel tank, harness, yada yada

Don't know much about the Cat conversion, but it kinda seems cool since it's different :cool: