kim191•8d ago

Shoutout to the old CAT 3406 I chose over a C15 swap

Had a 97 F550 with a blown 7.3 and everyone told me to go with a C15 for the power. Local shop had a low hour 3406B for $2500 and I went for it. Took me like 3 weekends to get the mounts right and plumb the fuel lines but that motor runs like a tank. No computer to deal with, just pure mechanical. Pulled a loaded lowboy through the mountains last week and it didn't break a sweat. Any of yall run a 3406 in a truck that didn't come with one? What'd you do about the oil pan clearance?

2 comments

2 Comments

laura_black318d ago

Jumped right into that same swap myself a few years back, put a 3406B into an old 94 F350 dually that had a blown 460. Best decision I ever made for that truck, honestly. For the oil pan clearance I ended up having to cut and reweld the crossmember a bit and used a steel pan from a bus application that sat higher, gave me like an extra inch and a half of room. That motor just chugs along no matter what you throw at it, I pulled a 40 foot gooseneck loaded with hay bales through some nasty grades and it never once got hot or lost steam. The only thing that drove me nuts was getting the mechanical fan to line up right with the radiator, ended up having to run a custom shroud after I messed up the first one.

paulw878d ago

You ever have that moment where you realize you were wrong about something for years? I used to think the 460 was the only way to go for those old Fords, just because of how easy they are to work on. But reading this, especially from @laura_black31, I'm starting to see the light. Seeing you pull a loaded gooseneck through grades without losing steam or overheating is pretty hard to argue with. That bus pan idea is smart too, I never would have thought of that for clearance. I bet the custom shroud was a headache but probably worth it in the end for the cooling. You might have just changed my mind on what to look for if I ever blow the motor in my 97.