Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 09-05-2004, 11:31 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Zen Ken's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Licking, Missouri
Posts: 67
3208 Caterpillar Diesel

Can anyone tell me any pros or cons about the 3208 Caterpillar Diesel Engine. I see that it's often used in boom trucks, heavy equipment, and fire engines, none of which are long haul, over the road vehicles. I've found a 1981 Blue Bird Skoolie with this engine and I was curious about power and longetivity.

__________________
1993 Amtran (Ward) 77 Passenger body on an International frame. DT360, Allison 545 AT. The avatar is my first skoolie, "The Rocket" may it Rust In Peace. Follow the links at the bottom to see the horrible details at https://www.gentlekharma.com
Be Amazing
Zen Ken is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2004, 03:56 PM   #2
Mini-Skoolie
 
Clueie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Posts: 23
I've got a buddy at work that used to drive tractor trailers and tandem box trucks for years, and still does occasionally, and I put the same question to him not long ago (when I was looking at buying a dump truck, but that's another story!). He told me that 3208 Cat's are really good engines, in fact in a tandem box truck that he drove exclusively for a number of years had one and it was used regularly for long hauls of three hundred miles and longer. He said that he couldn't kill the one in his truck and drove flat out quite a bit. His buddy had a similar truck with a 3208 and had no problems either. I'd imagine in a schoolie application they'd be unbeatable, not much payload and all. My buddy did say that as a heavy haul engine they were no match for the bigger Cat's etc., but they weren't supposed to be anyway. In dumptruck applications they're the cat's meow (pun intended). In fact if I could find a bus with one for a good price I'd have it. Service and parts through Cat dealers are supposed to be $$$ expensive, but than again from what I can tell, any diesel parts and service are expensive. Around these parts a bus older than 1985 or so would be too rusty to be worth doing and so out of all the 1990 or so buses I've looked at recently I have yet to find one with a Cat under the hood. Too bad, I'd like one.
__________________
Sometimes it's better to remain silent and let everyone THINK you're an idiot, than to speak and remove all doubt.
Clueie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2004, 05:24 PM   #3
Mini-Skoolie
 
Zen Ken's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Licking, Missouri
Posts: 67
Thanks for the quick feedback. I just heard today from a guy who maintains a diesel fleet. He said pretty much exactly what you did about the 3208 Cat. My only reservation is that this engine is in a flat-nose bus.
Failed brakes put my last skoolie into a tree. The bus was totalled but I walked away. Had I been driving a flat-nose, I probably would not be here.
__________________
1993 Amtran (Ward) 77 Passenger body on an International frame. DT360, Allison 545 AT. The avatar is my first skoolie, "The Rocket" may it Rust In Peace. Follow the links at the bottom to see the horrible details at https://www.gentlekharma.com
Be Amazing
Zen Ken is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2004, 07:07 PM   #4
Mini-Skoolie
 
Zen Ken's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Licking, Missouri
Posts: 67
WOW!!! This bus is on e-Bay right now and the price just jumped an additional $1400 in 45 minutes. Check it out, 60 pass Blue Bird (60 adults maybe, this thing is huge, are rolling condo!) There are a little over two hours left to bid. How high will they go? Back later with an update.
__________________
1993 Amtran (Ward) 77 Passenger body on an International frame. DT360, Allison 545 AT. The avatar is my first skoolie, "The Rocket" may it Rust In Peace. Follow the links at the bottom to see the horrible details at https://www.gentlekharma.com
Be Amazing
Zen Ken is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2004, 09:35 PM   #5
Mini-Skoolie
 
Zen Ken's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Licking, Missouri
Posts: 67
The final (winning) bid was $3251.91
__________________
1993 Amtran (Ward) 77 Passenger body on an International frame. DT360, Allison 545 AT. The avatar is my first skoolie, "The Rocket" may it Rust In Peace. Follow the links at the bottom to see the horrible details at https://www.gentlekharma.com
Be Amazing
Zen Ken is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2010, 10:02 PM   #6
Bus Crazy
 
bus-bro's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Whidbey Island, WA.
Posts: 1,109
Year: 1984
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All American
Engine: 3208 na boat anchor
Rated Cap: 2
Re: 3208 Caterpillar Diesel

Bringing this all back to the CAT 3208--they are GREAT engines, being that they are as common (or were) as dirt.

A big old iron V-8, what could be wrong with that!
bus-bro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-09-2010, 11:41 PM   #7
Bus Nut
 
frank-id's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho
Posts: 809
3208 Kitty

This is an OK engine for any medium duty, BUT it as known in the truck world as a car engine. The engine has low horsepower even with a turbo. I'll guess max
HP is about 300HP. The engine does not have replaceable cylinder liners and small bearings like a gas engine. After about 150-200K miles an overhaul is needed. These engines are made by the famous Caterpiller engine maker, and parts are very expensive. My Thomas has a "Kitty" and a rebuilt water pump was
$250 plus. A injection pump will surprise ya. There are many bus engines of this size and power level. Local only no over the road power or longivity.
Frank
frank-id is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-2010, 08:35 PM   #8
Bus Crazy
 
bus-bro's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Whidbey Island, WA.
Posts: 1,109
Year: 1984
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All American
Engine: 3208 na boat anchor
Rated Cap: 2
Re: 3208 Caterpillar Diesel

Does anyone have any info as to the installation of an exhaust brake on a 3208 NA? It seems that it's only reccomended for the turbo engine, and that, on ones with roller cam followers.
bus-bro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2010, 10:37 AM   #9
Skoolie
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Winnemucca, NV/Reno NV
Posts: 186
Year: 2003
Coachwork: 2003 Thomas E-350 shorty
Chassis: E350
Engine: 7.3 Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 24
Re: 3208 Caterpillar Diesel

I did a bit of looking into an exhaust brake for my Gillig, and then bought another with an ex brake installed. Because of I think lifter design, if installed the braking pressure needs to be drastically adjusted down, so it'll work but not very much. I drove my '75 with a 10 speed over the sierra on I-80 to NV, and found I didn't really need the ex brake, and there are some fairly long steep grades. A few years prior I drove my '80 from WA to NV, went over Mt. Hood. Again, I found it didn't want to over-speed too much. This bus has an Allison MT-643. It wanted to run a bit more than the 10 speed, but not too bad. Given the decreased setting you'll have to use, I don't know if it will be worth it or needed.

The 3208 is known to wear rings, as most non-turbo models only use 2 rings. Make sure the bus does not smoke excessively at start-up. I've seen (and heard of) 3208's that look like a mosquito fogger going down the road. when you go look at the bus, make sure the engine is cold and hasn't been run just before you got there to warm it up! If it's a smoker I'd keep looking. My 10 speed has a rebuild with only 40K miles!! No smoke even cold. The '80 will fog for a good while when it'd cold or even chilly out. I really like the extra room and quiet ride of my flat nose pushers, but yeah, if I ever hit anything I'm probably a goner.
__________________
If it isn't grown, it has to be mined
elkoskoolie is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Anyone need a 3208? opus Classifieds | Buy, Sell, Swap 0 11-11-2010 09:36 PM
cat 3208 houskou Conversion General Discussions 3 07-30-2010 07:22 AM
Information about the Cat 3208 frank-id Caterpillar Drivetrain 4 07-17-2010 10:21 AM
3116 vs. 3208? Locutus Caterpillar Drivetrain 1 05-13-2010 08:39 AM
Cat 3208 coolant drain? paul iossi Caterpillar Drivetrain 2 11-11-2009 12:32 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:55 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.