R Model w/3208?

[Jeff M]

 A post just came across my Facebook page that shows a 79 R Model with a 3208 Cat.  The poster says it was his dad's truck and that it also had a 13 speed, which I imagine was that 10 speed version with 3 speed deep reduction.  I never knew that Mack ever offered that engine in any of their models, but then again there's a lot I don't know.  Perhaps it was offered as a bargain-basement option for the most frugal customers.  Or perhaps this was an online spoof.   Attached is a pic of the truck.  What say you folks?

[tjc transport]

I saw one around 10 years ago. It was a county truck. 3208, 4 speed automatic trans, and 4 speed manual auxiliary trans. 10 yard body tandem drive 

A real slug even on flat ground. Throw a hill or two in the mix and it takes 1/2 hour to go 5 miles.

Only reason ted got it was 5 grand with 20 k miles on it

 

[cruiseliner64]

Hard to say no to an R model with that mileage for 5 grand...I'd be tempted !!!!

Paul

[Red Horse]

Well one thing for sure...I  doubt that picture represents the truck as it currently is.  Never heard of a 3208 in an R Model.   We had V-185 Cummins in DM's..a real disaster. Maybe the poster was looking at a 413 Mopar..didnt know what those 8 wires were for🤣

[Geoff Weeks]

I've seen  Cat 3208's listed in the parts or other lit for all kinds of trucks, but very few have I ever layed eyes on.

I think the 3208 could be had in IHC's 9670! Although why is in open question.

It wouldn't surprise me it was offered in the R, it would that someone would want on with that engine.

[Brocky]

I thought that the 3208 was a throw away school bus engine??????? It would be very under powered for any kind of work truck...

[Geoff Weeks]

3208 isn't a"throw a way' engine, it isn't lined, which means an overhaul is out of chassie. Pistons ride directly in the block, like a car engine. You can over-bore them.

The D950  Kubota, I'm working on still has dry liners. Cat made that engine as cheap as possible for Ford, IIRC, and it was.

[mrsmackpaul]

3208 was available in just about everything in Australia 

I think they were okay for what they were and petrol motors they replaced 

Even the 555 was good  if you compare it to the petrol V8's it replaced 

Ford tractors were had no liners in their diesel motors on 3000 - 5000 models 

As Geoff has already said, they are just like a car engine 

Brocky Ford Louisville trucks had them, even smaller Louisville semi trailers had them

They went okay and held their own

We need to remember back when these and the 555 were been sold in the U.S. the highway limit was 55 MPH and Australia it was 80 km/h for trucks so a lot less power was required 

 

 

Paul

 

[D-Day]

Here is one of the Fords with a 3208 and little 13 speed it was also a dump truck it needs a new home if there are any Ford fans out there 

[mowerman]

A few years back, used to be able to order Mack’s  with any driveline you  wanted we have  seen  tons of them with all kinda variations… bob

[Joey Mack]

Ive been around a few 3208's.  Always heard them called boat anchors.. But for some reason, i think i would like the engine. The few that i drove for short periods seemed ok.  But im not a wealth of knowledge. 🤔

[mrsmackpaul]

I think your right Jo Jo

People need to compare apples with apples 

They are a basic bare bones poverty pack motor made more short haul around type delivery type of deal

I think they performed extremely well at this type of work 

 

Paul

[mrsmackpaul]

And I would rather drive a 3208 or 555 than 6V53 screaming GM all day

 

Paul 

[cruiseliner64]

52 minutes ago, mrsmackpaul said:

And I would rather drive a 3208 or 555 than 6V53 screaming GM all day

 

Paul 

Dont know Paul...I will confess to loving the sound of a Detroit...when I drove haul trucks in a quarry they were Aveling Barfords with 16V71s...and air starters.....

Paul

[Brocky]

48 minutes ago, cruiseliner64 said:

Dont know Paul...I will confess to loving the sound of a Detroit...when I drove haul trucks in a quarry they were Aveling Barfords with 16V71s...and air starters.....

Paul

And you wore ear muffs!!!!!!😁😅

[Red Horse]

8 hours ago, Geoff Weeks said:

3208 isn't a"throw a way' engine, it isn't lined, which means an overhaul is out of chassie. Pistons ride directly in the block, like a car engine. You can over-bore them.

The D950  Kubota, I'm working on still has dry liners. Cat made that engine as cheap as possible for Ford, IIRC, and it was.

Correct on Ford.  They were introduced as "Ford V-225"- The 225 being the HP.  I think that was the highest rating and I think they went as low as 160?  Paul made a good point as to what speed limits were when it was introduced.  And I think for example while a 6-71 was 218 HP here this motor was 225 and probably cost a lot less than a 6-71..or a 220 Cummins.

I remember loading trucks in our lube plant in Buffalo-1968🤔.  Red Star driver comes in with a new C-8000 single axle tractor .

I asked him how he liked the new truck with the "Ford diesel"...he says ..."A beast -pulls 40,000 like it wasn't there "..I think that was a problem..the horsepower rating had people using it beyond its intended "mid range" use.

[cruiseliner64]

6 hours ago, Brocky said:

And you wore ear muffs!!!!!!😁😅

Actualy no we didnt!!!! When I started driving trains the locos had 12V645s and we had no ear muffs but later the company made ear muffs mandatory,even getting moulded ear muffs made for us.New Health and Safety laws were introduced makeing ear protection law.The later locos had 12V710s and "Wisper Cabs" makeing ear muffs redundant.Still love the sound of a Detroit.....

Paul

[tjc transport]

the real "throw away" engine was the 8.2 detroit fuel pincher V8, those turds were almost useless. a 3208 would run circles around them.

[Geoff Weeks]

2 hours ago, tjc transport said:

the real "throw away" engine was the 8.2 detroit fuel pincher V8, those turds were almost useless. a 3208 would run circles around them.

To a point, they also suffered from being put where they were asked to do more then they should. I built a few, and while I wouldn't say they were great engines, by any stretch, At least in NA form, moving a load that was suited to that HP, nothing else came close to the fuel economy.

They were an awkward engine to set up, requiring a lot of special tools.

They were a favorite in Ford F700's for some reason.

[h67st]

I worked at a Cat dealer in Miami in the early 80's, we'd get 3208s in a lot of Louisville Fords as well as a lot of miscellaneous trucks and construction/ag equipment. I don't recall seeing any Macks with that engine. We heard good things from our customers compared to some of the other small diesels that were available then. Blue Bird put them in buses and RVs, we got a few of those in. One weak point was the 2-ring piston, saw a lot of those burning oil and needing a rebuild.

[67RModel]

The 3208 Cat was available in the 400 series R models. It was an R482. and an R483 was a 6V-53 Detroit. I saw another 3208 Cat powered R model at Macungie last year and have seen a few here and there over the years for sale. My guess is the majority of customers who bought them new back in the day were municipal users.

[cruiseliner64]

Cant say I ever seen one of these engines.In fact CAT sold very few engines over here apart from in their own machines.Foden  ERF and Dennison trucks plus all the American trucks were offer with Cat engines and apart from the US makes very few CATs were sold.In fact I believe although offered Dennison never sold a CAT powered truck.Although a great engine they were regarded as a premium product and few would pay the asking price when Cummins Gardener and Rolls Royce offered great engines much cheaper....

Paul