[AT] Detroit Diesel was gas versus diesel trucks

[Cecil Bearden]

My first semi tractor to use as a trailer puller was a 6V-71 Detroit 
with a 12spd Spicer transmisison in a GMC DF series cabover.  I loved 
the sound of the that engine and still like the old Detroits.   I had 
3-71 on a Generator we used every Ice storm to power the house and 
farm.  I still have some of 3-53s, one on a roller, a Dynahoe backhoe, 
and my latest an Ingersoll 250 compressor.  They are still the most 
dependable and easiest to work on for me.  Below 55deg, they take a 
squirt of Ether, but that is the only problem.

My next trailer puller was an IHC 2070 with a 3208 Cat hooked to a 5spd 
rockwell with a 2spd axle.   Later I got a L9000 Ford and a LTL9000 with 
3406 Cats.  If I ever get it finished, my next one will be a 82 FLC 160 
Freightliner with a 400 Cummins and a RTO 9513 in front of 42000lb 
rears.  It will hit 85 without any problems and cruises at 60 like a dream.

Cecil in OKla


On 11/21/2016 8:17 AM, Don wrote:
> I have heard many times that the Detroit Diesel was the best and fastest
> way to turn Diesel fuel into noise.  My father in law was a longtime
> truck driver and said the best way to drive a Detroit was to open the
> door, place your hand in the door jam, then slam the door.  That put you
> in a good mood to drive a Detroit.
>
> I spent a little time in the mid 70 moving a worn out 318 up and down
> California mountains.  We called it the Flexible Flyer as you went up
> very slowly and very quickly down.
>
> Twin 671s powered many a troop landing craft in WWII.  That was its
> primary design.  The later 53 series showed up in many pieces of farm
> and construction equipment.
>
> A distant cousin worked a river boat around the Canton dam.  He took us
> for a ride then nosed the boat into the concrete wall and went gull
> power on those two 12V110NA Diesels.  Lots of noise and mud and debris
> boiling off the stern.  He said they do it every now and again to clear
> sediment out of the lock entrance.  The 110 also powered many Budd Rail
> Diesel Cars.
>
> The related EMD locomotive 567 engines was of similar uniflow design
> with direct pump injectors and powered most of the Diesel locomotives in
> the US until emission controls killed the Two Stroke.  It also powered
> many LSTs in WWII.  The 567 grew up through 647 and 710 and as many as
> 20 cylinders.
>
> The EMD 567 was designed by Kettering Sr and his son designed the DD 71.
>