HATCHEQUIP
Member
7.8 liter ford diesel one fine engine
7.8
- Thread starter HATCHEQUIP
- Start date
The 7.8L was an in line 6 cylinder that was used in the larger F series as you mentioned and the L-8000. I had trouble finding the exact years of production, but I believe it was introduced in the early 80s. It was based on their agricultural engine used in larger Ford tractors and was adapted for truck use. It wasn't a powerhouse, but was adequate and very reliable, much like the International 466. It was a big improvement over the 3208 Cat that had been previously offered in Ford trucks.
I was thinking it was a V-8 when I first saw the 7.8 ….. back in about '83 I worked one winter for the Govn't Hwys Dept ….. they had only one F-750 single axle Dump/plow truck it had a V-8 in it what I thought was a Ford diesel …. maybe it was a larger disp engine ….??? like 8.8 ???? can't remember only that it was an 8 cyl …… having said that tho I preferred to drive anyone of the DT-466 binders any day or night power seemed to be better and the vision outta the cab was far superior over the Ford F series cab, especially plowing in a snow storm …...
It was probably a 3208 Cat in that truck. Those engines were pigs, they smoked so bad they would burn your eyes and didn't make much torque. They weren't rebuildable either and had a habit of blowing up. There was an F-750 on a job I worked at that had some kind of Detroit in it, I think it may have been a V8 too. It wasn't the typical 2 stroke Detroit like the 53 or 71 series, I think it was a 4 stroke because it was pretty quiet. I never had a chance to look closely at it.
Plant Fitter
New member
That's a bit harsh, I can think of plenty of engines worse than a Cat 3208. Anything that has sparkplugs is worse by far.
"8.2 Detroit Fuel Pincher" was a V8 four stroke. May have been one of these?
"NOPE" ….. hate to disappoint you Steve …it wasn't a 3208 for sure….. the physical size was smaller ….. I still own a 3208 Cat powered '81 Ford L-8000 N/A ….. it works hard everytime I need it …. And sorry this one Does Not Smoke as you describe …. all N/A engines will smoke if they are not set up right … I tried to fuel mine up a few yrs ago …. I turned it up until it did smoke then back down till it cleaned up, had to leave it at that and put up with the lack of not having great Hp … LOL ….. no from what I remember it was a black painted small turbo'd engine …. who knows it may have been a commercial graded 6.9L ???
HATCHEQUIP
Member
That 8.2 Detroit was a POS I think it started with the 8.2 Detroit went to the 3208 cat then the 7.8 ford then the 6B cummins and seems like they might have used those little 6.9 or 7.3 international v8 like they were using back in the day in 1 tons
I think I remember that "Fuel Pincher" badge on the side of the hood of that F-Series I mentioned, sounds like that's it. I never drove the truck but I don't recall it ever being broke down.
I stand by my opinion of the 3208, I've worked next to them in soda trucks, fire trucks, municipal dump trucks set up for plowing and yard switchers. ALL of them smoked so bad I couldn't stand next to them for more than a few minutes before my eyes burned. They smoked terrible at idle. Never had that happen with another diesel. One of our fire trucks blew up with less than 20,000 miles on it and I worked for a company that had two 3208 equipped Ottawa switchers. They had to have engines replaced annually. I drove an L-8000 one winter with one plowing snow and I wasn't impressed with the power it had
They seemed to work well in an industrial application. A construction I worked for had a Cat 225 with one and it worked well at a constant rpm. I also knew of a couple generator applications that worked well, again at a constant rpm.
I still feel the 7.8 Ford was a better engine.
I stand by my opinion of the 3208, I've worked next to them in soda trucks, fire trucks, municipal dump trucks set up for plowing and yard switchers. ALL of them smoked so bad I couldn't stand next to them for more than a few minutes before my eyes burned. They smoked terrible at idle. Never had that happen with another diesel. One of our fire trucks blew up with less than 20,000 miles on it and I worked for a company that had two 3208 equipped Ottawa switchers. They had to have engines replaced annually. I drove an L-8000 one winter with one plowing snow and I wasn't impressed with the power it had
They seemed to work well in an industrial application. A construction I worked for had a Cat 225 with one and it worked well at a constant rpm. I also knew of a couple generator applications that worked well, again at a constant rpm.
I still feel the 7.8 Ford was a better engine.
HATCHEQUIP
Member
I agree I like 7.8 ford better than any of them even the 6b cummins. The only engine better that size would be the dt466 hay burner and boy do I wish they did burn hay Id have them in everything
I realize this is a very old post. However as an ex Ford Motor Employee that knows this engine, I can speak with some authority.
This series of engine was offered from 1986 until 1994.
This engine series was offered in two flavors:
1. 6.6L HP ratings: 165, 175, 190.
2. 7.8L HP ratings: 210, 240, 270 (300 for emergency only).
Basically, the engines were built by Ford New Holland. Yes, the tractor company. Yes, in Brazil. It was known (internally) as the "Basildon" or, "New Holland" diesel. Originally from England.
The engines were offered in: F-600, 700, 800, 900 and B-Series (Bus). Also in L-8000 Series. NEVER in 9000 Series.
They went away because:
1. They could not meet 1994 Fed. emissions standards without a major rework.
2. Ford had divested itself of New Holland.
3. Ford then owned 10% of Cummins Engine Co.
They were truly a Workhorse engine series. Tough.
Their only weak point was lack of cooling system maintenance by users. Customers did not replace or service the cooling system coolant by checking Nitrites and or replenishing them or replacing the coolant. That lead to cavitation which could eat the block. As this is/was a "parent bore" engine. No sleeves. However, in many cases these engines could be sleeved to repair the issue. I never saw any issues with customers that maintained the cooling systems.
State agencies that used these engines for snow plowing loved them. They had a very flat torque curve which allowed plenty of power for plowing.
This engine series was replaced by the Cummins 5.9L and 8.2L Series (B&C) in 1994 through 1997. The Ford HT Division was sold in 1997. Those Cummins Engines were known as the FD-1060 (5.9L) and FD-1460 (8.3L). Ford and Cummins were working on the next Series of engines to meet 1998 emissions standards when Ford sold the HT Division to Daimler/Freightliner. Daimler/Freightliner continued the new HN 80 (Heavy) chassis and the Cargo Series until the 2000's. Known as "Sterling".
Some may have seen V-8 engines prior to these. Those were Det. Diesel 8.2's (Fuel Pincher) and Cat. 3208's-Prior.
The 8.2's (Det.) were dark blue or black. The Cat's were always yellow.
Interestingly enough, the Cat. 3208 was originally a Ford design, later sold to Cat. The original Ford V-8 diesel was painted Red and known as the "1160". It was a reworked version of the Ford 534 CID gas engine.
Also, the question is asked: "Why didn't Ford use the Cummins engine in 1994, in smaller F-Series, if they owned part of Cummins"?
Simple actually: The Cummins 5.9L diesel was just deemed too noisy and too much of an NVH (Noise/Vibration/Harshness) mountain to climb for Ford customers. The International 6.9L and later 7.3L were much more refined and easier to tackle NVH issues.
By the way, the International engines NEVER made it into Ford Medium Duty chassis.
Hope this helps all understand the Ford diesel history.
This series of engine was offered from 1986 until 1994.
This engine series was offered in two flavors:
1. 6.6L HP ratings: 165, 175, 190.
2. 7.8L HP ratings: 210, 240, 270 (300 for emergency only).
Basically, the engines were built by Ford New Holland. Yes, the tractor company. Yes, in Brazil. It was known (internally) as the "Basildon" or, "New Holland" diesel. Originally from England.
The engines were offered in: F-600, 700, 800, 900 and B-Series (Bus). Also in L-8000 Series. NEVER in 9000 Series.
They went away because:
1. They could not meet 1994 Fed. emissions standards without a major rework.
2. Ford had divested itself of New Holland.
3. Ford then owned 10% of Cummins Engine Co.
They were truly a Workhorse engine series. Tough.
Their only weak point was lack of cooling system maintenance by users. Customers did not replace or service the cooling system coolant by checking Nitrites and or replenishing them or replacing the coolant. That lead to cavitation which could eat the block. As this is/was a "parent bore" engine. No sleeves. However, in many cases these engines could be sleeved to repair the issue. I never saw any issues with customers that maintained the cooling systems.
State agencies that used these engines for snow plowing loved them. They had a very flat torque curve which allowed plenty of power for plowing.
This engine series was replaced by the Cummins 5.9L and 8.2L Series (B&C) in 1994 through 1997. The Ford HT Division was sold in 1997. Those Cummins Engines were known as the FD-1060 (5.9L) and FD-1460 (8.3L). Ford and Cummins were working on the next Series of engines to meet 1998 emissions standards when Ford sold the HT Division to Daimler/Freightliner. Daimler/Freightliner continued the new HN 80 (Heavy) chassis and the Cargo Series until the 2000's. Known as "Sterling".
Some may have seen V-8 engines prior to these. Those were Det. Diesel 8.2's (Fuel Pincher) and Cat. 3208's-Prior.
The 8.2's (Det.) were dark blue or black. The Cat's were always yellow.
Interestingly enough, the Cat. 3208 was originally a Ford design, later sold to Cat. The original Ford V-8 diesel was painted Red and known as the "1160". It was a reworked version of the Ford 534 CID gas engine.
Also, the question is asked: "Why didn't Ford use the Cummins engine in 1994, in smaller F-Series, if they owned part of Cummins"?
Simple actually: The Cummins 5.9L diesel was just deemed too noisy and too much of an NVH (Noise/Vibration/Harshness) mountain to climb for Ford customers. The International 6.9L and later 7.3L were much more refined and easier to tackle NVH issues.
By the way, the International engines NEVER made it into Ford Medium Duty chassis.
Hope this helps all understand the Ford diesel history.
Thanks so much for the detailed explanation!! As I mentioned, I was never a fan of the 3208, at least in trucks. We had a yard shifter where I worked that had one in it and it was being replaced almost on an annual basis. We had them in the C-8000 chassis fire trucks in the department I belonged to. I know at least one had to be replaced, and I hated working around them due to the smoke. I drove an L-8000 plow truck at the local highway dept a couple seasons and again, wasn't impressed with the thing. I never did drive a 7.8, but everyone I talked to who did loved them. The 3208 did seem to perform well when it was at a constant throttle level, a construction company I worked for had a Cat 225 excavator that had the 3208 and it did a good job. I understand they worked well in generators too.
I was a big fan of Ford heavy trucks, the freight company I worked for had a fleet of L-9000, all with big block Cummins in them. I drove a 9000 with an 8V71 in it too. A local fire company had two C-9000, the only ones I've ever seen set up as tankers with 6V71s in them.
I was a big fan of Ford heavy trucks, the freight company I worked for had a fleet of L-9000, all with big block Cummins in them. I drove a 9000 with an 8V71 in it too. A local fire company had two C-9000, the only ones I've ever seen set up as tankers with 6V71s in them.
I was never a fan of the 6.9 and you talk about your eyes burning,that 6.9 could do it.International always had a good engine program and that 6.9 was no exception but I am not a Ford man so it is easy for me to find fault)
Those Brazilian diesels are excellent engines,they are smooth and start in cold weather like a gas job.I ran one for several years in a Huber Maintainer grader and I am not sure that they ever changed the oil in it in the years that I used it.We also had an f 8000 that I used to move equipment with with a 6 cylinder in it that was very nice.I used to call them the south american Fords to cover all the bases but I always liked those engines.
That 3208 should never have been painted yellow.I ran a 225 with one in it too,also several single axle trucks with it.Boy,they would smoke when they were cold.Ron G
)Those Brazilian diesels are excellent engines,they are smooth and start in cold weather like a gas job.I ran one for several years in a Huber Maintainer grader and I am not sure that they ever changed the oil in it in the years that I used it.We also had an f 8000 that I used to move equipment with with a 6 cylinder in it that was very nice.I used to call them the south american Fords to cover all the bases but I always liked those engines.
That 3208 should never have been painted yellow.I ran a 225 with one in it too,also several single axle trucks with it.Boy,they would smoke when they were cold.Ron G
KatinaAguilar
New member
Always been a big fan of Ford heavy trucks
Truck Shop
Well-known member
All trucks have big fans