We have a 2005 western star. It has a c15 motor 8ll trans. 13700 fa 46000 ra wet kit and a double frame. Now where the problem come up is the motor needs a complete overhaul. So the question I have been working on is should we just overhaul the motor and be done with it or look for a different truck. Ideally I would like to get a w900 but don't know if I would be going backwards.
Buy another or rebuild what I got?
- Thread starter Buckfever
- Start date
How many miles you truck now has and overall condition have to be considered. Unless it has, I don't know, a million miles, and many worn components, spring shackles, brakes, clutch, you know it will require X amount of dollars to rebuild the C15, but it will take many more X dollars to find a comparable C15, 8LL, 46K rears, wet kit, and double frame truck to replace it with. Just a few thoughts.
Well the truck reads 365,000 miles but has 17,000 hours. I need to get some pictures on here but the truck is in great shape. Just had the trans rebuilt about 3,000 miles ago.
We figured we could get close to 40,000 on trade and if you add the cost of overhaul ( 22,000 ). That puts me in the 60,000 truck range. Thought maybe I could find something with a few more things that I like in that price range. kenworth or Pete with a 18sp,500+ hp, and maybe a little heavier axels front and rear.
We figured we could get close to 40,000 on trade and if you add the cost of overhaul ( 22,000 ). That puts me in the 60,000 truck range. Thought maybe I could find something with a few more things that I like in that price range. kenworth or Pete with a 18sp,500+ hp, and maybe a little heavier axels front and rear.
Well, sounds like you have a plan. I must admit I know nothing about truck dollar value, and can't say how much the engine overhaul will translate into value dollars at trade in, most certainly the truck will be worth more with a fresh engine as opposed to one that needs an overhaul. Will be interesting to hear what you work out.
td25c
Well-known member
I can see how it is a hard decision Buckfever.Looking at trade in values & possibly upgrading to something newer with better options.From my viewpiont if I like the truck (or piece of equipment)and its in good working condition other than the needing an overhaul I would tend to just say rebuild the engine but thats just me.I always like easy decisions.Back in the summer of 2011 we were working on a lake project building the dam,just got a good start hauling dirt with the scraper and the old detroit took a crap.It was an easy decision,pulled the engine down ,orderd a rebuild kit, and we were back in action.I just love doing an in frame overhaul on the job site 
www.heavyequipmentforums.com/showthread.php?11965-Wabco-c-pull/page2
www.heavyequipmentforums.com/showthread.php?11965-Wabco-c-pull/page2This pretty much sums it up …. i've been where you are ….. rebuilding that C15 is a wiser choice, then you'll know totally what you've still got in hand
I've still got my original '86 Western Star …. had the old bigcam-3 475hp twin turbo cummins in it "POS" …. after 39 injectors (all premiums) and 3 water pumps 2 major injector fuel pump rebuilds, 12 pistons and liners, 2-sets of turbos $$$$$ …. we decided to re-power, after 13 yrs of painful repairs. I did so with an air-air 425hp 3406B Cat c/w the Brakesaver Retarder …… to me the truck had past meaning to me, but I also knew EXACTLY what I had …. aside from all of the engine issues, I had already put $25,000+ into the driveline prior to making the decision to keep and carry on. The truck had also Eaton 2spd Dt 460's (which both were re-built into upgraded Dt 461's) including a new no-spin, when we put the Cat in, we also had a new 15713 Super 13 tranny to put in with it (which the donor truck I also had owned as well but that's another long story) … upgrading the older 14713 …..
Earlier in the trucks career when we were pulling Supers I had to shorten up the wheel base from 260"-240" …. we decided to do that … I took out the original 60"spread Hendrickson walking beams and we put in 54" spread Peterbilt Air-Trac (wishing now I would have used NEWAY air ride instead… but that's also another long story) …. the trucks nick name became a "Peter-Star" …LOL
So as you see sometimes we make decisions that if we had the hindsight to say "so if only I had, or would of " ….. no regrets here.
A simple, even tho it might be a bit costly engine Rebuild is still the way to go if the overall picture of the Rigs condition is pretty good ….Cheers ! … Good-luck with your final decision.
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Thank for all the replies. The more I thought about it the more I started thinking along the same lines as you guys.
The truck has a rebuilt trans. and the rest has been touched up and gone over by a really particular mechanic so I think we might just keep it and move into a tri-axel tractor if that time ever comes up.
The truck has a rebuilt trans. and the rest has been touched up and gone over by a really particular mechanic so I think we might just keep it and move into a tri-axel tractor if that time ever comes up.
We would have to get a new fuel/hydro tank to fit a pusher axel. This truck has one of those tanks on the passenger side that is a 85 gallon full tank and a 40 gallon hydrolic tank.
I'm sure anything is possible but we will just have to cross that bridge when we come to it.
Thanks for all the advice.
I'm sure anything is possible but we will just have to cross that bridge when we come to it.
Thanks for all the advice.
You are probably right Willie but we are not at the point were we need that third axel yet. The heaviest aching we have is a hitachie 330. So for right now a three axel trailer and the truck we have will get use by.
But don't worry when we get something were we will need the extra axel I will definitely come here for some help to make it work.
But don't worry when we get something were we will need the extra axel I will definitely come here for some help to make it work.