444 Cummins
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484 Posts
What is the cpl?
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Run Forrest...Run!!!!
Seriously, just like all older Cummins, they are prone to leaking head gaskets. They also had step timing which also gave some trouble. I'm not a Cummins fan, but I have had customers with 444's, and ALL, not just some, had problems over the years.
:whs :happymugs
A 444 is an engine that needs a lot of tender loving care to get it to run correctly, there are a lot of pieces that make the STC operate properly, and any leaks in the system cause problems.
I use to do a lot of work on these units, and customers that ran them seemed to make money.
They are not high on my list engines I would chose but that depends on whether you can get it cheap, and find someone that works on them, cheap, or know how to do it your self.
I use to do a lot of work on these units, and customers that ran them seemed to make money.
They are not high on my list engines I would chose but that depends on whether you can get it cheap, and find someone that works on them, cheap, or know how to do it your self.
Thanks for the advice. I bought the truck and will take my chances. I have several Cummins gurus close to me if I need them. The truck is long distance from me and not sure when it will be here. I have pretty much run Cats to this point and am willing to try this Cummins. It is hard to pass up a two stick 359ExHd.
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You will have to relearn your shift points 444 s are 1700-2100 engines. if you can keep the step time figured they are an allright engine, :woohoo
Thanks, I have heard alot of good and bad on them. This truck is very original from the factory and I just had to try it. I have run 2 stick cats and liked them very much but this will be different for sure. The truck will not be worked daily more for farm and hobby use.
The 444 is a glorified 400 big cam. they hang together as good as any of the nh series. It will run with the 425 cats. If you retro fit a decent after cooler in front of the radiator and take the guts out of the old intercooler, you gain a few more horses! Thats what it is all about.:knight:soapbox
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191 Posts
Buy the man a cigar.
Cams and especially cam followers, and yup, STC, when you start them they sound like they are about to throw a rod coz of the stepped timing.
Yup, head gaskets too, when they start to chirp, time to do another head gasket.
An N14 manifold from a salvage yard bolts rite on and done but as mentioned in another thread cam timing needs changed. But... the Cat part is hard to swallow. Again it's all timing, the difference between 5* (Cummins) and 10/ 14* (Cat) is hige for torq. A cranked 444 will put down 500HP, for 400K. A cranked Cat will make 50 more and 300 more ftlbs, and last a million miles
Your opinions and experiences are appreciated. I enjoy the knowledge and experience on the board. Dont get me wrong I like Caterpillars but this truck had a Cummins and some other things I liked and I am willing to try it. It will not be worked daily but used on the farm running farm tags and staying pretty close to home. Just another toy for me to mess with.
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257 Posts
Has anyone ever tried to advance the base timing of STC and to change the STC valve settings to switch to retarded mode at much higher PT pressures? The idea is to run advanced under cruising conditions, up to 300 hp, for fuel economy and longer lasting engine.
Why is timing change needed when changing to different type CAC?
Why is timing change needed when changing to different type CAC?
The STC is set at 45 lbs going up and 40 coming down. I have never seen anybody change the settings for any reason but somebody more than likely has different settings that work better for them in their area. Where I was and I was taught by a great Cummins guy, Lee, that was what worked the best.
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484 Posts
Get the Cummins man
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I have a 444 big cam 500 horse power engine still in the truck with 880000 miles on it will show you the odometer 89. The frame someone wants to buy so the engine will be for sale can take a video of odometer and start it up even take it down the hiway to prove the power beautiful sounding you just touch the key and rumbles to life instantly
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I had 2 of them one in a 88 peterbilt 379 and one in a 1989 flc freightliner. I hauled cattle with them. We put a lot of miles on them fast. I traded these trucks off with 1.4 million miles on them. When I traded them both engines was original never ever opened up except to put injectors in. Both engines had a set of ejectors in them. Both engines was very very trouble free. Both engines was very strong and would eat a 425 cat alive. CAT owners hated them. Till today I believe that the 444 was close to one of the best engines i have ever owned. The day I traded them they still did not use any oil. Very good engine.
There are still a lot of 444's running about Australia BUT there is a few mods you need do to have them working hard in 120F + weather --- The STC oil supply come from the Camshaft oil gallery and caused a lot of Cam bearing fails -- Need to tap into the test point on the back of the oil pump to supply STC (This was a Cummins Fix). If you have the original optomized aftercooler system with the weird radiator with 1 and a quarter inch radiator hoses both going into the headder tank on the radiatorand then chuck out the thermostat that prevents flow coming into the block (keep the other one) With these fixes you will have no worries. I have one myself never seen the temp gage above 190F even pulling 90 ton up 9% grades. Most 444's do about 1 million miles and then take a rebuild if you work it hard but look after it. Also best to add a couple of thou to the valve clearances if running in hot weather.
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