Detroit 8.2L, Good and Bad

even i did see the 8.2 in marine verison that was even left a bad taste there as well that was not even worth a :censored with this set up and i did actally see a generator verison dang !! that was even bad i wont get into the details that is worst than the 3208 kittycat is lol

the 8.2 's govoner system that was peice of trash worst than the ole two temps [ stroke ] motor is what John G sum it all and the later model just before they ended the production they put a wishbone on the cylinder head but it was too late for it and very hard to time it anyone whom did timed the two stroker detorits will get the idea that how bad it is

merci , Marc

My buddy bought this truck when he heard the name "Detroit" thinking it was a two cycle. Now that he's hearing it's the first 4 stroke Detroit made and it's legacy he cries for awhile and then stops long enough to hurl before resuming his moaning and groaning. To say he is sick would be a gross understatement. He gets the truck today and he's not even excited about it...more like dreading it!

The 8.2L NA engines start pretty well, the 8.2LT (turbos) do not.

The NA engines have a higher compression ratio; this improves starting, fuel efficiency, and makes them a little easier to work on and not so hard on the head gaskets. They also seem to have more Tq off-idle than the turbo engines.

The turbo engines use a very "open" converter, this allows the engine RPMs to build easily to where the turbo can spool up. This also works the trans and converter VERY hard, then add to that the resonance issue with the V-8 and AT545 and you have a big problem with transmission life.

I see. I don't think I ever used or worked on a NA one. I wonder if the NA ones ran as many RPM as the turbo ones?

One thing that is "sort of nice" about them is due to the very high RPM that they run at, at highway speeds, they tend to have a very low axle ratio, therefore when jockeying around slowly, the crawl ratio is very nice even with a 643 as opposed to a 653 which had the granny gear. The granny wasn't really needed with an 8.2.

Birken

Yes, the "red-line" was the same on both the NA and Turbo models. At least on all of the ones we had from '82-'88 model years.

I would gladly spend a season on a crab boat (with pay of course) just for the satisfaction of heaving one of these things overboard as an anchor. What a lemon and they weren't even yellow.

Birken

Well I am not sure they are the "worst" engine ever in a MD truck, but #2 or #3 for sure.

I saw a 1980 Ford CF-8000 4x4 this past week in Fresno with a "V-8 Diesel" and it sure appeared to be a 8.2L NA. For the right price, it would make a very nice snow plow/sander. I am not sure it would survive the trip from Ca to MN, so the "right price" is pretty [email protected] cheap.

You guys are cracking me up! I don't know which one I laugh harder at...your comments or his reaction. This truck does not have a turbo. So maybe that is a good note anyway. The hauler was a no show today so the truck won't be delivered til sometime next week. This is extending my buddy's agony. So we are still not sure what tranny the truck has in it. Is the MT series better than the AT. It's going to be an interesting shake down on this truck. It has 132,000 miles on it and we will have to go through a full service and see just what all is going on.

The MT series is better than the AT. It has a lockup converter which is the big difference.

When you get it check it for oil/combustion products in the coolant, that is what happens when they blow a head gasket. It can be fixed but you have to find a mechanic who is familiar with them especially the odd and expensive procedures and tools to time it and a machine shop that is familiar with the heads.

Birken

mmmmmm......this is very ominous! The salesman said the coolant had a brown look to it and probably needed flushing and replacing. This could be oil or fuel in the water instead of rust. This could get ugly!

bkingarn said:

mmmmmm......this is very ominous! The salesman said the coolant had a brown look to it and probably needed flushing and replacing. This could be oil or fuel in the water instead of rust. This could get ugly!

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Don't be such a fatalist.....it's probably just rust.....

Oh,,,,wait we're talking about the 8.2L.....well, it could be oil.:sofa

LOL Duke! I felt bad for a second about being negative.....

Run the truck and check for bubbling in the coolant I guess.

Birken

bkingarn said:

LOL Duke! I felt bad for a second about being negative.....

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I kinda felt bad about saying that. I'm a big believer in Carma. Watch.....now my DT466 will scatter on Monday at work.:damnit LOL

Slip the fan belt off, remove the radiator cap and watch for bubbles.

No bubbles = VERY good (for now).

Bubbles = VERY bad.

John_G said:

Slip the fan belt off, remove the radiator cap and watch for bubbles.

No bubbles = VERY good (for now).

Bubbles = VERY bad.

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Just dont forget to put the belt back on after testingLOL
Then you would have another VERY bad.

Yea, but they heat up Sooooooo slowly, you would have a few (hundred) mile to remember.....

Being a single axle dump and the GVW as low as it is I would bet it has the AT545, especially since it is N/A. Even most of the turbo verions of the 8.2L had the AT545. They really do hold up well, most of the time it is a broken turbine shaft or TC hub spline that fails taking them out, not the guts of the trans.

OK....if it has an AT545 tranny ..... what engines will bolt up to this style of Allison and fit in the f700 frame?

By the way....this is hilarious!!!...guess cause I don't own it....LOL

6.9L/7.3L IDI, Cummins "B" 4.9L/5.9L, CAT 3116, Ford 6.6L/7.8L - anyting 210 HP and below.

Delivered 3 new buses Conway Ak. to southern Ohio a few years back. One GM short bus C6500 w/ 350 and AT545 about 9 mpg. One Ford B700, w/ 370-2v and AT545, 65 passenger about 6.5 mpg. One GM C6500 71 passenger w/ wheelchair lift 8.2L NA and AT545, about 13 mpg. The other 2 buses from a stop would almost go out of site up the road, the 8.2 would eventually catch up and would pull the I40 and I65 grades faster than the gas engines, what a slow slug from take off! Yes, head gaskets were worst problem I saw. Just did a head on one about 2 years ago, prob will never do one again, even if asked! bob........