I have the chance to buy an 87 Freightliner FLC set back axle sleeper truck. From what I know it has a freshly overhauled Big Cam Cummins with a 9 spd. When it was overhauled they decided to park the truck for some odd reason which was 3 years ago, I'm guessing because of the new ULSD and the driver possibly forgetting to put an additive in the fuel tanks with every fuel up to keep the ULSD from eating the pump and seals up. We haven't set a price yet but that will be done Tuesday. It just had a fresh service on it and the extent of the service I'm not sure of but I'm assuming it was the basic fluid change, grease and brake adjustment. It was used recently to move loads from their old yard to their new yard and is started up once in awhile but not as often as it should be but none the less still allowed to run. It'll obviously need tires since they are dry rotted but overall it's a clean truck. I haven't had the chance to look it over really good since it's still hooked to a storage trailer. The good thing though is this truck hasn't been sitting in the weeds at all while it's been parked.

It has pulled fuel tankers and asphalt tankers all of it's life, I don't think it has seen much long haul action at all except maybe an overnight trip or something like that.

Yes I will be able to work it. The current carrier I'm with will allow me to run the truck so that isn't a problem and besides that we got more freight than we could handle. At least I got a year to get it road ready so there is no rush really.

I have a few questions about the Big Cams especially those that came in the 86/87 model year of trucks.

1. Are they reliable?

2. Does it have the "low flow" coolant system?

3. Is there any truth to parts being cheap and easy to find on the Big Cams?

4. What is the difference between all 4 series of Big Cams?

5. What years did the Big Cam III and IV start and stop production?

 

Here are a couple more pictures. I'm gonna assume the miles on this truck are original miles.

 

big cam's are great engines,you do not need to add any additives to the fuel every tank,it will run fine without them if you do want to add anything put in some 2 stroke oil,the thing I would be worried about with a truck that has been sitting would be the seals keep a close eye on your wheel seals and frt hub oil level,watch for oil leaks I don't know what trucks like that are going for in your area but I have been buying 98-01 volvo tractors for $4000-$6000 range

 

YJ Junker, what would you be willing to pay for it if you was buying it?

---AutoMerged DoublePost---

The tires are not as bad as I thought and the brake shoes look to have been put on before it was parked, the drums are rusted though.

 

not really interested in freightshakers really,I would not buy one,the cabs rattle to much for me depending on what you are going to use it for,should look at the rear end specs to see if it fits your needs,the volvo's I have been buying are fleet trucks that are hwy spec'ed not really what I need but the price is rightI would guess around $3000 to $4000 range Don't know what the used truck market is like were you are but there are lot's of older trucks around here for sale,I equipe my trucks with 2 line wet line kits(hydrolics for dump,live bottom trailers and floats) putting one of these on run about $4000 alone(pump,pto,tank,hoses ,fluid and air controls) that is not including labour which I do myself,I can resell my volvo's for around $10 000 when I am done

 

I grew up around Freightliner, the older model Freightliner's are the best but these new Freightliners (Columbia, Century Class, Coronado, and Cascadia) are just ugly and pure garbage, literally!

 

I talked to the owner about it some more. He is going to get it road ready and throw in a DOT inspection for me and let me have it for $2500.

 

that is a fair price for an older truck ,I just bought 2 2001 volvos with series 60's ,super 10,and 40 rears for $10,000 for the pair,safties are good till next spring

 

I consider that a steal for how well taken care of this truck is. I see trucks on truck paper of the same year go for $5,000-$20,000 especially them old Peterbilt 359's.

 

I loves me some Petes man. Best damn truck ever