Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite - View Single Post

M543A2 · 08-28-2008, 09:10

There is 120 cubic inches difference between the motors, which is no small thing ( the "465" is actually a 478 cubic inch motor). An engine's power is determined by the cubic inches and air flow available to burn the fuel put into it. There is also the matter of the difference in rotating mass available for launching the vehicle. I am very familiar with built 5.9 motors. Yes, they turn big numbers, but I would not pit one in my M543A2 wrecker and expect it to get down and lug at low RPM like the 478 does. I cannot imagine trying to maneuver this heavy truck in deep mud, starting and stopping, with the 5.9. The bottom end torque is just not there. Burned clutches would be the result. I see how the built 5.9 guys have to wait for boost to come up, etc. before launching. I can't see me doing that trying to get the 36,000 pound truck out of a muddy situation. I would not make the change, personally. There is more economical and easily obtainable power available from the 478 multifuel. I have a built Cummins in a dodge, am a Cummins lover and believer in what they can do, but would like to put a 478 multi in it, but no space. I wanted the reliability, low end torque, and easy to obtain HP they give. We have pulled heavy implement trailers with both the Cummins and the deuce, and the turned up deuce handles it better, especially in start/stop traffic situations. The drive train in the Dodge behind the multifuel would probably grab a large lunch sack and head for the nearest shade tree!
Just my experiences. Marti