S series trucks.

[brahamfireman]

What's the basic differences in the 16, 17, 18, 19 series? Looks like alot of engine/Trans combos were available but what about wheels, rear axles, creature comforts? I see some with Dayton wheels, some with buds, some with hydraulic brakes, some with air, looks like all had round headlights? See some single axle, some twin screw.

I'm looking at one that's got an IH 466 and a 5 speed, single axle with air brakes, want to use it to pull the gooseneck instead of the 96 powestroke. What's the Good, bad, ugly about these trucks?

[Lazy WP]

You will have to go with an electronic brake controller which is probably what all the modern ones are. The only downside I know of the S series is the cab mounts will rot out earlier than the same size Freightliner. Freightliner is all plastic. You are most likely going to need a CDL. 

[brahamfireman]

9 minutes ago, Lazy WP said:

You will have to go with an electronic brake controller which is probably what all the modern ones are. The only downside I know of the S series is the cab mounts will rot out earlier than the same size Freightliner. Freightliner is all plastic. You are most likely going to need a CDL. 

Held a cdl for 22 years so not worried, I planned on an electronic brake controller. 

I figured if I'm going to get 6-10 MPG's pulling the gooseneck,  I might has well have something with big brakes, tires and suspension. 

[vtfireman85]

Does it have a 5+2? We have a kodiak 7000 with a 3208 turbo and a 643 Allison, it needs for more gears desperately when towing. A 5+2or a 10 speed would make for a whole different animal. 

[dale560]

1 hour ago, brahamfireman said:

What's the basic differences in the 16, 17, 18, 19 series? Looks like alot of engine/Trans combos were available but what about wheels, rear axles, creature comforts? I see some with Dayton wheels, some with buds, some with hydraulic brakes, some with air, looks like all had round headlights? See some single axle, some twin screw.

I'm looking at one that's got an IH 466 and a 5 speed, single axle with air brakes, want to use it to pull the gooseneck instead of the 96 powestroke. What's the Good, bad, ugly about these trucks?

1600 is lightest truck but could be ordered with axles available on 1700, 1700 series was medium duty usually single axles.

1800 is heavy duty available as single axle and tandem, 1900 was heavy duty medium truck. Then you get into the 2200, 2300,2500 and 2600 series the heavy duty setups.

[IH Forever]

Not really any help to you. But I’d love to have an S series single axle dump truck with air brakes, 466, and the 5+2 to add to my collection . I’ve only found a few but many of the cabs are rotted out.

[dale560]

Here is basic list of models but some of these aren’t exact.

[acem]

Generally ih had different frames between the 1600, 1700, 1800, etc. There was great variation of available GVW within each series. In my loadstar spec sheets, s series is very similar,  shows you can set up a 1600 for 16,000 to 25,000 lb while the 1800 (single axle) is 20,000 to 30,000 lb. 

You could have an 1600 with a weight rating higher than an 1800 but it would be unusual.

[brahamfireman]

23 hours ago, vtfireman85 said:

Does it have a 5+2? We have a kodiak 7000 with a 3208 turbo and a 643 Allison, it needs for more gears desperately when towing. A 5+2or a 10 speed would make for a whole different animal. 

No, I'd most like swap in something with more gears if 300 HP isn't enough.

[brahamfireman]

23 hours ago, IH Forever said:

Not really any help to you. But I’d love to have an S series single axle dump truck with air brakes, 466, and the 5+2 to add to my collection . I’ve only found a few but many of the cabs are rotted out.

Well, we're gunna have to talk if I get this thing bought because it's exactly what you want,but only a single speed rear end. I've got 2 septic systems I need to build this summer so my plan was haul tons of sand then pull the dump box off, but if the right replacement could be found....... your not that far away.

The cab is getting rotted below the doors and front mounts, but that fixable if it's set up how you want it.

[yellowrosefarm]

The cabs on the S series between the Dt466 and 7.3 are different in the doghouse and floor. My S1600 with a 7.3 idi/5 speed had a badly rotted cab from plowing snow. I put a cab on it from an S1700/DT466. It does work, but the shifter is close to the doghouse. 

[IH Forever]

11 hours ago, brahamfireman said:

Well, we're gunna have to talk if I get this thing bought because it's exactly what you want,but only a single speed rear end. I've got 2 septic systems I need to build this summer so my plan was haul tons of sand then pull the dump box off, but if the right replacement could be found....... your not that far away.

The cab is getting rotted below the doors and front mounts, but that fixable if it's set up how you want it.

Let me know if you get it bought and want to move it when you are done.  The lack of a 2 speed rear-end doesn't excite me but that could be changed.

[brahamfireman]

3 hours ago, IH Forever said:

Let me know if you get it bought and want to move it when you are done.  The lack of a 2 speed rear-end doesn't excite me but that could be changed.

Having never driven a 2 speed rear can you split each gear or don't the ratios work out?

[IH Forever]

Depends on the transmission.  I honestly don't know what was used in the S series trucks.  The old Chevy trucks I drove with the 5+2, if I remember correctly, you did 1L, 1H, 2L, 2H, 3L, 3H, 4L, 5L, 4H, 5H.  The big trucks I've driven with the Eaton-Fuller 10 speed transmissions you ran through the gears in low range, split it, and then ran through the gears in high range.  I also drove a "Super 10" where you just split each gear.  Then I've driven a 9 speed where you have 1st gear, but then go through 2 - 5 in low range, split it, and go back through 2-5 in high range.

Sorry, I've just spit out alot of words when I could have said it depends on what transmission they used.

[todd.crow]

On my S1900, DT466 with a 5+2 you can split gears 1-4 4H is basically the same as 5L. So basically 1L-1H-2L-2H-3L-3H-4L-4H-5H. Splitting the gears gives you the same RPM drop on all shifts. But it is not necessary at all when unloaded. The shift in the rear is not synchronized so you can grind those gears if you don't pay attention to what you are doing. During harvest we gross 46000 with this setup. Could definitely use some more HP, but gets the job done.

[mike newman]

Australian   ''S''  line    6x4 that I  drove had a 444 Hp  Cummins ....  also had two steering boxs ...an interesting feature, and it was actually a pleasure to operate...on the long haul through the two NZ mountain passes  with the double ''B''  train  set up 

Mike

[vtfireman85]

2 hours ago, mike newman said:

Australian   ''S''  line    6x4 that I  drove had a 444 Hp  Cummins ....  also had two steering boxs ...an interesting feature, and it was actually a pleasure to operate...on the long haul through the two NZ mountain passes  with the double ''B''  train  set up 

Mike

The S we have has a 444 ci and a 4 speed and it is a bloody pig, not at all a pleasure to operate. 

[ky966boy]

Lots of people pulling goosenecks with 2 tons or single axle semis around here a lot cheaper than a dually if you stay on the road  .

[cwinn]

All the ones we've built work great.  My loadstar with dt466 and 13spd will run 75mph with my 1466 on weighing 15000lb.. Alot better than pickup ,just not all the creature comfort. We've prolly built 6 of em amongst all us friends . I've owned 3

[acem]

6 minutes ago, cwinn said:

All the ones we've built work great.  My loadstar with dt466 and 13spd will run 75mph with my 1466 on weighing 15000lb.. Alot better than pickup ,just not all the creature comfort. We've prolly built 6 of em amongst all us friends . I've owned 3

Pics Pics Pics 

[vtfireman85]

2 hours ago, cwinn said:

All the ones we've built work great.  My loadstar with dt466 and 13spd will run 75mph with my 1466 on weighing 15000lb.. Alot better than pickup ,just not all the creature comfort. We've prolly built 6 of em amongst all us friends . I've owned 3

Any notion of the HP? 

[Sask466]

I have a fair bit of s1900 experience.  I actually retrofitted a old F700 Mercury cab onto a s1900 frame.  If you are curious I added a link.

it has a 5+2.  Most of these dt466 trucks had a Spicer 5 speed (non-OD) and a Spicer M190T rear, at least through the 80’s.  Most had a 4.88 ring gear.  I’ve never seen an IH with something faster.  That rear end was available in 3.70 through like 6.something.  The low ratio on the 2-speed is like a 30% split (4.88Hi/6.50lo).  I found a used 3.70 gear set and put it in.  It made it way better.  With the 4.88 rear, it was 70MPH at like 2600rpm.  Now 70mph is more line 2150rpm - it’s so much nicer not having the engine screaming.  The 2 speed rear works well, but when the truck is empty and going slower, it can be pretty clunky.

I then put a 10speed roadranger in it - so much better.  Reverse in low is about 1/2 the speed of the old spicer - that’s so much better.  The gear splits are also evenly spaced in the roadranger, which works much better with a diesel, at least to me.

If I had to do in again, I would have bought a 9 or 10speed with OD, and kept the 4.88 rear and saved some money.  If you were pulling heavy, I don’t think you want to be much below 2000rpm at your ideal road speed - these engines don’t seem to light up until 1800rpm.  1800 to 2200 seems to be my engines happy place.

I put a S2E turbo on, and turned up the pump.  It will make about 25psi of boost now, which some people figure these engines do 10HP/psi of boost.  It was prior set/tagged at 180hp, and it feels like it’s got another 75hp in my seat of the pants dyno. I don’t pull with it yet, so I haven’t done an air to air cooler.  But if I point it up a steep grade and bury the throttle, it will hit 1300degF.  
I’m not sure if 300hp is a reasonable target for a dt466A/B/C.  250 seems reasonable for intermittent use though, and with a cooler.  

 

 

[856 Custom]

That's a '84, 1900. I've had it 10 years now. 466 with 10spd RR. Gave $3250.00 for it. Every year a co-op around here has a inventory reduction auction and that's where it came from. I checked it one time round trip pulling a 24' field cultivator home. 7.6 mpg. It won't do 60 mph. Needs different gears. I run it around 50 mph otherwise that engine is just singing underneath the hood. It does what I bought it for. Those are 2 1550 gallon tanks on it.