IH truck with DT360 engine does it have enough power?

fourwheelinj1 · Nov 3, 2015

I am looking at buying a early 90's dump truck. I want an IH with 466, 6 speed and air brakes but they are all out of my price range. I have found a couple of DT360's in my price range. I know they are not power houses by any means but can they handle what I want to do with them? This is a farm truck that will go to the quarry, sawmill, haul dirt mostly 6-7 tons or less and move our backhoe or 18k pound mini excavator around. All trips will be within a 50 mile radius for the most part. I live in the Piedmont of NC so no major hills or mountains. I know the 466 would be better but if the 360 will do I might go that route. I just want to make sure the DT360 will be a decent amount better that the current gas 370 ford that we have. Anyone have any personal experience with the 360 in a heavier truck?

ModMech · Nov 3, 2015

The DT/DTA 360s were available to 230HP and 720lb-ft Tq, very similar to the most common DT/DTA466 ratings. The most common DT360 rating was 190HP, while the DT466 was 210 at the same 620ish lb-ft. The DTA360 195HP w/680 lf-ft was an excellent performing engine at GVWs as high as 28k#, if the gearing wasn't too deep.

RedNeckRacin · Nov 6, 2015

I think you are going to be disappointed. If it's just on the farm I think it would be ok. The trips on the road are going to be slow.

HHR · Nov 6, 2015

After driving a DT466 grossing 28K, I would say it was very slow to accelerate and lost speed on every small incline.

bdog · Nov 7, 2015

I currently own a international 4300 with a DT466, a 4700 4x4 with a 444e (7.3 powerstroke) and I used to have a 4800 4x4 with a DT360.

None of them are power houses. The dt360 and 444e have fixed loads that weigh right at 25k gross. Both of them top out at 65-70 on the highway and slow down on any hill. It is pretty flat around here but if I get on a decent sized hill these trucks are going to slow to the 40 mph range.

The dt466 is a single axle dump truck and earlier this week I took it on a 150 mile trip towing my deere 310sj backhoe. Gross weight was around 37k. Loaded this heavy it drove like the other trucks at 25k. Could not get over 65 and slowed to the 40's on hills. If I hit the slightest grade I had to drop out of sixth and sometimes had to go as low as fourth.

ModMech · Nov 7, 2015

Guys, you cannot rate an engine's performance based on the MODEL. There is a ton of stupidity in ordering trucks, lots of them are ordered with silly low gearing that makes them dogs even with high HP engines and a good driver.

I have operated more "DT" powered trucks than most (many hundreds) and almost that many with either the T444E or 6BT/ISB. Performance is directly related to gearing and rated power. I have out pulled more powerful vehicles with 466s in a 175HP DTA360 that was correctly geared.

One advantage of normally aspirated engines is that this is not nearly as complicated with them, gasoline or diesel.

bdog · Nov 7, 2015

I agree but gearing isn't everything. Sure you can gear one low and have all kinds of power down low but it will be redlined at highway speeds. Conversely you can gear one for comfortable highway rpms and it will be a dog taking off.

I am not disagreeing gearing is very important but so is HP. If gears did it all no vehicle on the road would need over 200hp. My current pickup a 2016 duramax has nearly 400 hp. It will run circles around pickups I had ten years ago with 200hp and the same gears.

My internationals serve me well for what I do and I reckon OP will be happy with a 360 for his needs but if I was driving one loaded heavy day in and day out I would want a bigger motor. My Kenworth has around 400hp and it leaves the internationals in the dust even though it is carrying nearly twice the weight.

RedNeckRacin · Nov 7, 2015

I'll take a bigger motor anyday. I'm currently running a dt530e and I'm so happy I didn't get anything smaller. I do think I would like to put a deeper rear end in for climbing the PA hills wince i got the 2nd over drive unlocked in the allison but I get along just fine at 275hp.

ModMech · Nov 7, 2015

Missing the point.....

If the truck has a high HP/Tq engine and stupid gearing it will perform WORSE than a lower power engine that was correctly spec'd.

It is also not accurate to quote HP numbers and say one truck is going to perform better, it is TORQUE that makes it perform well and not HP. Example: The T444E was available in many ratings 170 thru 230HP and a 230 ST always performed worse than the 210 HTs even tho they had 10% more HP, they were down on Tq comparatively speaking.

RedNeckRacin · Nov 9, 2015

ok ok. I'll still take the higher displacement engine. If i could get a 3406E or n-14 cummins I would! Case in point about the torque. 2005 6bt with 325hp and 650tq, 2001 dt530e 275hpand either 800 or 850 tq. If i could get the higher 330 hp 530E, I'd be at over 1000ftlbs of torque. woo baby! :shocked: I'm taking the bigger motor. there is a pdf of the different motors specs from international. Very handy if I can find it.

Found it! http://www.thedieselstop.com/faq/9497faq/download/2003EngineQuickRefrenceGuide.pdf