1979 Kenworth W900 w/ KTA 600! 19 Liter 600 HP CUMMINS!!

Taking my dad’s 1979 Kenworth W900 with a KTA 600 in it out for a drive. We were told the 19 Liter Cummins came stock with 600 HP. We have also been told you can get 1,000 HP out of then without having to take the engine apart.

[@colinmckendrick9803]

beautiful. that monster is worth more now than new

[@dillonrory2038]

You probably dont give a shit but does anyone know a tool to get back into an Instagram account? I was stupid forgot my account password. I love any tips you can offer me.

[@lukeheigle494]

So is your mother

[@user-sk9hl7si7l]

@@lukeheigle494 🤣

[@duncanrose3891]

Dad's smile when he picks you up. Priceless :) He's lovin it as much as you..... Cheers

[@jamescrowe1331]

Thanks for the video, brings back memories. I owned a 1977 359 with a kta 525 ,she was juiced up a little. I went through 3 sets of drivers license in about 10 months. That was a heavy engine, a fuel guzzler, but a blast to drive.

[@markmichaels6975]

The KTA (turbo'ed/aftercooled) was rated at 600. I knew a guy from Phoenix who had one in his new cabover KW; ran like a rocket ship (at about 3 mpg...)

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

With an advertised 1,650 lbs/ft of torque -- also an unusual rating, since no transmission could adequately handle such torque ratings back then. Although, the actual torque rating was closer to about 1,900 lbs/ft (or 100 lbs/ft per liter). Therefore, this variation not only made 100 horses per cylinder, but also 100 lbs/ft of torque per liter!

[@lees3117]

Back then diesel was 50 cent a gal too

[@andrewwagner7992]

We have three K19's on stationary duty pulling pumps to drain water from a river valley we farm in. They're set at 525. They're monsters up on a concrete pedestal, it's hard to imagine one crammed under a truck hood. Sweet ride.

[@JacksonGuitarsPlayer03]

I have a ‘79 W900A with the CAT 3408 V8 in it. It’s got powered up. Beast of a motor. Love the old engines. Rolls coal, super loud, noice

[@deborahchesser7375]

Man my neighbor drove a KW just like this, you wouldn’t think brown could be pretty but she was, and had the KTA under the hood too. I’d only heard of 350’s and 400’s at the time in early 80’s so when he said it was 600 hp that blew my 13 yr old mind, and the sound, wow. Super nice rig and thanks for sharing 👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@user-yq2wy6my4e]

Nice truck and sweet running badboy kta 600hp. Old school is the best.

[@williamholliday3172]

You are going to appreciate having a video with your dad more than the truck. Not that the truck isn't cool! Thank you for capturing that for us and you

[@sourbrothers73]

I envy you, your dad and your relationship, and the cool stuff you guys have

[@jerva245]

Not trying to be a dick, but NEVER envy another peron. They have their insecurities and problems, rest assured...

[@MasterWitchDoctor]

the KTA Cummins started at 450 hp, then there was the line haul 525 hp, and the 600 hp. The main difference was in the injectors and turbos. Pittsburgh power has these cranking out 900 hp dependable but theyre terrible on fuel and not a money maker unless youre heavy hauling making 10, 15, or 20 dollars per mile.

[@andrewking4885]

Your totally correct on those HP ratings. Actually 3 mpg isn't too bad for that size engine. These were called the brute. I remember reading about these in American overdrive when I was a kid.

[@hoost3056]

A little more to it....the CPLs are different from the low to high hp. The 450 had more compression and a different cam setting if I remember correctly. The KTA can mpg better if it's tuned and driven right. Can outrev a V8 Cat or Mack despite the size.

[@KuntalGhosh]

These are used as generators for train sets in Indian trains. 4 of them 490hp units producing 500kva each. Two on each end.

[@mikehawk263]

Yeah a older guy up the road from my shop had one in build up to retirement and retirement years that was 960, absolute animal of a machine

[@hughwolfe8524]

Heard some will get over 4 mpg , maybe 4.2 mpg , probably 3 mpg with your foot on it , they are so much power you don't need to have much throttle once up to speed.. heard they easily get a thousand plus HP reliably turned up a bit and still 3 mpg

[@jayswisher575]

Thing sounds super nice just at idle. And it’s got man stacks, Jesus!

[@wlogue]

K19 is a pretty serious plant in a truck man! Cool stuff!

[@deborahchesser7375]

682 70 that’s a lot of motor, if I had $ I’d have a bunch of classic big trucks. Mack is a fave

[@markrhuett]

I was waiting for the Jake Brake. That would have been icing on the cake!

[@TheRoadhammer379]

Might not even have Jakes, it was optional and sometimes an aftermarket install.

[@WeberAuto23]

It actually does have jakes but for some reason we didn’t think to turn them on. We will have to make another video with it!

[@utubedude2842]

Dads had a trucking business since 72, 9 drivers at one point, owned everything. Still talks about his turned up kta. Said the issue he had was he was always forgetting he was loaded, due to the power, which eventually led to rebuilt transmissions and eventually a distorted bell housing/transmission case. Claims he pulled the Rockies once in OD just to do it. Loves his 12.7 Detroit’s now.

[@WeberAuto23]

That’s crazy!

[@caterpillarslim1288]

Sounded so good when she busted off with that blop blop Cummins idle

[@nanomike2069]

Nice old KW !!!! Had a 86 379 Pete with a KTA 600 in it with a 6x4 trans .. what a left lane truck ,, got to love the old trucks ,, yes it did not come with the KTA in it was a crash truck rebuilt!!!

[@idreamofdragonso5677]

Man I wish I had the cash to take this one off your hands. It is very clean

[@RoyBoy2020]

I don't believe they let that truck sit for for that long! It started right up! And looks in good shape!

[@darrensmith9356]

Good video! I hardly know anything regarding American trucks - but the sound of these alone is immense. Great to see it still in use.

[@austinalbright9837]

This brings back memories. I drove for a guy who had Detroit 8v92's set at 430 that pulled pretty good. Got to drive another guy's Kenworth kta set at 525 to pull a load of potatoes from Burley, Idaho to Simplots in Caldwell, Idaho. Was at 80,000 lbs and climbed Hammett hill like it wasn't there. Engine sounded like a locomotive. Real ego trip for a young 26 year old kid. From what I was told one for the main problems was engine was so heavy and I think I heard they had problems with the crankshaft. As Bob Hope said "thanks for the memories".

[@ruxoneto6560]

The old kt (around 1976 &older) had short head bolts &the block cracker , most of them are gone, then look out for 1980 to about 1982 the block were thin in rear right corner &cracked BAD

[@austinalbright9837]

@catmodelt Was it a 3408 Cat? That was a horse too. Did you ever see a Detroit 12-71 with the twin Schweitzer turbos. One of those passed me up on the Blues in Oregon like I was standing still. You reminded me of a moose story. A friend of mine saw a moose standing in the middle of the freeway on I90 up in northern Idaho. He stopped to let him cross and while he was stopped his air dryer cycled. This pissed off the moose and he attacked his truck. Said moose did about $2000.00 worth of damages in about 20 seconds the casually crossed over into trees. Jim said he had a hard time trying to convince his boss what just happened😒 This

[@JacksonGuitarsPlayer03]

One of the beast engines from back then

[@brandonsimpson6379]

He iz a lucky son,that iz a beautiful Kenworth,I think that the 70's Kenworths are the best to me,I wish could in ride in one of those Kenworths,that would be cool,that would be a blast for me.

[@bobkanno6797]

Reminds me of a special project that we help build, a W900 with a KTTA 700 and a CLBT Allison for a heavy haul application, running on a exemption cert.

[@oldmanfromoc7684]

I had the pleasure of driving one from Artesia ice it had the wick turned up 700 horse ! Thank you Bill Frampton!

[@ryanlamfers8692]

12 minutes of video and not one Jake hit?

[@qballz69]

Epic epic epic epic, just bloody epic!! Need more footage of this beast

[@chrise3801]

What an amazing piece of history,someone with a lot of cash specd that truck when it was new

[@cargotoolshop5319]

Fuel was cheap, bigger was better in the days before engineers got paid millions of dollars, the 60's had muscle cars and the 70's had over built one ton trucks, cool stuff

[@haydona1845]

@Cargo tool shop This statement couldn't be anymore true. That's how it was back then. Wish I could've experienced it but I'm a good bit younger

[@user-wm9pj2xj7z]

@@cargotoolshop5319hey man it’s not the engineers that killed the diesels it the cali emissions standards that ruined the diesels, engineers just had to change them to keep a job

[@johncunningham4820]

Here in Australia , the 19 litre Cummins is called the QSK and is Usually rated at 750 bhp . and 2950 ft/lb . Road Train Engine .

[@grumpystruckshop3807]

I think you will find Qsk is not a kta19. Related but a more modern version with electrnics

[@johncunningham4820]

@@grumpystruckshop3807 . Due to Emissions , even the Electronic QSK Engine is not permitted into Urban Areas . Let alone the KTA versions . Perhaps not even available any more .

[@silverfox605]

1976 w 900 VIT w/KTA 600 turned up to 850 hp by Cummins for special experiment with UNION 76, FIRESTONE Tires, Bendix Brakes and Fram Air Filters along with a few other companys to test products in HEAVY DUTY TRUCKING! 2 years of testing and adjustments we were able to get 4.3 MPG pulling over 199 ton of products. Lucky for me, Union 76 paid for 60% of the fuel and Firestone paid for the tires!! Oil wis experimental and paid for by Union 76 also. Blue oil for some time. Engine tore down 500,000 and did not show any wear at all.

[@Turbo-wj9qc]

Really cool truck, nothing better looking than a day cab too.

[@Turbo-wj9qc]

@Space Pope no, I like the day cabs like this one.

[@randyhale4181]

We need more history on this rig........

[@666dynomax]

Trucks a beauty. Glad it's still being enjoyed. Sounds great

[@TheRoyalBavarian]

I've never driven one of classics but they feel like family. Several members of my family made a living in these butes.

[@ynb3a9y4life]

Most satisfying and humble truck video on KZbin 👍🏼

[@waynedelaney3452]

Man that brings back memories I had a 76 with a set of sticks A5 and A4 the good old days

[@deborahchesser7375]

Man if you can drive a 5 n 4 or a Mack quad box, you can drive anything ever built.

[@emiliogonzalez5223]

Still looks damn good and sounds damn good keep riding it

[@ellisjackson3355]

I've always liked that pillow style trim on the interior of the doors on these old trucks

[@joshmusgrove1389]

Bad ass truck I’m from medicine lodge cool to see local guys on KZbin 👍

[@sgtyork9330]

Reminds me of hauling corn to a feedlot in western Kansas back in 2006. Pulled a grain trailer 5 days a week for 4 months that Spring and Summer.

[@billferris5292]

Beautiful rig, working on the old ones is always a pleasure, the new ones are just work.

[@drewl4762]

Thats one beautiful old k dub

[@olivermarshall5860]

Something about the classics, great vid mate.

[@James-kd7dc]

That was a good looking paint scheme. Those stripes look good in any colour. Pink, green, gold, purple any! And those KT's are one strong engine. Good enough combination for me 👍🇦🇺

[@kizerbread]

God bless you for posting this up

[@Biglug8888]

That's a great truck 👍 Thanks for sharing.

[@juanmoreno5043]

Very nice KW and yes looks good without a sleeper

[@robertbrake9927]

That is a awesome truck. Thanks for sharing ✌🏼😎

[@heavyhaul8621]

Dad had a 79 Peterbuilt with a KTA and the same blue metal flake color that one has on black. BEAUTIFUL.

[@jeepanimal2943]

Every couple of months I come back to watch this vid. Dang sweet ride. Dang sweet.

[@WeberAuto23]

@JeepAnimal Thank you very much!!

[@RoyFabian]

Forget back in it's day, that 40 ish year old truck will still easily eat alot of trucks out there for lunch today!

[@markduncan6105]

1150 cubic inches 1 head for each cylinder. stock 600 HP there is really no need to turn it up. No other engine could hold a candle to a KT. 😊😊 Awesome truck.👌👌

[@mattlundberg5741]

Awesome truck!! True survivor!! An Animal Engine and sweet paint. Very cool to see a unmolested rig like that.

[@gearjammingevents6222]

Brilliant video here guys........ Love the kta600 Cummins motors they are so cool. Need some more videos of this old girl shifting gears and e haust sound

[@scottex8370]

Love those EG'S performance add ons

[@kennyspry5189]

A Days Polishing and Waxing and that Truck would Look Like Brand New

[@michaelvs.scorpio7676]

Bust out the Meguair's!!

[@2stepsaway820]

I don't think that's the point. Remember this truck is from 1979. Sometimes leaving the paint as it is tells more about the history of the truck. This is one of those cases.

[@hotrodwelding7]

Fine pc of machinery, took my driving test in an 80 model but only had a 350 cummins

[@katzkatcher]

I learned on an 80 with a cat & a 9 .

[@jonnyg9330]

Super clean, im not even into semi trucks but really like this one

[@holdenbrougham1056]

i was into classic 60's 70's australian cars but trucks are bigger toys with bigger noise , and just more of a challenge to drive

[@thetvmn88]

My school bus as a kid had this engine, this sound brought back memories!

[@supersonicgypsy14]

Hahahahaha absolutely no way your school bus had a KTA. Way too big for no reason. Those were put in a very limited number of heavy haul trucks, not school buses carrying a few hundred lbs of mini people...

[@callthemall]

60k views.. congrats on cracking into the KZbin algorithm!

[@joecameron3512]

Beautiful truck sounds amazing 1150 Cummins was a monster

[@caseyjones3684]

Sounds Hellacious!!!!! awesome truck

[@littleitaly4700]

That cummins sounds badass, love how she puuurrrrsss.

[@robertbradford7892]

I love this truck music to my ears...👌

[@leahsilvers5376]

Had one new in '79. Turned the west coast from indiana in 4 and a half days. Topped at 128 mph.

[@rickclark4179]

Leah Silvers th guy that said that th kt was after th n14 needs a history leson

[@bertgrau9246]

I don't believe that, in 79 the speed limit was 55, I know you weren't doing 128 in Illinois, or Indiana. I can believe you made a turn in 4 and a half days, I hauled produce from southern California to Hunts point market (NYC) in less than 96 hours (4 days) with a 290 horsepower Cummins approximately 2300 miles

[@leahsilvers5376]

@@bertgrau9246 didn't say I run 128 all the time

[@andyharman3022]

128 mph loaded? at 80,000 pounds? Wow.

[@leahsilvers5376]

@@andyharman3022 look up the Liberty Bell and the General Lee trucks owned by Max Metsger from Silver Lake Indiana. Metzger trucking. And old friend that is now gone . Those trucks held the land speed record in the late 1970's and early 80's.

[@DaBoogie049]

I love the old paintjob

[@digger3237]

Sweet truck boys! Would love to see it in person

[@rileyhowser2709]

You sir have my dream truck!

[@tomasandersen367]

Hell....That is a truck and I love it. Btw. Thats cool recording there too :-) Regards from Denmark.

[@tonynorris1250]

Had a friend that drove one like that with a big house on the back. I hated that truck! Here I was with a CAT tuned up and he'd lop my ears off on the mountains. I could keep up okay flatland but he'd get 3-4 miles on me if we ran hills! 🤣🤣 Sweet ride y'all!

[@smckinney3mckinney141]

I had always heard that the K model Cummins was called the "Cat Killer."

[@jsd795]

That 1150 has about 300 cubes on a 3406, it better out pull it.

[@michaelvs.scorpio7676]

A GOOD-LOOKIN' truck!! I like the body style; it's basically rectangular in design, yet still so ruggedly handsome!!

[@ClimbToSummit]

Special thanks to Mom and Dad.

[@weldthatiron3683]

Sounds so good cool truck

[@cargotoolshop5319]

That's awesome truck, little coffin sleeper would make it perfect, that truck is a true gem, I can only dream of pulling my n14 out for a kta19, the old timers that I talked to that had them say I would get 3mpg until I learned how to drive it and then I would get 5 to 5.5

[@shanewilson9115]

Have a ktta in a 359 and it gets 2mpg

[@marknewell7355]

Smiles per gallon lol

[@bertgrau9246]

I talked to a guy that drove a cabover GMC with a 12V71 480 horsepower and he said at best it got 3 MPG

[@stevegale6000]

That kta will and probably smoke the n14 Cummins just saying

[@cargotoolshop5319]

@@stevegale6000 I would hope so, the KTA makes so much more torque that the horse power numbers are no longer relevant to the equation of how much power it makes, like comparing a 400hp Dodge truck to a 400hp ISX in a Kenworth

[@njrebel6320]

i hear a faint sound of eastbound and down watching this.

[@terrellstewart1532]

They Cummins just pools with ease very nice machine💪

[@terrellstewart1532]

Sorry i meant to say that Cummins pulls with ease .

[@davonhenry7467]

Those trucks are a beauty

[@robharrick4694]

That’s a beautiful a model!

[@KPearce57]

Drove at KW with a C-15 625 hp and 2800 Torque 18 speed trans. Built for hauling cattle, had to run from stock yard to the next usually 750 to 900 miles to get them off the trailer due to stress.

[@hollywoodundead72]

Love ya brotha this moment felt was propa as fuck bless you my guy✊️

[@lukegillins125]

Nice 79. My favorite truck is the a model.

[@ericlakota6512]

Im no trucker and notice the older ones have a rounded almost mack lower cab great old truck varry well kept

[@DavidLopez-ho2mb]

Brings back memories, of my truck a lifetime ago.

[@jamescarter1500]

The rattling and white smoke trademark Cummins.

[@dirtbike9003]

Quit blowin that horn, that motor provides some beautiful music....

[@JacksonGuitarsPlayer03]

Don’t tell a trucker to quit blowin his horn!

[@JacksonGuitarsPlayer03]

Patrick Bruno I’m a US citizens and really hate the new trucks because of their damn engines with all that tech and emissions bullshit. We got a cummins ISX15 trucks at my job and they aren’t bad, but others are worse like the Paccar engines. I remember driving a paccar T880 Kenworth dump truck and it had a lot of problems with its emissions/tech bullshit. I’m a CAT engine guy and a older Cummins engines guy. Detroit 60 series is ok I guess. I’ll drive one of our old 60 series Detroit wreckers every now and then. In my opinion, ultimate truck engine is the Caterpillar. Just a perfect engine. All the power, torque, reliability is there and it’s got no emissions and techy bullshit. Cat C15, 3406, 3406e. Best big truck engines! N14 Cummins too. Also older engines like M11 Cummins, Big Cam Cummins, 8v92 Detroits. All old school is fantastic.

[@JacksonGuitarsPlayer03]

Patrick Bruno Fitzgerald glider kits still there I think

[@leejohnson6173]

@@JacksonGuitarsPlayer03 They dont sell gliders anymore..Just have their pete dealerships.

[@JacksonGuitarsPlayer03]

lee johnson Fitzgerald Gliders? Damn that sucks

[@jimmysturgill9575]

What a beautiful truck .

[@michaelscordo256]

That tree is getting some direct CO2 for O2 conversion!

[@AbcAbc-ox6pg]

These branches next to the exhaust will die, if you treat them to long, not only due to the exhaust fumes but the heat as well. Saw that on my tree when I let my truck idle too long.

[@JimmyCasket02]

Except for all the soot unburnt fuel and heat sure

[@Njderig]

Great looking truck

[@sandorivera7industriaazucarera]

A beauty!! sounds!! greatest!!!

[@jesusvera1210]

Outstanding and awesome

[@bobwilliams3502]

A friend of mine had one we were both hauling meat out of the Midwest up to Boston this was around 1975 or 76 I was bowling a grade in Pennsylvania when he passed me in my little lol 350 Cummins like he was empty I never did see him after that he was unloaded and gone by the time I got there the only downside to that engine that KT a 600 is that they held 70 quarts of oilAnd that engine was a little heavy but who cares with all that power sure wish I had one nowadays

[@kimmorrison9169]

now thats the engine to have

[@ericlakota6512]

Kenworth is so hard to tell a year they all look the same for 50 years

[@lerg12]

The headlights can be some of the dead giveaways, you can usually tell the decade at least with the headlights, at least I can

[@scottwilke3966]

Beautifull clean ol Kenworth !!! I would be rite proud to get under a load and head out to anywhere usa and deliver on time in that gorgeous old girl ! Love those tall mufflers she's a keeper for shure

[@brcsta51]

I wanna hear the jake brakes in that rig lets gooo!!!

[@bloodhound8000]

Very nice...take care of it !!

[@SinisterShelby]

Beautiful

[@SuperTransmission]

I have a 79 Kenworth with a KT 600 cummins came from the factory with a 5 x 4 trans 60'' bunk 248 wheelbase , I bought when it was 2 years old garage kept its whole life it hasn't been on the road in over 25 years & it looks like the day i parked it, never left out side unless it was on the road, believe it or not back in the 80s the truck thieves would steal a W900 or a 359 peet with a KT in it it in a minute & you would never see it again, Old time truckers still talk about my W900 & I get calls all the time do you still have that Kenworth are you ready to sell it & I tell them no and they get mad, maybe someday maybe...

[@WeberAuto23]

That is awesome, we would love to see yours!

[@timschweitzer6040]

when you want to sell i have cash and iwouldmlove to give it to you please keep me in mind

[@trentwatts8670]

Man what an awesome awesome truck to own wow

[@julieannmcclain8021]

Awesome!