Build Your 3406E For 650 Horsepower and a Million Miles!

Don't watch this version! I remade this video at much better quality and with more info! Thanks!
If I were to build a 40 pin 3406E for myself, this is how I would build it. This engine will run with the best of engines for a complete long life and you won't struggle with heat issues. When you build your engine, do it right.

[@mikemorse8592]

Had a 435 5Ek cat reman that for what ever reason they used a later E block had the 4 bolt opening at 5/6 blocked off. Put a dual tstat housing and oil cooler outlet off a 6nz on it. Marine cam Pittsburgh power turbo and manifold. Can’t recall the tune but it was factory cat I do know that, wouldn’t doubt if it was the brake saver. That engine made me a lot of money and didn’t get passed by much on a good hill. I can attest you are giving out sound advice here. 6nz’s get all the love but for my money it’s hard to beat a 40 pin ( unless of course the timing sensor shits the bed and leaves you hoofing it😂) have a good one

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Exactly. You've experienced everything I was talking about. It's hard to beat an engine put together like that.

[@robertcameron5364]

Finally!!!!!! an engine builder that has the right idea,, the only thing i disagree with is the use of a Marine cam,,, where the benefit of it comes from i cant say,, I had these idea's when i had a B module cat,,, the only thing to keep it in the operation temp was to give it more fuel,, which in turn made it use more fuel [ 4mph ] not one CAT man that's been the u tube has come out with this build yes they have built Racing Cat Engine but not one for Highway use,,, if one can do this follow this man's build use the parts that he recommends you'll have power to pull a load down the highway & up the steep hill,,, you'll be able to run the truck at 1350 to 1400rpms on the flats & see 6 & half to 8 mile to the gallon,,, my suggestion is to put a thirteen speed trans or an 18 speed behind the engine,, because this thing will twist a 10 speed into because of the horse power & torque it will build,, i don't even think an automatic would last long,, TWO THUMBS UP ON A GREAT BUILD

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Thanks for the reply and affirmations! I definitely tell guys that the marine cam is an option if they want to push it that far but that it's probably the last thing I'd add to the build. Personally, I probably wouldn't put one in unless my original cam was going bad. The guys who've done this build or similar with marine cam have really liked it. Not much keep up with them on the road. And I'm not big on outrageous power. I want an engine that will outlast AND out pull everything else. Really appreciate your feedback.

[@snydedon9636]

I had two 3406e motors in two new trucks back in the day. One was a 99 the other was a 06. Awesome motors! Thanks for the interesting video and props to the camera girl. She did great.

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Thanks! I love it when my kids can spend some time at the shop with me

[@snydedon9636]

@@bigrig_smilespergallon 👍

[@1tuffzx10]

She did a excellent job 😃👌🏾

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

She did great but the video was terrible. I hope you've seen that I remade this video with a longer and better-quality version. It's a lot easier to watch. lol

[@1tuffzx10]

@bigrig_smilespergallon i did watch the other version. I think it was great because it was father daughter time & as a parent/father those are always the best moments. I kno your a GREAT mechanic but think your a fantastic father 💯💯💯💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾. Stay strong my brother & keep up the great work your doing. ALWAYS looking forward 2 a new video

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

@@1tuffzx10 Thanks. You came close to making my eyes sweat... I'm so thankful to have my kids and I just try my best to balance providing for them physically and just as much emotionally/spiritually. It's probably never in balance but it keeps me busy. lol Thanks again! I appreciate the encouragement.

[@miken7382]

Sweet motor and good to see you bringing up your daughter the right way !

[@danson57]

Eliza did a great job. Thank You Sweetie

[@billroe7832]

great information, for free as well, I think you did a great job.

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Thanks!

[@adamprice5276]

Eliza is doing a great job!😇♥️

[@vaughncowan4055]

Great video. Eliza is a great help. 😊

[@elroyelblander6277]

👍👍wish you were posting a year ago...I overhauled a 5ek then... It's at 475 in a dump truck ,with an old guy that's kinda hard on things,so perhaps, better off leaving it alone... lol... though when I drive it, I could use a couple hundred more..lol .but anyway, Thank you for your time and videos 👍👍👊

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

My timing has always been poor. lol. 475 is enough to break a lot of driveline parts on a dump truck. The most bulletproof dump trucks seem to be pretty underpowered. You're probably better off

[@elroyelblander6277]

@@bigrig_smilespergallon 👍👍yup, you're right feller 👊

[@vaughncowan4055]

Nice video! I think I will still go with 55 Injectors with a marine cam.

[@youtubeisawesome2487]

cat paid 80 percent on broken cranks even after warranty was over, it wasnt the balancer issue, it was a crankshaft issue on 550hp

[@markchodroff250]

Great job , great information!

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Thanks!

[@3406e]

The 2ws is great too, think it was the last ser number made under the 3406e

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Yeah. Pretty much a 6NZ. It was an 'E' model but it was the first 70 pin motor. So a lot of the issues and improvements that I was pointing out that can be done to make the 40 pin better, don't apply to the 2ws.

[@3406e]

@@bigrig_smilespergallon ohh i get what your saying now, i didn't know it was a 70 pin. love these videos looking forward for more. Had you ever worked on any 1mm or 5ds before. I love those things

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

@@3406e I've been around a 1mm before but didn't do much work on the engine itself. The truck was unique. . . Kenworth T-2000 (Customer called it T-too-ugly). Eighteen speed and a bit of wheel base. White with blue racing stripes. It used to belong to Carol Shelby Racing. Kind of cool.

[@3406e]

@@bigrig_smilespergallon haha what a name

[@reevertransport3979]

The 2WS had the strongest block of all the E models.

[@tonymel8235]

great video

[@C_Coop]

That engine looking good.

[@JR.Garage]

Lol loves this. Thanks for the info boss man definitely some great info I can use once I rebuild my E model cat. 👏👏

[@fabianbuentello5694]

Great stuff man. Thank you!

[@redmesa2975]

Never heard them called 40 pin. 6NZ, 2WS, ect is all I’ve ever known them. Last company I drove for had 550 2WS engines with Jake’s and a brake saver. Brake Savers are a rarity now days. Kenworth w900 glider kits.

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Those are 70 pin engines. From 1995 to 1998 the ecm's had forty wire plugs for the harnesses. They made a bunch of changes with the 2WS including a new ecm that had seventy wires per plug. And the last of the C-15's (Acert's) were 120 pin. I've seen brakesavers at truck shows but never really been around them.

[@ShaneSharp-s1o]

Stock injectors and a marine cam not a good combination

[@harryroyall7948]

love to get you to build me a engine one day

[@nathanwoita1033]

For extra cooling for cylinders 5&6 if you already have a heater valve coming out of that port, would you just T in to the oil cooler, but between the valve and the block?

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

I don't know if you'd still get all of the flow you want by teeing it in. Tees tend to slow down a flow. When you look at the port hole in the block that you're gonna use, it's only 3/4" pipe. It's awfully small. Take a look at the C-15's and they put a 2" x 3" window in the block at #5/6. So, yeah, you could but I think it might have a better effect if you used a separate port.

[@petecotter6720]

Quick question, u mentioned.0035-.004” liner protrusion. Assuming upper & lower counter bores were done and the block was decked, at the machine shop, now you install new liners, the protrusion measures closer to .005. How do you end up with closer to .0035-.004. I am running an O-ringed head. One other thing I would add, is a set of ARP studs instead of the cat head bolts. If your building any kind of power, it becomes difficult to hold that head down! Great video, very informative, thanks for your recipe!

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

If the machine shop decks your block and the liners, spacer plate, and shim gasket under the spacer plate are all perfectly machined parts, the liner protrusion should come out at .003". If you want a higher protrusion than that, you have to cut the counterbore for the liner down to, say... .028" and then put a .030" shim in the bore so that you end up raising the liner up by .002". And that would bring your protrusion up to .005".

[@KevinLundie]

Is my 3406 e Engine number 5EK31469 suitable for your twin thermostat C 15 housing upgrade? Everything in your video made so much sense, a little pricey for the parts but I think you have nailed it if it works on my engine

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Yes. That video completely applies to your engine.

[@0dbm]

Excellent video , but buy her a tripod

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

I've got one now. One of these days, I'll remake the video. Thanks!

[@muddsomething9477]

nice cat . what about a 2ws what would do for more horsepower?

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

It all depends on where you are with it. If you need a rebuild, it's totally different than if you just had one and it isn't fire ringed and you don't want to risk blowing the head gasket. Where are you at?

[@xavierquinonez6545]

I have a 2ws , can you do a video of what I need to do to increase horsepower safely without fire my truck 😅

[@InterstateMadeMe]

Can you do one for a 12.7 Detroit 😂😂

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Gonna have to do a little research before that video. . I did this one off the top of my head.

[@InterstateMadeMe]

@@bigrig_smilespergallon yea we know you a cat man lol.

[@dadyo63]

Camera girl little bit wobbly but cute 😊

[@deeremeyer1749]

Dual thermostats are NOT "redundant".

[@fernandogaspard737]

Would this be good for a 6nz that a 475

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

You wouldn't have to do some of the things because the 6nz is the upgrade to the engines that I was describing. A lot of the important stuff was already improved on the 6nz. I just put up a new video a couple days ago that was a remake of this video - but it was also a deeper dive. I think if you were to watch it, you'd see what applies to the 6nz. Watch that one and if you have any further questions, I'll do my best to give answers.

[@ryanehlis426]

I still think 🤔 the 12.7 Detroit is the best truck engine ever made. 😊

[@alexmoloney1560]

If you like oil leaks.....

[@jaydunbar7538]

As someone who has actually owned Cat and Detroit I disagree. I haven’t had issues with reliability, but I’ve never had a reliability issue with a cat either. What I do have a problem with is the Detroit is gutless, yes it can be turned up but so can the cat. Currently running a 1998 with a 12.7, ok little engine but I’ve gained nothing over the cats I’ve had and it’s abysmally slow at everything.

[@ryanehlis426]

@@jaydunbar7538 In my experience the 12.7 always did significantly better fuel mileage than C15 and parts where less expensive.

[@cwcw4434]

Hey there thank you for the tips. I picked up a 1000hp marine cam (332-7300 for a future build, use 10r 8502 injector . And ecm tune around 650=700hp What would your opinion be on that?

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

What engine are you starting with?

[@cwcw4434]

Mbn

[@cwcw4434]

Ive already changed the turbo running a different ecm program then what originally came with it . After market head . It currently has the 1000 injectors

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

@@cwcw4434 I'm not a tuner but from what I was told by my guy, there aren't a lot of tunes for 70 pin ecms and those injectors. They tend to dump too much fuel. So if you get it together and can't keep it cool, I'd be trying different tunes until I found one that would work. I would want the head o-ring'd if it isn't already. Those can be really good engines.

[@cwcw4434]

Ok thanks . It does run a bit warm already ill keep at it till i get it right .

[@narcissistinjurygiver2932]

how do these compare to detroit diesel 2 strokes for mpg in the same power class?

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

I haven't been around too many two strokes. Never one that made that sort of power. Normally, with more horsepower, fuel mileage increases. But I'd still think that the Cat would blow it out of the water.

[@narcissistinjurygiver2932]

@@bigrig_smilespergallon i am a retiring Mercedes mechanic. If i wanted one of these engines to play with can i find one cheap?

[@jaydunbar7538]

@@narcissistinjurygiver2932salvage auctions, but even then it’s probably not going to be cheap unless 10k on an unknown is cheap to you.

[@TruckinJay]

Will this work for c15 acert

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

For BXS, MXS, and NXS - yes. It's off of the SDP acert (2008)

[@robertcameron5364]

Do this CAT Men & you'll have a long lasting Cat Motor that make you a boat load of money!!!!!!!!!1

[@kevinjoyce4497]

Thanks for the video. Come on everyone, let’s get a bunch more subscribers. I just did.

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Thanks! I really appreciate the support!

[@deeremeyer1749]

"Fire ringed head" for an OTR engine. ROFLMAO. It's such an "upgrade" no stock engine has ever used them.

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

I often build 3406's without fire ringing them. This entire video is about making an engine last when running more horsepower than Cat designed them for. I'm comfortable with a stock head if it only has a 550 Cat tune or less. When you have a bigger tune than that, I warn customers that the head gasket may not hold as long.

[@jaydunbar7538]

When going above stock power you may need to do things that weren’t done from stock, is that really a difficult concept to grasp? When you start adding power all kinds of things can need to be upgraded above what stock did, clutch and u-joints are also upgrade points to consider depending on how much power is desired.

[@tbrown4674]

How do I get one of these engines that you build?

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

It helps if you're in our area. But the one in this video is for sale if you're truly serious.

[@bobbywright2100]

I know you’re new but tripods are cheap. And microphones with puff balls are on Amazon cheap. Just FYI. I couldn’t watch because the shaking and the sound quality sorry.

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Lol. I know... I know... I didn't want to invest until I was positive I wasn't going to quit. I just bought a GoPro and posted my first video with it. It's a lot better. I'm going to remake this video soon hopefully. Thanks for trying. lol

[@deeremeyer1749]

"Dropped liners" are 100% the fault of "tunes" and "saving money" on WILL-FIT PARTS INSTALLED BY SHADETREE "MECHANICS" TRYING TO "MAKE HORSEPOWER" AND "ON A BUDGET".

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

I'd agree with that for the most part. That's why I prefer a Cat tune over 'custom' tunes. But there's room for improvement in several areas on a 40 pin. Cat realized where improvements were needed and it's called a C-15...

[@deeremeyer1749]

"Marine cam". ROFLMAO.

[@jaydunbar7538]

Do you not know what a marine cam is? The heavy duty diesels get used in marine applications and get ran at higher power levels, so a marine can is a OEM part for those marine uses and it has different specs that make it easier to achieve higher power levels.

[@jaydunbar7538]

From your comments it seems you either don’t know much if anything about heavy duty diesels or your attempting to troll, either way have a blessed day.

[@Mega7492]

Some bad information too here.

[@pr0n5tar]

Such as?

[@scottycollins1829]

Thxs 4 the Gr8 Teachings 2 ppl & Ur daughter is doin an EXCELLENT JOB HELPING OUT 😎🔊🔊🔊🔊🔊🔊🔊🔊🔊🇺🇸📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢🫱🏻‍🫲🏾👍🏾📽📹🎥💯📸💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💎🏆🏅

[@ShaneSharp-s1o]

Stock injectors and a marine cam not a good combination

[@deeremeyer1749]

"Dropped liners" are 100% the fault of "tunes" and "saving money" on WILL-FIT PARTS INSTALLED BY SHADETREE "MECHANICS" TRYING TO "MAKE HORSEPOWER" AND "ON A BUDGET".