OT---- IHC DUMP TRUCK

[lenray]

Looking at a 1978 IHC tandem axle dump truck with a DT 466 and a 13 speed transmission.
It looks to be a decent truck. I use a dump truck just for my personal rental business.
Any thoughts on this truck would be appreciated.
thanks

 

[Anonymous-0]

Other than being lower on horse power(210), I've never heard anything bad about the DT 466. With a 13 speed you would have an excellent truck. I've heard the 13 speed is a good transmission as well. The DT 466 has replacable liners and is one of the most reliable and economical engines to work on. Dave

 

[rustyfarmall]

The only bad thing I have heard about the 466 is that it may not go quite as far in between rebuilds as a Cat or Cummins, but for the way you will be using the truck, it really won't matter. The 13 speed came in several different versions, but all of them are good, and since the 13 speed was pretty much the transmission of choice for the over the road trucks for many, many years, it has to be good. If you've never driven a 13 speed, you might be in for a bit of a learning curve, but read the manual first, and you will eventually master it.

 

[Walt Davies]

Check the body real close for rust those trucks from that time are well known for body rust that will eat up the entire cab.
Also they have very low pressure on the power steering so its not a real easy truck to steer in tight places.
had several of the 76 models Fort Ord and they were pretty much gone by 88 when I left, the salt water on the coast ate them right up. Remember this is just after they took the lead out of paint an it was a while before they got it right.
Walt

 

[Anonymous-0]

We had a single axle IH, short wheel base with a dump body, DT 466 and a 10 speed. Great for small jobs and tight places. I thought it was a good combination, plenty of power with a full load on, the 10 speed was a good match for it, that 13 ought to be even better. The only drawback may be that the 466 might be a tad small for a larger truck like a tandem, so it may not seem as powerful when loaded, but having a 13 spd should help that. I can remember many retired state highway trucks of that era around here, rusted beyond belief, even for a mall parking lot or winter snow removal jobs where many of them were bought and used for that purpose after the state got rid of them, one place I worked had 2 of them and they'd leave a trail of big rust flakes into the garage, probably from spreading salt on the roads etc., I'd also imagine along the coastal areas they did like Walt said, too bad as they were good and inexpensive trucks, hopefully yours has survived without the excessive rust.

 

[RodinNS]

Ugggggggg. A '78 S-Liner doesn't get me too excited.
I spose if it's one that the cab hasn't fallen off of yet then you might do alright with it. A DT if it's spec'd high enough will do, but it's no power house in a tandem. Good on fuel though. 13 speed with some deep gearing would be a requirement. There were a lot of those trucks on the go here (and still are I spose). They mostly got worked on highway jobs where they were on a rate. No need to hurry up and lose money (burn fuel) when you're on those jobs....
Most of those trucks have all been replaced with big bore Cummins engines today.

Just thinking about that rustbox cab and keeping lights working on that old crisper just about gives me the shivers, but if you don't mind that you whould be fine.
Personally I'd be looking for something with an aluminum cab...

Rod