10-4 Magazine - For Today's Trucker

July 2007 - Performance Zone
DE-BRIDGING YOUR CAT
By Performance Specialist Bruce C. Mallinson

Get the “Bridge” off your Cat’s back – after all, bridges were made for Cats to run across, not carry them on their backs. If you have a 2003 or early 2004 Caterpillar MBN “Bridge” engine and its sluggish, tired, and low on power and fuel mileage, there is help for you. To this date, we have been able to help eleven owner operators with this engine – and the “help” is pretty good.

With our Cat Bridge fix, we can help you to gain about one mile per gallon on fuel efficiency and get your engine to produce 575 horsepower (or even more – up to 650 horsepower – on the performance setting) and the engine will be responsive. Just let out the clutch and touch the throttle and your Cat will accelerate without hesitation. And when you drop a gear on the hills and roll you foot back into the throttle, you’ll have instant response. The first thought that will come to your mind will be, “I can’t believe it’s the same engine.” Then, when it’s time to rebuild your Bridge Cat, we have the correct pistons, camshaft, injectors and turbo to completely de-bridge your engine. This really is a great engine – it just has some bad components that hold it back.

The last Bridge Cat that we un-bridged pulls a gravel trailer with a pup trailer in Utah. Before we fixed his engine, he would crawl over Soldiers Summit, grossing 112,000 pounds, at 20 to 25 mph with a wide open throttle. Now, this Caterpillar-powered Pete pulls the summit at 40 to 45 mph with only three-quarters of the available throttle being used. That is about 90% faster without using all of its power. The fuel mileage is one mpg better because it’s not grinding up the hill anymore. When we started this project, I asked the owner operator if he wanted a “scalded dog” or a “raped ape” under the hood. He said that he didn’t know the difference. Well, I told him that a “scalded dog” is very fast and a “raped ape” is very powerful. After he pulled Soldiers Summit for the second time, he went from hating his Peterbilt to loving it, just because of its new-found performance. Later he called me back and said, “I now have a “scalded ape” because she is fast AND powerful!”

So, if you want your Bridge Cat to be a “scalded ape” as well (and if you want to get an additional mile per gallon), just give us a call. First, we will need your engine number, model of transmission, the size and circumference of your tires (if you can measure the tire) and the ratio of the rear gears. Next, you will have to choose between a soft cruise and a hard cruise, and decide if you want the Jake Brake to shut off below 5 mph. Then, just bring in your truck and be patient – it takes us about a month to work the magic to get the bridge off of your Cat’s back. And if you really want to see your Cat fly, just install a Pittsburgh Power Performance Computer, along with all the other parts we ship to you, and you could have 860 horsepower under your right foot! Let me tell you, your Cat would NOT be a dog anymore.

Let’s move on to some updates at Pittsburgh Power. We are still making the final changes to the Pittsburgh Power Computer for the Cummins ISX engine. We should have these units ready later this summer. Also, the DD5 EGR Detroit is just about ready as well. Talk about power – the first computer for this engine had to be cut back. On its trial run, we sent it out with a Western Star that was running a 550 Cat with a Pittsburgh Power Computer. Both trucks were pulling flatbed trailers, loaded with steel, and approximately the same gross weight. The drivers were talking over the CB while they pulled the same hills using the same power settings, and the Detroit was constantly pulling away from the Cat, so we cut the power back slightly on the DD5 EGR Detroit computer. By the way, this test Detroit, in its stock form at 515 horsepower, had a fluctuation of about 10 psi of turbo boost when pulling a hill because of the EGR opening and closing. With the Pittsburgh Power Computer installed, there was NO fluctuation in the turbo boost and NO loss of power when the EGR opened – just pure horsepower and torque. If you have ever snubbed you nose at a 60 Series Detroit, don’t do it. Now, with just a little help from Pittsburgh Power, these little critters can crank up the mountains with ease and give the “big dogs” a real run for their money.

Now for some random thoughts that have been rolling around in my head. I have always been impressed by truck drivers and owner operators who grew up on a farm or a ranch. Regardless of their age, from 22 to 72 years old, these guys are some of the greatest truck drivers out there. Most of them have been driving on the farm or ranch since they were five, six, or seven years old. And when it comes to breaking equipment, they just don’t. These farm-raised drivers know just how far they can push a piece of equipment and when to let up on the throttle. After all, their father didn’t spare the rod to spoil the child, and it would have been tough having breakfast, lunch, and dinner across the table from him after blowing up the farm tractor or the combine.

So, if you grew up on a farm or a ranch, and you call us to ask for more horsepower and/or torque, don’t worry about the torque rating of your transmission. We could give you 1,000 horsepower and you won’t hurt the driveline. You were taught to drive by the seat of your pants and you’ll never tear up the equipment that makes your life possible. You are just too practical to let that happen, and that is something you learn on the farm. One owner operator told me that his father always kept a team of oxen on the farm just in case something happened to the tractor. But he knew if he hurt the tractor and had to use the oxen, he’d also have to walk with the plow behind them. Needless to say, he cherished that old farm tractor and took good care of it! If you have any comments or questions about any performance-related topics, feel free to give me a call at Pittsburgh Power in Cheswick, Pennsylvania. I can be reached during normal business hours at (724) 274-4080.