T&T: Caterpillar 3208 engine--rebuild
Jon Boy aka:TrawlerGuy
The 3208, (as it's predecessor the 1160) is a "parent bore" engine. I.e. no
sleeves from the factory. It's bores are cast/machined into the block
material.
I worked for Cat in around 1973 when this engine was designed and come to
market and replaced the 1160. The 3208 wasn't really all that different than
the 3208 with the redesign of the front cover and the change to the "sleeve
metering" fuel system being the major ones. BTW: I actually don't care for the
sleeve metering fuel system, especially compared to the "compact fuel system"
it replaced, because it is much more fragile, is lubricated via the diesel
fuel itself, and has no means for draining and water that may accumulate in
the bottom of the fuel housing. Of course the same is true of the Roosa
Master/CAV/Stanadyne systems too. I, as do many including Dave (SwanSong)
evidently, did have a bad attitude towards the engine for many years mostly
because I held it up in comparison to the traditional, heavier liner design
engines and believed that anything less was trash. Of course I had even lower
regards for the Perkins/Ford/Lehman/and the other names used for it. Mostly
because they weren't "CAT" you see and Caterpillar was, and probably still is,
a bit of a cult thing. I'm older now... and have seen more... and don't hold
such idealistic views and expectations for me, the world, or anything in it.
I.e. I've had to eat a lot of crow over the years and it will temper you a
lot.
The 3208 is very "rebuildable" and has proved itself to be a good engine, in
it's own right. You can do a good overhaul but simply boring the block, like a
gasoline "type" engine, installing oversized pistons/rings and get very good
service life. As long as the machine work is done properly, and that includes
the use of "torque plates" when the boring is done. If the machine shop
doesn't know what those are or doesn't use them... find another shop.
A much better solution is to bore the block and then "sleeve" it back to std.
bore. This produces an engine that is MUCH better than the original as the
sleeve material is MUCH better alloy than the original parent bore material.
This is not a big deal either but, again, does require quality machine work to
achieve a good outcome.
These engines have actually been very impressive over a long period of time
considering that they were originally built as a light, low-cost (comparably),
high horsepower/weight engine that was 210HP in only a naturally aspirated
version. The industry has "pushed" this basic engine it limits I'd have never
believed possible, especially in the marine application, and it has, arguably,
survived fairly well.
Anyway, It is very rebuildable but and with "dry" liners "properly" installed
will make you a good engine. I might add that it's not, IMHO, a good idea to
ask this engine to perform for long periods of time at the extremely high
horsepower settings that it's rated at in the marine applications. Of course
this really doesn't apply to a trawler anyway.
Cheers, Jon
Message: 6
Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2007 09:05:05 -0700
From: "Jim Curley" <jimc...@roadrunner.com>
Subject: Re: T&T: Caterpillar 3208 engine
To: <trawlers-an...@lists.samurai.com>
Message-ID: <032901c7b030$1b342730$0300a8c0@JimComputer>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Is the Caterpillar 3208 Marine Engine a sleeved-cylinder engine or not? If
it
is not sleeved, how is an overhaul done (bore out and sleeve?)?
Message: 14
Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:16:23 -0400
From: "Dave Cooper" <swan...@gmn-usa.com>
Subject: Re: T&T: Caterpillar 3208 engine
To: <trawlers-an...@lists.samurai.com>
Message-ID: <002e01c7b04a$d413bbc0$990310ac@Dell>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Jim wrote: If it is not sleeved, how is an overhaul done (bore out and
sleeve?)>
Throw it away ;-) or treat it right so it doesn't wear out prematurely and
then buy a new short or long block.
As always YMMV....
Dave & Nancy
Swan Song
Roughwater 58
Caribbean Cruise '07
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