Cummins N14 - Early 90's Red Top?

[vincen47]

So I've got a question about the N14 - what year was the higher horsepower "Red Top" introduced? 

If I'm modeling say, a 1990 or 91 truck, should the valve cover be black? 

Internet research hasn't provided a clear answer. It seems the red may have been a mid to late 90's thing with all of the Celect and Celect Plus electronics, but I'm not sure. Hope you guys can help.

[lapazleo]

The N 14 was offered in both electronic and mechanical versions side by side till at least 93. All N 14's 435 and up had the cast aluminium red valve covers while those under 435 had stamped steel black covers. The N 14 came in 330,350,370,410,435,460,500 and 525 hp versions as well as dual rated versions 330/370,370/435 and 435/500. I put hundreds of thousands of miles on these great engines.

[highway]

The N 14 was offered in both electronic and mechanical versions side by side till at least 93. All N 14's 435 and up had the cast aluminium red valve covers while those under 435 had stamped steel black covers. The N 14 came in 330,350,370,410,435,460,500 and 525 hp versions as well as dual rated versions 330/370,370/435 and 435/500. I put hundreds of thousands of miles on these great engines.

You must have had a high horse one then to call them great!  I had a 330 in a mid 90s FLD 120, and that thing slowed down when it seen a hill, I think it got scared! I had a similar truck with the same company, only difference was the big mean, green 470 Detroit under the hood, and that truck would pull a mountain like nothing and get to the top and ask for more! 

I do have to give older Cumaparts credit though. I drove a 74 White/Western Star wrecker that had a 444 Big Cam under the hood hooked to a 15 speed deep reduction, and that thing would pull almost anything it hooked to. The only thing it didn't pull that I ever had it hooked to was a garbage truck that went over a hillside and had to be pulled out of the creek it landed in with a dozer and excavator. After the equipment got it to where what was left of the truck could be loaded on a lowboy, the owner of the towing company told me to hook the drag winch up to the wreck and drag it on the lowboy. I hooked up, got in the wrecker and started pulling in 1st gear. The wreck didn't budge, thanks to all but one or two tires being flat, but did pick the front of the wrecker about 8 feet of the ground!  Thankfully, I let off the fuel slow enough and put my foot on the brake fast enough to just easily set it back on the ground. It took me pulling and the excavator pushing the packer body to finally get the wreck on the lowboy.

[vincen47]

Thanks for the great information.

Glad it will be accurate if paint it as a red top. 

[Force]

Otherwise the truck you are building could have been re-powered, not uncommon as the engines wear out.

Edited January 16, 2016 by Force