I BOUGHT A PETERBILT 379 SIGHT UNSEEN! HOW BAD IS IT? WILL IT MAKE IT HOME? 

A man with any kind of experience would ask 4 as many maitance records they have

Would love to see this as a project series

Love the way you approach projects. Seems like there’s a lot there to like especially if the price was right. I see a nice rollback back the time your finished.

great content, i'm learning a lot from your channel. i like to see these old girls get a breath of new life and go back into service.

Not a bad looking old Pete. It amazes me what you see on a “look over” that most people would miss. I’m not sure what you’re thinking for a build, but I’m definitely looking forward to it!

Hi JC 🙂 PACCAR frame sizes for double-frame straight trucks were frequently 273 x 89 x 9.5mm main with a 252 x 79 x 6.4mm insert; I often specified those for tipper and crane-equipped trucks. Tractors were often 256 x 89 x 8.0mm. Please excuse the odd mm, I’m recalling the ‘90s and my days at Foden Trucks here! 😆 Sage advice from the label applied to each frame rail after paint: “HEAT TREATED - DO NOT WELD TO RAIL OR DRILL FLANGES”. They peeled off after a couple of years, so people did… All frame hardware was Grade 10.9 at Foden; not sure if that was worldwide. Thanks for the memories 🙂 I’ll be following this one!

Interested to see this build and what you have in store for it if it checks all the boxes. Thanks for sharing JC! Nice find!

Seems like a good base, and sounds like you got it for a good price, I say build it, should be an interesting project

Can't belive all the little things you see that the ordinary person would never even think of.

From what I could see looking promising, frame is the back bone that’s , if that’s good ya have a project if it’s bad ya have a collection of used parts to find homes for if the price is right it’s all good 👍

If you decide to build it I’ll be looking forward to seeing it. When you mentioned going through the engine bearings a high volume oil pump would extra insurance long service.

As someone who worked at the peterbilt plant for 16 years and most likely worked on your truck, I’m shocked anything besides the running gear works at all!!! 90% of those broke on the line before they were completed.

You look them over like I do, records are nice but the eyes and experience have the final say, nice looking rig

She definitely has potential. I'd love to see how it goes, nice purchase

Good roll back truck project.

Another great video! Hope you will decide to built from the way you talked about her she's a good old girl just needs some love!

Hey JC from my experience if the the door jam looks like that check the floor pans.

The sluggish throttle / slow to return to idle thing is often from somebody messing with the Throttle shaft stop screw on the PT pump to get more fuel out of it, a good pump shop can set it up right for you. A big cam 2 or 3 wouldn’t hold any more oil pressure than the 4, 10 lbs per 1000 is plenty healthy, they made the main oil galley a lot larger on the 2’s and put higher flow pumps in them the idea being keeping the cams and followers supplied with as much oil as possible to get better life from them, which also is why they went to the big cam to begin with. I love a big cam Cummins, the 4’s aren’t my favorite with the low-flow cooling but as long as you’ve got a good rad, thermostats and fan shroud they do fine. The BC3 400 in my Paystar is the original block to the truck as verified by the serial number and has near 2 million miles on it, all of them as a dump truck so lots of stop/go and idling. Cat guys say a Cummins won’t last but 1.8 million miles with just bearing rolls and a couple in-frames is pretty good in my book.

I personally believe that most of those big name 1990’s trucks, are/were the last of the “real” trucks… Now all plastic, emissions, electronics, more plastic, emissions, offshore components, more electronics, more plastic, DEF, more offshore garbage components, more plastic…, oh, did I repeat myself… Great purchase on your part, I hunk you will be happy with it. Thank you sir.

Dear J.C. Smith projects family. 👍👌👏 Uuuuuh, this truck looks great! I like the older ones way more than newer models. Despite of all the "little" things that have to be addressed, it seems quite a good vehicle. Congrats for purchasing it. I really, really hope that there will be a video series about this awesome machine. As always I'm eagerly looking forward to watch the next video. Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing. Best regards luck and health to all of you.

HELLO JC AND MRS SMITH ITS IS RANDY AND I LIKE U VIDEO IS COOL JC THANKS FRIENDS RANDY

Owned a 95 379 ex hood with a C model CAT back in 2000 ran it for 7 years before selling it and seeing the old school cruise control next to the seat took me back a bit crank it up on the open road and give your foot a rest:)

Looks like a great start. Maybe a camper/rollback? Good luck and thanks.

That is a pretty good looking old Pete, I like the old ones the best . Good luck with the truck for your project truck . I will see you later in another video, so take care and stay safe working on the truck . 🤗👍💫

I love it the more you show the more you plain on swapping out, can't wait to see it.

Great video and I love how you show us all of the issues. I hope you find a good affordable rear end for it. I think it's a worthwhile project but like Stevie Ray Vaughan sang "Money's tight, nothin' free"

Man I’d hate for you to be my DOT officer in a roadside inspection hahaha. Definitely a truck with some potential!

It would make a awesome rollback

Love the music those big cams make though

🎉surprise truck 🎉thanks for sharing your time 👍

I’ve got a 94 379 that had that same tachometer issue that only worked on hard bumps, and it ended up being two solder connections at the plug on the back of the gauge had cracked out. So with some care removing the bezel I was able to solder it back together and I still have the original tachometer!

Leroy and I can’t wait till the next episode of this project!

It’ll be a great truck once it’s gone thru , another plus is that it’s emissions free . Peterbuilts and kenworths are my favorite trucks

extremely happy details god bless

Looking forward to future updates. Thanks for sharing.

Another one I’m going to be looking forward to.👍👍

Totally agree about the low-flow cooling but easy to convert to old style. Not a powerhouse but I love the big cam personally…

I’m sure you know already but you can turn up the oil pressure by adding a shim to the oil spring in the oil pump. It’s a silly Cummins thing for the era.

Nice title. I had a 1987 Peterbilt 379 that I ran everyday on long haul OTR for 2 years straight before someone on FB really wanted to buy it.

Boy nice find bud. That’s going to make a nice ride

Looking forward to seeing what you have planned for it😎👍

Like a friend of mine says. It has good bones. Damn that's one heavy bed! If you don't want to use it sell it to someone to use as a bridge over a creek.......... LOL! Not really but it does take away from the amount of junk you can drag home........ Cheers Terry

I was wondering what that rattling was. Looking forward to seeing what happens with the project

GREATEST OF LUCK JC AND SAFE TRAVELS FOR YOU AND MRS. JC, KEEP UP THE GREAT VIDEOS THANKS AGAIN

Hello JC,Wow thats a real evidence of how long you've been on the trade. You really look at what to look for. If you're going to be a quality controler on any production line, i guess i'd be one regular client, 'cause i'd be sure that it passed a thorough QC check. I Love you videos, i always learn something. Take care. Be safe. Oh and say hi to your reliable and faithful assistant (your lady)LOL.

I'm guessing a beast of a rollback 😎 If you have the clearance underneath you could use a carhauler front axle for an extra 5" or so of drop ! May put it too low to be practical though I would guess ! Good find and a great video...can't wait to see it come together !

We have a 93 377. Your tach and speedo could be pin fitment. Had to replace our tach to correct it. The magnetic speed sensors can be a pain as well as you know

Don’t know if you have watched Jeff Anderson’s channel “Jpaydirt” but he had a great video or two about a Peterbilt with Cummins big cam 400 or NP14 and his struggle with oil pressure issues. He couldn’t find a new oil pump that wasn’t junk so he ended up buying a new pump from a dealer somewhere and found it to be way out of side clearance specs right out of the box so he tore it down and had a machine shop mill the housing down a few thousands and generally clean it up. Made a huge difference. Apparently it’s important that these engines build pressure rapidly for the injectors to work right. I suggest strongly that you give his videos a look if you’re going to embark upon a quest for higher oil pressure in your Cummins engine. This is going to be a nice truck when you’re done with it. 👍

It ain't no Tim Gentry rig but it's a good start

Actually the yokes and cross is the U-joint. I was corrected when I worked at an farm implement dealership.

Great video J.C. this truck has a lot of good points and some bad ones too. But with the way you checked it over could be a interesting project stay safe J.C Smith

286" wheelbase is a common number for a road tractor w/sleeper. That's what our 389 is.

It is a good start.Good luck

Hello from the Netherlands and thanks for the video. Sincerely, Hollandduck

i hear you. Australia will bring out new law . no old trucks. that will be the law. I'm fan of old trucks. ( god bless. PS yes I understand where you talk. god bless mick Australia

Personally I’m partial to cat 3406E but no matter what this looks like it’ll be an awesome build to watch

It may not be stretched, it may be a heavy spec truck with factory liner

The crossers that are on 6” spacing are like that so when they land and ship the block for the big cranes. It’s an awful lot of weight on a relatively small footprint.

Maybe the pto ran hydraulic motors on the jacks?

Nice 👌

Nice Truck

That’s low flow big cam 4, you should do a hi flow swap from a big cam 3. I got two of them and love them!

Beautiful truck. You're fortunate.

Awesome project

Jpaydirt did a series on low oil pressure and high oil temp fixes on a N14 know it's not essentially similar engine

Finally a good looking truck! Much better than your weekend ride

Still a nice find jc wouldn't take to much to have a good work truck

Gonna be a sweet project!

I seen the speedo not working while you was driving it at first !

Your a glutton for punishment JC. Big job ahead. “It is what it is” I heard a master mechanic say once. Hello Mrs JC.

Nice find

Watching you for years now JC, I had to chuckle as you where talking your way around the truck and what you will do on it "To bring it up to your standards" knowing damn well if you sell it the person who buys it would end up with a almost new truck, or if you keep it you know that you could jump in and trust your work to get you home to the best of your abilities, no matter how far you have to go It is such a shame other people don't take the same attitude, responsibility, care and put their reputation of what you see is definitely what you get (unless it is sold for parts but even then you would give a honest running dialogue) Always entertaining JC BTW how is your ice-cream addiction going? Tony from Western Australia 🇦🇺

I saw something were some did a long hood conversation on a short hood

Great find J.C! I agree I’m not a big fan of the spray paint job done on interiors, but the rest of the truck looks really clean for being so old. Hope you have a great weekend😀👍. When are you planning to do your next live stream?

just got a 1958 6400 chevy dump truck given to me,has a 283 v-8 4x2 shifter and the body is rust free, need to re wire it, it started life as an Army truck for freight now just going to be a putt around rig going to do a Cat diesel swap. that rig you bought is awesome , love that model good luck on your build, P.S. if you know of any 6 hole 8.25x20 inch wheels my truck has one that is a split rim and that's not good. chris from cashmere

I'm kinda feeling a recovery or wrecker project in the making here. J.C. you've been saying for a couple years you wanted to make a great reliable recovery truck. I'm kinda feeling it here.

Sweet ride!🤘🚛

Great start to a build J.C 🙂👍 I think I know where you're going with this truck! Would be handy for sure!

thanks for sharing

Looks like the new project overkill

It is a lucky truck to have you as a new owner. How long will it take to bring it up to your standards? I am hoping this will be a continuing series for your channel.

I think is a good buy

think that is the low flow cooling system

As soon as that truck aired up enough to let the brakes go - I'd been in gear & off that lot before the seller changed their mind

Big cam Cummins they will run forever

Great video!!!!

Found you on Facebook had to come and subscribe :)

It looked pretty good until you started looking at it !!!!

These trucks have a lot going on. Some of them must be endless money pits.

Well that’s a short hood 379, she’ll be plenty maneuverable.

That drive definitely looked likes Ohio that 6 lane lol

Not a bad rig . You will have it sold by next week.lol 😆😆😆

looks like it has some good bones, ill be curious to see what you do with it. my bc3 had similar oil pressure turned out to be a broken piston cooler.

Sound like you’re buying a money pit to me if I want to work and make a living for damn sure gonna be in Freightliner

Did I see manual slack adjusters on the back axle? I know you said you looked up the build sheet and it had a 63inch sleeper. Did the specs show the original wheel base or cab to axle length? It looks like the old truck has some good bones.

JC what rears are under it I’m assuming it don’t still have 38s

30

How do you use your trucks? Haul what?

Good customer I have looking for a used roll off

It’d be nice to drop a 12.7 Detroit in it.