WILL IT START & DRIVE HOME 350 MILES?? - Peterbilt 359 (Big Cam Cummins) 

I’ve been driving and owning trucks for close to 30yrs and I’m here to say you picked a good one

I will tell you as a retired owner operator, the truck is the easy part, dealing with the regulations and insurance of the trucking business can become a nightmare. I retired 3 years ago and had a paid off 2019 Lonestar with all the bells and whistle that I wish I never sold, but insurance was close to 7000 a year without any claims in 20 plus years plus, drug test, dot regulations I could not find a way to keep it as my fun projects haul. I don't know is there is a possibility as not for hire truck would be easier. But man that is a sweet truck, best engine and transmission, rare even for a daycab Peterbilt. When you get the time to look more on it you will find the parking brakes are in the front tandem axle. They might be caged or completely dis adjusted as is common practice in vehicle that are sitting for to long. Or could be the spring on the chamber brake broke, seen it many times, but seldom on both. Good luck with your new project.

Use some Howell it will help clean the injectors and make it run better

Keep it. You can always sell it when you have to. It’s your dream.

Looks like a great tractor, service it, put some good rubber on it and keep it. Do a nice cleanup on the paint and chrome, that Big Cam Cummins is a great powerplant.

Your truck is set up for pulling an end dump trailer the right tank has hydraulic fluid in it. And the parking brake on a Peterbilt is on the middle axel

Yeah man dude, clean looking truck! Get it serviced and make use of it- once in a lifetime deals are hard to come by.

The gang gets chicken dinners & the ranch gains a semi truck, it’s simply too good

Here’s hoping this channel takes off so you can keep all your projects it’s fun to watch

Does the tractor have a wet line on it? If so, you’re right tank is your hydraulic tank. That would mean you only have one tank of fuel.

Dude! a Pete for a first Truck. You are living the dream! Sweet ride!

Never sell this gem

It really depends on your financial situation. You scored big time. The old 359's are getting harder to come by, especially a solid truck. There are a lot of beaters floating around but the owners think they are gold. Guys are willing to step up and pay good money for a solid truck because they make a good foundation for a project, and some people seem to have an endless supply of cash that they invest in building a truck. I think it's safe to say, you will never find another 359 that is in as good of condition as this one, for $10,000. This truck has a tremendous amount of potential... Personally I would keep it and stretch the frame a little, put a sleeper on it, and put a second stack and breather on it, have a nice paint job done on it, and polish up the aluminum. Even doing all of that, you would still be in it very reasonably, and if you decided to sell it down the road, you would have a lot more people interested in it, and it would definitely bring good money... As far as the mileage goes, farm truck don't typically get that many miles put on them. It's hard to say just looking at it in a video, but I think the 200,000+ miles is probably accurate. Typically when a truck gets a million miles or more on it, the interior starts showing its age, unless it's only had one driver and the driver took good care of it. The interior on your truck is in remarkable condition, especially for a 44 year old truck. Enjoy your Pete. I'm jealous...

I am a 64 year old gear head and that's a nice truck brother if you can swing it and it does not break the bank keep it. That truck will never lose value unless you hit a wall and let's not kid our self that thing screams great future content

Beautiful truck! We have a 86 359 Corvette dash 13speed cat 425 b model here at work as our lowboy tractor. I see you have a wet kit one of your tanks is likely a hyd tank. The fuel switch on the dash doesn't switch which tank it draws fuel from it switches what tank the gauge reads originally when both tanks are fuel there would be a grabity cross over line connecting one tank to the other under the truck with a valve on each tank and then the engine only draws fuel from 1 tank but they stay equalized if both off the valves are open for the crossover hose. As someone else stated you likely only have maxi (parking) chambers on the front drive axle and they are either caged or broken springs or slack adjusters are completely backed off. If that hour meter is only 4 digit excluding the 1/10th roller its probably 10,500hr and rolled around back to 0 to start over once in its life because I'm sure being a northern truck and a farm truck its got plenty of idle hours which is just fine. Having that wet kit you could run a hydraulic lowboy or a end dump and having a daycab set uo that way is very useful. I wouldn't sell it atleast definitely not right away keep it around do some matinence on it you'll eventually either decide you want to hold onto it or sell it off but always keep this in mind you'll never find another truck that nice and clean for that price. I would love to own a truck like that myself and the big cam is my favorite engine to have the cats have their issues and them parts in that yellow box they sure are proud of them. I'm not sure what you do for work but you could always consider pulling a end dump, tipper or belly dump as a owner operator or you could haul equipment for people especially when they buy something on a auction and since you have mechanical knowledge that would go along ways for getting something loaded up for the customer because we all know about them auction buys and their quirks. Being your not afraid to get your hands dirty and maintain stuff and thats a very very simple all mechanical truck you could make really really good money with it as a owner operator it would be cheap and economical to operate vs these new trucks with all their wiring and computers and emission systems that constantly break down and your stuck bringing it to the dealer for a expensive bill to pay. I wouldn't be super scared of them tires replace the steers and run the drives mild dry rot isn't a huge concern being they have lots of plys and if i had to guess that truck is geared to top out between 60 and 70mph. Ive run allot of really dry tires and they usually seem to hold together just fine if you keep it 60mph and under. But you don't want to have to experience a steering tire blow out because that will yank the truck off the road. I really look forward to seeing more of this truck!

can’t believe you made it home on those tires!

I had one of the last Canadian Freightliner cabovers with a Big cam 350 great engine as long as the cam lobes are in good shape because once they wear down the injectors start to dribble fuel and you are sending $$$$$$ of unburned diesel up your stack

Keep it! You will never find one again for that money! Service it yourself! You can buy lightly used tires off of a late model wreck, in a salvage yard. You can mount them yourself with 2, 6 foot breaker bars and some dish soap. In the future I would keep a litre of fuel and 2 fuel filters in my go bag. I would take a close look at that rear boogie. They can run dry and rust out from the inside, with literally no indication. I just bought a 78 Asto with the same running gear. It fires up the same way. Good Luck!

I don't recall hearing the Jake brake.....that's the most important part! Lol

Ok dude I read some of the comments on here. I was a truck driver for 5000 years and drove to Australia dedicated every 3 days. Blah blah blah I too was a driver. Heavy haul had my own 4 axle truck and 4 axle trailer Winch truck in the oilfield. Let’s talk!!!!! I’m gonna tell you what no one will. Go out there and get it done. That’s a versatile truck man. I would have bought it in a second. I understand when you said you couldn’t afford it and interest is involved. Listen dude screw that. You got one chance. You own the truck. Make a run. If you fail pick your self up dust you self off square your shoulders to the load start walking again till you can jog and do that till you can run and don’t look back. Now go out and find yourself a truck tire shop. Someone will have some on sale get 2 or whatever you can swing with cash. Then start looking for a dump trailer. Maybe a step deck. Maybe a flat bed. See if you can find a winch Put that on there find you a drop neck to haul heavy equipment with. Dozers. Excavator. Backhoe. That’s specialty hauling. $$$$$$$. Don’t let no one stop you dude. Don’t quit. You bit it know take off running dude.

Probably need to maxi pots on front rear axle. This is a great truck!

Keep it. Invest in a trailer and make money of it. It's something you always wanted. Enjoy it

Well now I’m officially green with envy!!! I have an International semi and between the operating cost, insurance $$$$$, and trailers a fella could just go broke. But there’s nothing like having one when ya need one.

Keep It for Sure. Don't think that you will ever find a 359 that nice bone stock. You might find one halfway fixed up for 30 or 40grand. Unless you are gonna be broke by Keeping it. Park It. Fix it a little bit at a time. Make sure you get rid of that bad fuel before you ruin the injection. Change all the fluids. Air Filter. Have one of your Cummins friends adjust the valves. Brakes are pretty simple. When you get alot of money. Change all the air and fuel lines. Some new tires. All said. That work should make that truck Good to Go. Good Luck with your New Project. Stay Safe. 🇺🇸👍👍🍺

Beautiful truck you have a very low mileage truck farmers only use their trucks a few times a year not on the hwy everyday change all the fluids and that truck will be your best friend ❤❤❤❤

You just need to put the 2 stage brake cans on it. The other part of the can has a large spring which applies the brakes when air pressure is taken from the wheel when your pushing in air supply knob it's simply applying air to release the spring.

KEEP IT. You’re lucky to have it

Bad ass ride man, timeless old truck there.

keep it man keep it

I drive a big cam 400 everyday too. I noticed oil pressure was at 20 when I doling them I mentioned it was 22 going down the rd. That’s a bit low so maybe the gauge isn’t working properly. I would check. Great vid, great truck..

Looks and sounds in good shape Mick, and a very good price too. I’d say keep it. Indeed why not ?!!

Older trucks you have to Rev the engine a little bit to get the alternator to charge. "Excite the alternator" was the old lingo for such a thing lol.

359's are like gold people are buying them up and building them as show trucks or work trucks so they are a easy sell. Hopefully the truck in in good shape and you don't have to replace every airline and what have you on the truck and it being a big cam Cummins is good. What year is it I'm guessing it's a late 70's early 80's truck but I don't know I am guessing from the picture on the thumb nail.

Epic coffee ritual.

You got a great deal for the mileage! I’d keep it and pick away at it my friend. I have a 72 year model 358 needle nose with a Detroit, old reliable. Do yourself a favor and get the factory owners manual.

Dude that Pete is beautiful!!! I see nothing but potential there I hope you build it and make a sweet old school rig

Sounds like you really like it. I say keep it and buy a trailer you can make a little money with

Clean truck if it was in your future then fix the issues and chase the dream if something changes you can always sell it !! I agree you may never run across a deal like that again !! We have not seen the wife lately is she not into the You Tube stuff at all ? We enjoy watching the videos keep up the good work !!

Keep it !!!! I know someone sold one 2 weeks ago '80 359 beat bad....2 million mi, total rat ....running $40 K.....KEEP IT !

Seems like this Tractor was well taken care of. Maybe the one fuel tank was filled and the valve to switch it over has failed. If it is indeed full, that would be a lot of bad fuel. I will be watching to see what you find out. I hope you do a video on the maintenance of the Tractor. Yes, I call it a Tractor. The rear diff may not be an issue, like you, I hope it just needs some fluid.

Keep it. The value of those and rarity is only getting higher. You’ll pedal it now and kick yourself 5 years from now when they’re more expensive. It’s an untouched original Peterbilt 359.

Nice. Peterbilt.

Id polish it out sand blast the frame for repaint and put new tires on it and keep it

lol m33. I know that road so well

Keep it, fix what is needed, tires, etc, that way if you need to sell it is ready, otherwise you have a great looking/running machine

The switch is only for the fuel gauge. Theres a cut off or should be on the cross over under the truck. Change the fuel filters out as soon as ya can.

If I had to guess the quick release valve for the park brake is either stuck or exhaust valve is clogged. You got a sharp rig, easily double your money ORRRR slap some nockranch stickers on it with not for hire. Great video once again!

You definitely scored brother ❤️🇺🇲

Keep it and work on it

I'm an owner operator and I'll tell you right now you got a steal and if you are going to need a truck in the future I would hold on to that thing and put some money into it, it's only going to gain in value

Wow , ten thousand. Nice. I am a retired long hauler. Flush all fluids out and replace all filters.

PPS: the thing that caught my eye on the dash of the peterbuilt was the row of sweet toggle switches. Bigtime buying point. 😊

I would be the one hall on a couple of couple containers and stuff. Gets you containers and stuff on the weekend at home and stuff. You know, to get another like another state or something. And get that truck off rude worthy

The thing with moving money around is what direction it's moving to. You have the truck, which is the biggest part of getting that moving money moving in your direction. You may find some work picking up and dropping trailers or even a business that has a truck down and needs equipment moved once in a while. I think ya gotta give it a chance, fix the brakes and get tires. See what happens. IMHO, PS : ive got no skin in the game. But truck content may help balance the cost. I am 100% invested in Nock Ranch content.

Loggers would use those tires in the woods till they was nothing left of them ❤❤❤❤

Keep it they are getting pretty rare

Flip it! You can find old rigs in Commiefornia all day due to old ones don't make smog requirements here.

Dude welcome to the big rig world! Cummins big cams are pretty good! 10k seems like an insanely good deal. If you ever run low in the future you can always pop your filter off and fill it up as well to help get ya started. I would highly doubt there was an overhaul on the engine unless that is 1.2 million miles. My guess is the hour meter is wrong. If it was on the farm since new it probably only has 219k total since new. For the parking brakes it is only the front rear axle. They either need adjusted or the canisters need replaced. Sweet truck man! I would keep that puppy. Only issue since you borrowed a bit of money on it is how to make some cash with it. Running big trucks commercially is very expensive when it comes to registration and insurance. Registration is about 2k a year if you are running interstate. Insurance can range anywhere from 300 to 1,200 a month depending on experience, records, accidents, coverage needed etc. Not for hire is obviously much different but you also can't legally be hired out. Tough call honestly man.

O yeah watching from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I think you got a pretty good deal on that truck… I’d like to go to that Christmas store… but it’s a long way from my house… I’ve been to all the Christmas stories in the smoky mountains several times..,, I subscribed… thanks buddy…

If you love it, keep it. Sounds like you got a good deal. Buy once, cry once.

I can see it now, nice trailer project coming up. major clean up. truck will look great. Flip make some project cash or start hunting a trailer . have a great day, Gene

That's not true on the brake chamber on the rear.....those are correct for the year model...front drive axle on them only had spring brake chambers on them.

Nice truck ! Put some new tires on it and service it. Then decide if you should keep it or sell it.

Hey. New sub from the UK here. Saw this video and had to dive in. When its done, will have a look through your back collection.

You literally Bobtailed past my house, right 2 mins from it and that Grandiose Bridge was Veteran's Skyway Maumee river crossing in Toledo. When you was going southbound I-280 passing Front street exit 9 on the East side. That was a suprise seeing it from the cab of your rig when I literally drive that route every single day 😳 In fact you can probably see my house from the Bridge top and I was like....what the!? Then route 51 Genoa Northwood and Oregon all my stomping ground, forgive my over explanation 😂 1980 is the year i was born so you earned another cool guy point for the rig, keep the truck.. 😎 😂cheers pal

Like your approach to things I don’t think you can loose on this deal what ever you do it’s like a good investment.😊

Looks like you picked a winner

If all the break cans are the same, the one you showed, it’s probably that, as they don’t lock the wheels, swap them for the correct break cans, those single cans are for the steering axle

TwinStick Garage did a rebuild and it is awesome. You do not necessarily need to operate it. Improve this unit and take it to shows. Why sell it! You could build a pretty good channel around this.

everyone wants a 359 !! but not everyone wants a 855 cummins great trans prolly has upper 390 gears witch is great if the frame was cleaned up and painted and cab does not corosion and it had a b model cat motor it could bring 12 to 15 the way it sits the 855 really drops its resale keep in mind 1 tire is $500. a pc unless u get china crap ! if the unit has hub pilot hubs that brings up value ! your parking brake issue could be slack adjusters need to be tighten up with brakes release yellow button pushed check to see how for the brake chamber rods come out you should see no more than 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 travel you could have broke spring in chamber un common to have broken springs on both chambers ! the interior is nice for old truck ! good luck with her

Wow $40..the world's gone mad dude..that's just nuts!

Nice truck. I'd love a 359 with a Cat or Cummins and 13 speed. I'd prefer a 60 inch flattop sleeper.

If the RPMs dont exite the alternator you can hit it with 12v from the hot wire across to the field n that will turn ur chargawhirl on...

Subscribed! Ya going to need you to keep that ;). Great truck, heck of a deal. Time to check out the rest of your channel.

The parking brake chambers are only reqired on one axle so the truck should have them on the front drive axle. Are you positive that right side tank is for fuel? It looks like the truck is equipped with a pto system that would require hydraulic fluid.

I would keep it because I fall in love with stuff lol. Should you keep it? That’s something only you can answer. Sweet truck. Clean unit

Sounds like a great deal and you're right may not find that again she'll make her money back for you

Now you need a lowboy trailer to pickup and drag stuff home. Groceries, dog food...😉

Probably had tachometer changed at some time. Not uncommon for trucks of that era. Rear drive axle does 90% of driving so will run a little warmer. 359 very sought after and you won't find another in that condition for that price. Very good purchase.

Keep it

For the skidsteer engine go on jensales, I have the same skid with the gas version of the tm-20 and they had/could get me everything. Nice Pete!

Nock Ranch, good part/ do the service on it, get newer tires, paint the engine, take care of the frame. bad part/ insurance will be big, diesel will be higher than gas. Cool Pete 359 Semi....

I think you got a really good buy get a trailer and make some money with it it was a good buy for sure

Once you see what plates and insurance costs, you'll want to put it to work. Still a great deal on a solid truck. Congrats👍

The miles are probably correct, but the hour meter? No. The tach was probably changed in it at some point. My '23 has 254,930 miles and 4,978 hours, and that's a 51.2 mile per hour average. But, all in all, nice find!

Change the fuel filter pre fill it with atf aoutomatic transmission fluid

Keep it and as you go fix it up

Farms don’t put many miles on. This could be the right mileage.

Won’t find another 359 that clean for that price at least I have never seen it

Hey Mick you got yourself a nice rig ive seen these Trucks on the road

Nice pete

always good stuff!

That's the truck i'm looking for

A remember when you adjust the brakes tighten them all the way then back them off a half a turn

NOCK I live literally 45 minutes from Frankenmuth

Pancakes were normal on the older trucks back then. The lack of parking brake could be a relay valve or tractor protection valve. Or they have the main cans caged

My thoughts would be if you can make money on it sell it after you make it even better. Money you make invest in fixing skidsteer because at least you can make money with it.

Reality check. 220,000 mi. divided by 44 years = 5,000 mi. a year. No way. Hour meter is even worse. You never took your 9/16 combination wrench and checked your brake adjustment. Tip off was the blocks. You’re talking about using the truck for an errand, but you don’t have the thousands of dollars for the tires it needs. Truck tire blowouts are violent. Just setting in the sun on a hot day a rotten tire at road pressure will pop violently enough to bend bodywork or injure a bystander. I’ve seen hot trailer tires on the hiway explode and throw rubber and steel chunks 120 feet in the air. If somebody is next to a tire that blows like that, they will be wrecked or worse. You have taken on quite a responsibility by buying that truck. If you can’t afford that responsibility, best sell it. Take care.

Nice truck 🚚 🚚🚚🚚👍