Mid-Nineties Peterbilt 379 Frankenstein Heavy Hauler

[RoninUtah]

As I mentioned in the write-up for my Peterbilt “Can-Do” wrecker in the Under Glass section of this forum, in the stash of parts and partial truck kits that came with the wrecker there was another set of 3-axle Peterbilt frame rails. So, I thought, “Ah-ha! Now I can build a cool Peterbilt 379 heavy-haul tractor with those! That should be easy!”

Famous last words. First of all, I knew I’d have to improvise, since for some reason the big kit manufacturers never did a Pete 379. The closest they came is the 378, the 379’s little brother, which has a much shorter, sloped hood. So, this build would have to be something of a Frankenstein's monster. 

I put together sort of a facsimile of a Peterbilt chassis with the frame rails, using spare crossmembers, suspension, axles and such; it’s more Kenworth than Peterbilt at this point, but who’s counting? Fair warning: this build isn’t going to be nearly as detailed or accurate as the stuff the rest of you guys do!

So, I’m using a bunch of donor kits for this build as well. I picked up a Revell “Marmon” glue bomb for (relatively) cheap on eBay, since it has the same nice Peterbilt cab as the wrecker, with the opening doors. I’ll be using a mid-rise sleeper from the AMT re-pop of the Italeri 377 kit, along with the dash (The Revell Peterbilt/Marmon dash is actually a late 359 dash, but the Italeri/Revell/AMT 377 and 378 have the correct dash for a 379). But then, I got stuck on the hood. I knew I wanted to put a Cat 3406 in this truck, as it’s such a classic engine for a 379, but then I remembered that that big engine requires a longer hood! All I have are 359 hoods, which are too short and have the air intake cut-outs (which 379s don’t have). So, what to do? I briefly considered grafting two of the 359 hoods together, but the trim on the top doesn’t match, and I’d have to fill in the air intake cut-outs as well as where the two pieces met. It would look terrible; I don’t have anywhere near the bodywork skills to pull that off.

But then I remembered that when I did my Peterbilt 389 (based on an Italeri 378) a couple of years ago, I used a third-party resin hood, lights and X-15 engine; all I had to do is stretch the frame about one scale foot. Fortunately, Paul at ST Supply still had a 379 conversion hood in stock. I just ordered it today… I guess if I keep throwing money at this thing I might have a decent looking build!

So here is where I am so far. Chassis is done, and I mocked up the approximate locations for the cab, hood and sleeper. You can see the gap where I need a longer hood.

It’ll also get a big-ol’ headache rack, light bar and a bull bar, naturally. Hopefully it will turn out like I plan it… as long as I keep throwing money at it!

The chassis at the top was for the wrecker. The one on the bottom is the parts-box frankenstein.

Rough placement mock-up. Obviously, that little 359 hood isn't gonna make it.

Here you can see the difference in hood length between the 359 and the 389. Yes, the wrecker is actually a 359, although Revell claimed that it was a 379 in the box blurb. They just put 379 headlights on their standard 359 and called it good.

 

Edited March 12 by RoninUtah

[Jürgen M.]

That's gonna be an interesting build Ron! Your knowledge of all of these PB types is impressive!

But even if it is, as you say, more KW than PB, I don't think that matters since they both come out of the Paccar truck forge!

Looks really promising! I'll be watching this!

[freightshaker2]

Ron, I literally spit my coffee out when I read "It’ll also get a big-ol’ headache rack, light bar and a bull bar, naturally. Hopefully it will turn out like I plan it… as long as I keep throwing money at it!".... SOOO what you're saying is this build is just like actual owner operator business... just keep throwing money at er and hope for the best! 😂

[Gary Chastain]

Oohhh man, I am liking this build, right up my alley. Glad to see someone else breaking all the rules. Sounds like a great Resto Rod truck build. Gonna follow along. 

[Biggu]

This is going to be a GOOD one. I’m pulling up a chair in the front row with some snacks and a beer ….. watching with great interest. 

[RoninUtah]

4 hours ago, freightshaker2 said:

Ron, I literally spit my coffee out when I read "It’ll also get a big-ol’ headache rack, light bar and a bull bar, naturally. Hopefully it will turn out like I plan it… as long as I keep throwing money at it!".... SOOO what you're saying is this build is just like actual owner operator business... just keep throwing money at er and hope for the best! 😂

Thanks, Landon! Exactly- one of the real rigs that inspired this one was a 1995 379 with a Cat 3406 that I saw here locally- I had a chat with the owner about it and he called it his "money pit" because he couldn't resist adding custom doo-dads to dress it up. it was a nice rig...

[RoninUtah]

41 minutes ago, Gary Chastain said:

Oohhh man, I am liking this build, right up my alley. Glad to see someone else breaking all the rules. Sounds like a great Resto Rod truck build. Gonna follow along. 

Thanks, Gary! It won't exactly be a Resto Rod, just a nineties truck that is still working hard today. And yeah, if you don't break the rules all you'll get is another boring box build!

[RoninUtah]

35 minutes ago, Biggu said:

This is going to be a GOOD one. I’m pulling up a chair in the front row with some snacks and a beer ….. watching with great interest. 

Thanks, Jeff! As I mentioned, it won't be anywhere close to the level of detail and realism that you bring to your builds, but it will be fun!

[freightshaker2]

5 minutes ago, RoninUtah said:

Thanks, Landon! Exactly- one of the real rigs that inspired this one was a 1995 379 with a Cat 3406 that I saw here locally- I had a chat with the owner about it and he called it his "money pit" because he couldn't resist adding custom doo-dads to dress it up. it was a nice rig...

yea that will do it.  We are the same way with our truck.. It all adds up but its never enough.  This will be an awesome build and I plan on staying tuned!  Good Luck and great job!

[RoninUtah]

Progress, finally! My hood came today! But when I test – fitted it, I discovered that the Revell cab I had been planning to use was too small. Disappointing, because I really like the opening doors. But there was no way I could make the gaps on either side of the hood look right so I bit the bullet and built the Italeri/AMT cab from the 377 kit. However, since it was a 377 and not a 378 cab, it had the little fender ends at the bottom of the front.
 

I cut them off and filled the gaps with little bits of sheet styrene. I’ll let it dry and then putty and sand it and hopefully it won’t be too noticeable.

The important thing is it looks like it will all fit right with the 3406 engine in place.

[Gary Chastain]

Nice progress

[Jürgen M.]

Looking good Ron! 

Just amazing what you know and how you executed it! Impressive!

[RoninUtah]

Hey, everybody, More progress!

I really should have gotten a 378 donor instead of a 377- I had to drill out the holes for the air cleaners:

But now the cab, sleeper and hood are primed. The scars from my surgery on the cab will (mostly) be hidden by the air cleaners. 

And interior details are done (I’m not bothering with the sleeper bunk, with the doors closed you’ll never be able to see it).

Shooting paint today- fingers crossed!

[Biggu]

Lookin good , buddy !!

[Gary Chastain]

Nice progress

[BK9300]

Your interior details really stand out - looking really good!

[RoninUtah]

Progress has been slow lately as I have been preoccupied by other things, but it’s moving along. I shot the paint, Tamiya metallic blue, let it cure a week and then shot it with a coat of Mr. Super Clear. I like the results. I just hope I don’t screw it up now.

And I mounted the engine permanently and hooked up the coolant lines and exhaust.

Now I’m detail painting the cab and sleeper; interior installation to follow.

Thanks for watching!

[Gary Chastain]

Looking really good

[RoninUtah]

Cab details (chrome and rubber gaskets) done, I’ll let it cure for a little bit before I install the interior. Then it’ll be off to the races!

So far I haven’t screwed anything up too badly but give me time!

[cifenet]

Sparkling blue is sharp on this one. 
Good work coloring the  door trims also!
 

[Force]

On 4/6/2025 at 6:59 PM, RoninUtah said:

And I mounted the engine permanently and hooked up the coolant lines and exhaust.

Now I’m detail painting the cab and sleeper; interior installation to follow.

Thanks for watching!

Hmm, the turbo plumbing looks a bit weird.
If you have a air to air intercooler in front of the radiator as you have plumbed you should loose the cross over pipe from the turbo to the intake manifold that goes over the front head, because you don't have both as that cross over pipe is the route from the compressor side of the turbo over to the intake manifold on a non air to air intercooled engine like this Cat 3406 engine originally is, it doesn't even have a water to air aftercooler that most of the higher horse power 3406 engines had.

Edited April 12 by Force

[RoninUtah]

3 hours ago, Force said:

Hmm, the turbo plumbing looks a bit weird.
If you have a air to air intercooler in front of the radiator as you have plumbed you should loose the cross over pipe from the turbo to the intake manifold that goes over the front head, because you don't have both as that cross over pipe is the route from the compressor side of the turbo over to the intake manifold on a non air to air intercooled engine like this Cat 3406 engine originally is, it doesn't even have a water to air aftercooler that most of the higher horse power 3406 engines had.

Thanks for letting me know! Obviously you know a lot more about these engines than I do. What should I remove to make it more realistic for the mid -90s?

[RoninUtah]

Recap of the last week’s progress: 

Chicken lights for the cab, made from sheet styrene

Hood and hinges; I’ll install it after mounting the cab.

Hung the fuel tanks and battery/ tool boxes

And now it’s up on wheels with the cab mounted. I need to plumb the air and make a few adjustments before I can mount the hood.

Thanks for watching!

[Gary Chastain]

Looking really good

[Force]

On 4/12/2025 at 5:58 PM, RoninUtah said:

Thanks for letting me know! Obviously you know a lot more about these engines than I do. What should I remove to make it more realistic for the mid -90s?

It helps to have some knowledge on how things on a car and truck works when you work on models to get things right.
The pipe going over the engine top from the turbo to the intake manifold shouldn't be there if you have an air to air intercooler/aftercooler in front of the radiator.

If you are replicating a truck from the mid 90's the engine you are using is too old, it's a Cat 3406A wich came 1973 and replaced the 1693, the A model was replaced with the 3406B in 1987 wich in turn was replaced with the 3406C in 1993, after that came the 3406E wich is the final version of the 3406 up to 2007 when the C15 came, the C and E model was produced at the same time for about 5 years as the C model ended production in 1998.
The major difference between a A and B/C model is where the diesel injection pump is located, about mid engine block lengthwise for the A model and up against the front cover for the B and C models.
The E model has 3 valve covers like the C15, and the A/B/C models had only 2, the E model was also electronic and has no injection pump on the side of the block.
I don't think the 3406B and C model are available on the aftermarket, only the A but the C15 is wich is very similar to a 3406E, so for a mid 90's truck I would have used a 3406E/C15 engine for it.
But it's your truck model and of course you do as you please with it.