Caterpillar 1140
Maintenance schedule, common problems & OEM parts breakdown
The Caterpillar 1140 is a naturally aspirated, mechanically injected diesel V8 built as a component engine for medium-duty trucks, not a standalone machine. It displaces 8.6 L (522 cu in) from a 90-degree V8 block with a 114 mm (4.5 in) bore shared across the whole 1100 series, and it sits at the bottom of that family's output range at roughly 150 hp (112 kW) at 3200 rpm with about 302-309 lb-ft (409-419 Nm) of torque, depending on model year. Caterpillar built it for Ford, which fitted the 1140 into F-, B- and C-6000 medium trucks starting in January 1968 and continued the fitment through 1974. Within the 1100 series lineup, the 1140 sits below the roughly 175 hp 1145, 200 hp 1150 and 225 hp 1160 — engines that share the same head and block casting but step up in stroke, cubic-inch displacement (522 to 573 to 636 cu in) and fuel delivery to reach their higher ratings. As a component engine it was offered only in this single naturally aspirated configuration; it carries no factory operating weight, undercarriage, or machine-level spec because Caterpillar never sold it as a complete piece of equipment.
Across the 1100 series, the step from 1140 to 1145 to 1150 to 1160 was largely a displacement and injection-pump recalibration exercise on a common block and head architecture, letting Ford spec one basic diesel V8 family across its 6000 through 8000 series trucks. Caterpillar used the 1100 series as the base for its own 3208 engine, introduced in 1973 on the same block and intake footprint but with a redesigned V-shaped injection pump, heavier crankshaft bearings, and a revised cooling system — effectively the 1100 series' successor inside Caterpillar's own engine line. Today the 1140 and its 1100-series siblings matter mainly to vintage and classic-truck restorers keeping period Ford medium-duty trucks on the road. Parts supply leans heavily on interchange with the 3208, since the two families share block and head architecture, plus used and remanufactured injection-pump, nozzle, and bearing stock rather than any current Caterpillar production line.
Below: full specifications, fluids & capacities, the factory service schedule, common service parts, verified fault codes, what owners discuss, attachment guidance, the complete assembly directory, and a serial-number reference. Complete parts lists with full OEM part numbers, exploded diagrams, quantities, and fitment data are available free in Heavy Parts AI.
Caterpillar 1140 specifications
Engine
| Machine type / note | The 1140 is itself a truck diesel engine, not a complete vehicle. It is the base (150 hp) member of Cat's 1100 Series V8 truck engine family (1140/1145/1150/1160), built roughly 1968-1974 for medium-duty highway trucks and buses. |
| Configuration | 90-degree V8, 4-stroke-cycle, direct injection, naturally aspirated (no turbo) |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Bore | 114.3 mm (4.5 in), common to the full 1140/1145/1150/1160 family |
| Displacement | 8.6 L (522 cu in) |
| Rated gross power | 112 kW (150 hp) @ 3200 rpm |
| Torque | 409 N·m (302 lb-ft) @ 1800 rpm on early production (circa 1968-1969); later production shows 419 N·m (309 lb-ft) @ 1700 rpm (circa 1970-1974). Treat as a series/vintage variance rather than a single fixed figure. |
| Firing order | 1-2-7-3-4-5-6-8 |
| Family differentiation | 1140, 1145, 1150 and 1160 share the same basic head and cylinder block and bore; horsepower step (150/175/200/225 hp) comes from stroke, fuel system, and governed speed differences between family members, not a different block. |
| Emissions tier | Not applicable — engine predates U.S. and international diesel emissions certification standards |
Weights
| Engine dry weight (with accessories) | approx. 544 kg (1200 lb) — single-source figure, treat as approximate; confirm against the accessory/flywheel-housing configuration actually fitted |
| Vehicle operating weight | Not applicable — this listing covers the engine only, not a complete truck chassis; operating weight depends on the specific chassis/OEM the engine was installed in |
| Ground pressure | Not applicable to a component-level truck engine |
Dimensions
| Block/physical dimensions (length/width/height) | Not published in available documentation for this component-level engine; not listed by general equipment-spec aggregators since the 1140 is a truck engine, not a machine model they catalog |
| Bore (shared across family) | 114.3 mm (4.5 in) |
Performance
| Rated power | 112 kW (150 hp) @ 3200 rpm governed speed |
| Peak torque | 409-419 N·m (302-309 lb-ft), produced at 1700-1800 rpm depending on production year |
| Position in family power range | Lowest-output member of the 1100 Series truck engine line; family spans 112-168 kW (150-225 hp) across 1140/1145/1150/1160 |
| Aspiration | Naturally aspirated, no turbocharger or aftercooling on the 1140 |
Service capacities (summary)
| Fuel system | Mechanical direct injection with individual unit-type injection pump per cylinder; naturally aspirated intake |
| Cooling system | Belt-driven centrifugal water pump with dual thermostats on the pump inlet side regulating coolant temperature; specific system fill capacity not documented in available sources |
| Lubrication system | Oil pump, cooler and full-flow filtration feeding internal galleries; oil pan can be mounted front-sump or rear-sump (reversible pan); specific oil-pan capacity not documented in available sources |
| Fuel tank / hydraulic capacities | Not applicable — fuel tank and hydraulic reservoir are chassis-level (OEM truck) components, not part of the engine specification |
Values vary by configuration, region, and serial range — confirm against your machine before planning transport or lifts.
1140 fluids & capacities
| System | Capacity | Recommended fluid |
|---|---|---|
| Engine crankcase (with filter) - 1140/1145/1150/1160 diesel truck engine, 1100 series V-8 | Not published in accessible factory literature. Oil pan/sump volume was set by the chassis builder (Ford F/B/C-6000 and other OEM truck installations) and varied by pan depth and application - verify against the specific engine serial-number O&M manual or with a Cat dealer. | |
| Cooling system | Not published in accessible factory literature. Total system volume depended on the radiator and chassis cooling package supplied by the truck manufacturer, not fixed by Caterpillar for the bare engine - verify with the original equipment builder's cooling specification or dealer. | |
| Fuel system / tank | Not applicable at the engine level. Fuel tank sizing and mounting were the responsibility of the truck (chassis) manufacturer that installed the 1140 engine, not part of the Caterpillar engine package. | No. 2-D diesel fuel meeting the Caterpillar diesel fuel specification current for the engine's production era. |
| Grease points | Spec only - not applicable to the bare engine. | Chassis lubrication (chassis grease points, driveline, steering, etc.) is set by the truck manufacturer's own service literature, not by Caterpillar's engine documentation, since the 1140 was sold as a component engine rather than a complete machine. |
Capacities are refill values from factory literature — always fill to the dipstick/sight gauge, not the number.
Caterpillar 1140 maintenance schedule
| Service interval | Tasks |
|---|---|
| Every 10 h |
|
| Every 250 h |
|
| Every 500 h |
|
| Every 1,000 h |
|
| Every 2,000 h |
|
| Every 3,500 h |
|
Servicing the 1140 beyond the schedule
Predictive Maintenance & Fluid Analysis
Run periodic oil sampling on the 1140's insert-bearing bottom end; rising iron or copper points to bearing or camshaft wear before it shows on a dipstick. Check oil for fuel dilution, a sign of worn injection pump plungers or a leaking nozzle rather than ring wear. Test coolant inhibitor concentration in the cast-iron block and radiator core each service, since depleted inhibitor drives cavitation and liner-bore pitting. Watch crankcase blow-by at idle as an early flag of ring or bore wear on this parent-bore design.
Corrective & Common Repairs
Typical 1140 repairs center on the inline injection pump and its drive coupling, which wears and throws off pump-to-engine timing. Injection line fittings crack from vibration and weep fuel; replace rather than re-flare. Water pump shaft seals and exhaust manifold flanges are recurring leak points on high-hour engines. Rear main and pan gasket seepage is common on trucks that sit between uses. Avoid quick-starting fluids on cold mornings; factory guidance on this era of Caterpillar diesel warns against ether injection risking piston and ring damage.
Overhaul & Rebuild Points
The 1140 is a parent-bore engine with no factory liners, so an in-frame overhaul means boring the block with torque plates and fitting oversized pistons and rings rather than swapping sleeves. Budget for a full injection pump teardown and nozzle set recalibration on a test bench at rebuild, not just a compression check. Because the 1100 series shares block and head architecture with the later 3208, many rebuilders source pistons, bearings, and gasket sets through that cross-application rather than 1100-specific stock.
Seasonal & Environment Servicing
Cold starts depend on cranking speed and battery condition more than any preheat system on this mechanically governed diesel, so keep batteries and cables in top shape before winter. Drain fuel filter water traps more often in freezing weather to keep ice out of the pump. For trucks stored between seasons, stabilize fuel, keep the cooling system at full inhibitor strength, and fog cylinders or turn the engine over periodically to prevent ring and bore corrosion on the uncoated parent-bore cylinders.
1140 attachments & work tools
Model type clarification
The Caterpillar 1140 is a direct-injection, 4-stroke, 90-degree V8 diesel truck engine from the Cat 1100 series (1140/1145/1150/1160), built roughly late 1960s to mid-1970s and rated around 150 hp. It was sold to Ford as the diesel option for its F-, B- and C-6000 medium-duty trucks, not a self-propelled construction machine (excavator, loader, dozer) with a work-tool coupler.
Work-tool / attachment compatibility
No hydraulic work-tool or attachment ecosystem applies to this model. Engines of this class do not carry a bucket, grapple, or coupler interface, and dealer attachment guides for buckets, forks, augers, or blades do not list an engine model as the host machine. Any attachment questions for a Cat machine should reference the specific machine model (e.g., wheel loader, excavator) rather than its engine designation.
Coupler / mounting system
Not applicable in the work-tool sense. The 1140 mounts into the truck or bus chassis via its own engine mounts, with flywheel housing and bell-housing configuration matched to the OEM transmission. This is a chassis-integration fitment, not a quick-coupler or pin-grabber system used for swapping ground-engaging tools.
Configuration / installation options
The 1140 shares its bore and basic block/head design with the 1145, 1150, and 1160 variants, differing by stroke, rpm, and fuel system to produce different power ratings. The oil pan can be reversed end-for-end to give a front or rear sump depending on chassis layout, with dipstick and oil-suction-tube length changed to match; flywheel and oil pan configuration otherwise depend on the specific truck application.
Accessory / drive options
General specifications describe engine dry weight with accessories at roughly 544 kg (1200 lb), consistent with an engine-plus-accessory-drive package rather than a work-machine spec sheet. Documentation for fan drive, governor, and PTO options specific to the 1140 is not consistently available in public factory literature; installation-specific accessory configuration should be verified against the original truck or bus builder's specification, not a Cat work-tool catalog.
All 1140 assemblies by section
Every catalogued assembly group for the Caterpillar 1140. Open an assembly to preview the parts inside — full OEM part numbers are available in Heavy Parts AI.
1140 Diesel Truck Engine
9l8295 Air System Group
| 9L***95 | Air System Group | 1 |
9l7540 Automatic Transmission Mounting Group--Type 1
| 9L***40 | Automatic Transmission Mounting Group | 1 |
9l7540 Automatic Transmission Mounting Group--Type 2
9l8569 Connecting Rod And Piston Group--8 Required
| 9L***69 | Connecting Rod And Piston Group | 1 |
9l8705 Cooling System Group
| 9L***05 | Cooling System Group | 1 |
9l8298 Cooling System Group
| 9L***98 | Cooling System Group | 1 |
9l9886 Cooling System Group
| 9L***86 | Cooling System Group | 1 |
9l8299 Cover And Housing Group
| 9L***99 | Cover And Housing Group | 1 |
9l8832 Cover And Housing Group
| 9L***32 | Cover And Housing Group | 1 |
Crankshaft Bearing Replacements
9l8301 Crankshaft Group
| 9L***01 | Crankshaft Group | 1 |
9l9416 Crankshaft Group
| 9L***16 | Crankshaft Group | 1 |
9l9446 Cylinder Block Group
| 9L***46 | Cylinder Block Group | 1 |
9l8302 Cylinder Block Group
| 9L***02 | Cylinder Block Group | 1 |
9l8278 Cylinder Head Group
| 9L***78 | Cylinder Head Group | 1 |
9l9601 Cylinder Head Group
| 9L***01 | Cylinder Head Group | 1 |
9l9950 Fan Mounting Group
| 9L***50 | Fan Mounting Group | 1 |
9l8784 Flywheel Group
| 9L***84 | Flywheel Group | 1 |
9l7150 Flywheel Group
| 9L***50 | Flywheel Group | 1 |
9l9869 Flywheel Group
| 9L***69 | Flywheel Group | 1 |
9l8780 Fuel Filter Group
| 9L***80 | Fuel Filter Group | 1 |
9l8822 Fuel Filter Group
| 9L***22 | Fuel Filter Group | 1 |
Fuel Pump Housing And Governor (9l9567 N/S)
| 9L***67 | Fuel Pump Housing And Governor | 1 |
Fuel Pump Housing And Governor (9l8729 N/S)
| 9L***29 | Fuel Pump Housing And Governor | 1 |
9l9227 Fuel Pump Housing Group--Type 3
| 9L***27 | Fuel Pump Housing Group | 1 |
9l9227 Fuel Pump Housing Group--Type 2
| 9L***27 | Fuel Pump Housing Group | 1 |
9l9227 Fuel Pump Housing Group--Type 1
| 9L***27 | Fuel Pump Housing Group | 1 |
9l9631 Fuel Pump Timing Advance Group
| 9L***31 | Fuel Pump Timing Advance Group | 1 |
9l9603 Fuel System Group--Part 1 Of 2
| 9L***03 | Fuel System Group | 1 |
9l8379 Fuel System Group--Part 1 Of 2
| 9L***79 | Fuel System Group | 1 |
9l9603 Fuel System Group--Part 2 Of 2
| 9L***03 | Fuel System Group | 1 |
9l8379 Fuel System Group--Part 2 Of 2
| 9L***79 | Fuel System Group | 1 |
9l9703 Fuel System Group--Part 1 Of 2
| 9L***03 | Fuel System Group | 1 |
9l9703 Fuel System Group--Part 2 Of 2
| 9L***03 | Fuel System Group | 1 |
Gasket Kits
9l9540 Governor Group--Part 2 Of 2--Type 1
| 9L***40 | Governor Group | 1 |
9l8700 Governor Group
| 9L***00 | Governor Group | 1 |
9l9540 Governor Group--Part 2 Of 2--Type 2
| 9L***40 | Governor Group | 1 |
9l9540 Governor Group--Part 1 Of 2--Type 1
| 9L***40 | Governor Group | 1 |
9l9540 Governor Group--Part 1 Of 2--Type 2
| 9L***40 | Governor Group | 1 |
9l8306 Lubricating System Group
| 9L***06 | Lubricating System Group | 1 |
9l9891 Oil Pan Group--Front Sump
| 9L***91 | Oil Pan Group; Oil Pan Group (Front Sump) | 1 |
9l8362 Oil Pan Group--Front Sump
| 9L***62 | Oil Pan Group; Oil Pan Group (Front Sump) | 1 |
9l8361 Oil Pan Group--Rear Sump
| 9L***61 | Oil Pan Group; Oil Pan Group (Rear Sump) | 1 |
9l8703 Fuel Pump Housing Group
| 9L***03 | Pump Group-Fuel Injection | 1 |
9l9345 Governor Torque Spring Group
| 9L***45 | Spring Group-Torque | 1 |
9l8790 Crankcase Ventilation Valve Assembly
| 9L***90 | Valve As-Pcv | 1 |
9l8307 Valve Mechanism Group
| 9L***07 | Valve Mechanism Group | 1 |
Attachments
9l1167 Air Compressor Assembly
| 9L***67 | Air Compressor Assembly | 1 |
8l3565 Air Compressor Assembly
| 8L***65 | Air Compressor Assembly | 1 |
9l9901 Air Compressor Group--Tu-Flo 500--Type 1
| 9L***01 | Air Compressor Group | 1 |
9l9901 Air Compressor Group--Tu-Flo 500--Type 2
| 9L***01 | Air Compressor Group | 1 |
9l9987 Air Compressor Group--Tu-Flo 400
| 9L***87 | Air Compressor Group | 1 |
9l9901 Air Compressor Group--Tu-Flo 500--Type 3
| 9L***01 | Air Compressor Group | 1 |
9l9926 Air Inlet Group--90 Degrees Elbow
| 9L***26 | Air Inlet Group | 1 |
9l7861 Flywheel Housing Cover Group
| 9L***61 | Cover Group-Flywheel Housing; Flywheel Housing Cover Group | 1 |
9l9949 Electric Starting Group--12 Volt
| 9L***49 | Electric Starting Group | 1 |
9l7147 Exhaust Connector Group
| 9L***47 | Exhaust Connector Group | 1 |
Governor Conversion (9l9707 N/S)
| 9L***07 | Governor Conversion | 1 |
Governor Conversion (9l9702 N/S)
| 9L***02 | Governor Conversion | 1 |
9l7990 Governor Conversion Group
| 9L***90 | Governor Conversion Group | 1 |
9l7492 Isolator Group
| 9L***92 | Isolator Group | 1 |
Name Plates And Transfers
| 2M***31 | Plate; Serial Number On R.H. Side Of Cylinder Block And R.H. Side Of Loader Frame | 1 |
| 9L***71 | Plate-- Warning And Information | 1 |
| 9L***80 | Oil Pan; Transfer --Form V150 Diesel | 2 |
9l7462 Water Pump Pulley Group
| 9L***62 | Pulley Group-Pump; Auxiliary Water Pump Pulley Group | 1 |
9l9908 Short Block Group
| 9L***27 | Bearing (Thrust); Bearing-- Thrust | 1 |
| 9L***28 | Bearing (Main); Bearing-- Main | 4 |
| 9L***27 | Crankshaft Assembly | 1 |
7l6586 Solenoid Switch Assembly
| 7L***86 | Solenoid As | 1 |
8l5881 Starting Motor Assembly--12 Volt--Part 1 Of 2--Type 2
| 8L***81 | Starting Motor Assembly | 1 |
8l5881 Starting Motor Assembly--12 Volt--Part 1 Of 2--Type 1
| 8L***81 | Starting Motor Assembly | 1 |
8l5881 Starting Motor Assembly--12 Volt--Part 2 Of 2--Type 2
| 8L***81 | Starting Motor Assembly | 1 |
8l5881 Starting Motor Assembly--12 Volt--Part 2 Of 2--Type 1
| 8L***81 | Starting Motor Assembly | 1 |
9l7550 Transmission Control Linkage Group
| 9L***50 | Transmission Control Linkage Group | 1 |
9l7487 Water Pump Drive Group
| 9L***87 | Water Pump Drive Group | 1 |
Engine Arrangement
9l9471 Engine Arrangement
| 9L***95 | Air System Group | 1 |
| 9L***06 | Lubricating System Group | 1 |
| 9L***07 | Valve Mechanism Group | 1 |
9l8203 Engine Arrangement
| 9L***03 | Engine Arrangement | 1 |
| 9L***78 | Cylinder Head Group | 1 |
| 9L***95 | Air System Group | 1 |
9l8347 Engine Arrangement
| 9L***78 | Cylinder Head Group | 1 |
| 9L***95 | Air System Group | 1 |
| 9L***01 | Crankshaft Group | 1 |
9l8351 Engine Arrangement
| 9L***78 | Cylinder Head Group | 1 |
| 9L***95 | Air System Group | 1 |
| 9L***98 | Cooling System Group | 1 |
9l9475 Engine Arrangement
| 9L***95 | Air System Group | 1 |
| 9L***98 | Cooling System Group | 1 |
| 9L***99 | Cover And Housing Group | 1 |
1140 serial number reference
On these engines the ID/serial plate sits on the valve cover on the left (driver's) side of the block; if the plate is missing or unreadable the serial is also stamped into the block near the injection pump. Read the plate as a 3-letter prefix followed by a numeric sequence, e.g. 36B00001 and up; the letters identify the engine model/build series and the digits are the individual unit count within that series.
| Prefix | Identifies | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 36B | 1140 (V-150) truck engine, all production | Naturally aspirated V8 diesel, about 522 cubic inch (8.6 L) displacement, rated 150 hp. Fitted as an engine option in Ford medium-duty F-6000, B-6000 and C-6000 conventional trucks, roughly 1968 to 1974. Torque rating changed partway through the run (about 302 lb-ft at 1968-1969 build vs about 309 lb-ft from 1970 on) but this falls within the same 36B serial range, not a separate prefix. Part of the Cat 1100-series V8 family alongside the 1145 (V-175), 1150 (V-200) and 1160 (V-225), which used their own distinct prefixes and are outside this range. |
Frequently asked questions
What engine powers the Caterpillar 1140?
The 1140 is not powered by a separate engine; it is itself a naturally aspirated, mechanically injected diesel V8 of 8.6 L (522 cu in), rated around 150 hp (112 kW) at 3200 rpm with roughly 302-309 lb-ft (409-419 Nm) of torque depending on model year. It uses a straight, inline injection pump and pump-and-nozzle fuel delivery, not the V-shaped pump fitted to its later 3208 successor.
What is the Caterpillar 1140's operating weight?
The 1140 has no operating weight in the machine sense since it is a component engine, not a complete unit. Factory dry weight with accessories runs approximately 544 kg (1,200 lb). Installed weight in a Ford chassis varies with the accessory and cooling package the truck builder specified.
What replaced the Caterpillar 1140?
Ford used the 1140 in its F-, B- and C-6000 trucks from 1968 through 1974. Within Caterpillar's own line, the 1100 series (1140 through 1160) was effectively superseded by the 3208, introduced in 1973 on the same block and intake footprint but with a redesigned V-shaped injection pump, revised crankshaft bearings, and cooling system. No separate direct successor to the 1140 alone is documented outside that 3208 transition.
What 1140 owners discuss
What is the Caterpillar 1140, and how does it differ from its 1145/1150/1160 siblings?
What do owners and rebuilders say about the injection pump and governor?
Do these engines have any particular cooling-system quirks?
Is heavy smoking under load normal for the 1140?
What wear points and reliability issues come up most often in owner reports?
Are parts and rebuild kits still available for the 1140?
What should a buyer check before purchasing a used 1140 or a truck fitted with one?
Compiled from owner and technician discussions across the industry — experiences vary by serial range and machine history.
Need a specific 1140 part?
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