How easy are say undercarrige parts, clutches, and motor parts to come by for old CAT dozers? I've always kicked around restoring a old dozer with a cable blade. My old man knows a D8 2U inside and out so I'd probably look for one of them. I know that even a newer D5 will work circles around a older CAT.
They aren't that hard to find. A lot of the stuff you can still get through the dealer ship depending on how old it is (i can't remember how old the 2U series is). Or salvage yards. Those are about the only places.
machinerytrader.com has a great parts locater on the website. Punch in the number and zip zap you have lots of locations for same item. Can get either new old stock, used or after market.
nope the 2u would probably work circles over even a new d5 any day of the week and twice on Sunday as long as shes running right they may be slow but they got torque to spare for what ever ya need em for within reason
oh yeah why not a d7 3t cat