BC Mack

errr... not wanting to be Mr A-hole here Baxter... but I sure hope that dump body is supported by some safety device while you are in that position... all you will hear is the pop of the ram seal.... that's it..!!!! otherwise... looking great..!!!! BC Mack

maybe he started his trucking career hauling sand? got confused with flatbed work.. BC Mack

Vlad yesterday I did a fit check on my truck... not going to fully install for 1 or 2 weeks.... well, quality in China or Bangladesh or wherever this box is fabricated needs an audit... on the MH the clearance at the rear is tight on the rear cab mount... the metal folding and non jigging before spot welding the angle stiffeners is not exactly top notch... in the photo I yellow painted the material that needed removal... once mounted it looks fine... got to tweak a twist in my alum cover before I can install that... pending anything I haven't forseen it looks ok... will file a report when tank and batts are added. so.... should I have forked out a lot more money for the genuine Mack part that the dealer here wanted 400 bucks for?... this is a lower cost unit so I'm happy with my saving... I would have been pissed if I had paid the extra money to the dealer and he supplied THIS unit..!! BC Mack

KSC in the 70's most of uk industry was crippled by years of underfunding, the country was basically broke, no car/truck maker built anything of quality or durability, Ford's were called "Dagenham Dustbins"... Maggie was elected as PM in 79 and took on the unions head on and sold off all government holdings such as BL, steel, coal, gas to foreign owners... the North Sea oil income was coming on stream as was the re-direction of London becoming more of a financial centre for banking and service industries... yes, she closed down most of the truck industry but it was a shadow of its former self by then.... was she right? well, isn't this what has also happened to the US manufacturing industry just a few years later? there are similarities. BC Mack

Paul it was late when I tried to drag those particular ancient brain cells out... I mixed up my marbles a bit... the AEC AV760 became the TL12.... DAF took the Leyland 680 and developed it into the 330ATi (don't ask me which version of the company DAF as that gets me confused).. I suppose I could have googled it to check, but you know what happens when you do that... fours hours later you're looking at websites totally unrelated to what you started out searching for... BC Mack

KSC will try to be be brief.... if I don't say "Mack" somewhere in my reply I'll lose the audience..!!! I was brought up on AEC's when at London Transport, Routemaster and Regent 3... that would be 9.6l, AV590, AV760... also had Leyland 0-600, 680 and 680T... when we got the Daimler Fleetlines I went on a Gardner course, amazing history and interesting engine, good economy, torque and reliability... but you needed all whitworth spanners to fix them... fuel pump was well thought out for repair, and they made everything in-house... 6LXB mostly. when I went to Sed-Ak on the 400 model they had Gardner 8LXB 240hp, a long engine, Cummins 250 and the E290 my first intro to the PT fuel system, and the RR Eagle 220 then turbo 265 but generally RR engines were not reliable. was sent to Volvo in Scotland for F88 and F10 training... wow!!! even then you could see they were well built, well supported. the demise of the UK truck manufacturer was alread in place by the late 70's... no funding for development given to British Leyland, government interference, Leyland vs AEC infighting, absolutely NO customer service (Volvo saw that..!!) and parts on 9 month backorder..!!! I did like the ERF C models and figured they had a chance with the high cab models but as with Sed Ak and others, they failed to create european support, thinking uk was the true market... whereas Scania had a very strong dealer support across europe and the mid-east.. no wonder the remnants of Leyland Trucks was sold to DAF, they took that TL12 and reworked it into a fine engine. the Ergo cab was interesting, as with the LAD cab before it, you never knew if it was an Albion, Leyland or AEC until you saw the badges.... but it did a good job as a universal cab... I only got to see the T45 at a show in early 1980 as I then moved to Canada.... one day I was working on a brand new Volvo F12 and a month later doing a PDI on a new Cruiseliner... at that time I was wondering how far behind these 'yank' trucks are in technology, design and comfort.... oooooh, tough audience..!!! The Volvo we all bitch about on this forum is a long way removed from the product that I worked on in the 70's, now a global giant but I think they lost their way as producer of top line premium trucks that were well engineered.... so, in general, while there have be a few engines and trucks that gave me high blood pressure trying to fix (Renault..!!!) I did enjoy my time in that field.... but it was the people I met that was most satisfying. BC Mack

vehicle length laws and revised 'construction and use' regs in late 60's allowed a 40ft trailer and 32 ton (imperial) gvw... a 20 or 22 ton payload was normal. Engines needed 6.2bhp/ton, so 200hp was minimum.... things changed in early 80's as EEC (now EU) regs kicked in and gvw was increased but 5 axles needed... started to see 6x2 trucks with lifting tag rather than 3 axle trailer as it prevented drive axle overload when mixing euro and uk trailers. BC Mack

Farmer that is the "Tardis" model from Dr Who Trucking.... that's how they get 20 drivers in the same truck, and only one licence. BC Mack

Paul absolutely spot on mate.... Destination Doha, the easy bit... and then there is "the hard bit"..... and those lorry drivers took weeks to get there, no sat-nav, gps... if they were lucky one of the group had a Michelin map... but most time they crossed the desert following old tracks or if the were lucky the T.A.P'line had some 45 gal barrels... that is if they survived Turkey and the Tonka's..!! if you read the book on the history of Astran they go into the film a bit.. yes, it was "hollywood" and the film crew pissed them off as they just wanted to get going... but when that was released on uk tv in the 70's it was a blockbuster... luckily someone saved a copy and we can now see it again on youtube. lots more of that stuff on youtube... Dutch, Swiss, Hungarians, Iranians... everyone was heading east on the gold run during the arab oil frenzy. did you know a re-enactment took place recently with two restored Scania 141's http://www.toprun.ch/truck/2014-09/silkroad3/index.html if you ever want to get lost on the internet, spend some time here http://www.toprun.ch/truck/index_news.htm BC Mack

Vlad don't get worried... one year ago my rear chassis looked like yours... "my summer project" of weekends, just plodding away, your MH will soon be glorious..!!!! if you need a real "time bandit" then restore an old seated coach.. trucks are SO easy in comparison..!!! BC Mack

KSC PIE International formed in Europe and the UK with Volvo F89's... the DAF's came later (1976?) registered in the UK... too big too quick seems to be the story of their ultimate demise or maybe the mothership folded first?... tried to take over the 'gold run' and had little experiance of the conditions... Boston to LA or London to Tehran is about 3000 miles, one is 5 days the other is well over 3 weeks in the early 70's... quite the difference in roads plus about 13 borders to cross and not all TIR. The early Leyland "Marathons" were well named and made me money... as a mechanic... they only lasted "26 miles" between breakdowns... BC Mack

most usually they fit two Group 31 batteries not sure of your numbering system but this link may help http://www.batterystuff.com/kb/tools/bci-battery-group-sizes.html box dimensions are... 18" long x 14" wide x 10" high note... there is a "lighter duty" version in the PAI book, p/n FBB-4635, it does not have the side mounting holes or reinforcing angles.. I bought the "heavy duty" FBB-4986.. Vlad, the rubber latch is included trial fit into my MH this weekend... Farmer I would say NOT the same, there are a few minor differences, the way the top lip for the cover is rolled and the mount for the rubber latch is bolted where my original is spot welded.. BC Mack

I got the PAI lower batt box delivered today and did a basic check to see how good a fit it will be on my MH... so far it looks ok, the side mount holes line up, external dimensions seem the same, the small holes for the tank straps are there... some very minor differences... battery tie-down post hole is square not keyhole, not an issue for me.... and in order to install the airtank the plastic? supports above the tank have a small dowel at each end which is needed for correct alignment, a small 3/16 hole needs to be drilled to do this... paint needs re-doing but that's just me..!!! it is not a Mack part, the "4986" is stamped onto it... next weekend I will take it to the truck and do a fit check in the mounts and check the fit of the lid.. took some pics of old and new together.. BC Mack

Today we loaded up Thomas the Tank Engine and he's off on his next adventure... by chance I got a photo as we pushed it past my MH.... they've got quite a money machine going with this operation, I think they said there are 20 of these units all over N America BC Mack

Vlad I have the right battery box on order, when it comes in I will post photos for you, see if it mounts up ok... or... find a plan B..!! BC Mack

it's the old one cleaned up.... I had some thoughts to replace it but finally found a spec for the lining thickness and it's only 50% worn... so, as they are not cheap $$$ and I'm on a short budget it got cleaned up and re-installed. The test will be in a couple of weeks when I get it running and drive it on jack stands... if it works it stays, if not working it will be an easy pull as not everything is going back together right away.. see how the gamble pays off..!!! BC Mack

OK guys... I'm back for part "deux" of the project... I got going a few weeks ago when the weather suddenly got real warm, strange for May but as I had spent all my winter days off on my knees inside the Scenicruiser rebuilding the toilet and lower deck floors I needed an outside job... now I'm still on my knees but on gravel..!!!! shopping list... priority is the clutch... so it is coming out, then I'll put back on enough parts to run the truck on blocks to prove the clutch and trans are working... after that it will be frame paint to the front, refit batt boxes, fuel tanks, exhaust clean up, check front axle mechanicals and then go for a ride... if time permits the headache rack will go back on... well, you gotta have a plan..!!! as said before, this is not going to be a bling showpiece, just a clean tidy work looking truck now for the pics, will add a few more as I progress BC Mack

others on here have recommended Stengel Bros... my MH suspension http://www.stengelbros.com/Hendrickson-Suspensions.htm other product lines http://www.stengelbros.com/Products.htm BC Mack

KSC every uk/eu manufacturer had an "intercontinental" or M/E option... as well as many after market companies.... from the days of two planks of wood across the cab, door to door, to these options was a leap forward in comfort for long distance drivers of the 70's and 80's... not too many "Super 8's" in eastern Turkey in those days... take a look at this forum post, should illustrate well what was considered a "two man cab with facilities"... http://www.trucknetuk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=118844&hilit=cab+stove goota love the "cab wood stove" on page 4... if I was to convert my MH this way I would be able to register it as an "RV"... a lot cheaper to licence and insure... hmmmm, maybe!!! BC Mack

that would have been around 76/77... Mk1 Cummins 250... never got to play with a Mk2 with E290 or 335 interesting era, the UK truck scene was going through a big change with the euro's taking a bigger market share over a dormant uk manufacturing industry lacking cash and customer support... about the same time the Bedford TM came out with a 6V71, drove that too.. IIRC the Transcon was the first four point suspension cab available, we were all used to old Atkinson wooden shacks or AEC/Leyland 50's designs.. all designed for low basic weight... to climb up into a Transcon was unique, very high and good view forward but the un-natural movement of the cab on corners took some getting used to... as time moved on towards 1980 the F10/12 had established itself as the premiere truck and everyone was moving towards more 'flexible' cab mounts and other driver comforts. Leyland latecomers were getting better as was ERF with the B series... but history has told the story of the end of british truck manufacturing. 1976/80 I worked for a Seddon Atkinson dealer fleet rental division, with Volvo, Bedford, ERF & White in the chain, and was running Sed/Ak400 and Volvo F88 side by side until we got the F10.... every now and then we brought in 'competitors' vehicles and evaluated them in case our customers had a preference... we even rented out an F10 to Scania for them to evaluate, so, everyone was keen to check out the competition. I wonder how the Transcon would have done if it had been brought to the US at that time, that Berliet cab was "nice"... BC Mack

For those not familiar with the Transcon there are a couple of threads on a UK site that will give you the driver's opinion..... http://www.trucknetuk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=28284 http://www.trucknetuk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=121483 my first drive made me seasick..!!! the four point suspension took some getting used to especially on a roundabout, thought I was going to fall over (no U model jokes in those days!!!).. when the Volvo F10 came out its cab was easy to get used to after that experiance. BC Mack

IH... my left one was in worse shape than yours once I got to poking it hard with a hammer... a fabricator told me he could do it for less than new, but not much less.... so, for a few dollars more I'm going for new.... my MH is a gradual restoration not a quick fixer upper so the box will even get two new batteries too...!!!! Vlad... will post photos of new box.... I will probably start a new thread "summer project part deux" when I get my clutch back in and painting of the middle frame starts... BC Mack

PAI part is ordered... will post info on installation BC Mack

Farmer... thx for that... note that 227usd = 272cdn but my mack dealer wants 403cdn.... Vlad there are two boxes in the PAI catalogue... p/n FBB-4635 is a standard box with no angle plates and has no holes for side mounting on an MH p/n FBB-4986 is a "heavy duty" box with angle plates and side mounting holes, the photo also shows the holes for air tank straps I have added a photo of the installation on my MH I'm wondering if PAI have made the HD box more universal than mack... looks like I will go with my gut feel and see what arrives... thanks for all the help BC Mack

Maddog.... remember there is a 20% difference in our currency... and you would think that after currency conversion from us to cdn that would be the retail price in canada.... no chance. your 150 box equates to my 180cdn.... but it sells for 220cdn blame it on hidden taxes, profit ripoffs or because we always say sorry!! research the same tool on snap-on.com and snap-on.ca and see how we get ripped off above the border... ksc I will drop them an e-mail, see if freight, border brokers fees etc etc, local delivery fees add up to a deal or not.... in general I have not found buying and shipping from the us to be significantly cheaper... j hancock... agree with you... just looking for confirmation from all you guys who know the R model well... BC Mack