BC Mack

Greetings fellow Lodge members, just need your opinion here..... the air intake on my E9 gets in the way of everything, it lays on top of the 'V' from back of cab and splays out to lay on top of my radiator, PITA when trying to work... so, my 89 MH E9-500 parts truck came with the back of the cab snorkel type air intake and the steel supports for a twin exhaust just like mine..... hmmmmm I have been told by a reasonable source that the ram air effect from the snorkel is better than the 'slot' over the radiator. now, this is for a restored truck, not for show, not for more power, not to look "Aussie".... but when I look through my collection of MH photos and factory brochures there are very few trucks with the snorkel... why was that??? assuming I go ahead with the mod.... the intake cyclonic or swirl inducing housing (and I know one of you will tell me the official name for it) has what looks like a decal on it, looks like a sideways letter "T", was that factory and what did it say??... also, I know it to be black, but gloss or semi-gloss?? thanks for the help BC Mack

his contact info is in the message.....

Took my MH to a small annual show on Saturday, always one or two new to me trucks there, great bunch running it too... have added a few photos for the "we want photos" crowd and seeing we have Fire Truck enthusiasts as Lodge Members, I took a few photos of them too..... enjoy BC Mack

I had a plan B if they refused me a "collector" plate.... found out what they needed to convert a class 8 tractor into an RV on the title and tow a 5th wheel RV trailer... but could also be similar for class 7 box body too.... I'm doing a Sprinter van to RV conversion right now and my govt agent is spinning as the rule states 'he' must inspect the finished conversion but doesn't tell him 'what' to look for...!!! for a semi they had a list of 5 items out of 7 to chose from... remove semi 5th wheel plate and install RV plate, it needed then a bed, cooking facilities, heater and a sink... so an invertor and toaster oven, the sink could even be outside, heat could be a ceramic out of home depot.... it was interesting how easy it was to do... and there is even an document on the DOT website that exempts the conversion from semi-annual testing. there is a website for these vehicles if that is the way for you to go and they are friendly too.... http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?/forum/32-hdt/ the V***o VNL is a common conversion, their logic is that for a small price they can tow a massive home for much less $$ than buying a Dodge or Ford diesel pick-up which could be close to gvw and braking power. just shows, there's ALWAYS a loophole, find the regulations, print it out and keep in the cab so you can wave it at Barney Fife.... the political clout the RV industry has that allows anyone to drive a 60,000lb RV with a car licence and no extra training or testing must be marveled at..!!!! BC Mack

around here, the driver and vehicle licencing is for the "use" of the vehicle... not what the vehicle actually is... had a good conversation with the regional manager of licencing standards a few years ago about that... and it doesn't need special plates either but there is a great financial advantage to go to "collector" plates as the govt does all licencing AND mandatory basic insurance..(comprehensive is free market or govt).... with collector plate my fully comp is $500 and it saves me over $1500 a year vs a regular plate due to to weight.. fully commercial would be 6-8000 or more a year. for my Mack and my Scenicruiser bus I only need a car licence (class 5 or better), however, ANY vehicle/trailer/RV with an air or air/hydraulic braking system requires the driver have an "air endorsement" on their driver's licence and if pulling a trailer over 14,500lbs (IIRC) requires a Class 1 or a "heavy trailer endorsement" neither vehicle requires annual or semi-annual testing if I take a trip to the US, the licencing of driver and truck is supposed to be reciprocal, as is your state-state... will see what happens one day if I venture south... going to take my 1956 Greyhound Bus through the border in the "bus only" lane and see what happens..!!! scales... if it says "trucks" over xx gvw I go by, if it says "all vehicles" over xx gvw I have to pull in.... which confuses the DOT guy and I get waved through, so, as in the US, the govt guys are just as confused as we are. all this is dependent on my insurance showing as "pleasure use only", no revenue, but we do have rules to allow carpool financial sharing..... this is a vastly variable subject through most states, misunderstood by many... tickets could be issued in error which may cost you $$$ in court to fight, and then it happens again... I'm sure there are loopholes for "farm" which sometimes amazes me what I thought was reserved for farm tractors can be B train semi loads of hay..!!! not sure if this helps you in NY... but will explain all the inconsistencies in the replies you are seeing.... BC Mack

A true Canadian hero....... oh, too soon?? BC Mack

to me it's really a Scammell... but export marketing re-badged many products, and still does. BC Mack

I agree, this would the simplest way to integrate the most suitable features of MAN and Scania into the US fleets without actually having to set up a dealer network and all that entails.. and disc brakes should have gained more ground in the US by now. If you can't sell trucks, sell parts..!!! BC Mack

KSC.. there will have to come a day when Scania has to prove these vehicles in operating conditions and schedules other than the EU.... otherwise, it could be said that they only built this engine for one market style. High HP, hi-torque, speed limited, timed dispatch, less weight.... it may be a worthwhile exercise to place these trucks in a N American fleet and just see how they work in a different operational environment, long and short distance... I'm not advocating Scania needs to enter the US market, I doubt if they want to right now, but it would be an interesting comparison for operators to see if they have the right business model, equipment and operations plan in place.... and feedback for Scania too. just my 2c BC Mack

I don't have torque specs for you... I use 45 years of judgement which means I tighten nuts up until my elbow clicks..!!! LOL minor surface oil, yes, brake clean them and sandpaper... if totally soaked I don't bother with the old wives tales, unless dollars are very tight just buy an exchange set of linings checking the other side too... of course with things mechanical this can open up a can of worms if the drums are out of spec so I will leave it for others to offer you cleaning remedies. BC Mack

I think I may have put this photo up before... carrying a tow bar was standard practice in 70/80's, heard many being towed all the way home from the middle east..!!! now, nobody will stop to help..!!! and I'm sure the rules have forbidden the practice.... staring at the back of a trailer for days waiting to see brake lights go on... always wondered if using an 'A' frame setup would work better that a straight bar? but trucks were set up with the pin in the centre of the bumper. BC Mack

as terry says... try a heel bar, be careful if you use a steel punch which can damage, 2x4 or big dowel would work too... if you can find an installation tool that would make life easier don't forget to pack the bearing with a bit of grease, they need that until the lube oil eventually gets there, you can tilt the axle to help flow or drive opposite wheel up on a mound, then recheck diff level. any oil get on the linings? BC Mack

agreed...... best way, if the right one was already installed...!!! I replaced mine last year, checking my notes didn't show where I got my info from but here it is anyway.. 1993 if it matters, 44k, crd 92/93 88AX405 SKF 42672 I got the Scotseal there are websites of suppliers that can give you dimensions and visuals, just google your axle and "seal" HTH BC Mack

totally stumps me why she called an election with three years left in her term... gave the labour party a chance to exploit the "Brexit remorse" factor and they came up with a favourable platform that brought the young voters out... and now Boris is sniffing around should the party give her the boot from the PM job... we've got the same pantomime going on here in BC... the world's gone barmy...!!!! BC Mack

Roger, Seddon to an F10.... like from a horse and cart to a spaceship..!!!! of all the forums I'm on I have to say this BMT crowd is top notch... none of the flaming you see elsewhere, great info, helpful and very good with the tech stuff too... and they are die-hard Mack guys ..!!! I'm just a hobbyist now, never did much driving so can't get into stories, but if you want these guys to give you a history of trucks in north america I'm sure they'll oblige, just ask or go through the old postings, but as elsewhere, the industry has changed dramatically over the years and wages are poor in general, I can earn far more $$$ on the spanners for a bus company and I'm in my own bed every night.. LOL BC Mack

I left the UK just as we got our F10's so a lot of progress has happened since those days... took a brand new one out for a road test with a new 40ft TIR tilt around London with HGV-L plates on it as a laugh, I nearly caused many accidents with lorry drivers in old Atky's and ERF's nearly falling out of their cabs in disbelief, always a prank at our shop... LOL I worked for Rylands in Hendon, ran the maintenance for 'Fleet Hire'... other than the Mack F models of OHS turning up to pick up diffs for their Sed-Ak 400's and our demo White Road Commander 2 (Ryland Group was the only importer at that time) I never got to see many yank-tanks.... the RC2 was not liked by our customers, the Cat engine liked to drink lots of fuel compared to the Volvo at the same weight and was a rough ride.... and more about pop rivets, I drove a series 3 Land Rover and they folded so easy in a crash. I know of no technical reason why US truckers prefer a long distance between cab and trailer, maybe because they can!!!... however, front brakes were optional for many years, fuel was cheap and only airplanes had "aerodynamics"... I'm sure the other veterans on BMT will chime in here, I try not to upset the natives by blabbing on about my UK memories.. LOL are you also on TruckNet UK Old Time Lorries..??? cheers BC Mack

When I considered buying a semi just as a personal truck my co-workers thought I was mad when searching for a cab-over, same expressions as above were given for discomfort and instant death...lol... I was used to them coming from the UK, a two axle F88 was my personal fave back then, and I never got used to driving half way back in the truck when I went to work for Mack after I got to Canada in 1980, couldn't see a thing in the flat mirrors, I like my panoramic view from my cabover.. and easier to work on too..!! so, after looking at a few different rigs I chose the MH and the best condition one just happened to be a local V8-500 example. the more I drive it and the more research I do into the design of the Glas cab I just can't believe that the industry just walked away from this technology... Volvo Sweden set the benchmark for cab safety and I witnessed a few F88's that were near destroyed, but the drivers walked away, so, a combination of Glas cab and the modern euro safety cell that new cabovers have in the eu should satisfy the negativity that exists in the US today.... pop riveted alum never made me feel safe either..!! as for ride comfort, my MH exceeded my expectations, I was ready for a rough ride bob-tailing to shows but with corrected tire pressures and the awareness of the "feel" of an air supported cab. for commercial operation today?... well, reversing a B-train is easier... but that's a Canuck and Aussie thing..!!! BC Mack

MBenz, Fiat, Volvo and Cummins had caught up by early 1970's. The 141 had the improved V8... the DS 14.01 375bhp, 1100 lb/ft at 1300rpm... BC Mack

Technically...!!! sold to Canada, who "deployed" them overseas..... so, not really a permanent "export" in the true sense we use here on BMT... I'm sure US has done similar, e.g. factory direct to (insert name of conflict area) BC Mack

there's a reason why they are the last manufacturer, so, "Pass", too small......!!! not into tiny cars while I have to share tarmac with all those useless steering wheel holders that inhabit the roads of America... size matters.... I will, however,take the bus in his shop !!!.... BC Mack

I can only imagine your surprise getting a wood and fibreglass 'model kit' to drive... I refused to test drive them after working on them, pulled them out of the shop and gave the keys to the foreman...LOL... after towing in many accident trucks I had no reason to put my life at risk with 1950's braking specs... when they jacknifed they took the cab clean off, rarely survivable..!!!!! I moved into the truck rental division of the dealership chain, ran the maintenance, brand new Volvo F88 and F10's and new S/A400's with 250 or 290's.... life at the top...!!! :-) there were guys in the shop who loved working on the old gargage truck just because they liked Seddons, go figure. enough thread drift.... your question was about Mack... as I said, internet is full of history and photos, here is the company history and ref to Harvester... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seddon_Atkinson BC Mack

I worked for a Seddon Atkinson dealer in the UK in the 70's.... many a day spent twisted up inside the wood and fibreglass cab of a Borderer fixing Cummins, Rolls or Gardner engines... explains my poor knees nowadays..!!... the fuel tankers needed a Petroleum Regs kit fitted to the rear of the cab making any access to the back head impossible... took 3 of us to torque the heads..LOL when they brought out the SA400 model in 1976, joy!!!!!.. a tilt cab... they were owned by International Harvester by then. the odd shift pattern carried over to the 400, lucky you didn't get a David Brown box... and the Kirkstall axle was standard fit (they called it the 'group axle'..) when they built them with Cummins E290, 9509A and Eaton axle they then got something that actually worked, but by then the UK truck manufacturing was in drastic decline and didn't last long into the 80's.. internet is full of pics...and forums for that era. BC Mack

are you using the small gauge on the dash? if so, try using a larger gauge of known calibration plumbed in directly... I've chased ghost problems caused by dash gauges reading incorrectly... BC Mack

around here (and I bet in PA too) that "mod" would get you a free pass to DOT jail..... truck would towed, your wallet will be lighter... BC Mack

T45 with a Fuller box and a TL12 engine... finally a Leyland 'lorry' that worked and made money for the owner, then they sold it all to DAF and it became the DAF 80... IIRC, brain cells not fully charged.. looked much nicer with "Scammell" on the front, S26? too long ago to remember facts..!! doesn't surprise me that one came to Canada for cold testing.... saw another Euro Cabover here about 18 or so months ago with the white/black 'dazzle' camo paint/wrap.... only got a glance at it but the hubs looked like a Scania, maybe... and there is an FH16 running local tests with Wesport... We have a few older F12's locally, Dutch guy runs them on a 'farm' permit shipping his tulips to the US... and a few ex Brit Army Bedfords appear in farm fields... so, some Euro stuff is over here. BC Mack