Red Horse

Got it! The "distortion" you referred to was in the glowing sales numbers Akerson was giving. In any case, read another story in today's Boston Globe on the China scene...."China's Slowdown Looms Just as the World Looks for Growth"...cites..three huge ford plants slowed to a fraction of their earlier pace...and "hundreds" of closed chemical "factories"-whatever a "chemical factory" is.

Kevin, Well it's a world economy and we have to recognize that fact-no doubt. And also most companies-be they in the US or the EU-wherever-have been trying to get a piece of the.."biggest growth market in the world". I think the thing that struck me the most was I got the feeling that Akerson was reading a script that he really didn't like-but it was his job to give the party line. And it is a scary scenario. Do we honestly think that the Chinese can be trusted with our technology? And as for the "bailout", I think that everyone recognized that had GM gone under, the bankruptcy would have hurt the entire auto industry-not just GM. And probably the economy as a whole-or so the "experts" lead us all to believe. But as always I value your view on issues that go beyond our shores. Other than the fact that everyone has tried to get a piece of the Chinese market, what was the distortion in Akerson's speech? And by the way, never heard of this guy Vince Wade-but did google him and it is safe to say he is a a guy that has spent his career digging up dirt. Of course, here we are, many years after that Akerson speech was given and we are reading about all of the trouble the Chinese are now facing internally. I remember a story that was on Dateline or 60 Minutes that covered the Chinese economy and they showed scenes of an entire city complex that the Chinese had built and it was vacant!. And of course anyone seeing that would say.."how do they make such a colossal expenditure with no obvious economic payout"? I guess perhaps the pigeons are coming home to roost??

Check this out

Jim, Nice old picture. The H model belonged to Kenny Stonemetz at the time, he then sold it to someone I believe in Ohio and it now resides in NJ. Kenny now has an LJ open fire truck. The B is still owned by Frank Hale

Got it tied down Rich? Could be a wild weekend!

Nah- as Neville Chamberlain thought-"these are honorable foxes" And the dieselgate fiasco? Those at the very top who knew what was going on have learned a good lesson and we can rest easy that there is a new culture at VW....😴

Congratulations-nothing like connecting with a real old memory!

Good looking for sure IMO. And a 4 x 8 will fit-functional to boot!

IMO, the International dealers will have a huge edge-in particular with operators that run class 4-7 which I think covers a lot of utilities. Just think of the old days when GM, Ford IH and for that matter to a lesser degree Dodge covered 1-8. From a dealer perspective at least here in the Northeast, Ford and IH covered that the best but that is yesterday's newspaper.

No doubt this class 4, 5,6 truck will help International. But hate to say it, F'liner is the gorilla in class 6 and 7, not International.

No Jim-been a while. But always interesting. I saw the first Mass DOT tow plows there when they went in service-that was I think two or three years ago and I think I have seen one in service since. You can't believe this Altech site though/ Facility is not that big-maybe 8 install bays and if I had to guess they lately have a 100 plus chassis waiting their turn.

Ford has their work cut out for them-some of these "benefits" are debatable but looks like advantage to GM- wonder if they have a similar "attack" piece for Ram? Will see if they start showing up in the Altech facility that is one town over from mine. Inventory there awaiting installs is virtually all Ford in class 4/5. Every now and then a Ram shows up.

Those HF blue tarps work well-just don't leave them out in the sun😎-that UV is a killer.

Jim-so if I recall your pal's 650 is a gas job? Is he satisfied with his decision to stick with gas? Supposedly the V-10 will be history replaced by a new 7.3L gas V-8-or so the rumor is. By the way-you sure that 550 is not a 2018?. Someone told me no gasser in 550 for 2019-which lends credibility to the the 7.3 rumor as if they are not ready to release that motor, not likely they would continue to offer the V-10 then dump it in the middle of the model year.

Very nice Jim-did you gt shifter back together?

Nice Matt- was thinking about your project today and the fact you haven't posted in a while Looks like you have been busy!

I would agree-it seems the sleeper market today has gone to the extreme where the occasional need for a "bunk" is no an available option. remember the add on 36" boxes? I wonder if those are even available. Amazing how Ford could engineer the market for the Au/NZ markets with I would have to believe minimal sales and today they can't afford-or won't-go to the trouble of giving the class 7 buyer another engine/trans option to the in house Power stroke/Torque shift.

As did Mack B models? Or Kevin were they an outsourced mod?

Hah wonder if that went through the Manning Equipment mod center at Louisville??😎 Actually I like that 52-F-7 or F-8 blowin' smoke. And what is with that turbo noise in virtually every one of these trucks?? And I guess "side Pipes" were the in thing in ?Mexico??

Wow- I wonder what the life span of that air cleaner was? With that 6V -53 under that alligator hood you would have thought there would have been room to stick it under the hood with a big air scoop. Any clue when this picture was taken? By the looks of the vehicles in background not that long ago?

Looks like-at least judging by the gear shift a 10 speed RR? Wonder if this thing started life as a tractor?

Uh -on second thought, not quite!

this looks close-original 68 color-I think it was caled turqouise?

Matt- I checked F-650 Lo-Pro Diesel order guide. You can get an air ride in either 12,000 or 19,000 pd rating with juice or air brakes and of course 19.5 wheels. GM though will own the market I would bet in class 4 and 5 as Ford does not offer air ride rears and I don't think Dodge does either. Keep us posted on your thoughts when you get this new truck.

So Paul-what is definition of "Nostalgia BB/Gas? No clue about the NHRA today. Back in 68 my 428 CJ Torino (Notch back-rare car would like to have it today) ran D/PS. what would a comparable class be today? The 428CJ was rated at 335 HP but I believe NHRA factored it to 365. In any case sounds like you are building a beast for sure!