220cummins

You are correct that I did get too busy to post repairs. Some repairs I did post to the Facebook page and website. They were more just highlights of typical repairs. Not to mention some non Mack repairs that I thought you guys wouldn't be interested in. It was easier to upload to both Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest because I had them all linked via a mobile app. The website updates were very easy as well. I chose to close up shop due for various reasons. Number one being family health insurance; my children come first. Thankfully were all healthy but it's only responsible to have coverage. The second being 30,45,and 60 day customers; thats how some national fleet accounts that I had pay. Having cash flow for future jobs is imperative. Plus my mortgage company doesn't care that we didn't get paid for the in frame job yet or not paid/super slow. The third was due to getting short changed or non paying customers. Before you ask "why did you release the truck before payment?", because they (customer) state they need the truck to work so they can pay me; catch 22. The forth reason was timing. I had an job offer from my current employer that took care of a couple of the main issues with dealing with at a time when I was fed up with up not getting paid.

Got the first part of you comment but not the second???

The new trucks I've seen haven't been the way you have described. Aside from rust streaks from mounting bolts when a new dump is installed from the body company. That would be the body company fault; at least I would imagine.

Speaking of chassis painting and cab painting. When will Mack modernize the plant system? Unless they already have. I haven't been on a plant tour in about 3 years. During the visit I notice they were still using workers in pits spraying the underside of the chassis and workers above spraying the top side. Along with workers spraying the cabs. Will this ever be automated? I believe kenworth or peterbilt has an automated spray system or semi automated?

I serviced a fleet (12) of 2010-2013 Freightliner Coronados and Century gliders from Fitzgeralds when I had my shop. The cab and sheet metal were so-so. The DDEC III/IV were ok as well but couple were "thrown together". The worst part of them were the interior panels being really chintzy and the windshield seals leaking and condo roof seals. I now work for a Mack Dealer and can attest to the strength and rigidity of the GU cabs. The only problem I've seen this far is an issue with the door seals causing the striker and latch not to seat properly on the drivers door. The interiors are pretty decent. The Mack cab is way quieter compared to the Freightliner cabs. It took a while to get used to not hearing the engine and road sounds. Powertrain wise the 505c is pretty good so far.

I just listened to the update on overdrive Facebook page. Bravo buddy looks and sounds great. Good job and best of luck.

RIP my condolences

yep you are correct! remember this topic? http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/30642-owner-said-it-had-a-slight-engine-noise/

Looks good so far! I'd allow some extra time to pull off, repair, paint, and reinstall the fenders.... You never know what you're going to run into. lol The b model fenders don't always come apart real easy especially after being attached for some many years. Best of luck!

I've seen some 60 Series do some crazy things. The first one I worked on; I had to burn (oxy/acetylene) the piston out of the liner because it was wedged. The rod was flopping around in there.

congrats PAP-PAP!

Thats great to hear! best of luck!

I stated before that even snap on has manufacturing abroad. I check labels. I will not buy the import stuff when US made can be had. I can't say really anything good about HF. I didn't say you couldn't make a living with junk tools. What I meant by "I use my tools to make a living" is, its my opinion and experience, that running back and forth to a HF store is a loss in production. I'd rather pay for a quality tool that doesn't fail in comparison to an import tool. I have a very good relationship with my snap on rep. He has bailed me out of a bind a few times. He visits my shop every Friday around 2pm. He is available locally throughout the week and is only a phone call away. He has sent a E-style socket overnight to me once for a defect at no charge and comp my account. I have far fewer, hardly any, defects with quality tools versus HF level tools. Plus, the Harbor Freight store is only about a mile away, but there again I'd rather be turning wrenches than returning them. Getting back to the point of supporting an AMERICAN worker and citizen. Its a bonus. Grayhair pretty much summed it up. Summary- Premium Price for Quality=Increase in Productivity and Supports the local economy in more than just a "handling type" way

I'm union and proud but were a shrinking minority. The problem is so far past that, in my opinion. The unions shops that closed and moved to southern/non union states are closed up and moved overseas too. Union membership in the private sector is around 7% which is around the level it was during the Great Depression. So I say it's past the union/non-union argument. Its an American problem. We can't be a nation of service providers. We need to be a nation that makes things . Union or non union were all still Americans . I am first an American Citizen and second a union member. I'd rather buy products produced by my neighbor; either union or non union, than buy from some no name from a country in a far off land. Spend it where you make it.If you'd rather buy cheap Asian import tools from Harbor Freight or the likes then your part of the issue . I use my tools to make a living. I've had more defective junk that I had to return to HF than you can imagine. My $1100 3/4" snap on ratchet set gets used daily and I haven't had a problem. My 1" drive HF set get used seldom and already bent the breaker bar and cracked 2 sockets. The time I wasted dealing with downtime added a lot of cost to the low purchase price. Just my $.02

There is no doubt I agree with you except of the part of corporate taxes but that's another story. We have lived in a time (last 35 years) where maximizing profits for shareholders including CEO bonus's are what drives business. It's all about greed. The better the company performs on paper the bigger the bonus' for the upper management is. Layoffs and plant closing increases profits. The upside down trade agreements only strengthen that. Free trade isn't free it cost jobs like you noted. Its a race to the bottom. Asia is the center manufacturing that once was here in the US. Dirt Cheap Labor, uneducated workers, corrupt governments that subsidize industries, and no environmental laws, basically no regulation of any type, make higher profit margins. Higher profit margins blow small towns and communities off the map. Sears held out for a good number of years but were forced into it. Everybody else is over there making tools dirt cheap and selling them here cheaper. The days of quality are over. I have refused to buy Craftsman for a few years now. I have taken old Craftsman tools that were just wore out over DECADES back for exchange; only to have them replaced with Chinese and Taiwanese made tools that broke MONTHS later. Kolbalt and husky are made overseas too. Basically anything you see at the local stores is not made here. Start checking labels and you'll see. I only buy Snap-on now. I gladly buy the Made in the USA from them, but some of there stuff is made over there as well. I love how all politicians talk about jobs and how they are job creators. Then they talk tax breaks for everyone. How about tax breaks for the companies that make stuff here? How about instead of just jobs, talk about good paying manufacturing jobs here? Its a Trickle Up effect. Its not only the politicians fault it's society's fault. Everyone wants something for nothing. When everyone wants the stuff cheap they get cheap stuff from CHINA. My only hope is that when my children are grown up, that the attitude will change and we will see a RESHORING of manufacturing...

Thats a nice setup. real nice!

Looking for some misc pieces. I'll PM you if you'd like.

Thats the same setup I have in my B. Its air-o-matic brand. It works well. A ever so slight wonder sometimes. but other than that its nice.

I second that. I'm not against fabrication at all but with the amount of fabrication needed I'd think you be further ahead with an air-ride cutoff.

Its a Mack Truck, it will ride rough. If you want a better ride quality look for an air ride cut-off with the same ratio or maybe faster. You could always add and air ride seat if not equipped. Adding gas shocks may work but some fab work would be required. If you fab up an air ride cab it may ride a little better but it prob will be damn near impossible to do with how the front sheet metal bolts up. Stretching it, as mentioned, will improve ride quality as well. I was impressed when I first picked up our Cruiseliner and drove it back to Pittsburgh from Indiana. It rode just as nice as my Chevy 3500 dually with a Duramax that we drove out in. It definitely rode better than my B61. Its a short wheelbase single axle on Neway ARD but were stretching it and making it a tandem with Neway Mack rears.

Deka, Hands down. I use them in all my personal vehicles and use them in all my customers trucks. I just installed 8 Dekas in Two Freightliners last week. The Fleetrite ones that were in there were marked Jan. 2013....

Nice work and Nice Job! No matter what size garage you have, in this industry, its never big enough.

I guess he wants to hang on to this one...it's not for sale now.

Could be losing it's prime thru the hand primer, just changed one on a Cat last week. It was acting the same way.

Yes I believe so.