huppypuppy

Milo, Check in with Andy in West Oz and monty - if you want me to, just let me know and I'll ask monty and/or Andy about those bubble-back mirrors for ya! If you want, also ask Andy about Australasian Classic Commercials - his monthly e-mag for old truck buffs like us! Joe enthusiast from way back (1994)

Andy, To register vehicles in NSW as Historic (ie XXXXX-H (where X denotes numbers)), they must be pretty well original - engine, gearbox, diffs, suspension, etc. - hence the engine and driveline swap! I also would like the Detroit for a spare engine or for one to tinker around with in the shed on the weekends! Joe enthusiast from way back! PS: Sorry for the slowness of my reply!

ThaddeusW, I remember reading somewhere about these trucks - they have V8 engines and were made, as you said, for the heavy haulage industry in Italy! Can't help ya with the models but I agree with you on the HUGE issue! Joe

ThaddeusW, In Australia, Volvos were offered with the choice of Cummins N14 (precursor to the Signature) or Signature power up to 580hp, Eaton RoadRanger on conventionals and Volvo VT2514B 14 speed overdrive on cabovers and the rest of the gear was Volvo.... airbag and what we call 6-rod suspension, drive axles, steer axles, etc. These models were known as the NH14/15 and the FH15 - the displacements of the Cummins engines made the model number, which is just like the Volvo models, the NH12/FH12/FH16! You do seem to know a bit about Volvos..... what do you do for a living??? Joe

ThaddeusW, The MetroLiner 8x4 has front and rear axle airbag suspension (rear available as a option - standard rear suspension is the HN402 Hendrickson Rubber Block Suspension) - the front suspension is what is referred to by Hendrickson as "Parasteer" and the rear suspension is either HAS400/460/461! The spec sheet for the new MetroLiner are available from me on request - on the first page is the new breed MetroLiner! Axle layouts are 6x4 (spring front suspension) 8x4 and 10x4 (load-share airbag front suspension; airbag lifting lazy axle on 10x4).... the 10x4 is aimed at the concrete mixer (agitator) market! Joe PS: The trailer that these two MetroLiners are on belong to Andrew Print Transport, a leading authority on truck transportation! To find out more about APT, visit Andrew Print Transport - by the way, the only reason I gave this link is because Andrew actually has Macks in his fleet!

Howdy Superdog, Thanks for posting these! It comes in handy to know the difference in the R-Model line-up - the only ones we got in Australia (that I know of) were: R685 ENDT675 (237 Maxidyne) R686 ENDT676 (300 Maxidyne) R688 E6-350 I think the E6 was the Econodyne diesel - correct me if I'm wrong! Joe

Hi Barry, Echoing what Jim (aka mackcl96) said - keep up the good work! Having posted my first three posts in my restoration blog, I will keep you all updated on the issue of my wonderful R-600 "Flintstone" (the bonnet is the same as that on the RD I think???) Joe Hupp DUBBO, NSW, Australia

ThaddeusW, Just to reiterate what HotRod said - this is what we call chequerplate in Australia. Try your local steel supplier or truck accessory shop..... Joe

Part 2 begins where Part 1 left off: vouching that Mack Trucks are the best and always will be (sorry for pinching part of the Was. Is. Always will be slogan)! If it wasn't for my chance meeting with the driver of said CHR688RST, I would be a bit boring, still to this day! My choice of the R-600 "Flintstone" was one which was easy to do, trying to find one has been hard..... until now! I only found out about the tow truck through a friend of my brother's who was working at the same place where my friends (who own the truck now) have their holding yard. They brought it as a repossesed vehicle for A$12,000 and were going to put it to work but, due to the age of the gear on the back, they can't use it as a tow truck because of Workcover NSW regulations.... ahhh well, all good plans come unstuck! I was offered a pretty neat little R-600 "Flintstone" single drive with a 6-71 Detroit Diesel 2 stroke engine and a 13 speed RR as well - still might buy that one as a parts truck for the tow-truck! All in all, I have decided the tow truck was a better proposition due to it being completely original, with no rust or anything in it at all! The single drive truck had some rust which would have to be fixed, some parts for the engine are becoming hard to get (bushes for the blower shafts, etc.) and lever parts for the RR gearbox as well! If I had my choice of truck to do up again, I wouldn't hesitate in saying that Macks are the best to do up!

Hi Paul, Could you flick some before shots my way??? I'm deciding which way to go with my cchoice of 2: both R-600's, but both of mine have the "Flintstone" butterfly-style bonnet on them (similar to that on the 761 Brockway), one has the 237 Maxidyne, the other a Detroit Diesel 6-71, one with the Maxidyne has the direct 5 speed and bogie (tandem) drive, the Detroit one has a 13 speed RoadRanger and single drive.... TIA, Joe Hupp DUBBO, NSW Australia

Hi all my fellow Aussie Mack lovers, You'd all better add yourselves again - we'd like to get one of those bloody BMT shirts here! We would if we were on the map - I'm there now! Joe