huppypuppy

Hi all, I chose the 50's and 60's - much of a muchness I suppose??? I like all B-Models - in particular the B-615 V8 - and the 1966 - 1970 R-600 "Flintstone" model (only seen in Australia as a "Flintstone" - however I do stand to be corrected).... didn't the "Flintstone" bonnet appear on other Mack models in America???? Joe

Hi HK Trucking, Nice find ain't the words - word of mouth helps a hell of a lot! Apparently the guys who own it now had intentions to keep it working but couldn't due to the equipment on the body being unable to be re-certified... so they are going to sell it! It showed up at the right time as I was going to purchase one with a 6-71 Detroit Diesel 2-stroke and a 13 speed RoadRanger and single drive.... not original but the tow truck is - right down to the Maxidyne engine (as shown by the gold bulldog mascot on the grille!)! Joe

Heya Bollweevil, That there bug was a Bull Dawg..... even worse so it was a silver one on the front of that '94 CHR688RST at first! Joe

Hi Barry, Mine has been added for you - the first Australian member to do so! Joe

Hi all, I'm planning to restore this R-600 "Flintstone" tow truck and I'm looking for a couple of manuals for her - I need a full set of repair manuals and a operator's handbook for her (I downloaded the R- and U- Model operator's manual from the Wiki section but it doesn't actually have what I'm looking for!).... I also will need engine parts (Maxidyne 237 constant-power diesel) and gearbox parts (it'll have a Maxitorque gearbox but until I talk to the current owners, I won't know which one....). A bumper bar will also be handy too! All help is much appreciated because this will be my first restoration and I need all the parts and manuals beforehand! Joe

Rene, Just PM me your email address as I can download them in PDF format then email them to you! Joe

It all started when I saw a 1994 Mack CHR688RST ValueLiner - I knew I'd end up getting my ass bitten by the Mack bug.... did it ever! It more than bit me ass, it latched on and refused to let go! I got to go for a drive in said CHR688RST after the driver had delivered a bulldozer to my place. I wanted to go down and open the gate to allow old mate in said truck to head back to town after doing so! She was a 1994 CHR688RST ValueLiner with the EA7-375 V-MAC 6 cylinder turbo diesel engine and a 13 speed RoadRanger, Meritor (or Rockwell as it was known back then) RT46-160 diffs and Hendrickson HAS400/461 airbag suspension. Man that first trip was the BEST thing for a 16 year old to ever experience! Since then, I've travelled in a Scania R113M and a International T2670 8x4 (three times for said International!) - the Scania was a comfortable truck as it had the airbag suspension on the cab! But that first experience is what I'm here to talk about! Somehow, when something bites ya on ya ass, it shouldn't bite too hard, or should it??? I'll leave that one up to you, the readers, to decide for yourselves! Mack trucks are the best bar none... I can vouch for that! Most fleets in the city where I live own at least one.... or a whole fleet of them! Signing off for this first blog entry! Part 2 coming soon.........

ThaddeusW, I heard one of the meanest sounding EA9-610 V8 engines which was in an Australian Titan a few weeks ago - OD Transport has a big fleet of V8 powered Macks and Scanias anywhere in Australia.... even the V8 Scanias sound mean! Followed a Euro IV SCR R620 to town last Sunday my time - not even a puff of black smoke from the exhaust! Joe

Hi Bulldoggin', THanks for the welcome.... that RD686 you have is a nice truck! Do you know much about the Maxidyne constant-power diesel engines - or is Barry the man I need to speak to??? I need to know a few things on them..... Joe

Howdy all, I forgot to introduce myself when I first joined so I'm doing it now! My name is Joe Hupp (both real and user (for this forum)) and I live in Mack Central (not!!), Dubbo, NSW Australia... most truck owners/operators actually own at least one in their fleets! I'm just here to learn a bit about the old R-600 "Flintstone" model that was market in Australia from 1966 - 1970.... from what I have read somewhere, there were more than 2000 R-Models (across the entire life of the model) sold in Australia! I'm about to buy a "Flinty" tow truck to restore - but the gear is coming off the back and the remainder of the body is staying put! If anyone knows someone out there looking for a couple of fairly heavy rated hydraulic rams, let me know after I put them up for sale (if I can - can I put things up for sale here???) on this site! Buyer must be in Australia (or willing to travel to Australia) and be willing to come over and pick them up otherwise there will be a fairly light surcharge put onto the price to cover wrapping them and readying them for dispatch! Any information on the R-600 "Flintstone" would be much appreciated and can be emailed to me - please PM me for my email address! I have also attached a couple of pictures of said R-600 "Flintstone" for reference - please feel free to let me know what you think! Thanks in advance, Joe Hupp

Hey MackMadDaz, You have yourself a great bunch of mates here! Like you, I have a really bad affliction to the Mack brand since I went for a drive in a 1994 CHR688RST ValueLiner with the V-Mac EA7-375 - that's where my nasty affliction with Mack came to me! I am in the process of buying a R-600 Flintstone - visit http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?aut...view&id=103 to see her! Joe

Hi guys, Can you guys please tell me if this is based on the Australian Titan??? It most certainly looks like the Aussie Titan but I do stand to be corrected.... Joe

Rob, I'm tending to think this photo doesn't show the truck in it's true style - the lean could be due to the camber of the road.... I'm not questioning your knowledge here but there's a reason why! Joe

Hi Rob and all who have posted here, Just a quick one to say I haven't dropped off the perch - I've been too busy to come in and check out things here! I have to say that I have the old Mack bug and am in the process of purchasing a R685RST "Flintstone" (this is what Mack Trucks Australia called the butterfly hood!) - I have decided to restore her to look like a replica of a later Brambles Heavy Haulage R-600/R-700. She has a 6-71 Detroit Diesel 2 stroke, a 13 speed RoadRanger and a single drive axle at the moment - am looking at going to the original 237hp Maxidyne, bogie (tandem) drive and twin stick transmission (quite possibly a Quadruplex and maybe not!!!). The cab, bonnet and guards are all steel so that helps a fair bit with stuff I need to do!!! Also, one question: Is there anything I need to look at, eg. rust in the doors, etc, should I want to buy this truck?? TIA, Joe PS: I have included a picture of the old girl in her current state! Feel free to let me know where problems do lie with the job!

Barry, Is there any way of getting the newsletter sent to member's inboxes instead of having to download it from the forums? I would certainly like to know the ins and outs of Mack in America - I might even start me a newsletter for you guys to learn the ins and outs of Mack Trucks Australia! Joe Hupp PS: The newsletter is really good, mate!