irishflyer97

Did you ever get it figured out? I see PDQ is longer in business, and I never did get to buy a 200 for my 99.

I've lurked here for awhile, finally found a 99 CH613 with low miles. Needs to de rusting around the back part of the frame, but looks good underneath the cab, engine, etc. 355/380, T2090. Bought it from the second owner. Runs decent, fuel leak around the back two cylinders area, haven't looked at that yet. Only thing that might suck is the rear diffs are 4.11 Im guessing from the RPMs, tire size, transmission OD. But Im pretty sure the E7 doesn't mind running around 1600 rpm. Anyway, Ill post pictures when I get some...

That makes sense! Definitely has the wood. My brother-in-law is a cabinet maker. He said if I wanted to upgrade the dash to a high quality wood, he has the equipment to make it look like a Mercedes...😄

Well, I ended up finding a 2000 CH613 that will work better. It has a Super 10, a step up from the Gen 1 Autoshift. I did notice that Super 10 RTLO1610B is the same length as a RTLO16913B and the 18 speed....🤔...😀

I had been an o/o from 1995-2014. My Dad passed away in 2013, who had become my business partner. I took a break from it, and did various jobs from oil field work to computer repair. My biggest expense hands down (other than fuel) was workman's comp insurance I had to pay for my drivers. It always was more than maintenance. (Nebraska sucks for the pool rate). I have always stuck with pre-emission equipment, spec'd for the job at hand. In this case, I need something for 15% off road, and Mack fits that bill. I will be running three weeks on, one week off. I will be doing any maintenance work in that week.

Hey, I welcome all opinions on here. Each situation is different. I guess I didn't realize there was an ongoing situation. Maxidyne brought up some good points, some that might apply in my situation, but he doesn't know me personally, and the job I am taking on, so it's hard to cross over different applications. But I never felt like I was being flamed or anything. The amount of passion people have for the Mack brand is good to see, old and new models. This will be my first Mack, but my eighth overall. I am soaking up all the information given here without a jaundiced eye..:-)

Just curious, the CH613 gauges that had the yellow background and needles, was that a special option of some sort? The 2000 CH613 Im looking at buying has the yellow gauges, and Ive noticed older models that had the standard black background with white needles, and the yellow ones. There doesn't seem to be a year divide on what has what. What was the rhyme or reason behind it? I even tried my general search kung fu to search this site, but nothing..lol. Just curious is all.

Just personal taste. A small concern on gearing; with the 24 talls, probably 3:73, gears, I have to check to see if a Super 10 has low enough hear ratios to operate on sometimes soft dirt. I'll probably find out the first gear of the Super 10 and the T2180 are the same..lol. The tires could stand a chance, and maybe switching to 24 low pro would be enough to leave the Super 10.

I am out by North Platte. In the Sandhills.

I think I've found my truck. 2000 CH, 220k on dealer reman 400, and turbo, Mack rears, but super 10 trans. Truck is pretty straight, runs and drives well. No Jakes/Leash, but I'll be in flat ground. No blowby seen. Affordable. It will get a T2180 in a couple of months. I was frankly shocked on how well it rode bobtail (24.5 talls probably some of it). Reliability is more important than mpg in this situation. I talked with a former Mack mechanic who know runs a tow company. He runs E7 mechanical for the reliability. He said towing emission trucks has paid for it. That speaks volumes.

Very true. One of the reasons why I am thinking Mack. Overheads, etc, look easier to do than on Detroit. Injectors certainly cheaper and easier to replace. I am still dubious about the EGR systems, but it appears the 06-07 models had cooling enhancements, so could be worth looking at.

OK, talked to Tidwell Transmissions in Dallas, the big guru on these contraptions. He states that the Gen 1 can be converted, it needs two holes tapped on the case to mount the high low, and the interlock pin boss needs sleeved and finished to do it right. He has done some of them. This is the Gen 1, not the later ones. Cost could exceeed 1,000, so easier to get a used FRO 10 speed and call it a day..lol. Or, fjh thinking is the same as mine, a Mack 18 speed would look nice in there. That might have to come later on. But anyway, thats what I have found.

I am finding that using a generic search such as "1999 mack etech 400 site:bigmacktrucks.com" works better than the included search engine, if that helps any.

I think there is a back mount and a mid mount. These are FRO 10 speeds. My mechanic thinks it's possible, and has the parts from a junked FRO. If I go this route, I'll report back.

A top cover and shifter parts can be had for about $400 bucks to convert it back to a manual. Run a new air line from the box to the shifter, put a plate in the floor, add a boot, and pretty much done. I have been reading about it tonight, and found the original Gen 1 could be easily converted to manuals, a selling point to get fleets to try them out.