Rob

I've already reserved the time off from work. The R612 will be there for sure and hopefully something on the trailer. I'm going to make it no matter the cost for fuel; been "stiffed" too many times in the past!! My replacement at the radar site is going through the same Eaton school I did last summer right now. He is also staying at the same place. Rob

Very possible as it is a different geographic area of the country. When I was in the service a shipmate of mine was from Georgia: A wrecked car to me was a "torn up" car to him; same meaning. Rob

It would be easiest to find a donor truck with the same interior frame width and unbolt the trunion where it mounts through the frame. Remove any crossmembers rearward of the trunion and roll the rears out of both trucks. Rebore holes to match the new trunion, and using new fasteners, bolt it in. Then fit the driveline back into the chassis. Rob

Looks like he did a nice job. I'm sure that truck was taken completely apart and rebuilt also. I plan to be at Walcott this year so I'll probably see you over there. Going to try to bring my B67 on the trailer but too early to be certain. I like the idea of a flat cab back on a B67 but can't bring myself to cut this cab which is in really good condition. without rust. Rob

I'd heard that he had done that but haven't seen it. Be great to see the photos. Rob

This truck is the one they extended the cab back about 3". It looked pretty good. We talked about the B67 truck and they made that one a flat back with a B61 cab back panel. It was originally a concave cab like mine. I'm went to high school in Springfield and remember those trucks along with their R-190 IH wrecker quite well. Rob

I was over at the YRC terminal dropping off a box of freight when I noticed one of Mike Shaffer's wreckers next door. I talked to the driver and this truck has a 237 Mack engine with the original quadraplex trans. It is recently completely rebuilt and runs very well. Enjoy. Rob

The spring loaded throttle arm on the injection pump probably needs replaced as good measure. If the idle is smooth without "hunting", chances are the arm was bad. If the surging continues, the governor probably needs work. A quick check that seems to work is to get the front end either up, or down from normal orientation. Basically I drop the front wheels in a slight ditch and see if the surging no longer continues at idle, if this is the case, the governor is suspect. Rob

Hypothetically speaking of course. Rob

You would never get anything close to good fuel efficiency with a 401/402 gasoline Mack engine. They never did very good in that department at all. Also weak in power, but will get the job done asked of it. Mine runs very well as others I've driven. Never have seen one break six miles per gallon, (empty) however. Rob

I remembered the drivetrain but the carb has a plastic float bowl that is very unstable as they age and didn't like to idle well. I'd get rid of it and go with a new Edlebrock replacement. Bet it has a bunch of power. Rob

Thermoquad, or Holley? Rob

Yup, that's just what I've heard them referred to as. I've never had anything on air so really know little about them. Rob

I ran into almost all of that earlier today. At work we don't use color codes, all diagrams are point to point and the wiring is all white. I wanted to be certain to be able to use this tractor to pull any trailer I come across so wanted it to somewhat of a standard. I backed the truck under a brand new trailer and everything seemed to work fine after all was wired up. My trailer is scheduled for the blaster next week after I get the deck and rub rails removed. I need the lights to work correct for the trip over and the truck wiring was intermittent of what did work. You've not been participating lately. All good at home and work? Rob

Hi and thanks again. I have figgered as the color chart shows on Truck-lite.com and this is how the truck is now wired. The round seven pin connector plug is similar but different in many applications as the seven pin flat style plug used on campers and utility trailers etc. The truck is a 1980 and the color code convention did not match as it is now. Can't say if the wiring was original or not but it did match the same quality as the OEM wiring harness including shink tube encapsulated terminal ends. The only thing that was very standard was the ground wire, (white) was at the top which is a larger pin. On most diagrams I'd seen, the ground was at, or near the top, and the brake wire was at, or near the bottom. Of course electric brakes use a blue wire, and apparently air, or hydraulic brakes utilize the red wire. The comes the separation of the wires for the clearance and running lamps, tail lamps, etc. I did get everything working as it should be now. I've made my own diagram based on three other semi trailers of one being brand new and unsold at a dealership. Thanks, Rob

Around here it's called a "Z" spring. If you can identify what suspension you have an aftermarket supplier can get you what you need. Mack certainly can also if the suspension is original to the truck and not changed. Rob

Yes, that is clear, legible, and makes sense. It does not however interpret the function of each wire. I've looked on the internet and see all types of conventions. It seems the wiring was changed for the 1982 model year across the manufacturing line and was the same from 1966-1981. Even the guy that pulled my trailer home had to rewire his truck plug to pull it and make all the electrics work. Rob

Does anybody have a good pinout diagram using a round seven pin connectors as used on tractor trailers? I ran new 6/12 with 1/10 trailer cable on the winch truck and want to ensure I don't miswire for other trailers. I'm using a "Phillips" round pin plug and socket. Thanks, Rob

A Mack diesel will not bolt up to the existing clutch housing due to differing size, (diesel is SAE #1, gasser is SAE #2). A more modern diesel may bolt up to it but the torque rise will soon hasten the expiration of the original transmission unless a very ginger foot is applied. If it were me working with an original gas truck and wanted to go with diesel I'd look at a small Cummins, or Detroit and a matching transmission. You will need to have a radiator fabricated as the current may be marginal at best. The vibration a diesel sends through the chassis will also cause failure quicker than staying with a gas engine. An easy swap for you would be to go with an International Harvester RD series, (gasoline), or an IH DT series, (diesel). Rob

It is a Diamond T truck, I think a 300 series, but have not been able to prove it. Rob

http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/obama-judge-vinson-health/2011/03/03/id/388276 Rob

Two young guys appear in court after being arrested for smoking dope. The judge says, "You seem like nice young men, and I'd like to give you a second chance instead of jail time. I want you to go out this weekend and try to convince others of the evils of drug use. I'll see you back in court Monday." On Monday, the judge asks the first guy, "How did you do over the weekend?" "Well, your Honour, I persuaded 17 people to give up drugs forever." "Seventeen people? That's wonderful. How did you do it? " "I used a diagram, your honor. I drew two circles like this: O o. Then I told them that the big circle is your brain before drugs and the small circle is your brain after drugs." "That's admirable," says the judge. Then he turns to the second guy. "And how did you do?" "Well, your Honour, I persuaded 156 people to give up drugs forever." "Wow!" says the judge. "156 people! How did you manage to do that?" "Well, I used a similar diagram," the guy says. "I drew two circles like this: o O. Then I pointed to the little circle and said, 'This is your asshole before prison..................

That one's been on there quite a while. We all got to start someplace. Rob

Been for sale many months on Craigslist for the same amount. Rob

The current adminstration and it's political affiliations remind me of someone taking a consolidation loan to ease their finacial overburden without curtailing, and increasing their spending habits. Apparently the thought of "multi trillion" dollar debt is of no consequence to be reckoned with in the future. Rob