Rob

Nah. The ole "Trusty, yet Crusty" Dodge has always brought me home. Had a little delay outside of Indy once a couple years ago when it and the fourth deer got together on I70, but other than that has never "failed to proceed" under it's own power. Rob

Not no more!! Rob

That's right. I typed the word Peterbilt into my english language Thevenizing machine and after several agonizing moments waiting for it to compute and simplify the translation, it spit out a single word response: Walk Rob

Every truck is different. If you use the double clutch method, (which always works) you will become accustomed to the sounds of the truck on short order as familiarity is gained. Soon you will not be using the clutch except to start, stop, and the occasional downshift. If is all practice to become perfect. Watch that tach needle as you pull it into, and out of gear. Pretty soon you will know that rpm by sound and feel. Rob

Well, here I was ready to get the "Trusty, yet Crusty" Dodge back together but parts didn't show up. So's I look over at the winch truck and thinks to myself, "Self" you ought to do something to that truck today. So I removed the delapidated plastic headliner and got rid of three mouse carcasses, and the holey fiberglass insulation. Figgering that wasn't enough I went to work removing the cab back glass for the installation of the new slider, and front windshields which were both cracked. The rear popped out without fanfare, but the fronts were glued into the perimeter seal. Man I hate when glass shops do that shit to get them to quit leaking. You most always have to either cut the rubber seal from the body, or rip it off. Either way it's fatal to the perimeter seal. So here I sit with a cab that has no windshields cause I don't have a new weatherstrip. "Shit" I say and get on the phone to my PAI supplier to spend some money. After ordering everything rubber for the cab with the exception of the front floor mat, (I want the Mack logo so it comes from the dealer) I'm quite raw. Also went ahead and pulled the door guts apart, then cleaned, oiled, and greased everything that moves. Now the windows go up and down very easily in comparison to before. Just for shits and grins I ordered the interior window crank and door operator handles too with escrutcheons as a kit. I purchase the rear window perimeter weatherstrip, and front windshield locker strip in bulk rolls and always have that. So much easier to work with new rubber as opposed to something 20+ years aged. I probably have a new front weatherstrip around here someplace but who knows....... Good news is no real rust but a severely banged up roof panel with a few pounds of filler in it. I'll probably replace the roof skin next summer after seeing this. Don't tell "Momma" I worked on one of my Macks all day cause I promised her I'd do some work on the bathroom floor where I fell through when plopping down on the throne. The cinder blocks and zip tie straps are holding everything together for now and the piece of plywood over the hole in floor doesn't look that bad when covered with a rug. The rug part is what she don't much care for cause my aim is so bad. Rob

Is that safety yellow, or just bright yellow? The computer is not accurate with color representation to me. Gonna be an attention grabber for certain. Rob

It works great. Be certain to flush the cooling system a couple times before recharging with a 50/50 mix of low silicate anti-freeze solution. Distilled water is best to use, or deionized water will suffice. Don't use tap water. Rob

I guess you know that after about five years you now have to use thumbs to push where you used to pull, right?? And just so you remember I have your best interest in heart and really want to speed your recovery should you injure yourself, I've located this for you: http://cgi.ebay.com/Suspensory-Pain-Releif-Scrotum-Pain-LARGE-/300513903409?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45f8064331 Rob

Wouldn't work for us I'm afraid. It is neither self guiding, spillproof, nor has electrical hookups. Rob

Ooooohh boy, now all we need is whips and chains for excitement. http://cgi.ebay.com/...=item3a624b5323 Rob Incidently, I'm am looking for a spreader bar to use with my gantry crane for setting cabs on chassis. That's my story and I'm stickin to it.

That's one other than a Mack I'd have. Fraid I'd have to ditch the rear fender though as I've never really been fond of the style. Looks like a really nice restoration. Wonder how it'd look with a Volvo grille????? I'd make him a good deal on one!!! Rob

Getting repaired again. Jamie doing the work. I'm doing the paint. Rob

You have a bad/corroded ground someplace in the truck. Could be in the main connector that feeds through the firewall from the engine side to the passenger side as those had a tendency to overheat and melt. Rob

Good portion of the stuff I delete without opening. A lot of one sided political commentary seems to be the newest tangent. Here's an example: I like how the Illinois lawmakers used the dark of night to jack our taxes up 66% -- pretty soon there wont be anything left herebut fatkat politicians, Lincons corpse and the Cubs. This goes several times a day. Rob

Tis true!! High school friend that cannot, (or will not) find a job so occupies his time on the computer. I get some pretty "racy" garbage I don't forward too. Rob

Sent by a friend. Rob

Mexican men like pink tacos too. Rob

What the hell else would you go to the drive in for?????? Watch a movie??? Whodathunk. Rob

Simply "Slurpy". Go ahead, print the picture and give it a lick. Rob

Hi Glenn, yes the shift tower in the R612 in noticably further forward than in any of the other transmissions. In fact, the Cat powered truck has the shifter with about a 4" forward bend to relocate the shifter further forward in the cab cause the engine is so long. My spare rebuilt RTO-12513 has the more rearward shifter top cover and is originally out of a 1979 RS700 with a V8 engine. The other trans is from an "F" model cabover and also uses the same top cover. Rob

I have that kind of relationship with my parts guy too. If someone else answers the phone I always say "Let me talk to the HOMO"!! We've known each other over 30 years so I guess it's ok. He tells everybody I'm the biggest asshole he ever has dealt with so we're even. The isolator kits I have are complete and you cut the stick, remove 1.5" if I remember and it fastens on with allen head set screws. They are genuine Fuller parts as is everything else. I may try to get something done tomorrow or Friday with it. Went out for a cruise today as the roads were clear. The truck is now licensed so this was the first legitimate and legal run I've done. The truck really drives out pretty good but has a strong vibration at about 45mph. Will have to delve into this as it goes away faster, or slower. Next week when my trailer shows up I'll get some miles beneath her. Going to draw the red fuel out of the tanks before going too far........ Rob

Some kind of "friction" so to speak. Rob

Hi Bobo. I'm not aware of this stick having an isolator incorporated. I do however have two brand new ones in the parts stock. I purchased them at the same time as new gasket and seal sets. I like having spares. Just haven't incorporated them. I'm told they really make a difference! I've taken the mat out of the cab and man is that a difference in noise. The old one is pretty ratty and busted up so I'm going to order a new one from the dealer to keep the Mack logo. Also going to pop the top from the trans to get a look at the forks for wear. I also have new forks and top cover rebuild kits if I find anything worn. I've driven other trucks with this same trans and they are much louder with the whine. This one is shifting very nice and crisp with the new filter, regulator, and all air hoses replaced. I did run some "Marvel Mystery" oil through the trans air system and it seemed to help. The direct to overdrive split is like an automatic without delay now. The main reason I want to pull the top cover is the gate for the shift pattern seems awful wide. To me it seem the shifter is really pushed further to the right of the cab than needs to be on the upshift. It's almost like the shifter "ball" in the forks is worn thin from the side. Also seems the trans takes more force fore and aft to move the slider clutch gears. It is definately NOT a Mack trans in shifting characteristics. Rob

Before that 442 I had a 69 GTO "Judge" w/Ram Air IV engine and M-21 Muncie transmission. I bought it with a spun rod but still running. I had the block line bored and honed, replaced the crank and all rods with an exchange aftermarket set by "Speed Pro" along with .030 pistons, moly rings, three angle valve job with double springs. My wife restitched an interior seat "bun" and paneled the seat back rest to make it perfect. We drove it about three months and I traded it for some cash and a 69 Dodge "Super Bee" with a 440 and four speed which was more conducive to a growing family, (yeah, right) as it had a bench seat. I actually liked that car with the exception of the brakes which were basically inadequate for the task placed upon them. This car I just repainted the original bright yellow with a new bumble bee stripe across the 1/4's and trunk, then sold it. I then purchased a 701/2 Z-28 Camaro with a 350 horse 350 and four speed. This damned car was so uncomfortable it was repainted with the stripes, and sold quickly. It was a good driving SOB however!! Pretty damned fast too but cantankerous to keep adjusted correctly. I still have my 68 Barracuda, (340, four speed) which I've owned since April 26, 1976. I believe our son was conceived in this car when drive in theaters were popular. Amazingly, two years to the day after acquiring this car, our son was born. It is part of the family and like a couple of my trucks, are safe from sale. Rob

Mine was red with black interior, 400 Olds, M21 Muncie, with corporate 12 bolt, (3.73 gear). It was a strong runner. Another one I should have kept. Rob