Rob

Hi David, I'll give you a call tomorrow if I can get off the field. Thanks, Rob

Couldn't get that last meal through my bowels fast enough but finally managed. Looked up at the ceiling while "doing the deed" and noticed the paint peeling around the exhaust fan...... With only a single job in the shop "for hire", I had to find something else to do so I got started on my Mack. Here's what I mananged to accomplish tonight: I think you can see by a couple of photos why Mack cabs are so rigid. There are probably 300, (not kidding) spotwelds around the roof perimeter on these cabs. Each has to be drilled out to remove the roof skin. With this cab being a rust repair candidate, I used an air hammer to speed the removal of the skin. The gutter around the cab rear was virtually non existant so I made a little time there by not trying to save anything. The perforation to the inner structure was not readily observable from the beginning but my past involvement told me otherwise. I've got about 4 hours getting to this point wrapped in it. I've probably done this in excess of 20 times through the years but it is still a learning experience for me. I'll make the rain gutter myself and blast out the rust that can be seen. I will then weld new steel patches over the holes after trimming back to solid substrate. Want to make the Walcott, IA show this year, and hopefully Macungie, but the long haul might be a stretch. I even made good progress on the IH tonight. Rob

Wished I hadn't ate the mother. Had the worst case of gas all day. Even ran my cohort off at work. Rob

There seem to be shows routinely in your area so why don't you keep it as a "hobby" and take it to the shows. There is a lot of history with you and that truck and that would be very popular for conversation at events. I know I would have a tough time parting company after all you and that horse have been through. Rob

Here it is a beautiful day in the neighborhood and I'm getting ready to get with the program on an older IH cab and fenders. I decide to put my RL797 outside to have room and upon starting the truck to let the air build, and flipping on the clearance lamps, I am treated to a lightning and smoke show that I would have really rather not attended. The first thing I noticed was that acrid smell of burning wiring and I immediately thought to myself: "I got to get stronger deodorant", then "that really smells worse than my feet", then "Holy Shit there Maynard, this SOB's on fire"!! I then shut the lights off, then the engine and since this was not a raging inferno just had to investigate further. Well down comes the headliner, sunvisors, and upper console and to my discovery is all kinds of bare wires for powering the rooftop clearance lamps running under, and through a nice sized mouse nest. This god awful smell that permeated the interior of the cab was nothing less than fresh roasted baby rodents from when I flipped the switch putting power to that wire. I immediately thought, "Halleluya!! The Lord come forth and provideth this fine cuisine for our dining pleasure to fill and nourish our bodies........ Shesh, I didn't even have to wait for the coals to get hot. Life is good. After dinner, (little critters were quite tasty) I went ahead and did a quick survey of the damage which really amounts to very little. All of the wiring has been severly dined upon through the years that this truck sat. I then decided to remove the Kysor roof air unit, and marker lamps. Tomorrow I will remove the air horns and cut the roof skin off of the cab. This is going to take a little rebuilding under the outer skin so don't really know what kind of progress I'll make in the next few days. Got a lot of gutter to make also. Didn't have good batteries in my camera so didn't get any photos tonight. Now if I only had some of Other Dogs' cake. Rob

I may be interested in the 12 speed if it is an o/d unit. Rob

There you go, picking on me again...... Rob

Man I hate these new electronics. So many submenus and such. Remember the time when you rotated the knob on the left and the radio got really loud, then you twisted the knob on the right and received different channels to your liking? Radios in trucks? When did that come about? All I hear in mine is diesel engine sounds. Rob

And let me be the first to say welcome!! Also let me be the first to warn you about that "Other Dog" character. He drives a Pete, yet claims to love Mack; (of course he's gonna tell you I'm full of crap). He is on the edge, so we need to help him all we can. Rob

I'm still lost. Rob

Hi David, I fat fingered the second M in the typing. The burnt one will be an excellent donor for this one. Are you going to use the Allison, or go with the 12? Rob

I have to agree with Superdog as my other RL is RL755LST35359, and is the middle of only three trucks total produced. It is a 1978 Model. Both were produced at Hayward, CA. They musta done things a lot different out there..... Rob

I gots to be on real good behaver now. Momma just demonstrated her newfound technique to me. She carved a figurine out of a hot dog in about eight seconds that looked like a pink "gumby". I thought that was purty neat till she said, "You be next". I thought, "damn", that girl knows where I sleep too.... So much for my beauty rest. Rob

Hi David, I'm thinking that my 12V-71T is ready for the conversion. I've bought two 8V-71 engines for the needed ancillary parts like sheaves, brackets, and such. My engine has twin turbochargers and if this one is turbocharged, I might be interested in the engine complete, no matter the condition. I would like to relocate the turbo mountings on my engine is possible. I can't say for sure on vin number assignment. I have my 73 RL797 and the serial is 19001. It is verified as the first RL797 built. Did you do anything with the DMM that was burnt? Thanks, Rob

Pigment, that's it!! That explains the cloudy haze I live in. And I thought it was a leftover from the high school days. Rob

I'll let Other Dog 'splain how "sensitive" I am and how easily my feelings are hurt. Nahhhh, only thing that hurts me is Mommas' broom handle point to the ribcage when I'm trying to sleep. Rob

Man, I got to start planning my party crashing....... Rob

I ain't gonna mention it again. She bought herself a new "hollow grinder" at the tool store yesterday for the butcher knife, and promptly threatened me while testing it out. I swear, the dog rates higher than I. It could crap at the foot of the bed and somehow it would be my fault. Maybe she just likes picking on me; Sorta like folks on this site. Rob

Highly unusual for Other Dog to be posting during the week. The Pete must be in the shop again. Rob

With a name like Lion, I'm not sure he would tell me the truth. Rob

My wife just "busts my chops" whenever she has a remote chance. Rob

Now this in simply not true. I haven't asked a question yet.

Man, I can't quit thinking about that cake. Rob

I knew this information a few days prior. Who knows what the mailman might bring. Happy Birthday to you. Rob

German Chocolate I assume? You should be glad I wasn't invited to the party as nobody would have had any cake; Just fond memories and a dirty plate unless I brought Rob, (oh wait, that's me)!! Rob