Rob

All mine had the BDSL-181 six speed and was a very well balanced package with the 210, and 220hp engines. They did their jobs respectively and were very trouble free in my service. I only ran them to almost 750K with good maintenance before rotating them through. I always thought they were comfortable trucks to ingress, egress, and operate with pretty good visibility.

Agree with that. Only had one with an air seat and it really didn't improve the ride over the rigid mount style the other two had. I only had CS-300P series with steel rollback beds. Prior to being put together and being only a C&C, the ride really wasn't that good.....

The YRC terminal in Morton, IL still has them along with a couple Brigadier's. All still run but the GMC's don't get out much and shag trailers mostly. All are getting rough in appearance too.

Maybe his normal steed, (Mack Granite w/MP8 engine) was in the shop again? Just a guess.

Not many front discharge mixers downstate in Illinois in comparison to the rear discharge numbers. Don't know why as the front discharge seems, (to me) easier to get into position.

Years ago I really liked them. I actually have two new ones purchased several years ago before they were discontinued. Also have a Bostrom "Level-Aire" and it's a really nice seat as you don't have to deflate it. Once I roll my posterior out it returns to same level empty, or loaded. I made all new bushings and built up the worn shafts and it works like new.

Wonder how this "New Breed" of driver would handle making a living with a rigid mount or even the luxury of a Bostrom "T-Bar" driver's seat? The old "T-Bar" seat was a really nice improvement to the solid mounted types until my posterior started sagging over the sides as there were no width options back then. I got a brand new one in the box but I'm afraid I'd not be able to shut the driver's door on my B-61 unless I was sitting off to the right side without squishing myself. Kinda gets me to wondering if I'd have shifter movement room if both I and "Momma" was in the cab together? Years ago we rode in the A-40 together, but we both had holes you could pass a softball through wore through our jeans hip area, (my right, her left) once we got back from the rubbing. Not even going to talk about the smell of having that girl confined in such a small space with near 90 degree temperature outside and no air conditioning.

And it would be "cruel and unusual" punishment to not have an air conditioned cab, heated, and powered mirrors, power steering, or an adjustable steering column.

I just pulled the #1 flywheel housing from a locked 8V-71 a week ago to scrap the engine. The idler gear will still roll on it's stub shaft and most likely pull right free. Doesn't make a lot of sense that another manufacturer would not follow that proven concept.

The Vee design two stroke Detroit Diesels ran rear mount geartrains for years and very trouble free. What is the difference with the MP8 geartrains from those? I've never seen an MP8 apart in person as far too new for me.

"Seems"; good word. It's not as easy to be profitable in this business as it looks on the surface. Might be increased margin available if the rebuilder offered financing for the rebuild, and measures for repossession of the arrears, but not really likely to happen on the small or private scale. I feel the corporate world would have been all over this if plausible. Given my statements, I do not consider a "DuPont overhaul" a truck rebuild myself but see a lot marketed as such. New paint, interior mats, and shiny tires seem to be the norm from what I see.

I've always dumped the old filters into a clean jar and after checking for water and none found, dump the contents into the new filters straining through cheese cloth and a funnel. If water is present it goes in the waste oil receiver. Then the tank bottoms get drained. Not prefilling filters sounds like a good way to get "tennis elbow or tendonitis" to me.

The latest chassis I have seen a T-107 series transmission in, (original) was 1987. I think the T-20 series was new for 1988. Nothing concrete there however.

You need to prefill them.

Did you prefilll your filters before installing them?

I had plenty of "Keds" tennis shoes, (WTF are sneakers)?, "Buster Brown", and "Paul Parrott" shoes and boots back in the 60's. Those brands held up well to a very active kid and grandma and grandpa didn't mind their cost. Being popular at the time, I did get a set of Converse tennis shoes once, but didn't like them and they went back to the store.

Two of my "Western" trucks have the same cab mounting.

Was always too poor to afford that overpriced crap. Never have had anything sports related except my ball gloves and such related to the game. Grandpa bought me a new Rawlings glove for my b'day in 1968 and the sewn on tag had "Made in Japan" embroidered into it. He took a Sanford marker and painted it over. I guess when your generation goes through what his did, forgiveness would be difficult.

Whole new perspective on the term "Road Ranger" eh?

Looks cold and if you look close you can see goosebumps.

I don't see much disparity in pricing between the two makers myself. We have PAI here as one aftermarket supplier and I've not had problems getting parts from them, or my favorite truck parts supplier very quickly.

Even the air shifted single stick six speed Mack transmission can be shifted in reverse. TRDL-107A which is a very good transmission also. I'm going to be pulling a TRDL-1071 from my R-795 pretty shortly. Nothing wrong with it but it needs to go to someone that can use it. 23:1 reduction in low gear. It is two stick.

I think given the longevity of production and developments/improvements, the ENDT, and E6 series get my vote. Pure and simple they were, and still are admirable performers.

Me too. That one I mentioned was red and white, had a visor, aluminum Budd wheels on the steer and white spokes on the back, along with aluminum air and fuel tanks. Everything was polished at one time. As I remember it had light Hendrickson spring suspension and even the pogo stick was chrome with a little light on the top! Had the brown "Western" interior package and everything was diamond tufted nicely. I assume originally an O/O truck but I didn't know the history. Sure was a smooth running/driving thing too.

I'm not especially fond of a SBA myself and surely like a 4070 series IH cabover tractor. Drove one of those with an 8V-71 and 13 speed for a while and it really was a nice truck. It did have the upgraded interior and was very clean and maintained. My favorite Mack, (well would be split) is either a B-75, or an RL-797. I have the RL series and if I'd get off my ever spreading and sliding down the back of my legs ass cheeks, could have it.