Damned Monday:

[David]

Rob, Is that a Pete Air Trac your putting under the B ?

[Rob]

Rob, Is that a Pete Air Trac your putting under the B ?

I don't know what it is. There are no markings but the axle is a Rockwell Standard.

Rob

[David]

The suspension and tank brackets look like Pete. OD will need to weigh in on this.

[Rob]

I wouldn't know. It doesn't say Pete anyplace on it so maybe it's some sort of copy? I bought it as is in a field.

Rob

[David]

Look for ovals on the spring hangers. Maybe you can delete the picture before Tom sees it.

[Rob]

We pulled the front axle out of the frame tonight and all hoses, brackets, wiring, valves, etc and there are no Pete indications anyplace. The hangers are bare castings with nothing as far as nomenclature.

I do know it will be a slip fit over the frame stubs on the B model. This frame is 33.5" inside dimension and the Mack is the same outer dimension. I'm going to slip it about a foot and weld solid.

The guy I got this from had a "slew" of old White trucks he ran that were retired/junked in his field. I assumed it was from one of those but never asked. I'm not really familiar with air ride as never much been around it.

Rob

[other dog]

conversation went something like this-

"Elroy, I think I got that old Peterbilt 'spension out there by the corn field sold. See if that super M will start, and drag it up here so we can grind the Peterbilt emblems offen them there spring hangers. Then paint over them with the good paint-use the krylon, not the dollar store paint-or that feller won't want it iffen he sees Peterbilt or PACCAR on it anywheres."

"I'm on it boss!"

[Rob]

I don't want to jinx the project from the start so set me straight. I'm ready to start welding the frame together later tonight. Tomorrow I'll call the measurements into the driveline shop for proper fitment. Because I only want good stuff, I'll prolly get the shafting of my life.

You guys are referring to this as a Peterbilt suspension. Where would it say anything about that? There are no markings anyplace I can find on any part attesting that. Was gonna show a photo of the unmarked spring hanger(s) but sat my camera on a tire, then bumped the tire causing it to rotate and guess what happened? The camera landed on the exposed/extended lens shoving it back and stripping the drive gears. Now the SOB needs replaced, (again).

On another note: I came to preliminary settlement on the "Trusty, yet Crusty" ole Dodge with the insurance company yesterday. They are being generous given the age and condition of the truck so I'm actively hunting a replacement. Temporarily this old B-61 will be my "mule" till I find something else for a permanent replacement.

Rob

[other dog]

You guys are referring to this as a Peterbilt suspension. Where would it say anything about that? There are no markings anyplace I can find on any part attesting that.

Rob

it won't, Elroy ground all the markings offen it.

[Rob]

it won't, Elroy ground all the markings offen it.

So it'll be alright to use on a Mack and not handicap the finished product although there is no difinitive proof the suspension was ever near a Peterbilt?

Rob

[other dog]

So it'll be alright to use on a Mack and not handicap the finished product although there is no difinitive proof the suspension was ever near a Peterbilt?

Rob

yes, I would think you're ok- it was cast right on the spring hangers on the Peterbilt I used to drive, only way to get it off would be with a grinder. Peterbilt...low air leaf...man, that was a great truck- I sure do miss it.

[Rob]

yes, I would think you're ok- it was cast right on the spring hangers on the Peterbilt I used to drive, only way to get it off would be with a grinder. Peterbilt...low air leaf...man, that was a great truck- I sure do miss it.

There are no grinder, or casting "snag" markes on the hangers. They are all sand cast finish and smooth. Haven't been around too many running Peterbilts, most I've seen are either at a dealership or other repair facility discounting the ones in scrapyards.....

Rob

[other dog]

this is where it was-

By the way, great looking truck, eh? I sure do miss it.

[Rob]

this is where it was-

By the way, great looking truck, eh? I sure do miss it.

There is no writing anyplace in the area your pointer references. I even went on the internet and looked up Peterbilt air suspensions. This one looks close, but still no cigar so I'm thinking I'm safe for now.

I'm also thinking you are missing the comraderie that truck brought you. You were quite well known all over due to that truck. Operators were always standing by awaiting your inevitable call, 24hr service dealers were always on high alert status knowing you'd be in, and the US military installed a secret GPS tracking device in the air wing on your sleeper so you wouldn't be far from rescue.

If I had a truck that garnered that much respect for me, I'd certainly miss it too.

Rob

[other dog]

There is no writing anyplace in the area your pointer references. I even went on the internet and looked up Peterbilt air suspensions. This one looks close, but still no cigar so I'm thinking I'm safe for now.

I'm also thinking you are missing the comraderie that truck brought you. You were quite well known all over due to that truck. Operators were always standing by awaiting your inevitable call, 24hr service dealers were always on high alert status knowing you'd be in, and the US military installed a secret GPS tracking device in the air wing on your sleeper so you wouldn't be far from rescue.

If I had a truck that garnered that much respect for me, I'd certainly miss it too.

Rob

Yeah, i'm sure Carter Cat misses me, as I was a regular there. But, people would tell me on the cb regularly that that was a good looking Pete- might have been the service crew that was secretly following me. Guess I won't hear that any more, since i'm driving a plain vanilla KW now. "The days of the big horsepower are over"...Jeff Moore,2011.

[shortstack]

You know all this Peterbilt talk raised poor 'ole Rob's blood pressure 30 points and almost put a halt to the whole B project. From now on, don't mention the "P" word around him. Trey

[Mike]

I just wonder when the Mack will start rejecting the Pete's parts and fall off, probably when going full speed down the driveway just before the fuel runs out.

mike

[macksmoke]

I just wonder when the Mack will start rejecting the Pete's parts and fall off, probably when going full speed down the driveway just before the fuel runs out.

mike

Yup, at 5 MPH with no windshield and when it's 20 degrees out!

[randyp]

No worries, Cousin Bob will pick Rob up as he walks by, He left Texas walking 2 days ago, should be getting close with his fuel can by now, course carrying Gorilla on his back may slow him down, especially with gorillas balls rubbing blisters in his back. He said it was a Thanskgiving present for cousin Rob,,,,randyp

[Rob]

No worries, Cousin Bob will pick Rob up as he walks by, He left Texas walking 2 days ago, should be getting close with his fuel can by now, course carrying Gorilla on his back may slow him down, especially with gorillas balls rubbing blisters in his back. He said it was a Thanskgiving present for cousin Rob,,,,randyp

Sounds like a breeding ground for "frumunda" cheese to ferment, grow, and prosper with a gorilla on his back. Citing that neither one of them two is very good with personal hygien; they both ought to itch pretty good by the time they get here.

Be good to get my fuel can back. Cousin Bob and gorilla are welcome to the shed in the back yard while they stay. Hope they can get along well enough cause those two are both "naggers", but Bob is the more fragrant of the two. "Momma" and the gorilla just don't get along that well so I try to keep them apart.

Rob

[Rob]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leland-Tulsa-Winch-Bed-w-Winch-and-Full-Roller-/220855010693?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336bfc0585

This is not my bed but mine is a duplicate of it for this truck. It is supposed to be dug out of storage tomorrow so I can measure up to set my wheelbase correctly.

Rob