SLEEPER DOG Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Hi fellow Mack guys. My Mack days started in 1970 when I just finished my apprenticeship and took a truck mechanic job at a lime quarry.They had a few B 61s that were very beat up and a couple of new DMs and R 685s with 237s. None of these trucks ever seen the highway but spend a life haul rock in the quarry. After choking on lime dust for a year I left and went to a Detriot Diesel dealership and worked on about every 53-71 and 92 application, from power units to generators, marine and trucks.In 1979 I went to a Mack dealership as the Detroit Diesel tech and after a couple of months got the shop froreman position for the night shift and spent a lot of time running the chassis dyno and that's where my love for Macks started.Still remember the first Mack on the dyno. It was a R 686 and the torque of that engine just blew me away after running whimpy Detroits that could smell a hill a mile away.I left Mack and moved to Florida and after 8 years working on boat engines (everything from Detroits, to Volvo and Perkins) went to a fire Dept. to take care a fleet of trucks which were all 475 HP 8V92TAs with Allison tranys. This job was my last before retireing and moving to New Mexico where I started an automotive machine shop which I still operate to this day.In 2006 while still working on the fire trucks I bought a 1986 RW613 tandem day cab tractor.I removed the 38K tandems, stetched the wheelbase to 275" and put in a 20K Rockwell rear with air suspension and 3.54 gears.Added a 3 man crew cab and built an aluminum body to carry an 11ft. camper and lots of storage.I went thru everything on the truck from radiator to rear U-joints replacing everything that was worn. Also did a custom red and black interior.The drive train consided of an E6 (4 valve) 350HP with dynatard which got from a wrecked truck, Spicer clutch, T2090 trans and the rockwell rear.I used this rig to tow my 28ft. dragster trailer across county many times, traveling to Nostalgia drag races cruising at 65mph @ 1400RPM averaging 9 mpg. What a great truck!!!I sold the truck last year to buy more Maching shop equipment and now am looking to build a B61 to haul a 40ft Toy Hauler. Would like to repower the B61 with a ETAZ 300+ and a RTO 9513 trans.Wayne Ludington from New Mexico 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Dash Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Welcome! That's a beautiful truck and an interesting work history. Quote Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slpwlker Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Welcome to the jungle. Sweet ride Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTFormula Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Thank you for sharing and welcome to the site. Great rig you had there! Do a search in the last week or so on this site and you will see a B61 that is converted from a fire truck to a race trailer hauler. I think you would appreciate the build as it will closely resemble what you are looking to do yourself. Quote ~ JT Burkard ~ AKA Sweaty Mackwww.jtresto.com www.wickedreputation.netwww.jonathanthomasmotorcars.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLEEPER DOG Posted December 24, 2012 Author Share Posted December 24, 2012 Thanks for the welcome guys. I will search for the fire truck. I found a B61 already done in El Centro, CA. the ad says it's been repowered with an E6, still wondering how he rigged an E6 front mount aftercooler on a B61? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staxx Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 Welcome to BMT and I seem to remeber seeing your truck somwhere before nice ride, sounds like we need to find you another one . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTFormula Posted December 27, 2012 Share Posted December 27, 2012 Thanks for the welcome guys. I will search for the fire truck. I found a B61 already done in El Centro, CA. the ad says it's been repowered with an E6, still wondering how he rigged an E6 front mount aftercooler on a B61? Here is the build I mentioned. Super nice work http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/6853-b-model-car-hauler/ Quote ~ JT Burkard ~ AKA Sweaty Mackwww.jtresto.com www.wickedreputation.netwww.jonathanthomasmotorcars.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumFenil Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 Hi, Everyone. Myself GrumFenil basically from india. Having a business of transportation. I thought it would be best website for me to have good conversation rates. Have a nice day ahead! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLEEPER DOG Posted September 22, 2014 Author Share Posted September 22, 2014 Hi everyone: It's been a while since I have posted. Have been very busy around here considering I'm supposed to be retired.Was unable to find a decsent B61 to haul my race trailer so I settled for an 89 International S1900 with a DT 466. Truck only has 120,000 original miles.Just finished detailing engine bay with all new hoses and new clutch. Next will be a ring and pinion change from 5.29 to 4.11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLEEPER DOG Posted September 22, 2014 Author Share Posted September 22, 2014 Could anyone tell me when Mack switched from the 866 cu. in V8 to the E9. Also was the E9 a longer life engine than the 375 HP 866? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superdog Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 79-80 was really the official production of the big V8 engines,they had versions from 360 to 400 hp ,although there were some prototypes earlier. 81-82 they started calling them E9's and had a 400 and a 440 hp version,then in '85 they bumped the 440 to 450 hp and added the 500 hp. E9 . Much better engine than the earlier V8'sYou still have your Superliner? I remember it being on Ebay but didn't know if it ever sold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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