CobraR05 Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Hi Guys,Thanx in advance for your help. I am a mustang magazine writer and a road racer. I have an opportunity to buy a 1988 Mack Midliner single race car hauler. The truck has a toterhome conversion started in the first 10 ft of the box. The truck has 200k miles on it.I am a car guy and know next to nothing about commercial trucks in general and Mack's in particular. I was hoping to get some advise from the experts. This truck is described as follows:"1988 32' Mack Mid Liner 200,019 miles. DIY Toter Home. I have had the truck for four years and just do not have time to complete it. I have installed a roof mount AC and insulated the walls. Comes with ramps, nice RV style windows. Tires, brakes, fluids, filters all with less than 1,000 miles. Great reliable economical truck. License under 25,000#. No special license".I my race track travel is at least monthly and is an average of 6 hours in drive time one way. Here are my questions.Is a truck of this type and this age able to be a reliable vehicle for my needs?what are the major expenses that I need to prepare for with one of these trucks?Thanx for your help. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Midliners are reliable if they are maintained and taken care of. With that said, parts are not considered scarce, but are not stocked at many dealers making them harder to come by. We can help you with parts when needed...That is a nice looking truck! I'd jump on it if the price is right! 1 Quote Barry - Watt's Truck Center Parts Manager and BMT Webmaster...1-888-304-MACK Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-15313 Share on other sites More sharing options...
de37champ Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 Thats a nice looking outfit, i had a midliner, a little older than yours, it had four hundred thousand on it, all i did was run it, Barry is right , keep the oil changed and reg, mant. and it will run and run, I got really good mileage out of mine, around 15 mpg, i replaced it with a topkick with a Kitty cat in it, So far i rebuild the motor, and about everything else on it and get around 8 mpg Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-15321 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mackpro Posted November 27, 2007 Share Posted November 27, 2007 You cant wear that motor out, its bulletproof. We only keep 2 parts instock for Midliners, the clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder and thats it. Parts are hard to look up and every time we order something it comes in wrong. The interior cab parts are kind cheap and flimsy but over all I would buy it if the price was right. They seem to last forever. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-15326 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CobraR05 Posted November 28, 2007 Author Share Posted November 28, 2007 I am not sure how these things price out. So, knowing if the "price was right" is also hard to know. In this case I could buy this truck for between $5k and $6k. Is that price right? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-15334 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjh Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 I will third the duability thing a midliner is a fine unit if maintained. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-15336 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CobraR05 Posted December 18, 2007 Author Share Posted December 18, 2007 I will third the duability thing a midliner is a fine unit if maintained.I have been told recently that the french macks are not reliable. I thought I would try and check here on the validity of that. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-15787 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted December 19, 2007 Share Posted December 19, 2007 I have been told recently that the french macks are not reliable. I thought I would try and check here on the validity of that.I had exceptional service from mine. It was an 89 CS-300 with a 210 horse engine. Six years of rollback wrecker usage and the only failed part was a throwout bearing. It would start at ten degrees without either, and without being plugged in. In my opinion, a truck could not have been more reliable than that one. As stated earlier, parts can be expensive. I found it no more expensive to own/operate than any other truck if taken care or and maintained.Rob Quote Plodding along with no job nor practical application for my existence, but still trying to fix what's broke. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-15795 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polarhound Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 You cant wear that motor out, its bulletproof. We only keep 2 parts instock for Midliners, the clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder and thats it. Parts are hard to look up and every time we order something it comes in wrong. The interior cab parts are kind cheap and flimsy but over all I would buy it if the price was right. They seem to last forever.Up in our neck of the woods we still have many customers that run Midliners. While our parts stock is lower than in the past, we still carry a few hundred numbers. On top of this, some of our customers who have Midliner parts on their shelves will occasionally feed us their stock lists. If we don't have it, sometimes we can get it back from them. We get a few dozen calls per week for Midliners, some as far away as Texas.The biggest key to looking up Midliner parts is to use the old books instead of the computer. Even when a VRI does exist, it is better to take the build date and info and hit the book so you can get the correct revision listing. This is especially critical with any engine or driveline parts. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-15981 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 On 27/11/2007 at 8:05 PM, fjh said: I will third the duability thing a midliner is a fine unit if maintained. I'm thinking about getting a 1994 cs200p.... It's very challenging getting info from the internet about the truck.... But the truck only has 80000km.... And the price is great..... Do you think it's a great idea to get it based on the miles on it Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-336303 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 Neo, the truck is superb. But I don't know about spare parts availability from Volvo (who owns Mack now). I'm concerned that pricing might be.....shocking. That's your primary issue. In a perfect world, finding a CS250P would be better because it has full air brakes. The CS200P has air-over-hydraulic. Otherwise, they're basically the same truck. Both trucks would have an 8,000lb front axle, but rear axle options were 18,000lb and 21,000lb. I'm guessing your truck has an 18,000lb rear axle. If you bleed the brakes annually to purge moisture and trash, you'll be fine. But if you don't, those Lockheed wheel cylinders are very expensive. If I bought the truck, I'd flush out all the old fluid and refill with Motul synthetic brake fluid (but be sure to refill with same when required). That goes for the hydraulic clutch master and slave cylinder system too. http://www.trucksplanet.com/photo/mack/mid-liner_cs/mid-liner_cs_k362.pdf https://www.motul.com/ca/en-US/products/oils-lubricants/dot-3-4-brake-fluid?f[application]=144&f[range]=25 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-336304 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted June 12, 2016 Share Posted June 12, 2016 Neo welcome mate A while ago a fella was on here asking for parts and Mack stuffed him around he gave us the part number and just punched it in and the parts were easy to come by over seas and in the US they are a great little truck I reckon Paul 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-336305 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted September 15, 2016 Share Posted September 15, 2016 On 6/12/2016 at 3:25 AM, kscarbel2 said: Neo, the truck is superb. But I don't know about spare parts availability from Volvo (who owns Mack now). I'm concerned that pricing might be.....shocking. That's your primary issue. In a perfect world, finding a CS250P would be better because it has full air brakes. The CS200P has air-over-hydraulic. Otherwise, they're basically the same truck. Both trucks would have an 8,000lb front axle, but rear axle options were 18,000lb and 21,000lb. I'm guessing your truck has an 18,000lb rear axle. If you bleed the brakes annually to purge moisture and trash, you'll be fine. But if you don't, those Lockheed wheel cylinders are very expensive. If I bought the truck, I'd flush out all the old fluid and refill with Motul synthetic brake fluid (but be sure to refill with same when required). That goes for the hydraulic clutch master and slave cylinder system too. http://www.trucksplanet.com/photo/mack/mid-liner_cs/mid-liner_cs_k362.pdf https://www.motul.com/ca/en-US/products/oils-lubricants/dot-3-4-brake-fluid?f[application]=144&f[range]=25 Thank u so much for your advise .... Means alot believe me..... And about the brake fluid thanks for that advice too.... I'm that close to getting the truck just waiting on the bank to approve..... Yes it is hydraulic brakes at the front..... But can't it be converted to full ait brakes....if so how can it be done and what do I need Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-345792 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted September 15, 2016 Share Posted September 15, 2016 On 6/12/2016 at 3:42 AM, mrsmackpaul said: Neo welcome mate A while ago a fella was on here asking for parts and Mack stuffed him around he gave us the part number and just punched it in and the parts were easy to come by over seas and in the US they are a great little truck I reckon Paul Thank u for the welcome...... Loving the advice I'm getting.....I'm from the Caribbean though....do u think parts can be available here.....the only thing I see the truck needs right now is one king pin and bushing...... Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-345793 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted September 15, 2016 Share Posted September 15, 2016 General question...... Does the brake fluid acts as the clutch fluid like in other trucks where u pour the fluid in one reservoir and it acts as both brake and clutch fluid Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-345801 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbigrig Posted September 15, 2016 Share Posted September 15, 2016 Separate reservoirs for clutch and brake fluid on Midliners. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-345804 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 9 hours ago, Neo said: Thank u so much for your advise .... Means a lot believe me..... And about the brake fluid thanks for that advice too.... I'm that close to getting the truck just waiting on the bank to approve..... Yes it is hydraulic brakes at the front..... But can't it be converted to full air brakes....if so how can it be done and what do I need Glad we could help. We aim to please. A CS200P has air-over-hydraulic brakes........wheel cylinders front and rear. When maintained properly, it's a great system. Make no mistake about that. But when ill-maintained, wheel cylinders are expensive. Use Motul, and you'll have "above average" longevity. In Europe, they use synthetic brake fluid. But we at Mack years ago were afraid that U.S. customers would accidentally mix ordinary DOT 4 with synthetic fluid. You can just picture it happening. So we filled US market Mid-Liners with DOT 4. You needed to flush the system periodically to rid the accumulated moisture, but most MS/CS 200 customers didn't. So we sold a lot of wheel cylinders. The full-air brake MS/CS250P resolved all this, and customers like Penske and Ryder purchased thousands and thousands. Don't even ponder changing it over to full-air brakes like the CS250P and CS300P/T. It would be much too costly. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-345844 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 On 9/15/2016 at 8:32 PM, kscarbel2 said: Glad we could help. We aim to please. A CS200P has air-over-hydraulic brakes........wheel cylinders front and rear. When maintained properly, it's a great system. Make no mistake about that. But when ill-maintained, wheel cylinders are expensive. Use Motul, and you'll have "above average" longevity. In Europe, they use synthetic brake fluid. But we at Mack years ago were afraid that U.S. customers would accidentally mix ordinary DOT 4 with synthetic fluid. You can just picture it happening. So we filled US market Mid-Liners with DOT 4. You needed to flush the system periodically to rid the accumulated moisture, but most MS/CS 200 customers didn't. So we sold a lot of wheel cylinders. The full-air brake MS/CS250P resolved all this, and customers like Penske and Ryder purchased thousands and thousands. Don't even ponder changing it over to full-air brakes like the CS250P and CS300P/T. It would be much too costly. Ok now I'm getting nervous....I've never seen a dot 4 brake fluid..... Only dot 3 and that they say is fit heavy duty trucks.... Many mechanics told me it's easy to use the front of another truck to convert to full air brakes....And is hit up a type of brake fluid.....never heard of that one ....And when u say maintain properly....u mean just bleed the brake ave change fluid regular along with brake pads....And does air over hydraulic simply mean fluid for the front brakes and air for the rear brakes..... Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-346015 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 8 minutes ago, Neo said: Ok now I'm getting nervous....I've never seen a dot 4 brake fluid..... Only dot 3 and that they say is fit heavy duty trucks.... Many mechanics told me it's easy to use the front of another truck to convert to full air brakes....And is hit up a type of brake fluid.....never heard of that one ....And when u say maintain properly....u mean just bleed the brake ave change fluid regular along with brake pads....And does air over hydraulic simply mean fluid for the front brakes and air for the rear brakes..... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOT_4 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-346018 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 6 minutes ago, kscarbel2 said: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOT_4 Lol thanks.....I'll search for dot 4 when I have some time to shop around.....but it seems the secret is to change brake fluid very regular Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-346021 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted September 18, 2016 Share Posted September 18, 2016 4 hours ago, Neo said: Lol thanks.....I'll search for dot 4 when I have some time to shop around.....but it seems the secret is to change brake fluid very regular No, the "secret" is to switch the truck over to Motul synthetic brake fluid, as I mentioned earlier. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-346048 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted September 18, 2016 Share Posted September 18, 2016 15 hours ago, kscarbel2 said: No, the "secret" is to switch the truck over to Motul synthetic brake fluid, as I mentioned earlier. Ok ill look for that brand specifically....same 4dot right Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-346097 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 5 hours ago, Neo said: Ok ill look for that brand specifically....same 4dot right Here's the specific info again...........https://www.motul.com/ca/en-US/products/oils-lubricants/dot-3-4-brake-fluid?f[application]=144&f[range]=25 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-346144 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 2 hours ago, kscarbel2 said: Here's the specific info again...........https://www.motul.com/ca/en-US/products/oils-lubricants/dot-3-4-brake-fluid?f[application]=144&f[range]=25 Cool.....thanks much Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-346168 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 Is the cs200p engine a wet sleeve or dry sleeve Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/3121-need-some-advice-88-mack-midliner/#findComment-368277 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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