Chris Donegan Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 Hi there.I have often looked in on BigMackTrucks and finally decided to join up. Like a few of you, I drove B and R Series Macks, but in Western Australia, in the 1970's. One was pretty special and I'm keen to find one if possible. it was a B615 with 18 speed quadbox and a single drive - what looked like an RAD 50x diff rated at 65000 lbs I recall. It was a lovely truck and was geared for speed and would hit 70 mph, something special when most of the contemporaries were geared for 48 mph. I'd really appreciate if anyone knows of any trucks such as this. I recall it was a 1963 model. This truck did a genuine 1 million miles, on mainly very rough north west Australian corrugated roads, with only a single engine rebuild. Quad box and diff' survived with just periodic maintenance. I'd sure love to have it now, rotary fuel pump and all! Thanks .Chris Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/31554-new-member-from-melbourne-australia/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
RFCDrum Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 Welcome Chris. We like pics so don't be shy. Cheers, Rob Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/31554-new-member-from-melbourne-australia/#findComment-188483 Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTFormula Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 Oy Mate! Quote ~ JT Burkard ~ AKA Sweaty Mackwww.jtresto.com www.wickedreputation.netwww.jonathanthomasmotorcars.com Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/31554-new-member-from-melbourne-australia/#findComment-188506 Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul roncetti Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 Welcome Chris Quote RONCETTI Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/31554-new-member-from-melbourne-australia/#findComment-188508 Share on other sites More sharing options...
2stacksuperdog Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 Quote Matt Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/31554-new-member-from-melbourne-australia/#findComment-188522 Share on other sites More sharing options...
1MACK1 Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 Hi Chris there is a Mack muster on at kyabram show grounds sat 15 &16 march 2014 a whole heap of mack men wll be there you mite be able to get a lead would help if you had some vin numbers being in melbourne its only a short drive hope to see you there Karl 0415167078 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/31554-new-member-from-melbourne-australia/#findComment-188538 Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg1 Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Welcome Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/31554-new-member-from-melbourne-australia/#findComment-188580 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Wright Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 G'day ChrisDo you know Gavin Spence? He would be a good bloke to speak to to start off with as he owns a B615. He sold a lot of his stuff recently so no idea what he's up to but has a good network. He's pres of the Australian chapter of the ATHS. Quote Whatever rubs your buddah. The Mack E Model Registry - 103 entries The Mack A Model Registry - 14 entries Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/31554-new-member-from-melbourne-australia/#findComment-189488 Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenlunberg Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Welcome to forum! We love pics! Quote Heavy Hauling Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/31554-new-member-from-melbourne-australia/#findComment-189576 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Donegan Posted June 19, 2013 Author Share Posted June 19, 2013 Thanks all. I will follow up as suggested and make contact with ATHS. I need a challenge like getting a Roosa Master pump timed and working as intended! Strange, for all of the negative things one hears about the old rotary pumps, we had no problems at all with the one on the V8 Mack. I hope the story is one day told of just how valuable were Mack trucks in opening up the north west region of Western Australia when iron ore was first seriously mined there. Up until then the only game in town was the old English trucks and the local Aussie companies use to pull off their horrible cabs and make their own as they would soon fall off on the badly dirt corrugated roads. When the B series Mack's came along they were an absolute salvation. Most had the 711 engine with 211 mighty horsepower and they often pulled two trailers with them. Slowly. And always very overloaded. Some of the B61 cattle trucks pulled three trailers. One of the 'roads' we regularly took had a hill so steep that there was a Cat D6 and driver stationed at the base to haul trucks and their loads to the top.The whole combination of great engine, a magnificent 18 speed transmission and ever - reliable bogie drive mack rear end was unmatched. It took the Kenworths with the breakthrough fiberglass cab and bonnets to challenge the Mack's in these horrific, hot and rough conditions. Oftentimes you would see B61 with a Cat D9 on the back slugging it out. So why do I want a B615 so bad? So I can finally treat it with respect and polish. Something we never seemed to do much of back then. Oh, and to wind down the windows and hear that unmistakeable Mack V8 take up the load. Might even put an air conditioner in it. Pure luxury. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/31554-new-member-from-melbourne-australia/#findComment-189599 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackniac Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 welcome , and enjoy Quote Makniac , collector and customizer of die-cast model in 1/50th scale Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/31554-new-member-from-melbourne-australia/#findComment-189615 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcel67 Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 Welcome mate! Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/31554-new-member-from-melbourne-australia/#findComment-190539 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quantum Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 welcome mate Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/31554-new-member-from-melbourne-australia/#findComment-191690 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Maikshilo Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 Welcome Chris and hope you find a old B model to keep you busy and bring back memories! Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/31554-new-member-from-melbourne-australia/#findComment-191691 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougsr Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 Welcome aboard Doug Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/31554-new-member-from-melbourne-australia/#findComment-191692 Share on other sites More sharing options...
umodelnut Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 Welcome Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/31554-new-member-from-melbourne-australia/#findComment-191694 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanny Gray Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 Hi Chris, hope you enjoy the site. Lanny Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/31554-new-member-from-melbourne-australia/#findComment-191816 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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