Popular Post rmuhlbar Posted September 18, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted September 18, 2014 Greetings,We run a small agricultural supply business in Iowa and one of our trucks is a 1978 RD600. We've added a Red Dot AC and paint but other than that is is fairly stock (I won't say original...) It does about 400 miles a week loaded at 50K delivering products to farms.We love the truck because of the almost non-existent cost of ownership compared to our newer trucks. The camelback suspension performs well on the soft and uneven ground we deliver to. We do most maintenance ourselves but it is obvious we sometimes need advice and unfortunately old Mack mechanics are harder to come by. Truck mechanics do/tell me the same things I find out by myself or know all ready (not much). So, I wanted to join your forum and hopefully keep our truck on the road for many years. I did just post a topic concerning brakes in the air and brakes forum--please check it out. I am interested in any old manuals or service check lists that someone may have for these old trucks--again most mechanics look at us funny and tell us to buy a new truck. But I like this one and hope to keep it going--it always gets nods of approval (and usually a story or two) from our customers. And when you drive it----you are definitely never confused about what you are driving. It has personality all its own.Thanks in advance to everyone.Ross 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldogmack58 Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 HI, SWEET LOOKIN' RD600, LOVE IT! MICK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85snowdog Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 You have come to the right place. A lot of knowledgeable Mack people here.Keith Quote Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j hancock Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Welcome! Great looking truck. Quote JimIt doesn't cost anything to pay attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomastractorsvc Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Quote Robert"I reject your reality and substitute my own." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2stacksuperdog Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 1 Quote Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdogtrucker Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Welcome,that's a great looking R! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby j Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Welcome to bmt nice truck..........bobby j. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Glad you are hanging onto a great truck. Lots of help here. You could start with the Mack Museum. With a small donation, you can have all the info about your truck just by giving them your VIN# Then wait for your packet to come in the mail. Ebay is where most of us get the Manuals etc.Unless you can inherit them form someone you know.Best Regardsmike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Moody Jr Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlotpilot Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 that ones good for another 30 years. hang on to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slpwlker Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Welcome to the jungle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superdog Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Where abouts in Iowa are you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Dash Posted September 19, 2014 Share Posted September 19, 2014 Welcome! The truck looks great. Quote Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
57 bcr Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 & nice RD! Quote IF YOU BOUGHT IT, A TRUCK BROUGHT IT..AND WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH IT, A TRUCK WILL HAUL IT AWAY!!! Big John Trimble,WRVA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superdog Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 We almost have twins, By the way,what you said about enjoying the almost non-existent operating costs as compared to newer trucks,couldn't sum up better the advantage and pleasure of owning and operating an older Mack truck. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdfordhd Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Greetings,We run a small agricultural supply business in Iowa and one of our trucks is a 1978 RD600. We've added a Red Dot AC and paint but other than that is is fairly stock (I won't say original...) It does about 400 miles a week loaded at 50K delivering products to farms. Thanks in advance to everyone.RossLooks like it has 44K rears. Tell us how it is spec'd out. Love me some R Model Macks..!! Quote "If it ain't got a motor, I ain't interested.!!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_martell Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Can't kill an r.....Welcome, please grab a helmet on the way in lol Quote Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmuhlbar Posted September 22, 2014 Author Share Posted September 22, 2014 You are right Superdog, we have twins--I don't think flat "hotrod" black was a factory color in '78 but maybe. As for the camelback I don't know if it is a 34 or 44K, how would I know? I don't know what rear ends it has other than LOW. At 2100 rpm it does 60 mph. We deliver on all two lanes and gravel roads so it works well (no speeding...). It has the Maxitorque twin stick 6 speed and an ENDT 676 rated at 283 hp. At some point in its life someone combined it with a glider so the only VIN type number we have is RD3307KIT which makes parts guys crazy. We have been running it long enough now that I know some of the right keywords to mention when getting parts so the parts man doesn't implode trying to look up my VIN. If anyone has any more info about tracking a glider VIN it would be helpful.I just bought a kit from quiet ride and some new window/door seals. I will install it this fall in an effort to retain feeling in my toes and fingers this winter. It took until June to get the feeling back after last winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dds92780 Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 44k rears are 10 inches thick and 38k are 7.5 inches. I forget what 34k are. Prob 5 inches. Quote Slow and Steady Wins the Race! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superdog Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 the 44k rears also have the cone shaped axle caps,which it does look like yours has. We truly do have almost twins,my RD was also a glider,RD3802. Had a hard time with my insurance gal,she said the company claimed it had a invalid VIN. I explained the glider kit thing to her,and all is well now.. Luckily,whoever built mine also put the serial number tag off the truck it was kitted from, Haven't had to order any parts for it yet,but it will be handy if I ever do. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmuhlbar Posted September 23, 2014 Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 Yah, it definitely has the 44K rears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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