Eaton behind maxidyne

[Macktruckman]

I have a 1978 R685ST with a 285 maxidyne and the 2 stick 6 speed with 4.17 rears and tall 24.5’s. Truck is getting a new cab this week and paint job. Old cab is rusted out badly. I have an Eaton RTO14909MLL from a wrecked mixer truck with E7, I think has mounts that will work. Now would be the time to swap transmissions if I want. I was thinking it would help lower my rpm at highway speed and give me a little more top end and maybe help me out on hills. I live in an area with lots of hills. Pull a lowboy to move my equipment and pull an end dump. I like the 2 stick but the gap from 4 to 5 is pretty big with all the hills and I can only get about 60 mph or so on flat ground to the floor tached out. Transmissions look to be within 1”-2” of each other in length. U joints different. Would it be worthwhile to swap? Since the cab is off anyway 

thank you 

[keg1]

9 hours ago, Macktruckman said:

Sure looked like a pretty truck

theres very few old Mack’s around here anymore and none are slick. Mine definitely won’t be perfect. Far from it. But it’s leaps and bounds better than it was. There are some ch’s around, but they just aren’t the same 

Thanks yours is looking pretty good to. I know what you mean about the Ch. I had one for 9 years and it was a very good truck but after i bought my orange r model I sold the ch.

[Macktruckman]

So you still have an r model?

[keg1]

No that black one was the last r model I had. I also had a Superliner that I just sold last fall. I lost my dad 2 years ago and I lost interest in having my own trucks so went back to company I used to drive for.

Edited April 12, 2019 by keg1
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[Macktruckman]

That’s what I’m talking about. Lol

i love those things. I’d really like to have a superliner with an E9. I said I’d never part with my old R but I might let it go for a V8 superliner. Lol. 

I lost my dad 3 years ago. He was 66. I was gonna quit running equipment and We were gonna buy and fix up old trucks and tractors and resell them when he retired. He got Parkinson’s though and he was in really bad shape by the time he was 50’s. So I sorta get where you’re coming from. Sorry to hear about your dad 

[keg1]

Sorry about your dad to. He was 80 but I think he got around better than I do. Got cancer and was gone in 6 months. We were always working on something together. I guess you never know. I liked the Superliner but I liked my r models better.

[Macktruckman]

I’ll be. I wouldn’t have guessed that. I have never actually driven or even been in a superliner though 

[Macktruckman]

I’m planning to work on the truck tomorrow. I’m gonna try to fab up something different for the stacks if I can. I just do not like the headache rack. It’s just too tall and way wider than the cab. If I can figure something out I’m taking the rack off. 

[Macktruckman]

[Macktruckman]

[Macktruckman]

[Macktruckman]

[Macktruckman]

Haven’t driven it yet to see how If like the transmission but it’s running again. Got 8 new drives to mount and new king pins to put in before it leaves the shop. Getting close 

[Macktruckman]

I posted this elsewhere but I need a tachometer drive adapter. It apparently broke while it sat in the shop doing nothing. My Mack dealer nearest me has been no help so far. 

[JoeH]

Lot of drooling going on over your pictures. You're doing a great job with that truck, it's going to look good out in the sun. Dual stacks are very nicely assembled and mounted.  Can't wait to hear how it pulls with that transmission!

[Macktruckman]

Thank you 

it seems like it is taking forever 

lol

[keg1]

13 hours ago, Macktruckman said:

Thank you 

it seems like it is taking forever 

lol

It's looking good though. Taking the time will be worth it in the end

[Macktruckman]

Thank you. I hope so. I’m anxious. Lol. I got the new kingpin kits put in it today. Naturally when I pulled the front drums the shoes were pretty much done so I’m off to hunt down new shoes first thing In the morning. May as well get 2 new tie rod ends too. I got a new set of drive tires to put on and I came up with 4 Alcoa’s from a buddy for the outside rears. Need a little polish work but I think I can get them to look well enough. Oh and after putting all that insulation in the cab I’m gonna pick me up a new stereo while I’m in town getting brake shoes...😁

[JoeH]

Tunes make being stuck in traffic not so bad. Sitting in a nice looking truck makes it even better.

[Macktruckman]

Thank you and I’m hoping I’ll actually be able to hear some tunes now. Mack never went all out for insulation and sound proofing. Lol

[Macktruckman]

You aren’t wrong Rob. Have their own sound

and heat.. lol

[Macktruckman]

Worked every day this week and is doing good. The transmission is definitely a change but for the better so far. Rob and some others had said that the power curve would feel a bit flat, and that’s a pretty accurate way to describe it. My driving habit has always been to “short shift” and it seems to really like that. It doesn’t need to be wound out before you shift it like it did before. I am going to work it a while and then I’m probably gonna take Rob’s advice and and have the pump calibrated to 300+ settings and try to fit my chassis mounted cooler. It’s gonna have to make some $$ for a while first. Lol. 

The air ride cab and all the insulation and new rubbers everywhere is sooo much nicer. Got cold a/c and a pretty good stereo too. But I’m still cruising with the window down because I love the way the 6” straights sound. Lol. Took forever but  I’m very happy with the way it turned out. 

Thank you guys for all the free help and advice. I really appreciate it 

[JoeH]

That is a sharp looking tractor. 

[Macktruckman]

I also think I’ll hunt some Jacobs brakes for it when I heal up a little more. 

[Macktruckman]

Thank you Joe I’m happy 

[terry]

Very sharp!👍👍👍    terry