Popular Post harrybarbon Posted June 18, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted June 18, 2020 Here is the 1st Mack Superliner with Mack V8 built in Australia. Before and most recent pictures as a water cart are attached. It was bought by Joe Bromage transport, a Melbourne Aust fuel cartage contractor, who worked for Shell, local and country runs. Joe had about 10 all Mack trucks in his fleet. Around 1989 Joe sold his business to Cootes Transport, which grew to fuel and LPG distribution for Shell in Queensland, New Sth Wales and Victoria. No1 history after Joe sold to Cootes is unknown to me. It seems that Joe fitted a sleeper cab for the longer overnight fuel runs. After Cootes bought Bromage he repainted Joe's trucks to his blue colours Attached is a picture of the Supeliner with Cootes colours. Cootes was not a fan of the Mack V8's engine and within 1-2 years he sold all the Mack V8's, Superliners and Aussie Valueliners he bought from Bromage and stuck to the Mack 6 cyl R models, many being Valueliners. After Cootes sold it, it was repainted in the straight blue colour. It was for sale in 2018 and the vendor emailed these pictures. Neither he nor I knew it was no 1. If only!!! He eventually sold the water tank and pump set up and later he sold the bare Mack to a Mack collector, who will restore it. At some time in it's life cycle, the Mack V8 and gear box ( I dont know what box it was built with) were replaced with a Cummins 400 and 13 spd Road Ranger. The rear end and frame length are original, however it looks like the rear tandem was pushed back for the water tank set up. During it's life it had a sleeper cab fitted and repainted in the Cootes blue colours - a picture is attached with it's sleeper. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrybarbon Posted June 18, 2020 Author Share Posted June 18, 2020 1st Australian Superliner was built in 1979 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h67st Posted June 18, 2020 Share Posted June 18, 2020 It sure looked nice in those older photos! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrybarbon Posted June 19, 2020 Author Share Posted June 19, 2020 I make an apology, this was not the 1st Aussie Superliner, It was the 1st Aussie Superliner with the E9 engine, waiting for some info to hopefully track down 1st Superliner and what engine was fitted before the E9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrybarbon Posted June 19, 2020 Author Share Posted June 19, 2020 Clarification is 1st Aussie Superliner built 1978 and it had a Cat 3408 and is now resting with other doggies in a Mack kennel in the Southern end of Australia. The Supeliner above was the 1st powered by the MACK V8-E9, it was number 4, delivered July 1979. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j hancock Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 Nice bit of Dog history! Sure has an interesting path for the exhaust. Leaves the driver's outside the frame and then has to get over to the pass. side. And what kind of Aussie spec. muffler is it running? No air start? See two battery boxes and no large air tank. 1 Quote JimIt doesn't cost anything to pay attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vladislav Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 Interesting story and pics. BTW do Australian trucks have 17 digit VIN numbers or shorter ones? Or 17 digits starting from 1979? And did Macks have VIN stamping on the RH frame rail (or LH?) or neither of? Quote Никогда не бывает слишком много грузовиков! leversole 11.2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrybarbon Posted June 22, 2020 Author Share Posted June 22, 2020 Hi Vlad Here is a picture of Vin plate riveted onto left door of our Valueliner and yes total of 17 letters and numbers. I have not enquired about what the letters and numbers represent. Frame (chassis) number is on right side, usually front of the cab. Dan Thomas wrote some time ago that when he was in process of registering his Aussie Valueliner he was concerned about the Vin plate not being on left side and he was relieved when he saw it was on left same as in US, 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrybarbon Posted June 22, 2020 Author Share Posted June 22, 2020 No air start in Bromage's Superliner and the muffler would have been speced to comply with our fuel delivery trucks regs. During 1970's to 1980's Shell had all Macks for it's prime movers and all had same type of muffler. Previously, the mufflers were under the front bumper and pointing out to the right side, again for govt regs, because most fuel trucks were petrol engines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j hancock Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 OK Thanks. Don't think I have seen that style of muffler before. Quote JimIt doesn't cost anything to pay attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 On 6/21/2020 at 5:46 AM, Vladislav said: Interesting story and pics. BTW do Australian trucks have 17 digit VIN numbers or shorter ones? Or 17 digits starting from 1979? And did Macks have VIN stamping on the RH frame rail (or LH?) or neither of? Yes and no Vlad, I think prior to 1988 (not sure on that date but that date comes to mind for some reason) there was no requirement to have a vin number The vin number was as simple as the first one shown, just 5 or 6 numbers All Australian Macks before that time had the chassis number used as there official id The chassis number was stamped into the RHS chassis rail between the leading drive axle and chassis number and it's about a inch or 25 mm high and consisted of at a guess 15 numbers and letters and may well of been 17 in total When ordering parts for those older Macks in Australia you use the chassis number not the vin number Paul 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outbehindthebarn Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 How about that steering box??! .. Not mounted on the axle like US Superliner 1's. They actually did manage to fit that frame mount box on those early frames. Very interesting. And I mistakenly thought that the "V8" emblem never appeared on the Superliners. I thought those were dropped with the R700's? Quote Fun is what they fine you for!My name is Bob Buckman sir,. . . and I hate truckers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrybarbon Posted June 23, 2020 Author Share Posted June 23, 2020 Here is a pic of new Shell Macks with the same exhaust muffler. Pic of blue frame 10/89 Valueliner with the steering box mounted inside the frame/chassis, the red frame Valueliner build was 12/89 it had the steering box mounted on outside of the frame, seems that Mack Aust decided soon after Oct 89 to mount the steering box outside the frame. All Superliners that I have seen do not have the V8 emblem, however all the Valueliners with the V8 engine have the V8 emblem. Maybe only the early V8 Superliners had the V8 emblem. The blue Superliner seems to have lost all it's hood emblems many moons past!!! Holes all filled in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 Certainly different thanks for sharing... bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmyb Posted June 24, 2020 Share Posted June 24, 2020 That pic with the bonnet up and the Cummins showing. Is that turbo on backwards? All great info Harry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrybarbon Posted June 24, 2020 Author Share Posted June 24, 2020 Good observation and yes seems to be a novel way to make it work, i was told by owner that it ran excellently. The air intake is pumping air in and the turbo is allowing the exhaust to release the blow out, so a new way of application that works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamaican Bulldog Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 I like the look of external air cleaners but do they obstruct visibility or cause blind spots especially during turning? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 I dont even notice the aircleaners on my R model so I guess the answer to your question is no they dont block your vision Paul 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vladislav Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 On 6/23/2020 at 6:52 AM, harrybarbon said: Pic of blue frame 10/89 Valueliner with the steering box mounted inside the frame/chassis, the red frame Valueliner build was 12/89 it had the steering box mounted on outside of the frame, seems that Mack Aust decided soon after Oct 89 to mount the steering box outside the frame. What was the last year of production of Valueliners in Australia? And btw were there NZ made Valueliners? Quote Никогда не бывает слишком много грузовиков! leversole 11.2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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