Wiley Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 Is there a different model designation for the steel hood vs the fiberglass tilt? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/67802-why-do-some-mack-trucks-have-the-steel-hood-and-grille-and-others-the-fiberglass-tilt-hood/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-Day Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 Yes that is a difficult question but the most common would be the DM 600 series there were over a dozen different numbered models steel hood for some fiberglass for others the DM 800 had even more numbered models but all with steel hoods same with the later RD 800 I have seen pictures of R models from Australia that had an optional steel hood also Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/67802-why-do-some-mack-trucks-have-the-steel-hood-and-grille-and-others-the-fiberglass-tilt-hood/#findComment-478742 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiley Posted August 22, 2021 Author Share Posted August 22, 2021 Thank you! 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/67802-why-do-some-mack-trucks-have-the-steel-hood-and-grille-and-others-the-fiberglass-tilt-hood/#findComment-478744 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff M Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 I believe it was felt that the steel hood was more suitable in vocational usage where things might get dropped on the hood or fenders, resulting in a dent rather than cracked fiberglass. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/67802-why-do-some-mack-trucks-have-the-steel-hood-and-grille-and-others-the-fiberglass-tilt-hood/#findComment-478756 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 That makes most sense heavy construction use… growing up in the east coast I don’t recall seeing that many DM 600s with steel nose but they did use on in easy money .excellent…. Bob Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/67802-why-do-some-mack-trucks-have-the-steel-hood-and-grille-and-others-the-fiberglass-tilt-hood/#findComment-478758 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brocky Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 Did the steel (hard) nose trucks have a larger radiator for better cooling in adverse vocational conditions??? Quote Brocky Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/67802-why-do-some-mack-trucks-have-the-steel-hood-and-grille-and-others-the-fiberglass-tilt-hood/#findComment-478766 Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-Day Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 My DM 800 specs show 1100 square inches for radiator space and if I am not mistaken a B 73 has about 950 square inches of radiator so not a lot of difference Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/67802-why-do-some-mack-trucks-have-the-steel-hood-and-grille-and-others-the-fiberglass-tilt-hood/#findComment-478776 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 I believe that all R models in Australia had the largest radiator that Mack had available at the time, regardless of motor fitted As to the steel bonnet, they were all that was sold pretty much in Australia in the early years as the general consensus was that fiberglass wouldn't last It actually turned out the otherway, fiberglass was a lot longer lasting, easier to work on and looked better to boot Damage was even lower from roos etc hitting them Paul Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/67802-why-do-some-mack-trucks-have-the-steel-hood-and-grille-and-others-the-fiberglass-tilt-hood/#findComment-478784 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamaican Bulldog Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 (edited) Some models of the DM and R series were available in both fiber glass and steel butterfly hood. However some like the DM800, RD800 and the RM series only came in steel hoods The steel butterfly hoods were advantageous to give access to servicing especially if you had things like snow plows or other things mounted on the front that prevented the hoods from tilting. Edited August 23, 2021 by Jamaican Bulldog 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/67802-why-do-some-mack-trucks-have-the-steel-hood-and-grille-and-others-the-fiberglass-tilt-hood/#findComment-478794 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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