1980 Western Superliner Aluminum Frame

[Supermutt]

Hello, I am trying to find out if the 1980 Western Superliners with the aluminum frame used a steel forward section for the engine area and partially under the cab. 
  I am having trouble getting a definitive answer, or maybe there were multiple configurations. 🤷🏻‍♂️. Any help is greatly appreciated.     Thank you 

[Mark T]

If this is the same truck ????  just a couple things you mentioned don't sound right.  Heavy spec aluminum frame ????  tri-drive ?   I said it somewhat in jest about the pictures. (but God help us..... we love pictures)   They really would be a great help  for some input on this truck you're wondering about. 

[880joe]

I have an 85 Superliner 2 that has steel front section of frame and aluminum rear section

[sdthoren]

I have a western RWL766 Super Liner I with a steel front section and aluminum frame. Can't get pics to attach, but can get some if needed.

[Vladislav]

I belive EVERY 1st gen. Superliner had steel front section bolted to a pair of straight rails. The latter could be either steel or alu.

The same for WS Cruiserliner. 

[Vladislav]

This picture was posted by someone on here a long while back. The rear portion is steel not alu in this case but you can clearly see the split.

[1961H67]

My 87 Freedom Superliner has Aluminum rails and steel in front. I’m not sure about the aluminum front options. 

[mrsmackpaul]

So all American Superliners had a bolt on piece on the front of the chassis rails like the photo above ?

 

Paul

 

 

[Vladislav]

No Paul. That's 1st generation pre '85 thingy. Pretty sure it's a design feature of Hayward factory judging by its use on Superliner and Cruiseliner models which both were Hayward products originally.

2nd generation Superliner used almost different chassis probably originally designed for a MH which came into production in late '84. Than RWII have taken it also about '85 (I'm not ready to tell the exact month it came into the market, some guys may know that better). That frame has solid steel rails front to rear with fashioned portion at the front. Was avalible of 1/4" thickness for MH and RW600 and 3/8" for RW700. Could be doubles with inner rails etc. There was an option either with the same style steel front portion and aluminium straight rails bolted where the rear engine mounts took place. That's the design the guys mentioned in the comments above.

Crawling under trucks and investigating chassis style (and possible ways of combining and repair) is my personal addiction. Its roots grow from modelbuilding of earlier years  

[Mark T]

Vlad.... you're kill'n it here.  Where do you get these pictures ?  Impressive knowledge of RWs too.   I can relate to the model thing too.

[Vladislav]

10 hours ago, Mark T said:

Vlad.... you're kill'n it here.  Where do you get these pictures ?  Impressive knowledge of RWs too.   I can relate to the model thing too.

Mark, I still count myself as a rookie. Even not sure I'd say how many bolts in a frame any particular RW-model has...

The pics are from the web. I just use to collect images which have relation to a subject of my interest. The 1st one is a RW chassis which was advertized for sale at some known place in NH. The 2nd was an ad either where that front chassis portion was auctioned (and I have my elbow bitten I couldn't arrange purchase of it). The 3rd one was posted by one of our fellow members alnong with a few more wiews of his project. Aside of those I have a few (hundreds) of pics I have taken personally from under trucks at truck shows and by other ocassions. Just posted the ones which represented the subject the best. 

[mrsmackpaul]

Thanks Vlad, very detailed explanation 

Once again it shows just how different American Macks are when compared to Australian Macks

Im stunned that a heavy duty truck had a chassis that had the front half bolt to the back half from the factory, it must of worked okay 

I only learnt in recent times that Kenworths in Australia are like this as well, at least the older W model and SAR's are like this, maybe the front 18 inches bolts on

Paul

[Vladislav]

Just now, mrsmackpaul said:

Im stunned that a heavy duty truck had a chassis that had the front half bolt to the back half from the factory, it must of worked okay 

I only learnt in recent times that Kenworths in Australia are like this as well, at least the older W model and SAR's are like this, maybe the front 18 inches bolts on

Paul

Me either. To my understanding truck chassis must be the most sturdy element in a rig and making it of multiple sections seems as engeneering... Ok, a compromize). I know in many countries any split connection of frame reals within the wheelbase is illegal. But here we talk about that made by respectable companies and the design seems working well. Strange world!