ClevelandTrucker216 Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 What year did Mack start putting automatics in their trucks? When did the R Series (year) start getting Allison Autos? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBWhite Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 Probably the late 1960s or 70s. Macks large haul trucks had Allison autos as an option. As the the R model specifically I have no Idea. Some old timers optioned out their last truck with an automatic before they retired, kind of as a luxury I suppose. Welcome To BMT! 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-547866 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjc transport Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 agreed. NY sanitation had automatics in the Macks as far back as 1970 that i know of. Quote when you are up to your armpits in alligators, it is hard to remember you only came in to drain the swamp.. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-547872 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted March 9 Share Posted March 9 this is another question stirring up the brain cells. time at Mack '69-'75 ; don't think any were sold with autos. even the two fire trucks sold were standards. one MB other R model. two trash trucks were both standards =one DM roll off other Diamond reo packer. can't remember any autos being worked on . not saying Mack didn't have them offered . Mack front discharge mixers didn't seem to sell to good on east coast = they were autos. one style Mack I never drove or sat in. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-547885 Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarnall Posted March 10 Share Posted March 10 My 1972 CF719 came with a twin turbo 864 V8 and a 2 speed automatic Spicer. It was such a piece of junk the fire company considered junking it but then had the spicer replaced with an Allison. Mike 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-547888 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBWhite Posted March 10 Share Posted March 10 Wow I never even knew Spicer made an automatic, can't even find anything on google about them. Must of been a real junk transmission if everyone forgot about them. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-547899 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted March 10 Share Posted March 10 12 hours ago, yarnall said: My 1972 CF719 came with a twin turbo 864 V8 and a 2 speed automatic Spicer. It was such a piece of junk the fire company considered junking it but then had the spicer replaced with an Allison. Mike now that's a combo to really give thought to. 864 V8 hooked to a TWO speed auto.! what would constitute a two speed === fast // slow ?? not powered by 6 cyl but a V8 !! that two speed shifted it must have been a heck of kick. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-547907 Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarnall Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 The fire version of the twin turbo 864 supposedly has 350 horsepower, too. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-547952 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBWhite Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 I wonder If it would be more like a Hi-Lo range than an auto shifting transmission. I've seen some older motorcycles with automatic transmissions like this, Honda might have had something like it on their early cars too. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-547959 Share on other sites More sharing options...
RRJordan Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 Distant memory suggests some old buses in NYC that were GM powered had two speeds, possibly a low range torque converter and a high range lock-up. Incidentally, when did Mack transmissions go from sliding gear to dog clutch constant mesh to synchronized? From a little experience in the 1950s it seemed like I was stirring something big and heavy down in there. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-547970 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Horse Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 For sure Mack was using Allisons in DM's in late 60's. In New York city gasoline could only be hauled in a steel tank with max capacity of 3000 gallons. Can you imagine the number of trucks needed to satisfy the five boroughs with gas at 3000 gals a load? I drove some that I think were DM-400's with Allisons, Scania power-"Mack" 475-don't remember what HP was but newer trucks were DM-600's with Allisons and V-185 Cummins V-8's. Always thought those motors should have been installed with velcro fasteners to make swapping out easier.😎 I think today the city has graduated to 7200 gal aluminum tandem trailers with single axle tractors. Everything regulated by NYC fire dept. 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-547972 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Horse Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 3 hours ago, Red Horse said: For sure Mack was using Allisons in DM's in late 60's. In New York city gasoline could only be hauled in a steel tank with max capacity of 3000 gallons. Can you imagine the number of trucks needed to satisfy the five boroughs with gas at 3000 gals a load? I drove some that I think were DM-400's with Allisons, Scania power-"Mack" 475-don't remember what HP was but newer trucks were DM-600's with Allisons and V-185 Cummins V-8's. Always thought those motors should have been installed with velcro fasteners to make swapping out easier.😎 I think today the city has graduated to 7200 gal aluminum tandem trailers with single axle tractors. Everything regulated by NYC fire dept. Correction I did some checking and in 93, they went to five axles and a 7,500 gal tank. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-547974 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 19 hours ago, BOBWhite said: I wonder If it would be more like a Hi-Lo range than an auto shifting transmission. I've seen some older motorcycles with automatic transmissions like this, Honda might have had something like it on their early cars too. I could see a motorcycle or Honda having a two speed auto; still have to wonder about a firetruck needing to go fast on up/down hill terrain == and with 350 hp powering the 2speed. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-547987 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mechohaulic Posted March 11 Popular Post Share Posted March 11 8 hours ago, RRJordan said: Distant memory suggests some old buses in NYC that were GM powered had two speeds, possibly a low range torque converter and a high range lock-up. Incidentally, when did Mack transmissions go from sliding gear to dog clutch constant mesh to synchronized? From a little experience in the 1950s it seemed like I was stirring something big and heavy down in there. ok a NYC city bus == 2 speed auto could be practical; don't see many going fast between bus stops and traffic lights. having been SO fortunate to have made many deliveries (a while back= ) having 45 ft and 32 ft trailers . never got unit up to speed. unless on occasion I could time the lights. 10/ 13 speed transmissions rarely saw high range DURING deliveries. NOW leaving city a totally different story. LOL 3 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-547988 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjc transport Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 these days, most of the time in Manhattan you are lucky to get out of low split in the trans!!! 2 Quote when you are up to your armpits in alligators, it is hard to remember you only came in to drain the swamp.. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-548007 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 41 minutes ago, tjc transport said: these days, most of the time in Manhattan you are lucky to get out of low split in the trans!!! these days , I don't want to drive my jeep on ct roads. have to wonder how/ why it seemed to be "adventurous taking a 45 ft trailer through all 5 boroughs of NY! younger I guess. or the summer time sights made the trips a lot more enjoyable. won't go there and chance another off topic. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-548009 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 I think the first time I saw one was in my little town road maintenance dump trucks late 60s. I think they were Rios as far as nowadays they can’t find anybody that could shift a stick…. I understand the DMV here in Nevada if you train on an automatic it states that on your license automatic… bob 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-548093 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjc transport Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 same here in Jersey. if you take road test in manual trans truck, you get unrestricted class A license. if you take road test in automatic truck, you get automatic only restriction on your license. Quote when you are up to your armpits in alligators, it is hard to remember you only came in to drain the swamp.. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-548100 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 That’s kind of funny because I trained on an automatic car then my first car was a stick as I mentioned. They probably can’t find anybody that knows how to shift anything….. make everybody a truck driver put in an automatic. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-548103 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 It’s to the point now around here I tell people I broke in on a two stick and they just look at me weird they have never even heard of that…. Bob Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-548105 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 OK now I’m gonna get balled out for changing the subject. I trained on a car just like this one even in 72. It didn’t look as good as this one does but I remember thinking to myself and this really surprises me at my age now I was only 16. I was looking at that car and thinking what a goofy little bastard 50 years later I think they’re pretty cool … bob 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-548109 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark T Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 18 minutes ago, mowerman said: OK now I’m gonna get balled out for changing the subject. I trained on a car just like this one even in 72. It didn’t look as good as this one does but I remember thinking to myself and this really surprises me at my age now I was only 16. I was looking at that car and thinking what a goofy little bastard 50 years later I think they’re pretty cool … bob One of thos ewith a 340 woulda been a fun car. You musta looked a little like Mannix in tht car. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-548114 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 Not sure about that. I just thought it was a goofy little car, but it was just a six popper automatic regular hubcaps, but it was a 2 door hardtop like that one. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-548117 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjc transport Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 i thought i was a king when i got to drive moms 59 pontiac ventura. 389 4 barrel with auto trans. it was a great improvement over the 49 international L190 with the 406 red diamond 6 cylinder gas engine and quad box trans. 1 Quote when you are up to your armpits in alligators, it is hard to remember you only came in to drain the swamp.. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-548136 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 Actually started my training on my dad’s 64 Cadillac convertible then a 71 LTD… driver trainer car was the Dodge The good old days ….. bob Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73945-what-year-did-mack-start-putting-automatics-in-their-trucks/#findComment-548138 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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