Popular Post Mackman686 Posted April 29 Popular Post Share Posted April 29 Hi Everyone, I'm rebuilding a NZ built Mack RB688RST, so ill share some photos of what Ive done so far on the journey. I done the camel back bushes and elephants feet which were all original, so they done pretty good for 33 years and 1.5mil kms. Then i split the chassis rails and attacked the chassis heave, it wasn't bad but at least now i don't need to worry about it now. Cheers 2 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74101-kiwi-mack-rb688rst-rebuild/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted April 29 Share Posted April 29 Well done, the chassis rails are a big job apparently, I have never done them I gather it's a gal cab, given the age, hopefully rust is pretty limited Great work Paul 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74101-kiwi-mack-rb688rst-rebuild/#findComment-550618 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mackman686 Posted April 29 Author Share Posted April 29 Hey Paul, I was cringing when I was deciding whether to do it or not, but I found it fairly easy the rust only started from the cross member from behind the cab so that was a bonus. Yeah the cabs a galv one being a MK2 Superliner cab so no rust at all that I can see. cheers keegan 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74101-kiwi-mack-rb688rst-rebuild/#findComment-550622 Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rubber Duck 006 Posted April 29 Share Posted April 29 That's a Slick lookin Truck.....Kinda like a Superliner and a CH613 Had a Kid.....Sweet 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74101-kiwi-mack-rb688rst-rebuild/#findComment-550623 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mackman686 Posted April 29 Author Popular Post Share Posted April 29 Thanks rubber duck, They are unique to New Zealand, they only built 52 inbetween the end of the R series and the start of the right hand drive CH. They are R Series chassis and running gear, with a MC set back front axle, MK2 Superliner cab, NZ designed and built bonnet, an Ultraliner centre part of the grill and an Australian Valueliner front bumper. 3 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74101-kiwi-mack-rb688rst-rebuild/#findComment-550625 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted April 30 Share Posted April 30 Wow, that’s some serious operation. I was just kind of curious what a dashboard looks like on a right hand drive that truck is very unusual. Looking looks to be in pretty good shape. Thanks for sharing. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74101-kiwi-mack-rb688rst-rebuild/#findComment-550694 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brocky Posted April 30 Share Posted April 30 On 4/29/2024 at 7:38 AM, Mackman686 said: Thanks rubber duck, They are unique to New Zealand, they only built 52 inbetween the end of the R series and the start of the right hand drive CH. They are R Series chassis and running gear, with a MC set back front axle, MK2 Superliner cab, NZ designed and built bonnet, an Ultraliner centre part of the grill and an Australian Valueliner front bumper. I am glad ALL those parts are MACK!!! It looks like they cleaned up the parts room and built a neat truck.. Thanks for sharing.. 1 Quote Brocky Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74101-kiwi-mack-rb688rst-rebuild/#findComment-550699 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mackman686 Posted April 30 Author Share Posted April 30 7 hours ago, mowerman said: Wow, that’s some serious operation. I was just kind of curious what a dashboard looks like on a right hand drive that truck is very unusual. Looking looks to be in pretty good shape. Thanks for sharing. Hi There, Yeah they do look very unusual, they were only built for 2 years as well. So sort of rare as such here in NZ but not everyone's cup of tea. Here is a couple of photos of the Interior before i pulled it all apart. 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74101-kiwi-mack-rb688rst-rebuild/#findComment-550747 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattb73lt Posted April 30 Share Posted April 30 Very nice work!! It looks great. Interesting differences from that to the U.S. models. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74101-kiwi-mack-rb688rst-rebuild/#findComment-550765 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mackman686 Posted May 1 Author Share Posted May 1 3 hours ago, mattb73lt said: Very nice work!! It looks great. Interesting differences from that to the U.S. models. Thanks mate, yeah there is a lot of differences. I think these were the first macks in NZ to have the air cleaner under the bonnet, everything else was external. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74101-kiwi-mack-rb688rst-rebuild/#findComment-550800 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBWhite Posted May 1 Share Posted May 1 What a cool truck! It's cool to recognize all the parts but arranged in different places. Does this truck have the E6, E7 or maybe even the E9? I've heard in some countries they continued E6 production well after they stopped making them here. Did they offer the E9 in New Zealand? Sorry to bombard you with questions but I have never even heard of these before! 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74101-kiwi-mack-rb688rst-rebuild/#findComment-550804 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted May 1 Share Posted May 1 Bob I can tell you they most definitely did have the E9 over there It just happened to coincide with a family holiday to NZ that the 50 years of Mack in NZ was on, pure coincidence, I swear it was I was stunned that even though Kiwi Macks look almost the same as Australian ones they are definitely custom built for NewZealand Well worth jumping on the kero kite for a look one day if you get a chance Paul 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74101-kiwi-mack-rb688rst-rebuild/#findComment-550806 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mackman686 Posted May 1 Author Popular Post Share Posted May 1 2 hours ago, BOBWhite said: What a cool truck! It's cool to recognize all the parts but arranged in different places. Does this truck have the E6, E7 or maybe even the E9? I've heard in some countries they continued E6 production well after they stopped making them here. Did they offer the E9 in New Zealand? Sorry to bombard you with questions but I have never even heard of these before! Hi Bob, This one here is an E6 350, it was originally a 12spd Mack box but changed out for an 18spd Mack box somewhere along the way. They come out with an E7 300 or 400 in them in the later ones but not V8. As for the E9s being in NZ yeah they are here getting fue and far between now but they are still about. This was the last V8 built in NZ, in 1999 and was a 610hp. 5 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74101-kiwi-mack-rb688rst-rebuild/#findComment-550808 Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeH Posted May 1 Share Posted May 1 With that bonnet I keep thinking it looks like a Ford L8000. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74101-kiwi-mack-rb688rst-rebuild/#findComment-550809 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted May 1 Share Posted May 1 Yes, I thought the same thing kind of midliner as well. Thanks for the interiors photos. It looks like everything is just backwards. … bob 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/74101-kiwi-mack-rb688rst-rebuild/#findComment-550859 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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