New Mack owner '84 MH613 EC9-400

[durtmvr]

I just picked this thing up in a package deal. All I have is Cat 3406Bs with 13 speeds and now this. I'm on the fence to fix it and run it. I understand they are big power engines. The EC9-400 engine has less than 30k miles on Mack overhaul. Big problem I have with it is the 9 speed behind it. Don't know what its worth or if it's worth more selling the drivetrain.

[gearhead204]

first of all welcome! have you pulled any thing with it yet? is it a 9sp. mack or road ranger? unlike your 3406's this thing will start pulling at 950rpm -1700 it will go higher but no need if geared right you should also see28+ lbs. manifold pressure my 450 or 500 will build 34 lbs. I have never run the 400. but know its darn close. they hit there peak torque about the same as the 3406 if I remember the curve correctly .

[dennis101279]

Welcome the MH club. lol. I would run it. If you decide to part her out I will take that grill if its in good shape.

[Bobby j]

Welcome to the jungle........good looking tractor........bobby j.

[durtmvr]

I haven't run it. Actually, I haven't even started it. I have all the documents that check out. Got parked just after total overhaul. It has a 9 speed. I have no need for a flatlander transmission. Most of my trucks are 3 digits. We are bull haulers. It has been sitting long enough that I don't want to fire it up until I can lube it and change the fuel, oil and filters. I can't get the cab jacked up. Hole in a hose which I have off to replace this week. The tractor is in pretty good shape except the interior. Everything is falling down, dust and heat have done a number to the dash and seats which is common here in Arizona. The truck has no rust though which is a + for this Arizona weather. I just don't know if it's worth keeping for us. I have tried to keep all the trucks drivetrains the same. 3406B or C models with B pumps @ 425 - 700 HP, RTLO18913s in all but an old WIA Volvo which has a Spicer 5831 behind a RTLO16713. I like and run several cab overs pulling 57' straight decks so this Mack would fit right in that aspect. All the rears are DS404 sets and all vary from 3.55 to 4.11 on various air ride suspensions with the exception of a Pete 359A that I'm planning on putting on a Volvo frame with air-leaf suspension and pilot hubs thus getting rid of all the buds in the fleet. This would leave me with another ?, Can this old Mack be converted on the cheap to pilot hubs? I don't own a truck newer than a 96. I love my Volvo, but hate it every time I have to go buy parts for it. The few parts that I have priced for this Mack are giving me an even sicker feeling inside. Everything had best be gold plated! I think I can probably spice up the interior easy enough. I could bastard up parts or switches or gauges for any that might lack, but what about the transmission? How easy/hard is it to sink an Eaton/Fuller to the back of that big V8 beast? I might chop the camelback spring suspension off and marry a ds404 set the back on pilots because I have them should I decide to run it. Another sticky question is about the engine brake. I have read in several places that the engine brakes on the E9 suck. I may not know until I try though. As we all know, it costs a grip to turn up a 425 CAT to 6 or 700 HP. If I have a fresh engine sitting here that for a fraction I can turn up it might be worth keeping it and dubbing it the bastard child sleeper in the bunch. However, if I can part it out or sell it whole and replace it with something that fits in with the rest of the group it might be better. Does anyone have any idea what a fresh engine like this with the trans is worth? What if I put the whole truck in good, DOT legal condition? What would it be worth then? Any comments to $$$ to upgrade or change componets mentioned in my above ramblings? Any comments greatly appreciated.

[durtmvr]

is it a 9sp. mack or road ranger?

I'm pretty sure it is a Mack. I've never seen an aluminum cased Eaton/Fuller. Maxtorque T2090 Nine Speed??? is what I think the sticker on the dash says.

[dennis101279]

Mine is a 93 and have the e7 350 v mack turned up with high flow injectors. Parts not to bad for the motor in price. My friend has a v8 and parts are NOT cheap for a V8. Also find a parts truck. Mack does not have a lot of parts for a MH. I am looking for one just for a parts source. I lucked out on mine. Mine was the last year and mine was ordered by company that hauled pre cast cement forms. I am the second owner and truck has 430227 miles on it and 50000 on in frame. New rubber, brakes, drums, oil, and hub seals. My interior is mint. Eaton 40k rears 3:90 on reyco spring eaton 9sp air ride cab. I have all the maintence records and even the original build sheets. I paid 12,500 for mine. I hope this helps you out with a idea of what to do.

[durtmvr]

Is an E9 worth more or less than an E7? How highly sought after are the E9s? I see in Australia that E9 engines are selling for a grip. This truck was a 2 owner truck. All it did was haul feed. The previous owner had it overhauled, sold it to a guy and repossessed it 3 months later, parked it where it has sat until we got it.

[dennis101279]

Also going to want to cut that rear suspension off. It will beat you to death. lol

[dennis101279]

E9 is worth more. My e7 is nothing special. Dime a dozen. That's why I went with anything but a v8. the parts are crazy high priced.

[dennis101279]

There is one on the truck paper now with a e9

[durtmvr]

I am the second owner and truck has 430227 miles on it and 50000 on in frame.

I paid 12,500 for mine. I hope this helps you out with a idea of what to do.

It is my experience that having to in frame an engine at 370,000 is not a good thing. If an E9 holds up like an E7 needing an inframe at 370k, I'd better dump this thing quick. However, the last owner could have done some over abuse to the engine. We just replaced the engine in our old 378 Pete.....1,9xx,xxx miles, never an inframe or overhaul. Tired as hell but it still ran...so much blow-by it would shoot the oil cap off.

$12,500 could make the value of this truck way up or way down. I see it probable that the value could be as low as 3 or 4k or as much as 15 or 20k. So confused!

[gearhead204]

my guess is if it fires up and all is good the value of the truck is 5,000-8,000 depending on size of rears and condition of frame and accessory's if its a salt free truck the price increases, yes it can be swapped to hub pilot .the 9 speed isn't my 1st choice but you need to try it with the v8, I run a 12 speed but use 7-10 depending on hills and load up to 98,000 gvw .running 6-8% grades in Washington

[dennis101279]

Mine only needed the #5 liner shimmed. But since they had it opened Karpers told mack to do it.

[durtmvr]

There is one on the truck paper now with a e9

Geez! $32,500! It is set up though. 700 HP, 18 speed, NICE, POLISHED everything. In searching truckpaper I only saw 4 Macs with an E9. They were all selling at a premium it seems. I was searching onecraigs and couldn't even find a Mack with an E9.

Edited September 1, 2014 by durtmvr

[farmer52]

Welcome to the MH club. I am a CAT fan but I would definitely keep the MH. A MH with an E9 in decent shape is hard to find. Heck, any MH for that matter. That said, parts are expensive for the E9. MH interior parts are scarce. If it was just overhauled by a retputable dealer, it should run fine. Whatever price you put on it....remember you can always drop the price. I am guessing somewhere around $10K would be fair. However, transportation cost is going to be the issue for anyone living in the east.

I did not understand your comment about the E7, it is a million mile engine if you maintain it properly. I have seen other makes of engines that needed O/H at low miles.....mostly due to poor maintenance and abuse.

[Superdog]

The best and cheapest thing for you to do is sell this truck,because if you do keep and run it,you will find the rest of your yellow powered fleet no longer meets your needs and you will want to replace those trucks with Macks.

[Bigdogtrucker]

I'd say sell it to a Mack enthusiast before chopping it up to modify it.

[durtmvr]

I did not understand your comment about the E7, it is a million mile engine if you maintain it properly. I have seen other makes of engines that needed O/H at low miles.....mostly due to poor maintenance and abuse.

The comment was toward a post that dennis101279 had posted......His E7 in his truck has 430227 miles with 50000 on an in frame. Knowing nothing about Mack other than they are tough and expensive, I was freaked out that someone would need an in frame @ 380000 miles. Turns out that his E7 needed a liner shimmed, so they in framed it while it was apart.

[durtmvr]

The best and cheapest thing for you to do is sell this truck

I'd say sell it to a Mack enthusiast before chopping it up to modify it.

I'm open to offers, got my eyes on a cute little single screw 359LH....was thinking if I got it I could stretch it with that 404 set and this 63" unibilt sleeper.

[durtmvr]

Well, went out and drained the tanks today. Screwed some filters on it. Dropping pan this weekend. Doing a little bottom end inspection. Going to pump oil through it before we fire it up. Hopefully it will be rolling coal come Sunday afternoon.

[durtmvr]

Found paperwork on engine. Got it started. Runs smooth as can be. Paperwork says it was turned up to 600hp. Paperwork also shows just over 20,000 on the engine since mack did the work. After hunting for all the other stuff it's going to need, we have decided to part it out. I don't feel like dumping over 10k into an '83 and still having spring rears and a flat lander transmission. Any interest pm me.

[2stacksuperdog]