mrsmackpaul

Well done, loosing weight is a challenge and as I get older the challenge is even harder I have no good answers here Was running between 8 and 10 mile each morning for nearly 15 years after I had a accident and busted my back in a couple of spots Dunno if I lost weight or not but sure as I never weigh myself, but I felt better and still take zero medication Developed a heel spur type of deal a few months ago, so did something really unusual, got some new tyres and tubes for a push bike someone gave my years ago Stuff me that took a while to get used to but I am 12 - 13 mile each morning Almost always up at 3.00 am and go straight out to it Well done on the weight loss, I dunno if I could give up Bourbon, the longer I'm married the better it tastes ha ha ha Paul

Bugger me Geoff, it's always a sad moment when a dog '0' log passes It's bloody tough to loose them, I have never bought a dog, they just sort of end up with me, and boy, do they bring life into my life If it's a pup, I think is this maddness ever going to end, they are perfect mates for humans and humans are perfect mates for pooches Thinking of you in this tough time Paul

60 years strong! This week’s Mack Facts celebrate the R Series, the model that shaped Mack’s history in Australia. 1. The most popular Mack series ever built, the legendary R Series truly put Mack on the map, or more accurately, on roads all around the world! While this summary from Mack Inc. captures the global story well, it doesn’t quite reflect the unique Australian history. The last locally built R variant was the Australian-designed Metro-Liner, which rolled off the Richlands production line in December 1996, just over 31 years after the first R Series left the Rocklea facility in October 1965. 2. In Australia, Mack Trucks Inc. began local manufacturing in early 1963, producing the legendary B Models at the fledgling Rocklea, QLD operation as fast as demand could be met. But operators were soon calling for more performance, greater driver comfort, and increased hauling capacity, paving the way for the R Model, the perfect evolution and worthy successor to the B Model. The first two trucks were imported in mid-1965, an R403 and a more powerful R609. The photo shows the first R609 in Allentown in 1965, ready for shipment to Australia. 3. Almost 9,000 R Series trucks were built in Australia in an incredible range of configurations. Starting with the ever-popular R609, powered by the tough END711 engine, through to the heavy-duty R800 off-road model, the R Series proved it could handle virtually any hauling task in the harshest conditions. It’s only fitting that such an achievement is celebrated, marking 60 years of the R Series in Australia! The hero photo features the very first V8 R Series delivered locally, owned by Smiler Nilon. Paul

Good job

The shroud is huge, as in very long The Detroit's are very odd shaped but trucks soon fitted the motors Paul

Someone with a spare parts book might be able to look up if there is a gasket Joey your normally good on the parts book department, was there ever gaskets for the axles ? Or have I only ever owned old rubbish that's been butchered by everyone before me ? I'm curious now, I always try to put everything right when I'm working on things, but I honestly don't ever recall seeing a gasket Paul

If we are talking the axle to the hub type of deal, I don't think they ever had a gasket They crush up pretty tight, I don't recall ever seeing a paper gasket, it would be only very thin paper if there was a gasket I have only ever seen silicone type of sealant I do prefer to use Loctite sealant, stays flexible and doesn't leak and also looks very stylish with it's purple colour Paul

Good to have some progress, everything seems to be taking me longer these days Paul

Bob I reckon the New Zealand R 800 will have a 350 or 320 coolpower with its dual aircleaners from new Paul

Enjoy the show, the truck will still be there tomorrow or the following days Paul

No the the DM's sold in Australia had the cabs offset to the left when new I think all were shift to the center like a normal truck The New Zealand DM's I feel were made central like a normal truck when new Have the LHD cabs are very dangerous in a RHD country Imagine trying to over take another vehicle, you have to pull fully into the oncoming traffic before you can see if it's safe to pass Paul

Those motor bike stand/lifts are so much handier and useful than just motor bikes Paul

Yep, thats what I was thinking you might of been talking about Known as a wedge or cleat in Australia, mainly known as a wedge Paul

And some more random photos I came across while Googling about trying to find answers R 800 DM 800's R 800 I'm fairly sure DM 800 Anyway, enough waffle from me Paul

More news to hand, I'm slowly spinning this thread off into the ditch without the help of Joey or Bob So there were 3 of this style of truck 375 V8's I believe Like all stories there is some confusion and miss reading, they are recorded in this bit of story as R 700's There were two Kenworth 849s, with 3408 V8 Caterpillar engines, as well as two Mack R797 RSX, ENDTB 866s. The Macks were rated at 280kW (375hp) and fitted with Flintstone/butterfly hoods. The pair was a cancelled Middle East order and so were named ‘Ayatollah‘ and ‘The Shah‘. I'm doubt the Middle East would of ordered new Macks from New Zealand or Australia, so I'm guessing these were U.S. made and when the order was cancelled they found a home in New Zealand and before delivery had the cabs mounted centraly and converted to right hand drive The first two were definitely DM 800's as my New Zealand Mack book has them recorded as such and I have read plenty if times that this is case, the third and final truck is a R 800 A huge amount of research went into these books and they were checked and rechecked and proof read by many sets of eyes before the limited run was done The first two are the DM 800 Middle East modified order This is the R 800, third truck Paul