doubleclutchinweasel

Well, let me know what you can find out.And, Thanks! Kent

Excellent suggestion.So, are these Mack adjusters as I described them, above? Or, are they still held on with the snap-ring? I didn't clean it up enough to see any details yesterday. I'm a little concerned about how much it might take to remove that lock-nut...if it is indeed a lock nut!

Hey, everybody. Thinkin' real serious about the '70 R600 I found recently. Went and drove it today. More right than wrong with it. Planning to re-do all the brake system anyway, if I get it. Brake linings have a bunch of life left. Adjusted the fronts up so it would actually stop bob-tailing. Rears were fairly close to being right. Rear adjusters don't seem to want to co-operate. Some of the "collars" are frozen to the bolt. Others compress, but the bolt seems frozen. Checked prices. Not enough money to worry about. I'll just change them all. Most I've seen use snap-ring to retain the adjuster. These Macks units seem to be retained by a BIG hex-head bolt. Is that how you remove them? I read somewhere the macks were 1.50" X 28 spline. Does that sound right? I think, if I buy this, I'll start by replacing all the cans and slack adjusters...then the compressor...then all the lines. Then it needs a clutch. I just want to get my ducks in a row on these slack adjusters before I jump in over my head. Kent

Not bad. The one I drove today isn't bad either, though. $4K, and I can drive this one home! Still trying to make up me feeble old mind...

Well, I'm zeroing in on one. But I could be swayed! Let me know what/where/how much/what condition. And, pictures are always nice! I'm looking pretty seriously at one nearby. The condition is pretty good, and the price is right. But, I'd prefer to have a single-axle, as indicated by your VIN. Kent

Thanks for that response. Good to hear that those numbers actually mena something to somebody! Once I get this thing home (assuming the deal goes through), I'll be in a better spot to work on it. I'll probably be back in here to talk about it some more then. Hey, maybe then I can post a picture of it in my profile. Kent

Yep. I agree. When it comes out, it'll all get some love before it goes back in! I have a few powertrain-type guys in my area, and have already spoken to a couple of them. Biggest problem, so far, is that I don't have the truck home yet! Looks like I'll need to pull it out and take it to them to properly identify it. So, far, none of the Mack build sheet info means anything to these guys. But, they all feel they can help, once they see the actual parts. More to come... Kent

Thanks for the comments, guys. I'm going tomorrow (Wednesday) to test drive the truck. If I can get it road-worthy, I'll likely bring it home Friday or Saturday. Once I get it here, I'll be doing the clutch right away. So, I'll try to get some measurements and pictures of all the pieces involved. I may not bring the Quad home right away, but I'll get measurements off it as well. Looking at the Mack build sheet, it is obvious they had to substitute a LOT of parts, especially in the clutch linkage area. So, it could be interesting. More to come... Kent

OK, I'm doing more research on the R611 which looks like it will be my project truck. The first order of business will be to replace the throwout bearing, and maybe the clutch. After that, it'll get interesting. This Dog came from the factory with a Fuller RTF-915. The build sheet shows the clutch as "Spicer 2-plate", and I believe the number is "CL 651" (it's pretty hard to read). The clutch assembly number looks like "11HBA 4131 P2". Do those numbers make sense to anybody? The Mack dealer near here said the throwout bearing can not be bought separately. It only comes with the clutch. If anybody knows anything about this clutch design, I would appreciate hearing about it. Also, if anybody has parts, or knows of parts, for that clutch, please let me know. Thanks, Kent

Hello, everybody! Been busy. Lots of stuff going on. Missed everybody. I've found a likely candidate for my R project. It is a 1970 R611. Good running Thermodyne. Has an RT-915 in it. The same guy has an 18-speed Quad I can get. But, it is out of a DM. I know the Fullers mount differently. I will end up with the Mack-Fuller bell housing, and the Fuller mounts. Might be valuable fo somebody going the "other" way. My question is, will the transmission brackets on the DM Quad match up with the frame brackets on the R (which was originally Fuller-equipped)? Or, will I need to pilfer a "complete" set of frame/trans brackets off another Mack-equipped R? And, are the holes in the frame the same, or are they drilled differently from the factory, if a Fuller is used? Thanks, Kent

It's in the state of West Virginia. That's my problem, too. It's a far piece to drive to look around. So, once my guy gets everything sorted out, I'll try to get more details. Give me a couple of weeks.Kent

I'll find out in a few weeks. If I find any, I'll get some pics. I do know there were a couple in another of the guy's yards. I recall one that used an R-model cab, too.Stay tuned... Kent

Here's a DM...just for you, Vinny!

18K is a pretty high starting point. It looks like I can be finished with a "custom" build for less than that. The region a truck is in seems to have a huge impact on its price!Wouldn;t mind seeing some pics and specs, though. You never know. If it's the right one... Kent

NC considers an antique to be 35 years or older.

I don't remember seeing a U, Vinny. But, it would not surprise me to find some. There were several DMs, though. That single-axle is an R640. These were gas-powered. It still has the 6-cylinder gas engine in it. Has a 10-speed (direct) Duplex trans. Somebody made some odd-ball trailer hitch mount for the rear. It is single-framed, but has the heavy-spec dual rear springs with the "6-bolt" spring hangers. This is a HEAVY rear end. Did not get the axle ratio yet, but gassers were generally geared pretty deep. This unit is actually one of the ones I am considering for a foundation for mine. I think they found one more single-axle R-model there this week. I really want to start with a single-screw, if I can. Will keep you posted, Kent

Like I told the other guys, as soon as we can, we will be making an inventory list. I'll try to figure out a way to post it here. My parts guys reaffirmed that he would rather see the trucks sold, rather than crushed, if at all possible. More to come... Kent

I think there were a couple of Brockways. As soon as the guys can get this stuff pulled out and organized, there will be an inventory list made up. Then we will know more about what there is there. Kent

Sure will. I have a few pictures already. But, I don't have near all of them. Keep in mind that these trucks ARE in a junk yard. I suspect all of them will need re-cabbed, or at least need a lot of cab work. I did not see one Mack cab that I would want to take home to meet Momma. But, since I am planning to upgrade to a later cab anyway, that does not hurt me that much. Once Dale gets some of the Macks pulled out into a clear area, I will get pics and VIN numbers off as many of them as I can. Of 11 they checked yesterday, there were 8 which had titles. So, that's a good sign. In the meantime, I will attach a couple of the pics I took there before. This will give you some idea of the conditions.. My goal is to come out of there with serviceable parts; frame, axles, engine, trans. After we get those parts home, the real work will begin! Kent

Absolutely! Just as soon as I start buying parts!

Okay! My parts guy has made a deal to buy everything in a salvage yard. I walked around this yard with him a few weeks back, and there are literally hundreds of trucks there...probably in excess of 300. There are A LOT of complete and partial Macks there. I found a handful in there which I might be able to use as the base for my project. There are also a lot of things there which do not interest me, personally, but may be useful to someone else. I saw one complete R640T there. They only make about 97 of those altogether. My contact is planning on selling anything nobody wants for scrap dollars. In fact, his quote is based on scrapping everything in there at market scrap prices. So, he would be willing to sell truck for about the same price as scrap, if anybody's interested. His plan is to immediately remove and scrap anything that is not likely to sell (later-model, run-of-the-mill stuff), to make a hole in the yard. Then, the more interesting stuff (like all the Macks) can be pulled out into this area and evaluated. It is at this point I am going to go back for another visit, and try to pick out some pieces. Keep in mind that these trucks are in a salvage yard, and most have been for many years. So, don't plan on driving them home! But, there are many good, complete trucks there. If anybody wants to be in on this deal, P.M. me, and I'll try to hook you up. Kent

Please do!

That sucker doesn't look too bad, does it?

Hey, Vinny. Been out of town. Just getting caught up. I have actually been to NY to see the one with the trailer. The price is insane, considering the condition. The price on the "restored" one is doubly so. The basic problem with these old units (as you know) is rust. And, you never pay extra for less-rusty, if you still have to re-cab it anyway. I have a couple of deals working right now. If any of them pan out, I think I can come out really well on the truck. I will be posting some info on the for-sale page that might be of some help to others. Stay tuned.

Wow! Thise would have been good ones. That's me: a day late and a dollar short!