doubleclutchinweasel

Hi, everybody. I'm Kent, from Marion, NC.

My handle is "doubleclutchinweasel". Maybe some of you are old enough to remember where that line came from!

Back in my youth (let's not discuss how long ago), I spent some time hauling heavy equipment with a Mark R611ST (225 H.P. Thermodyne and 18-speed Quadruplex) hitched to a Hyster tri-axle lowboy.

I never thought, the last time I got out of that truck would actually be the LAST TIME I ever got out of that truck. Maybe some of y'all know what I mean!

So, recently, I have undertaken an endeavor to find/restore/build my own antique Mack. I have spent the past few months doing research, and trying to make good contacts in the Mack world. Some of the folks I have met have been very helpful. Others have been much less so! Whatever. I guess it takes all kinds. Or, we HAVE all kinds, and feel compelled to find a place for them all!

I recently joined the ATHS, and have met a few fine folks there. I have made a few rather long trips to look at potential trucks to use in the project. I still don't have the first piece bought! But, I do have sources located for lots of the pieces. So, with the help of some of the folks I've met, I may be onto something fairly soon. I hope so, anyway.

I'm looking forward to chatting with you folks here, and picking your brains! And, I hope I can be of some help (or at least some entertainment) to some of y'all some time!

More to come...

Kent

Greetings, all!

I am in the planning stages of building an antique Mack R-model truck. I have already done much research, and have met several folks in the business (some very helpful, others...not so much!).

I had planned to build what would essentially be an R611T, with the ENDT-673 Thermodyne and an 18-speed Quadruplex. This would essentially duplicate (on a somewhat lighter scale) the truck I drove (too many) years ago.

But, it looks like it will be easier to build an R685T, as there are more ENDT-675 Maxidyne engines and Maxitorque transmissions available. Oh, well!

I have recently seen, in person, an "R" truck on a U685 chassis and another on an F685 chassis. This, along with some comments from one of the more helpful gents at the Mack museum, makes me think that the basic chassis of all 3 of these models are the same, with crossmembers and other components positioned as-needed for the various models.

Does anyone have direct, personal experience with swapping cabs & frames between these F, U, and R model trucks?

Thanks!