doubleclutchinweasel

Actually, I just found a brochure in my list showing an "R700S" tandem-axle truck that was not an "R700ST" tandem-axle tractor.  So, they must have just decided not to use the "P" in some applications.  That brochure was a 1972. But, I found other brochures as late as 1976 that still listed certain models as "P"s.

36 minutes ago, mechohaulic said:

 since the frame vin matches the door. I'd say it was a misinterpretation of  model/ serial number reading. a DM607 S could have been taken as a single axle  by memory.  actually a single axle is a T , DM world a S would come under light weight DM vs a DM----SX ; heavy weight .

Yes, "T" would be a tractor.  "P" would be a platform (straight truck).  Not many "P" trucks around, from what I have seen.  Mostly tractors.

An "S" would definitely be a tandem.  An "ST" would always be a tandem-axle tractor.  An "S" could be attached to either "P" or "T", I suppose.  But I don't know if I ever saw an "SP".  "X" was heavy-duty.  "SX" would be a heavy-duty tandem-axle.

They used that same nomenclature through a lot of the models.  B, F, R, U, DM, just to name a few.  Another elegant system Mack used, that Volvo never gave a rat's rear about.

1 hour ago, terry said:

Best thing is to pull one wheel and cross the existingnseal to see what matches up,   terry

Can't go too far wrong that way!

1 hour ago, Joey Mack said:

I saw the picture of the rear frame.  I didnt see a seam or joint where the frame was stretched..  Maybe Bob can take a look for a seam, and also look on the frame for the VIN.  Mech, The VIN is on the right front frame rail, right?  I know on newer trucks it is, but I cant remember on the 70's models. 

Yes, the VIN should be on the outside of the RH frame rail, between the axle and the cab.  

On 8/12/2023 at 7:30 PM, Joey Mack said:

You have an E-Tech..  Unplug the cam sensor and try to start it..  If it starts after a bit of cranking, plug it back in, and unplug the crank sensor in the flywheel housing and try to start it.  It will start and run and either of them, but if it doesnt start with one unplugged, the one that IS plugged in needs to be inspected..  

That made my head hurt...🤪

I traced the owners of that truck a while back. Found a few owners. But I never found where Carey Loftin ever owned it. But, records aren’t all that good from that time. Anything is possible. 
Carey Loftin was maybe the best stunt driver ever. 

37 minutes ago, mechohaulic said:

in the days before GPS and cell phones , I had the relief driver spot. doing the up state NY run with a LTL9000 twin screw sleeper and 45 ft reefer . it was days of maps and written directions. middle of the night all going well till directions say left turn; ok we can do it. left turn to see a sign says 10 ft over pass ahead.!! 12.6 trailer. now I know the driver who does the route regular; he wouldnt send me wrong. back out to main road . headlites coming towards me ; old pick up stopped - old timer says : lost ?. told him where I was headed. says :follow me. dirt roads not wide enough for two to pass never mind a T/T. dozens of deer standing next to road . come to a WOODEN bridge !! he drove across ; stopped and waited. do I cross or not ; fast and hope or slow and sink. maybe ft on each side to spare. over i drove with the boards creaking ;not steel or concrete . made it. thanked him and continued the route. spoke to the driver following week . says "what the F--k bill !! he laughs and says "oh; the 10 ft sign is only for the arch on ends ; I stay in the center 13 ft. if I could see the bridge or it was day light ; would have been different.   yep the fun days.

That reminds me of a time when I was still too young to drive.  Was on a clearing job with my Dad.  We were waiting on the fuel truck to show up.  Seems like it was a C60 Chevy.  Waited.  Waited.  Waited.  He decided to back-track and see if the fuel jockey got lost or stuck somewhere.

Found the fuel truck butt-down in a creek, having fallen through a covered bridge.  Nose was just coming out of the bridge when the drive wheels found the weak point in the middle.  Splash!  Nose up on the edge of the bridge, tail in the water.  Seem to recall it took a bit of doing to get it up out of there.

Dave Mueller sounds familiar. Not sure why. 

Used to work for a guy who gave the worst directions!

He’d tell you to look for some cattle and turn right past them. If they moved, you were hosed! Or look for the red car and then turn right. Hope they didn’t go to town.

One time, I was driving his lowboy. He told me very specific things to look for. Little dirt road on the left. Cross a bridge over a little creek. Then a white house on the right. Then a red barn on the left with a silo next to it. Finally, “The road you want is about 1/4 mile before that.”  Well, you couldn’t see the barn when you passed the road. At least 4-5 more curves before you could even see it.

WTF?! 1/4 mile the other way? Turned out to be at least 3/4 mile!  And absolutely nowhere to turn around.  Backing that stupid thing back up a tiny, crooked 2-lane road. Trying not to back into anybody else that might have had the misfortune to be coming the other way. Wide load. Can’t see s#!t. Nobody to flag for me. Awesome! Good times!

If directions to your house begin with the phrase, "Go to the end of the paved road, and then..."

Yep.  Sure enough.

On 8/8/2023 at 12:43 AM, BOBWhite said:

I saw this today on marketplace and I've never seen an engine tilted this way in a semi. I knew that some of the 1990s and 2000s sterling trucks tilted there engines a bit for hood clearance but nothing like this. I'm guessing they could put bigger engines in this way. 

I knew Dodge liked to slant there engines but I had no idea they did it to other makes as well. 

Link: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/299320789122308/?ref=browse_tab&referral_code=marketplace_general&referral_story_type=general&tracking={"qid"%3A"-3666958892479636344"%2C"mf_story_key"%3A"29076243034241086"%2C"commerce_rank_obj"%3A"{\"target_id\"%3A29076243034241086%2C\"target_type\"%3A6%2C\"primary_position\"%3A28%2C\"ranking_signature\"%3A796658786356953088%2C\"commerce_channel\"%3A501%2C\"value\"%3A0.0014730084186282%2C\"upsell_type\"%3A103%2C\"candidate_retrieval_source_map\"%3A{\"6032705626834469\"%3A3016%2C\"5942602795844612\"%3A3016%2C\"5392245820877913\"%3A3533%2C\"6435103849912209\"%3A3016%2C\"5926608737450143\"%3A3016%2C\"6114664928586775\"%3A3016}%2C\"grouping_info\"%3Anull}"%2C"lightning_feed_qid"%3A"-3667928180821417887"%2C"lightning_feed_ranking_signature"%3A"6372609484367331328"%2C"ftmd_400706"%3A"111112l"}

Engine is straight. Truck, camera, and ground are tilted. 

12 hours ago, Geoff Weeks said:

They finely got Truckee opened up the next day and I took off for Lodi.

As John C. Fogerty once said, "Oh Lord, I'm stuck in Lodi again."

I’ll never forget those cracker box Jimmies screaming at the top of their lungs. 
The smell was awesome…especially when hooked to a cattle trailer! LOL!

3 hours ago, mowerman said:

This is what it look like look familiar?

There ya’ go!!!

1 minute ago, mowerman said:

It was a weird set up. It did have a Detroit in it. But the splitter it was on the dashboard or the doghouse from what I remember that was 51 years ago. I do remember it was not on the shifter.

Yeah.  That's pretty weird!  

24 minutes ago, Geoff Weeks said:

1st sign of old age, and I can't remember the 2nd!

No kidding!

If you've ever converted a Cadillac to a pickup truck...

Yes, Geoff. One was older. One of the ones where the red button stayed in was a ‘67. The last one I had,  where the red button popped with the yellow button, was a ‘70. 

Not sure how that aligns with the new regulations.  Not sure if those setups were factory on both or not.

I only drove 1 truck that had all 3 buttons.  It was a Peterbilt.  I can't remember for sure if the blue, tractor brake button popped out when the yellow was applied.  But, I don't THINIK it did.  But I can't remember that for certain either way.

Funny how the older the memory, the clearer.

Oh, on both of those, the yellow button still applied tractor and trailer brakes when pulled. The yellow “system” button was first in line. So, when it was pulled, it dumped air out of both systems and applied the brakes. 

The only difference was whether or not you had to push the red trailer brake valve in after you pushed the yellow button in.