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kscarbel2

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Everything posted by kscarbel2

  1. Sears hires advisers to file for bankruptcy The Wall Street Journal / October 9, 2018 Sears Holdings Corp. has hired M-III Partners LLC to prepare a bankruptcy filing that could come as soon as this week, as the cash-strapped company that once dominated American retailing faces a debt payment deadline. Employees at M-III Partners, a boutique advisory firm, have spent the past few weeks working on the potential filing. In recent days, M-III staff have been at the retailer’s headquarters in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Sears continues to discuss other options and could still avert an in-court restructuring. Sears SHLD, -28.56% , which has been losing money for years, has $134 million in debt due on Monday. Edward Lampert, the hedge-fund manager who is Sears’s chairman, chief executive, largest shareholder and biggest creditor, could rescue the company, as he has done in the past by making the payment. But Lampert is pushing for a broader restructuring that would include shaving more than $1 billion from Sears’s $5.5 billion debt load, selling another $1.5 billion of real estate and divesting $1.75 billion of assets, including the Kenmore appliance brand, which he has offered $400 million to buy himself.
  2. Volkswagen can't be trusted at all. It mysteriously remains under the control of the Porsche and Piech families, who owe all their wealth to Hitler. Ferry Porsche and Anton Piech were close friends of Hitler, and honorary members of the SS. Within Germany's deep state, these two clans remain incredibly powerful, and unlike BMW have never renounced their ties to the Third Reich. Of course Henry Ford was very close friends with Hitler as well. Hitler kept a photograph of Henry Ford on his office desk. Ford received Hitler's "Grand Cross of the German Eagle" in 1938. Ford is the only American mentioned favorably in Mein Kampf, although he is only mentioned twice:[62] Adolf Hitler wrote, "only a single great man, Ford, [who], to [the Jews'] fury, still maintains full independence...[from] the controlling masters of the producers in a nation of one hundred and twenty millions." Speaking in 1931 to a Detroit News reporter, Hitler said he regarded Ford as his "inspiration", explaining his reason for keeping Ford's life-size portrait next to his desk. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Ford .
  3. Or you could purchase them separately........ Plunger 79-VA7962 Spring 79-SP400608
  4. Hyliion axle breathes new life into hybrids Jim Park, Today’s Trucking / October 9, 2018 TORONTO, Ontario — Hybrid is no longer a four-letter word. It may still leave a sour taste in the mouths of those who invested heavily in the hybrid concept a decade or so ago, but Hyliion’s 6-by-4 Hybrid Electric (6x4HE) propulsion system will put money in fleets’ pockets without the help of tenuous government subsidies. Come to think of it, Hyliion might even sweeten the industry’s feelings on 6×2 axles. The system, developed by Hyliion, formerly based in Pittsburg, Pa., but now in splendid new digs in Austin, Texas, is “simply” an electric drive axle added to a typical 6×2 tractor. It’s not designed to assuage the traction concerns sometimes associated with 6x2s, but rather to supplement the existing diesel powertrain by kicking in a little extra thrust to ease the burden on the diesel. The beauty of the system is that the energy used to help drive the truck is essentially free, generated by the momentum of the truck while rolling downhill or while braking. (It does assist with traction in its own way. The system usually engages when the truck launches, thus providing additional driving force from the rear axle.) The Hyliion system is made up of: an in-cab display that shows the driver the charge and assist state of the motor/generator as well as the state of charge and current fuel consumption; the HUB, or Hyliion Universal Box, control unit; an optional cooling unit/APU; the battery box; and the hybrid electric rear drive axle, which adds up to 120 hp and 1,500 lb-ft of torque. It’s all neatly packaged to hang off the frame rails just ahead of the drive wheels and between the frame rails directly behind the cab. All together, it adds 800 pounds to the vehicle by the time you consider the axle swap-out. This system also qualifies for the 400-pound auxiliary power unit weight exemption, which lowers the impact of the weight to 400 pound where the APU weight allowance is provided. According to Thomas Healy, founder and CEO of Hyliion, the hybrid propulsion system can deliver up to 15% in fuel savings in the optimum operating environment, which is rolling hilly terrain. “The battery size, power density and chemistry, along with our electronic controller and battery management system, are optimized for short-duration, high-energy discharge and equally rapid charging over short distances,” Healy explained. “Obviously we do not want to add a lot of weight with a larger battery, so it’s designed for optimum performance on the rolling hills you find on Interstate highways in states like Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, etc.” The ROI varies based on the amount of time spent in the optimum terrain, the total number of miles per year, and the amount of time the APU is used. In most cases, with 120,000 miles and regular use of the APU, the ROI will be between 18 and 24 months when installed on a new truck, he said. And that’s without any government subsidies. “At this time our system is not included in the available green technology subsidies,” Healy explained. “That being said, we are actively working with a variety of groups and key partners to establish funding support for our system.” One of the recently added features is a GPS-based predictive cruise control system that reads the road ahead and plans for whatever charging or power assist cycle the terrain might present. There were a few moments on our test drive when I thought the system should have helped out a little, but Jennifer Moreci, the product manager at Hyliion who was riding with me, pointed out a larger hill in the distance, and said the system was conserving its charge for that push rather than use it on the smaller hill we were climbing at the time. It’s smart that way. The battery also can be used to power an electric HVAC system with a capacity of at least 10 hours of air conditioning and normal hotel loads. Healy said the APU feature saves an additional 12% in fuel consumption compared to idling for climate control. Driving the 6x4HE All the electronic wizardry that makes this system so effective is completely invisible to the driver. There’s no need to change settings or switch the system on or off, so it doesn’t distract from the driving task. The one exception is switching on the APU function. The driver display, which Hyliion calls OPE for On-dash Portal Experience, has a selector for the desired APU run time of one, four, or 10 hours. If 10 hours is selected, the system will preference energy storage rather than driving assist in order to build the charge for the pending 10-hour run time. Moreci said the system charges remarkably fast and will completely recharge for another 10-hour run on less than an hour of driving time, which she said can be accomplished under the Personal Conveyance exemption in hours of service if the driver is on a 34-hour reset. The best way to describe the feel of the system when it’s in assist mode is the truck simply feels lighter. You don’t feel the typical load on the engine because the electric drive axle is helping with the thrust effort. This is more noticeable at low speeds, such as while maneuvering around town. The system switches to charge mode while braking, using the momentum of the truck to turn the generator/motor. The increased load on the system from charging feels something close to the first position on an engine brake. On the highway, it’s not noticeable at all, except for the Charge/Assist alert and the fuel mileage display on the OPE. Anytime the engine brake is engaged, the system will charge, and while coasting I could initiate some charging by just resting my foot on the brake pedal. We tested the system on an elevated expressway in Austin, which is otherwise pretty flat. The trailer was loaded to 45,000 pounds and the GVW was 77,000. At times with the assist it felt more like 47,000 pounds. According to OPE, at times when the assist function was active we were getting anywhere from 11 and 12 mpg up to 15 mpg. The system is not designed to provide a quicker launch or faster uphill climbs. It just adds thrust to the rear axle, the electric axle, to take some of the load off the engine, and thus cut fuel consumption. Hyliion’s hybrid electric propulsion system is the only one of its kind on the market right now. Despite all the activity on the battery-electric vehicle front, Healy believes a BEV for the long-haul segment is still at least a decade away. “Until we overcome the obstacles associated with battery capacity and charging infrastructure for long-haul trucks, hybrids can be the path forward, where we can get the fuel savings benefits associated with electric vehicles without having to change the total energy infrastructure,” he said. “Hybridization can be an immediate solution.” With a few hours driving experience under my belt, I have seen this technology work and I think it is an immediate solution.
  5. Heavy Duty Trucking (HDT) / October 9, 2018 Bridgestone has announced that it will increase National Account, National Fleet, and National Fleet Preferred account prices by up to 10% on all Bridgestone and Firestone truck and bus radial tires, Bandag retreads, and tire related services in the U.S. and Canada effective Nov. 9. In a release, the company attributed the price increases to higher business costs and other market dynamics. All Bridgestone and Firestone truck and bus tires and Bandag retreads shipped on or after Nov. 9, 2018 will reflect this increase. Members of the Bridgestone Commercial sales team are contacting customers to provide more detailed information about the changes. In September, Bridgestone increased the price of its Dayton branded truck and bus radial tire prices, citing the same reasons.
  6. Ford starts production of Transit-based electric van in Germany Edward Taylor, Reuters / October 10, 2018 FRANKFURT -- Ford has started production of an electric delivery van in Germany using technology provided by Deutsche Post startup StreetScooter. The StreetScooter WORK XL is based on Ford's large Transit van built [at Ford-Otosan] in Turkey. It is equipped with a battery-electric drivetrain and body designed with the help of StreetScooter. Annual production capacity will reach 3,500 vehicles, which will be built at Ford Europe's headquarters in Cologne. The vans will initially be supplied to its DHL Group but will also be offered to third-party customers. In a news release Ford said it will build the the van with a range of electric motors and lithium ion batteries, delivering up to 90 kilowatts of power (122 hp) and a maximum torque of 276 Newton meters. With a battery capacity of up to 76 kilowatt-hours, the WORK XL has a range of up to 200 km (124 miles), Ford said. Advances in manufacturing software have allowed Deutsche Post to tap suppliers to design, engineer and test new vehicle concepts without hiring thousands of engineering staff or investing billions in tooling and factories. StreetScooter will continue to manufacture smaller vans. .
  7. Or you can go to your Mack brand distributor with your truck's model and serial number, located on the vehicle identification plate affixed to the driver's door, and have them look up the parts.
  8. Anyway............the correct part number is 319GC110. The mounting gasket is a 79-GA400554. (79 is/was the Mack vendor code for American Bosch. GA400554 is the AMBAC part number) You can call Watt's Mack (provider of the BMT website) at 1-888-304-6225 to order these parts.
  9. Where did you obtain the 314GC228A number?
  10. Big trucks are big bucks. Big old trucks that Volvo doesn't want to supply parts for are even bigger bucks. Your typical AMBAC (American Bosch) APE 6BB fuel pump on a 676 has a part number 319GC110 supply pump. Are you sure your fuel pump is a PLM?
  11. https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/54480-cummins-and-isuzu-agree-to-evaluate-global-partnership-opportunities/
  12. Ford shares drop below $9 for the first time since 2012 Keith Naughton, Bloomberg / October 9, 2018 DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. shares are taking a pounding as the automaker adopts a piecemeal approach to outlining cost cuts that are part of a years-long and costly restructuring. Ford shares fell 3.35 percent, or 31 cents, to close at $8.95 on Tuesday and dropped below $9 for the first time since August 2012. Ford said Monday that it’ll shake up its global marketing operations, in part by transferring advertising business away from longtime partner WPP Plc, but the automaker is expecting to save just $150 million annually. That pales in comparison to the $11 billion in charges that Ford has warned its restructuring could lead to over the next three to five years. While the automaker told its 70,000 salaried employees last week that they face unspecified job cuts, Ford didn’t quantify how big it anticipates the reduction will be. The company also didn’t address whether it planned involuntary separations or estimate the financial impact. Moody’s Investor Service cut Ford’s credit rating in August to one notch above junk on concerns about executing its overhaul. Ford is facing headwinds including cratering demand for sedans in North America -- a segment that it’s exiting -- costlier emissions rules in Europe and a stale product line in Asia. CEO Jim Hackett also told Bloomberg News last month that President Donald Trump’s tariffs on imported metals will cost Ford about $1 billion in profit. .
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  14. I've sold a lot of trucks with 90mm kingpin fifth wheels (versus 50mm).
  15. Were it me, I would install what the factory options were, a Fuller AT1202 (2.036/1.00), air shift AT1202A (2.036/1.00), or Spicer 1241C (2.37/0.812), 1241CT (2.37/0.812 with Power Tower), or 1241DT (1.59/0.812 with Power Tower).
  16. Scania Group Press Release / October 8, 2018 The first gas-powered truck in Scania’s new XT range for construction applications has been delivered to the Belgian city of Hasselt. The Scania P 340 4×2 hooklift truck for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) was selected by the municipal council due to its lower emissions. “CNG ensures lower carbon emissions, but what is even more important in urban environments is that this truck emits 95 percent fewer particles, unlike its diesel counterparts,” says Joost Venken, Councillor for Environment and Sustainability. “In addition to the health benefits, CNG is also considerably cheaper to operate.” CNG truck meets Hasselt’s clean fleet objectives Hasselt is keen to invest in a cleaner vehicle fleet, and the Scania truck fits right in. “At the moment, CNG is the most sustainable choice we can make. Electric trucks that meet requirements are not yet available in Belgium,” adds Michel Froidmont, Hasselt’s Councillor for Infrastructure and Public Works. Venken is keen to emphasise that both Hasselt and the surrounding Limburg Province is at the forefront by operating a non-diesel vehicle with the same manoeuvrability performance. “There is no compromise on power, and compared with electric vehicles, CNG refuelling is considerably faster. Scania’s gas engines can also run equally well on biogas in the future, so we can continue to significantly reduce CO2 emissions.” .
  17. Inside VW-Ford commercial truck partnership Automotive News / October 8. 2018 Thomas Sedran, a former corporate consultant with AlixPartners, was the brains behind Volkswagen Group's Together – Strategy 2025 midterm road map. VW's former CEO, Matthias Müller, appointed Sedran head of group strategy in November 2015 to plot a course toward an electrified future after the automaker's diesel-cheating scandal. Sedran switched jobs last month, returning to an executive role, where he will run Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. This will put him in an ideal position to realize the goals he mapped out when he began talks with Ford Motor Co. over a strategic alliance rooted in the two companies' commercial vehicle businesses. He is no stranger to the executive suite, having been interim CEO of Opel and later head of Chevrolet Europe. Sedran, who turns 54 this week, spoke with Automotive News Europe Correspondent Christiaan Hetzner. Q:Why did Volkswagen partner with Ford? A:Other companies are already in alliances, but now the two market leaders in Europe are joining forces. We won't have a dominant market position, however, as we each have only 15 percent. How were the initial talks? We realized fairly fast it worked from a cultural perspective, and there was the right chemistry between the main players. Did you consider other candidates? Ford was a logical partner. The product life cycles are a good match. We will build for them, and they will build for us. Could this extend from light commercial vehicles into passenger cars, or does VW already have the scale it needs? On the passenger-car side, neither company really has the volume pressure. But there are, naturally, fields where splitting the development costs could be an advantage. I wouldn't rule out anything, but the focus is getting the LCV projects running. We want a concrete project vehicle that has a certain volume, and then you can talk about other strategic issues. VW Group is nearly twice the size of Ford. What is the risk that the two teams will struggle to get along with such a size discrepancy? When we finalize this alliance, you can be assured it will be balanced. There is no junior nor senior partner, but, rather, two companies at eye level that will closely cooperate with one another. There might be specific years where there will be a difference in production volumes, but in the sum total, it is very balanced. .
  18. The picture isn’t clear. Does it have a coolant hose running to/from it?
  19. GM deploys new defense unit, hires U.S. Army veteran Michael Wayland, Automotive News / October 5, 2018 General Motors' new military defense unit is up and running and has hired a U.S. Army veteran as its president. GM Defense LLC, a Washington, D.C.-based subsidiary of the automaker, recently appointed retired Maj. Gen. John Charlton to the position. An exact appointment date was not immediately available. He will report to GM Defense CEO Charlie Freese, a 15-year GM veteran and fuel cell technology specialist. Freese reports to GM product chief Mark Reuss. The news comes roughly a year after Automotive News first reported GM's plans to resurrect GM Defense after selling its previous defense unit to General Dynamics Corp. for $1.1 billion in 2003. Prior to joining GM Defense, Charlton spent a 34 years in the U.S. Army, with three combat tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He held command positions at every level and various senior staff positions on the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. Charlton, who most recently was a commanding general for the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, said he is "proud" to continue his career in the defense industry with GM, which has the "flexibility and agility to provide scalable options that can meet the ever-changing requirements of our country's warfighters." GM Defense initially is expected to focus on military and aerospace applications for GM's emerging fuel cell technologies, including a fuel cell-powered Chevrolet Colorado known as the ZH2 and the Silent Utility Rover Universal Superstructure platform. In June, GM announced an exclusive deal with Liebherr-Aerospace of France to develop a hydrogen fuel cell-powered auxiliary power unit for aircraft applications. An auxiliary power unit typically powers an aircraft's lighting, air conditioning, backup systems and other auxiliary functions. GM Defense also is advertising itself as a specialist in vehicle development, system cybersecurity, and electric and autonomous vehicle technologies.
  20. Ford poised to begin cuts to salaried work force Michael Martinez, Automotive News / October 5, 2018 DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. is preparing to cut an undetermined number of its 70,000 salaried workers globally as it implements CEO Jim Hackett's US$11 billion companywide restructuring. The automaker on Thursday began informing employees internally that it was reorganizing its salaried work force, but said more details, including which jobs will be axed and where, will be disclosed over the coming months. "It's really about redesigning the business," Ford spokeswoman Karen Hampton said. "An outcome of that is that there's likely to be reductions. The real purpose is to change the way we work." Hampton said Ford's salaried work force reductions will be complete by the second quarter of 2019. We are in the early stages of reorganizing our global salaried workforce to support the company’s strategic objectives, create a more dynamic and empowering work environment, and become more fit as a business," Ford Canada spokesman Matthew Drennan-Scace said in an email to Automotive News Canada. "We will announce more specifics at the appropriate time." Hackett this year announced the need for a global restructuring to help it turn around underperforming regions and improve profits in North America. Separately, Ford this year upped its five-year cost-cutting goal to US$25.5 billion, US$11.5 billion more than it originally forecast. Ford at the time said nearly half of the cuts would be in sales and marketing -- through incentive optimization, reduced advertising and other actions -- with the rest coming from engineering and product development, material costs, manufacturing and information technology, in that order. Outside Ford, and among some within it, there is mounting impatience with Ford shares trading just above US$9 and the vagueness of the vision that Hackett has articulated thus far. Ford shares fell 0.33 percent to close Friday at US$9.12. "We're addressing some long-term issues, and we're going to do those in very thoughtful and orderly ways -- not chaotic ways," Hackett said in an interview with Automotive News last month. "We're not in a crisis. The company's in great shape."
  21. Ford to slash jobs as it reorganizes salaried workforce The Wall Street Journal / October 5, 2018 Ford Motor Co. has informed its global salaried workforce of a planned reorganization that will cut jobs, part of Chief Executive Jim Hackett’s broader plan to squeeze costs and improve efficiencies at the struggling auto maker. Ford said Friday that it is in the “early stages of reorganizing our global salaried workforce,” though it declined to disclose how many people it may let go. The No. 2 U.S. auto maker by sales employs about 70,000 salaried workers world-wide, a spokeswoman said. The planned cuts should be decided by the second quarter of 2019. It reflects Hackett’s “desire to have an organization that is moving faster, and part of that comes from having a flatter” management structure, she said. Ford said the reorganization “will result in head count reduction over time and this will vary based on team and location.” The company told employees of the plan Thursday.
  22. The ADF is selling off their M113s. That would round off the package.
  23. Why is the US government pushing so hard for driver-less autonomous vehicles???
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