mrsmackpaul

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

I have no idea what keepers are, so I'll watch this space so I can translate to Australian ha ha ha I bet it feels good to be getting it back together Paul

I'm trying find out the specs I have had a look in my New Zealand Mack truck book for specs but no answers there I have also asked on a New Zealand Mack truck Facelessbook page and am awaiting the answers Two were DM 800's and one wasa R 800 More details to follow as they come to hand Paul

Well done to all involved in the restoration That's pretty special to have the truck, yourself and Dawson featured in the magazine And even better you took us all along for the ride Thank you Paul

The lady I mentioned who had the Tennesse Walking Horses was Annie Wilkins A tough old lady amd the horse was called Rex You probably need to read the book to learn more Here's a link to the lady and here riding adventures Mesannie Wilkins - Wikipedia https://share.google/s1CH6dfTHyK29oapT Oh yeah, John Wayne is a pretty interesting bloke, the more I learn about him the more interesting he was Paul

I dunno, you blokes in the northern hemisphere have crook weather at the moment Days are slowly getting better in Australia, actually they are getting a tad warm at times 36°C (thats about 97°f in the old money) the other day and it's only spring Lucky summer is pretty mild with only a week or so at a time 115°f on a good year and can last like this for a fortnight at a time in a drought year Truck is looking fantastic, what a huge effort Paul

Dunno much about these Tennesse Walking Horses, have read a story about a lady from Maine that was gifted one on her ride across the U.S. I do a bit of horse riding, certainly no expert, was out a week ago in the central NSW highlands riding around on a station (ranch for you lot) rounding up cattle ans basically having fun Amazing story about these trucks Paul

Can you get some of those gas heaters like this Might take the chill and moisture out of the air enough to spray I guess as you head into winter the opportunity to paint is getting less and less You can still buy tube tyres out here but they aren't very common and probably not in your sizes 10.00 x 20 is the most common then dropping off in size Paul

The other 2 are Kenworths Paul

From New Zealand, or as we say "across the dutch" These truck hauled a gross weight of 150 ton on 2 trailers, thats 3300000 pounds They had some serious balls about them, you need to remember New Zealand is just mountain range after mountain range Paul

Well have great Halloween, I think it's today in the U.S. Paul

Right, Im watching this space and expecting things to get real, at least until you get comfy infront of the T.V. Glad it's getting sorted Paul