mackdaddy

Even in the 50's Mack was flaring the front frames. On the LT Mack the supercharger cummins sits right down in the frame giving the LT the neat low profile long hood look. If you look at other makes in that era the superchargers either had to sit above the frame or they notched the frame and riveted a side support on. I saw a G-77 that was straight rails with a charger and Mack did the same technique by riveting the support. Even the CL and RW had a wider frame in the front??didnt they? Seems they also had the large front flare on both rails. The RL or western R models came with straight rails and they were aluminum I believe. The grill and the height of the hood is a give away that it is an RL.

I was going to wait for the Titan but at the time I needed to buy a new truck it was a ways out. I am pretty happy with our new 08 MP8 Pinnacle.

My 92 CH has a million one on it. Overall I have done very little to this truck. It is still tight and good looking. I emailed Mack recently about the rawhide and if I could get the MP8 motor in it. No reply so I started to look around. I have been impressed by the dealer coverage Mack is building back up here in the west. The CH pulls a 50 ft traileze lowboy so we would like to get a truck to keep us legal in CA on a lot of the side roads. That is an overall lenght of 65 ft. I spotted a 05 KW with a 475 cat and the small integral sleeper. It gets us close to the mark but not quite. We do like the truck though. I got to feeling so guilty that I finally called the Mack dealer and let the sales person we have known for years in on my needs. His reply was a quick Mack is Volvo and so whatever you seen in Volvo we can do for you in Mack. My guilt was quickly gone and I will now buy based on what I think is the best product that suits our needs. A few years back I would have never even thought twice about buying a Mack. I curently have 3 mid liners an R model and the CH. I am letting the Mack dealer get me a quote on what ever he proposes to fit the need. But I really would prefer to get have a rawhide with the small sleeper and the new motor. I was waiting for the MP10 but now understand that it may be another 2 years before Mack is ready. The code name I heard Mack is using for the truck is the Steamroller. I just can't wait that long.

You have some history there. We all know that in the end the Mack management did not make the best decisions. I don't know if you caught the Jack Curcio editorial he wrote in the Wheels of Time a few months back. The story I heard was the engine outsourcing such as pistons, cams etc were occasionally screwed with. Just a rumor. Zenon wrote a small booklet called the Legend of the Bulldog and in that he speaks of the bad decison made in moving the engine and tranny plant to Hagerstown. When he took over he almost made the decision to bring it all back to PA but it was just too big of a move. Just so you know I employ 300+ union construction workers and have done so for over 25 years. I sure wish I could get rid of this terrible disease of liking Mack but from the time I was a youngster I was around them.

It sure would be great to hear Jack Curcio's version of all of this. As he was the CEO of Mack at the time. First CH showed up on the 1989 calendar. The State of PA basically told Mack to go pound sand for any incentives to build the new plant in the Allentown area and the union was not any help either. In fact it was alot of union sabatoge through vendors supplying parts to Mack that nearly broke them. But in the end of it all I have a 94 CH 400HP Mack 18spd and mack rears..........1,100,000 miles and only the turbo and fuel pump as major parts replaced. Tranny whines a little and the rears are getting sloppy but that is a lot of miles. And it still is a comfortable truck to drive. I am waiting on the new look for the MP engines to come out and I probably will buy another Mack. The Rawhide has caught my attention but I want to see the new truck for the big power. Mack people are still involved in the brand but with the way competition is and the new high tech world we live in it is very difficult for a company to be able to perform it's own research and development for a complete drive train like Mack has offered. You do see all of the other brands now marketing the concept that Mack has offered since it's beginning but they have the financial backing that Mack needed with Volvo. Do any of you remember that the great Zenon Hansen tried hard to broker a deal with Chrysler to own Mack but at that time the FTC denied the merger. How times have changed.....now the FTC accepts even our national security to be at the hands of foreign firms.

That did it folks, I am making the switch this weekend. On another note it would be fun to add other Mack rumors and folklore to the discussion. Like Zenon Hansen putting a gold Bulldog on his car and then not allowing any other employees to use the gold dog..............just him.

I have taken some of my restored Macks to different shows. On occasion an informed Mack guy will comment that my mudflaps are on opposite of what they should be. They state that the dogs should be looking in at each other. One person said that Zenon Hansen laid down this law. But he did not come on the scence until the early 60's. So what is correct?

You need to back off on saying a Jr is not a Mack. Anything worthy of wearing a bulldog is Mack enough for me. Besides I like my Jr. On another note.........I sure miss a call from Mike and I am sure you do too.

Mike, Are you referring to JD's Cruiseliner? It is sitting at my yard. I know it runs but it does not have the aftercooler.

Here is a pic of the interior. Note the thin steering wheel.

Hi Mike I was going to try that but there is almost no room to get up in there. But I just need to get under it and try harder. As for the G model. It is there looking for a new home. I just don't have the room to store it. Let me know if you or anyone else may be interested. What about that steering wheel? Have you seen them like that? I should post an interior pic. Dan

Hi Every once in a while you find a nice original low milage truck. This 64 B73 model is all there. It has a 250 Cummins, Quad box, Dbl frame, and approx. 220"WB. The steering is factory power. One unique feature at least to me is how thin the steering wheel is. Was this because of the factory power steering? and they decided to give the big boys some more belly room? The truck has no factory tach or speedo. They are in the 2 factory installed tachographs. The dash has a plate to fill it in and a nice big pyrometer in the middle. Only issue is the aux is stuck in direct and I think I will have to take the back end off the trannie to get to it?? The cab hs the sunken floor board. Is there new sheet metal available for these cabs?