Vladislav

That F-model (to my understanding) was produced in the US and imported to Iran as a complete truck. That air start tank seems uncommon for the US. I may be wrong on that though. Of what I learned Iran got sanctions by the US first but they were able to import from Canada for a few years more. Than they bought off about all Macks (and parts?) from The Netherlands. Also seems they scratched all Mack from Turkey (we discussed about relatively sufficient amoung there in the past and now they're all gone). But also I see they find ways to import new parts some way. For example big SS mirrors on red R-model look like brand new PAI parts. The same for a few other small parts. Also they (my guess) produce certain parts for Macks locally. For example oil and fuel filters on the engine have scripts in Persian (Farci) with Mack emblem put nearby. That's definitely not OEM parts. One more interesting point is wheel hubs on the R. As you can see the wheels are of disc style, not spokes. But those wheels (rims) are European. Different stud circle size. These hubs are made in Iran. They suit Mack axle and allow to fit modern European wheel. Looks like people don't want to deal with spokes anymore but American Budd style was not common there. European trucks represent majority there now so local industry found especial solution. Not bad idea on my mind.

And that's a real shame that offer to build large toll highways in Australia was declined. Now we know the result but also we know the cost of unachieved benefits for those 50 years. Almost the same situation was in Russia nearly 15-20 years ago. In early 2000's oil costs got very high and government took very impressive incoms. There even was an appearance of upcoming financial problem having too much money in the economy. Sure alot of money is very good but in a case you convert them into goods. What requres some labour. But as long as the powers didn't want complicated ways they were worrying of high inflation (many money in the country with that same amount of produced goods). So the solution was... To buy official US stock (Threasury papers or so). With guaranteed fee of 0.5% per year (!). At the same time if you wanted to get a loan in Russia to invests into business or anything it would worth 25-35% those days!! Seeing from aside a man would conclude how clever was Russian government having no need in money and how stupid was the US to take those money for 0.5% a year! What a BS! My thoughts at thouse times were it was a perfect moment for road construction. What you need for that the most is local labour (which was and is in nearly unlimited amount since you have to donate poor folks anyway) and construction materials, which are either for 90% could be found locally (sand, gravel, cement, heavy oil fractions) The rest is equipment and modern tecnology which could be purchased paying those spoken excessive money. Now it's not difficult to figure which way was choosen. And currently everybody in the world can easily observe the subject Russian government prefere to spend state incoms...

Very interesting observation and Australin reflection of the subject. I had been to Turkey with (that same) motorbike in 2010. More West portion of the country that time but also cruised alot including local roads and small cities. This trip I got really surprized of how the level of life changed in the country since than. Plenty of modern 6-7 storey buildings in every town with massive concrete substructure (that's a seysmic critical region), perfect and mostly empty roads (definitely built for perspective of a few decades), many new or modern cars, about no old trucks, people dressed well and have well furbished recreational areas. I used to know Turkey had luxury resorts for foreign tourists with mostly poor local people and this time I saw almost another state of things. What you said spoken in BBC news explained alot. At the same time I spoke with a few locals and those were about sure Erdoghan will not continue being a president. Answering my mentioning of how Turkey got changed better the reply was "we need more democracy". Worth to point out the region I cruised over was Kurdish for the most and another common answer was "Erdoghan didn't like Kurdish people". My next point though was my observations of his political actions during the last decade. On my mind he steered over many sharp corners roaming his politics between interests of Russia, United States, Europe, Iran etc. And always took benefits for his own country. Aside of figuring he's strategically more a friend or an enemy to Russia my hat is definitely off to his professional skills.

Best B-day wishes! And keep going anyway!

That's because it's a standart US F-700 chassis. With fish belly at the center, same way as DM models have. The tail end section is the same as you have on your R-model. 9 inch high and 1/4 inch (6.35mm) thick. With the same width between the rails (over them). There was earlier years F-600 chassis though that duplicated R-model style. Or correctly to say it originates it. But those early F's seem scarce.

Ok, you must count me a lucky guy. I catched up with one more Bulldog the other day. Also in Turkey, not far from Iranian border. It was parked near a big building and there was a guy nearby fixing his car. I had short conversation with him in Farsi but even didn't figure out was that truck his or not. The guy has busy time laying under the car on the ground removing a fuel tank. So I didn't take much of his attention, just made a few pics and general investigation of the rig. Overall it looked like made in the US F-model of mid 70's with 6-cyl gold engine with that "coolpower thingy" telling the way MrsMackPaul would do. The tranny was T100 with two air cylinders on the top cover so I guessed 10 or 12 speed. Double frame with Camelback at the rear. It was interesting to note the crossmembers were riveted to the rails, no bolts. Wonder up to which year Mack offered riveted chassis? I thought they discontinued that much earlier. Also a huge local aftetmarked fuel tank could be seen. And a tank for air start at the right. But actually there was electric starter on the engine. Overall the truck looked quite good for the age. Ok, forgot to mention the main fact - it was registered in Iran.

You should check some basic things about the carb. Fuel level and (my guess) correctness of hole sizes of the duses. Both fuel and air. Also air leak in the intake manifold in its portion between the carb and the cyl. heads. But I think you meant that talking about vacuum check. Nice L btw, drool😀

Ohell !!!... But I see no way getting a girl in a car since I ride a bike!

No doubt. But he deleted some of the pics from the thread I belive.

Ocassionally I also saw a beautiful waterfall not far away from the highway. Turned out it was a local recreation area with big park and restaurant (You seat by a table and see the fall in 50 metes). What impressed me was all that located "in the middle of nowhere". All in all I got a feeling Turkish people improved their level of life sufficiently during the last decade.

If you zoom the last pic you can see a steep portion of the road along the mountain side with two trucks going up and down. The hill might be seen not really steep but impresses of how long it is. The first two shots were made standing on that stretch and the 3rd one is the next portion on the way down (from where the 4th pic was taken).

Tom, I tried my best a couple more times to film how steep and curvey East Turkish roads are. Telling my impression by words they're excellent. Yes, I saw many road signs marking incline frkm 6 to 8%. But that's in a mountain area all over which is much hilly than Appalaches. And 90% of highways between small towns (I don't mean willages) are of 4 lanes. Also I payed more attention and noted modern semi trucks go uphill 60-70km/h what seems way off any trouble. Worth to note though that many portions of the road marked with signs having (using?) chains. Pretty sure winter times are a lot of "fun" for local truckers since snow and hard wind are common thing in winter months.

Also my grand dad was a photographer for living. He made his pics with German captured Leica (first 35 mm film camera I belive) and I used it either in my early days.

Glad to be of service, Mark. I'm not a photographer sure but in very beginning my dad gave me a book of "Practicle photograpy". Aside of general thigs it detailingly explained how b/w film and paper got in reaction with chemicals and how you can correct underexposed film by working with printing. I even made those things personally in bath room with red light. But only once😀

Met a steam loc on my way today. Turkish guys made a cool thing keeping an old portion of the bridge (there's a new one in 20 meters aside) and layed rails on it. My original guess was that was and old RR bridge but I didn't find traces of the track before and after the bridge. So seemed like it was a product of someone's creativity and it turned out fine on my mind. The loc itsef represented relatively poor condition but looked like it was restered to some grade in the past. The car showed traces of vandalizm but was solid overall. Would be interesting to count out was that Turkish produced loc or a imported one and where it was made if so.

Yes, she is. When I was looking for a bike VFR-750 was in my focus. Actually I enjoyed the look. But those 2 or 3 examples to choose from at the time were selling pricy. And all were 17 y.o. At a certain day I visited a bike dealer to look a CBR-600F. It was in a really poor shape but some dark green thing nearby took my attention. I asked "what's that" and heard back "VFR-800" I answered "oh, well, Ok" meaning it was way off my cost range. I looked over the bike though and asked to try seat on it. That was my "mistake". Next morning I woked up and found myself realizing " I don't want to look for a motorbike anymore"😀Called the guys, arranged the deal, payed twice of what I was planning to. Have ridden her for 16 years since and never had a thought I made a wrong choice that day😀

The castle of Ishak-Pasha in Dogubayazid, Turkey. I haven't learned how long ago it was built and who was that guy but he definitely had a taste in scenaries and too probably women. I honestly can imagine the only thing he missed in his life as collecting antique trucks😀 The last pic is a wiew from one of the windows.