Vladislav

The main need of tank vent is allowing athmosphere air to go in for compensation of the space of fuel consumed by engine. If air doesn't come you get vaccuum in the tank and it's as deeper as longer you drive and more fuel taken off and burned. At a certain point athmosphere would press sides of the tank making it looking like empty beer can after you grab it tight. I haven't seen truck tanks ruined that way (trucks are not my business) but there were plenty of car stuff and that brang me some good money a few dozen times. So all in all the vent is an important thing and doubling it wouldn't be bad. But in theory it must be enough having just one in the cap. At the same time there's no real need to release excessive vapour pressue built up in a tank on a hot sunny day. Only for reason to not put sudden shower on a driver at the time he opens a cap... But normally it doesn't happen, just only "phooff". German cars (I mostly deal with) had straight tube for breathing before 1985. Than after that they got equipped with a whole system including char coal absorber, a few control valves and a net of tubes. I have never investigated its principal of operation completely but in general it allows outside air to come in when needed (particuallary when engine is running) and not allowing vapours to go out for protection the environment. Life is good as long as all functions well. But once something goes wrong or a body man assembled the lines incorrect fixing an exident damage the tank gets smashed on the 1st or 2nd day of driving.

As said above. And really nice to hear a note!

No worry Paul. A couple of nice R-model pics wouldn't ruine a thread about another R-model

My thoughts of the last few years...

As said above. Also you may found difference in the front brackets of the chassis where hood hinges attach. Radiator, intercooler and A/C condencer were also different. I don't know is it possible to use them with early hood but difference is the fact. Probably (as long as I rememver) the very front crossbember the radiator fits on was also of another style. Vlad

Speaking SAE fittings they are avalible here in stock generally since many 2000's years made Freightliners, IH and US Volvo's are used in transportation industry. I belive the most of parts are of Automann brand etc so made in China or Turkey. But that's not a trouble of quality when we talk about brass fitting or plastic brake line. Also I noted spares for trucks made in third countries were not of that really poor quality as it has usually found concerning cars. Probably truck's commercial especiality together with much longer service life doesn't allow real jockers to play that game in the market.

Paul, still difficult to keep in mind you have 2 months of rains non stop every year no matter you told that to me in the past. My picture of your invironment is dry and sunny outback. Here having reasonable amount of rains and white stuff in winter I just can't imagine driving through waters anywhere on a highway. Good thing to know Mrs Mack is doing fine and secured from flooding.

Also we had to relocate all brake lines since the tanks and valves went to their factory positions from where the faith has spread them over the chassis. Good thing the most lines reqired shortening so I didn't need extra material (which is scarce in my metric part of the world). After all was done we had the truck able to drive again and brake well. The latter required some rutine job such as slack adjusting and fixing a couple of leaks. I had no time enough to continue working on the truck (was going to but the things happened to move plans as it happens usually). So the rest of my efforts was spent for a little bit of improvements to the look. I put smaller front wheels with highway thread (actually restover of the thread but that's enough for staying in the yard), installed old (but factory) bumper off SGT R-model and emptied 4 spray cans of red paint on the hood. Ok, added one lost letter in the "Mack" script. Than drove the truck for a few hundred meters along my street to check things out and make pictures. After which it was parked in its spot again with a hope to do more on it during the next warm season.

Fish plates were made that long to the front so we had to remove both fuel tanks, rear cab mounting brackets and muffler stack. Also as long as the prop shaft was modified to pass through the transfer case (or PTO?) I needed a hanger being organized. For that mean I located a used shaft off some old Freightliner locally which I brang to a shop to cut to my length and get balanced. But I also needed a hanger bracket to put on a crossmember. I had an extra one off my second SGT R-model but the "issue" was I already painted it for use in SGT truck (along with many other chassis parts). So I took measurements off it, scratched a couple of sketches and ordered new steel parts. Than welded them together. Made 2 brackets to have a spare for any reason as long as I already spent my time and attention to the deal. Than after taking the shaft from the shop we connected it to the forks.

Update on the story. We were able to spend a few weeks this passed summer (being busy with other things though) and bring the truck to much better shape. I leaned toward making it to its stock configuration with possible future plans to install a flat bed or roll back bed on. So we took off all that monstorous fish plating off the frame, rolled the bogie forward to its original position (old bolt holes in the frame secured us from any doubts) and cut welded on portions of the rails off.

Upps, all is fine now, the issue is gone.

Great pictures and it looks like the great show it was! No doubt the organizers put alot of efforts to get everything together. Also great to see your face smiling ear to ear and a little! I used to work plenty of time with about no gaps but once I figured a man should force himself to take holidays. Otherwise the most bright pages of the life book go aside and get missed. For some reason I don't see nearly a half of images with comment of "the server is busy please try again later". I sure will but would like to know if anybody else is against that brick wall?

Tom, interesting to see these pictures of a truck show of older days. Thanks for sharing. Many trucks seem familiar. It's great when people were able to restore a rig and than keep it in that condition for many years and attending shows.

2018. Life is a cool thing when you have friends.

Let's hope. There's definitely a trouble to drain the swamp at the moment...

Damn, turkeys are sweet! Unfortunately I have nothing positive to say. Diplomatic war followed to firing employees from US ambassady in Moscow (alot of BS was involved no doubt) so no touristic visas are given in Russia anymore. It's possible though to go to another country where US ambassady deals with Russian citizens. Those are in Azerbaijan and Tadjikistan trusting to recent rumors. But the same rumors told not many visas become issued with many requests declined. Seems I should plan one more "adventure" and make a try myself.

...And mentioned relatively small drop in revs at a shift gives thoughts that the tranny is NOT T2070 but maybe t2090 9-speed or so with much closer gear steps and less drops as a follow. All T200 series trannys look similar in general and sticker in the cab may be obsolete to the current state of the truck. Worth to mention even if the things are of that way it wouldn't mean big change in the shifting approach. Just as said above, try to feel what the truck wants from you and improve your skills. Than after a bit of time you will learn which revs to go out and in a gear. Crawling under the chassis to look for stamping on the tranny housing may be found as a worth to do thing either. Vlad

Wow, guys!... Thanks for remembering about me. I'm Ok in general. Had troubles with computer that's true and busy with some works and construction of a house I started building in 2015 and it's still not finished yet. Good thing my Macks also took care during the recent times but no finished rigs either. Speaking Russian/Ukrainian situation I'm not eager to discuss this matter much for some reasons. Being short my understanding is what you hear from your local media about that... does make sence. My official media tell different things definitely but there are some facts a man may have difficulty to name other way than they actually are. Truth said I'm not on too optimistic wavelength at the time since my country is in war. Regardless it is officially called a "special operation. Anyway I'm eager to discuss Mack trucks and hope for some better times in the world to come. Vlad

Thanks, Brocky! Good thing is my problems with presence on the forum was mostly a matter of old 'puter giving up the ghost. But the matters you mean are in the air around indeed.

Hello! Unfortunately I have no ideas on the truck's origin. Would be interesting to bother Haliburton for any info or just send a request to Mack museum as beginning. Currently I'm too busy with many things so can't pay attention to the matter well enough. Interesting entertainment to rifle through Turkey looking for Macks. I was lucky cruising Turkish roads in 2010 with my motorbike. Drove no less than a couple thousand km including streets of Istanbul and Ankara. Was for a couple of weeks there. A score of Macks turned out really poor with only one truck seen at all. It was probably a DM I catched with my eye in a opposite lane of divided interstate highway. Was difficult to recognize the truck riding at 140 km/h and the truck had its own speed too. I had a thought of making a U-turn and catch it but it could worth me up to 100km of extra trip with no result guaranteed. I was told there were many Macks in Turkey earlier but I saw what I saw. The rumors are Iranians found new homes for the most of Turkish Macks.

Factory Mack wheel had its hub riveted to the plate (spokes). It looks though that you can purchase a wheel of the same vendor as aftermarket. But it sells as just a rim with spokes with holes to install a hub. Or a wheel with a hub but sellers mention a need of adaptor. So a contour of another story than just a ready correct wheel to fit seems on a horizont.

My guess is that style of the wheels could have different hubs depending on a truck model it was used on (don't know for sure though). The wheel I used was off a Mack and had its center with Mack logo, as on the picture.

I fitted a wheel off 2002 Mack Vision and if suited 1988 R-model steering column fine. Had that same black rubber wheel you was telling about and got newer style which looks good on my mind. The pic is not my truck but the same look.

Great to hear and welcome to BMT! I never met Mike in person (unfortunately) but had a few private conversations with him. Hoped to make a trip to his place some day to check out the collection but the things turned out different. A sad reminder on better to do what you can when you can otherwise a back burner deal may burn away. I wish you good luck on restoring those trucks. Pretty sure Mike would be happy to see them finished if only he could. Vlad

The ones on a H-model seem taller than on a L or a C. The latter two definitely differ being installed into openable frames (L) or straight into a gasket (C and B with L cab). I doubt the width differs (exctepting frames or a gasket) since both day cab or integrated sleeper cab on a L-model have the same cowl to suit the hood.