Vladislav

Sounds interesting. Originally I met an issue with my original truck's beam having one king pine boring wore out. Looked for a fix, figured that Stemco tube could be used and even found a machine shop with a mill large enough to work the axle out. But having an extra axle but of heavier rating I resolved using it if it's suitable. That way I played a couple of hours with both of them putting both horizontly and on a side and checking by laser level. Also checked the angles the king pin holes bored to the side (or better to say off the side) and found both beams were similar. Also I remember I put a bar or so into the bores centering it some way to measure the angle by the long portion of length and pretty sure there was no evidence of leaning to rear or front. It also makes sence having caster plates (all my R's and 2 MH's have them and they look stock) there's no hard reason to do machining of an axle beam more complicated. Much easier to add a grade or two to the wedge and it's done.

As said above. And from the pics it looks like quite a solid truck.

Rob, I have removed FAW537 axle from my R-model and also had FAW538 off another R-model as a spare. I had to use that spare one for the truck so investigated both of them relating king pin hole angle, straightness and even the weight. And now I can state both of those were almost similar and absolutely symmetric face to back. King pin holes were bored straight from the top of the beam having zero angle to the drive direction. Castor angle establishes by the springs hanged to the chassis rails at a certain angle and also by wedged pads put between the axle beam and springs. So I bet no difference in steering or handling the road if you put the beam backwards. That's for a R-model. A few years back I had similar experience with my military Mack model NR. Also had two similar beams and chose one of to use. I well remember I found no difference face to back excepting that marking at the front of the left spring pad and even put my own mark for the drive direction of the truck just for any reason.

The look could tell alot.

Easily. My R-model axle beam had its stamping at the front. I type "had" because I removed it from the truck at a certain time. I investigated it through very well before sandblasting and paint and found no reason I couldn't put it backwards installing back on the truck. So you know where to look at. My understanding you will find the stamping or a ground off spot where it was.

What years and what engines did Mack paint in that color? I really like how it looks.

I add my vote to the request Never knew the original truck belonged to Smith. Interesting.

My bet is not too many people on here has an idea on the meaning of those 3 red letters on the title page of the video. In fact it's Persian script of the name our forum is all about

Great to see the progress! I like the engine look painted that color. Strange thing (nothing strange but an optic illusion) the engine looks greeny in the first pictures but much more to blue where it's already in the chassis.

No. Regular (lighter) series R discontinued in 89 (or even in the late 88?). RD being a heavier mod of an R started from 78 or so and kept the classic round hood with round lights up to 1990 or 1991. Than it (RD not R) purchased new (slopped) hood and stayed in production until 2004. RB is another story.

Seems like you haven't got all the air off the system. Even worn out plungers would build up pressure enough to get the fuel off the realeased nuts on the injector lines. I'd put an electric fuel pump in the line between the tank and the prime pump. Switch it on for half a minute to make good fuel flow in the lines and injection pump body than try cranking with it still on. Usually takes all air away in a matter of seconds and the engine fires up if the rack is in the correct position and the mecanical parts are solid. Vlad

Looks in a really great shape. Besides restored interior and non-rusted rear wall of the cab the frame represents very good condition. Still can't figure the type of the engine it has. Something like a non-intercooled EM6 of 225 or so HP?

Nice looking raw of old Macks. Although they're kept outside it seems like someone have fun owning them. Thanks for sharing.

Looks like some experimental cab indeed. But doesn't show any countours of the series R-model cab. Interesting.

With Neway in 1981 those are the most probably 34000 or 38000 axles. Once I found a tag riveted to the lower side of the lower left airbag pad. But that was Neway tag with the suspension model not the axles.

Do you mean "elephant ear" brackets of a heavy suspension? As I said the frame's width varies. Don't remember seeing any spacers put between the ears and rails. They could be easily machined to be used on different frames to keep the same between the spring distance. I saw that on R-model rear engine mounts. The same castings but factory machined off along the mounting surface to clear up the inner rail (insert). Check out this tables. You can see the frame width there.

Can't belive! Checked out my shelf and found out a B-model Volume 1 getting dust there. Seems like if I wait for a couple more years I would be able to swap it for a real B-model truck including shipping

Of my uderstanding the dog must have 5 digit patent # (87931) not 7 digit newer one and also have longer ears. Higher edged to his back not his face. Check out ebay, plenty of dogs there so look all the images patiently and you will figure the true style. Non pitted ones show out for $60-$150. Be shure it's of the normal (large) size since there were smaller dogs of that old style which were used a an ash tray decoration and wouldn't look good on a grill. BTW nice looking L-model, sorry to see it in that poor shape. Hopefully somebody will take care about it or at least use some parts for his other projects. Vlad

You can try this R-model diagram from this site's Wiki section. But checking it out it apperaed to me that it differed from my 1988 R and later models.

Thanks for sharing. Very interesting and many nice pictures.

Yup. There's a reason for a stepped style of the rails if the truck is 6x6. But this one doesn't have FWD so standart fishbelly style DM frame should work fine there.

As said above. Newer RD cab cowl is Superliner style at the left and classic R-model at the right.

Merry Christmas to everybody!

Cool find Timmy! Must be really interesting to see such unusual animal in your environment.