linesplice

I saw a video on YouTube of a guy banging through a quadraplex tranny, no clutch, like it was butter, and though I know I don't have more than 5 gears and a 2-speed rear, I'm grinding the teeth right off everything but the 1-2 shift, so I figure I am doing something awful wrong. Maybe not though from the sounds of things. I don't see how I would get anywhere with even a small load. Patience is truely a virtue I'll have to learn.

The engine will turn about 2000 RPM, but the more RPM you give it, the longer you have to wait for the RPM's to drop so you can put it in the next gear up. No engine brake, so it sounds like I just have to wait for the engine RPM's to come down before I can get it in the next gear?

I got myself a fairly old truck recently that has a very wide range 5-speed tranny. What's the trick with upshifting without grinding the heck out of the gears? Downshifting with a double-clutch is no problem. The thing is, I've lost all forward momentum by the time the engine has spun down enough for the next gear to want to engage without grinding. What's the trick? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you!

The hard thing is to get it all mounted. Try and find a a front axle you can swap out. Get the part number and visit some boneyards or call around. I'd like to see someone who has done it without major welding or axle swapping??

What are the rules about having some place other than whethersfield do it, like a qualified heavy truck repair place - they can give annual inspections, right? I'll probably do the registration in Winsted. If you truck is registered Antique, can you tow a trailer? I've seen other guys doing it, but I didn't know if it was legal or not? Thanks!

Does anyone know where to get an antique truck inspected in Northwestern Connecticut? Thanks!

I am thinking about putting a heat blanket on the turbo and wrapping the exhaust with header wrap and installing some heat/sound material in the cab. Does anyone have any experience with turbo blankets or header wrap? I've read some people who say the wrap causes excessive heat in the header and traps moisture, so it rots / rusts from the inside out. What is your experience? I just need to cool down things or I'm going to have to start wearing nomex driving boots. =)

Who do you use for insuring your antique truck? What is the yearly premium and what restrictions are on the vehicle? I know Haggerty requires a vehicle to be stored in a garage. Gulfway looks like it needs four or five photographs of the vehicle first. I'd appreciate any info!

This one had a scania engine in it and not the E-7 Mack that was common. I don't know much about the scania job, but I think it's smaller and has less power?

Those are two pretty trucks. Where do people find such things? I look for 6 months and don't find much beyond old lumps of rust. Everything in New England is either so rusted it's not worth the scrap metal or a $15,000 - $20,000+ truck (I personally don't want to afford). Have any tips or should I reset my expectations? There is great history with your two new trucks. Keep 'em going.

Nigel, can you provide a link to the post covering this? I did a search with no results... Maybe I'm missing something? What kind of Scania engine might be in a Mack MR from the 80's?

Would you think twice about going 500 miles in one? With the large engine hump in the compartment, it doesn't seem very good truck for a companion to travel with you. How loud is the engine in there?

Nigel, can you provide a link to the post covering this? I did a search with no results... Maybe I'm missing something?

What can I be told about the 1980's mack MR? I really don't know much about this model and I was interested in one locally (with a scandia engine?) for hauling antique tractors a short distance. The one I looked at has low ground clearance in front and others have a lot of ground clearance; how come - what's the difference? What is known to go bad on them? Any info would be appreciated!