1980 U685ST restore

[deadparrot 20]

As promised here are the first set of pictures of the old girl. Got her to the farm yesterday. Ran fine and shifted well. No power steering is a work out and something im new to... but also fun thinking about an older generation working these trucks.

One photo shows the engine plate. After I get her in the shop ill try to clean it up more for more details. 

Does anyone know what the belt numbers are for the two belts? I was able to get the filter numbers off the ones on it. What I found in regards to filters;

wix coolant filter 24429
wix 3 oil filters 51791
primary fuel fram p1109
secondary fuel fram p3431

Donaldson model number 2MD3156
element 57MD26
gasket 16MD27

Am I missing any? Its real cold out so I didnt craw under her yet so maybe there is a service piece I missed.

Also, whats the oil capacity? Im trying to figure out what manuals I need for her. Those will help with my questions im sure.

Ill have a million questions im sure, but ill just keep this thread going with updated photos. Ive restored a lot of Harleys, but this is my first big boy project. Wish me luck.

 

 

[85snowdog 739]

Thanks for sharing pics with us. 

I can't believe how solid it looks . There is new trucks roaming the roads in my part of the world that have rustier frames. Im a little envious. 

Hopefully someone will chime in if I'm wrong..... but I believe with the 3 similar oil filters it is an extended service interval (ESI) engine. So it would hold 58.5 quarts. The smaller oil pans hold 33.5 quarts . You will know by how much comes out. Make sure you have a big enough drain pan. lol  

For your fan belts , I would take the old ones to a good automotive parts dealer and let them measure them. 

Please keep us posted 

[navypoppop 47]

Good luck with your U model. According to your photos it appears it might be a E-6 Maxidyne with extended service capacity. Does it have a 5 speed or 6 speed 2 stick transmission? I'm envious and sorry that It is not in my yard. I hope you have fun with her.

[deadparrot 20]

It is a 5 speed.

The oil pan lookd huge compared to our other modern rigs. I was surprised to see three filters and just figured it was a Mack think. The WIX filters on here all have same part number.

She is super clean. Even under the mats in the cab there is no rust. Frame looks damn near new. It has spent its years of service hauling chemical tanks for farm field spraying. I doubt its ever seen the salty roads or snow for that matter considering that farm work is seasonal.

Thanks guys.

Edited January 23 by deadparrot

[85snowdog 739]

 "ESI plus " is what mack called the extended service. It has the 3 filters like yours . They said if you used Mack filters and Mack spec'd oil you could go 25000 miles between changes 

[deadparrot 20]

Guys I work at a CaseIH dealership in the parts department. So I have access to our bulk oil, our No. 1 oil is 15w40. I sell a lot of it to customers for their semis. I cant seem to find anything on what weight oil I need and if there is anything special I need to consider. 

Yes, still looking for proper service books so I can avoid these questions. Im just excited to get a full service done.

[85snowdog 739]

Don't try to avoid questions, lol .  It gives me something to do on a cold Saturday .

From my info 15w40 is good from temperatures 0 deg. to over 90 F . If temp is consistently below 0 , 10w30 is preferred. 

I was going to say the same oil is used in your power steering ............. but forgot , you don't have any .   Sorry , I had to. I'm jealous. 

Edited January 23 by 85snowdog

[davehummell 434]

I have a 1980 engine in my b it is also a etz but 673? 260 hp.

[deadparrot 20]

46 minutes ago, 85snowdog said:

Don't try to avoid questions, lol .  It gives me something to do on a cold Saturday .

From my info 15w40 is good from temperatures 0 deg. to over 90 F . If temp is consistently below 0 , 10w30 is preferred. 

I was going to say the same oil is used in your power steering ............. but forgot , you don't have any .   Sorry , I had to. I'm jealous. 

Should of seen me at the first right turn at a stop sign. Needless to say I was not ready for how slow she turns from a stop LOL... by the time I got her in the right direction you would of thought I was make a wide right turn for a 53 foot van behind me, not bobtail. I did get a thumbs up from a neighbor who runs two old Petes who later sent me a text "finally got a real truck?" as a way to mock our Freightliner Columbia grain tractors

Honestly the biggest issue I have with no power steering isnt the lack of power assist, but that my mid section is on the big side and with this stock seat and no tilt wheel im fighting the manual steering and wheel rubbing my belly! LOL a bit tight for me but still fun. I may get creative with a new air seat but that wont really help for room. And a smaller steering wheel could help for room but clearly make steering worse. 

I could loose weight.... Maybe someone has a reasonable solution?

Edited January 23 by deadparrot

[tjc transport 1,233]

man oh man. an 80 u model with a 235, 5 speed,  2/55 air conditioning, and armstrong steering!!

those were made back when truck drivers were men, not steering wheel holders. 

[85snowdog 739]

56 minutes ago, deadparrot said:

Should of seen me at the first right turn at a stop sign. Needless to say I was not ready for how slow she turns from a stop LOL... by the time I got her in the right direction you would of thought I was make a wide right turn for a 53 foot van behind me, not bobtail. I did get a thumbs up from a neighbor who runs two old Petes who later sent me a text "finally got a real truck?" as a way to mock our Freightliner Columbia grain tractors

Honestly the biggest issue I have with no power steering isnt the lack of power assist, but that my mid section is on the big side and with this stock seat and no tilt wheel im fighting the manual steering and wheel rubbing my belly! LOL a bit tight for me but still fun. I may get creative with a new air seat but that wont really help for room. And a smaller steering wheel could help for room but clearly make steering worse. 

I could loose weight.... Maybe someone has a reasonable solution?

Just in case you didn't know , the steering column slides in and out to allow room. There is a lock handle on the right side of the column . Push the handle down to unlock .  You may already know but just in case you didn't . 

My experience with aftermarket seats has been they take up more room than the factory seats.Giving you even less room. But I'm sure there is better seats out there and hopefully someone will chime in with good alternatives or ideas for you. 

 

[Red Horse 1,604]

4 hours ago, deadparrot said:

It is a 5 speed.

The oil pan lookd huge compared to our other modern rigs. I was surprised to see three filters and just figured it was a Mack think. The WIX filters on here all have same part number.

She is super clean. Even under the mats in the cab there is no rust. Frame looks damn near new. It has spent its years of service hauling chemical tanks for farm field spraying. I doubt its ever seen the salty roads or snow for that matter considering that farm work is seasonal.

Thanks guys.

For sure-aside from the intact tilt hood, the frame for sure caught my eye.  what is with the red engine color?

Good find! good luck with it.😎

[deadparrot 20]

38 minutes ago, Red Horse said:

For sure-aside from the intact tilt hood, the frame for sure caught my eye.  what is with the red engine color?

Good find! good luck with it.😎

is it not suppose to be red? i assumed that was how it was built. 

[h67st 1,213]

There was a topic on here a while back about different color engines...red was one of them.

[RRJordan 21]

When the topic of steering comes up, I think of the very overloaded LF ten wheel dump I drove a bit in the '50s.  For city turns you could gear way down, let her crawl,  and stand up in the cab to get your back into it.  I was a skinny kid.

[deadparrot 20]

6 minutes ago, RRJordan said:

When the topic of steering comes up, I think of the very overloaded LF ten wheel dump I drove a bit in the '50s.  For city turns you could gear way down, let her crawl,  and stand up in the cab to get your back into it.  I was a skinny kid.

during harvest we can be behind the wheels for well past 24 hours if the weather holds... my respect for anyone one who managed that with no power steering.

thats a big part of me selecting this rig. i am blessed to work with and around many old timers and their stories, my grandfather being one of them. he goes back far enough that horses is where he started. 

he told the story of his first big truck he had and how he would go to somewhere to get coal for heating. apparently there was a steep grade down the pit to get loaded. he said you learned to carry blocks of wood with you because on the way back up out of the pit if you missed a gear or for whatever reason had to stop, your brakes wouldnt be able to hold the truck. so youd have to jump out and chalk the wheels.

hence the start of my love for old trucks.

[Mike Harbison 130]

3 hours ago, deadparrot said:

is it not suppose to be red? i assumed that was how it was built. 

Thats the correct engine color,its more of a dark orange than red,they only used it for a short time when they had to quit painting the Maxidynes gold., I havent changed oil in a big pan truck for along time,but im pretty sure its 12 gal.in the pan and 2 qt per filter. 

[mowerman 2,192]

excellent,,,have a ball with it and welcome aboard....that thing looks really clean.score baby....bob

[deadparrot 20]

Here are a few questions I have if anyone can assist.

This white canister is plastic, and real brittle at this point. Its directly behind the passenger side fuel tank on outer side of frame rail. No lines going to it that I can find. What is it and do I need it?

Also, on the control panel I have a switch that reads CL LPS. Clearance Lamps? I assume this is for the five lights on top of cab. They dont turn on by the switch, nor do they turn on with any of the other switches. Just need to know so I know where to start with this repair if it is clearance lights.

Thanks guys/girls.

Edited January 26 by deadparrot

[tjc transport 1,233]

not sure on the white canister, i have never seen one like that.

CL LPS turns on the two outside roof lamps. 

[deadparrot 20]

19 minutes ago, tjc transport said:

not sure on the white canister, i have never seen one like that.

CL LPS turns on the two outside roof lamps. 

Just the two outside ones? What about the middle one? Mine has 5 total.

[terry 526]

22 minutes ago, deadparrot said:

Just the two outside ones? What about the middle one? Mine has 5 total.

they should be on the park and headlight, as far as the plastic bottle, may have been part of a alcohol evaporator kit that put alcohol in your air brakes to help prevent freeze ups.    terry 

[blackdog2 445]

On 1/23/2021 at 3:27 PM, 85snowdog said:

Thanks for sharing pics with us. 

I can't believe how solid it looks . There is new trucks roaming the roads in my part of the world that have rustier frames. Im a little envious. 

Hopefully someone will chime in if I'm wrong..... but I believe with the 3 similar oil filters it is an extended service interval (ESI) engine. So it would hold 58.5 quarts. The smaller oil pans hold 33.5 quarts . You will know by how much comes out. Make sure you have a big enough drain pan. lol  

For your fan belts , I would take the old ones to a good automotive parts dealer and let them measure them. 

Please keep us posted 

Imperial quart's ?

 

[85snowdog 739]

40 minutes ago, blackdog2 said:

Imperial quart's ?

 

Sorry, wasn't specific.  The oil capacities I mentioned are US liquid quarts. They are out of a Mack Maintenance and lubrication book .  

I should also mention , that included filters.  

[85snowdog 739]

1 hour ago, deadparrot said:

Just the two outside ones? What about the middle one? Mine has 5 total.

I agree with Terry, the bottle is for an alcohol  evaporator. I can't see you will need it . Unless you will be using it in the winter. 

As for the lights , The left toggle operates only the 2 outside cab lights. the right toggle either up or down will work the 3 middle cab lights.

On the subject of lights. Don't rip apart everything if the brake lights stay on. They should be on when the parking brakes are set. they should come off when you release the brakes. If they don't come off ,check the hand valve first . You probably know this already. But just in case .