F700 with a V8

[h67st]

This is a nice looking truck, price seems reasonable.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/711679711647253/?ref=browse_tab&referral_code=marketplace_top_picks&referral_story_type=top_picks

[terry]

Nice!! 👍   terry

[mowerman]

wow,,,looks excellent thanks for that,,,

[Geoff Weeks]

I wonder what its original vocation was? 1st thought was "turnpike doubles" but not with that wheel-base. Daycab cabover with V8 must have done something that required that? 

Day cab cabovers don't shorten things very much from a single bunk sleeper, and having the sleeper is nice. So back to the 1st question.

[Vladislav]

Is that F700 for real not F600?

Nice truck with steel dash.

Thanks for sharing.

[h67st]

On 7/11/2025 at 2:41 PM, Vladislav said:

Is that F700 for real not F600? Nice truck with steel dash. Thanks for sharing.

Good question...what's the difference between the two?

[Vladislav]

17 hours ago, h67st said:

Good question...what's the difference between the two?

F600 were built using R-model chassis rails (or more correctly to say R-model got F600 chassis when came into production in 1965. F600 started in 1962) F700 have different and model specific rails. IDK why it's 700 since the rear portion rails section is identical (9x1/4")

If I'm not wrong F700 were just later production trucks replacing F600 at some point. That shafty part you see between the bumper and the lower cab edge is a kind of torsion bar (or what else I don't know what particulary) makes me thinking it's F600.

[james j neiweem]

Facebook ad says its an 865. I thought the 865 was the 325 maxi. Truck has silver dog and 15 speeds. Maybe an 864? Or maybe I am corn fused.

[terry]

On a truck that old most anyting could have been changed, frame number would tell you what it was originally.  Terry

[BOBWhite]

Are F700 and R700 similar chassis? Almost odd to see such an Aussie spec truck here in America, wish that had a vid of it running that would be sweet! 

Edit: Awesome Farr air cleaner too! 

Edited Sunday at 11:28 PM by BOBWhite

[mowerman]

Like most people I don’t have a clue why is a 700 I would wild guess heavier frame possible suspension like most people are saying as far as the long frame who knows

[mowerman]

Except for of course, the bridge law we’ve talked about before, but forgot about that

[mowerman]

I don’t even know if scales even go by that anymore except of course, tandem axle versus spread axle trailers

[Vladislav]

On 7/14/2025 at 2:27 AM, BOBWhite said:

Are F700 and R700 similar chassis? Almost odd to see such an Aussie spec truck here in America, wish that had a vid of it running that would be sweet! 

Edit: Awesome Farr air cleaner too! 

No. R700 chassis has similar config to R600 chassis but of higher section and of thicker sheet (3/8"). F700 chassis has different shape of the front portion, actually its own specific shape as long as I could observe along other Mack models. Maybe CF firetrucks had similar rails IDK. At the same time if I'm not wrong F700 had the same (light) section of the rails at the rear as R600 - 9" tall and 1/4" thick. That's standard section for basic B-models and a few other Macks of the era.

Worth to point out we talk about Eastern R's and F's. Western R700 (RS/RL700) like your truck have straight rails with constant section front to rear. I don't have specs for those frames, would be interesting to learn the sizes.

There were also FS/FL (700?) produced at Hayward factory. Which also had straight frame rails, the most probably similar to what was used in RS/RL700.

[Vladislav]

On 7/14/2025 at 12:46 AM, james j neiweem said:

Facebook ad says its an 865. I thought the 865 was the 325 maxi. Truck has silver dog and 15 speeds. Maybe an 864? Or maybe I am corn fused.

Maybe 866?

[james j neiweem]

I believe the 865 was a 325 HP Maxi and the 866 was a 375 HP non high torque rise. 864 was the original boat anchor.  On the facebook picture where the  cab is tilted about 45 degrees You can see the frame rail bends down towards the front axle. I believe the F-600 had straight rails. That truck would make a nice platform for an air stream camper.

[h67st]

On 7/13/2025 at 3:41 PM, Vladislav said:

F600 were built using R-model chassis rails (or more correctly to say R-model got F600 chassis when came into production in 1965. F600 started in 1962) F700 have different and model specific rails. IDK why it's 700 since the rear portion rails section is identical (9x1/4")

If I'm not wrong F700 were just later production trucks replacing F600 at some point. That shafty part you see between the bumper and the lower cab edge is a kind of torsion bar (or what else I don't know what particulary) makes me thinking it's F600.

It is a torsion bar, makes it possible to tilt the cab by hand. No hydraulics for the cab tilt!

[mrsmackpaul]

I don't think any F600's made it to Australia 

F700's yes, they had a drive shaft for steering running across the dash, under a cover etc so it didn't stand out 

Then like pretty much every Mack built over the next 40 years in Australia, the R model chassis was used, long after everyone else in the world

The R model chassis lent itself to RHD conversion much better than anything else Mack has built, the frame rail shape 

So CH Macks had a R model chassis out here

The F 700 became the FR 700, F cab R chassis 

 

Paul

 

[terry]

1 hour ago, h67st said:

It is a torsion bar, makes it possible to tilt the cab by hand. No hydraulics for the cab tilt!

I had one of them once, was surprisingly easy to pull cab over.  terry

[mowerman]

3 hours ago, h67st said:

It is a torsion bar, makes it possible to tilt the cab by hand. No hydraulics for the cab tilt!

my 62 had that same bar,,,it was balanced perfect so i could tilt the cab by hand

[mrsmackpaul]

Torsion bars are much better if they are working right

Nice and simple 

Trying to tilt a little Isuzu last night, my ring was fairly hanging out

Got all the stuff from behind the seat out and chucked it on the floor 

Straight up and over

 

Paul

[Vladislav]

On 7/16/2025 at 6:35 PM, james j neiweem said:

I believe the 865 was a 325 HP Maxi and the 866 was a 375 HP non high torque rise. 864 was the original boat anchor.  On the facebook picture where the  cab is tilted about 45 degrees You can see the frame rail bends down towards the front axle. I believe the F-600 had straight rails. That truck would make a nice platform for an air stream camper.

Unfortunately I don't see any 'book pics. Only the one at the top of this post.

I'm not a big specialist in early Mack V8's. But I think 325 and 375 have similar appearance. And 864 had stamped steel valve covers in compartion to 865/866 with cast alu ones. But it's possible there were option on those covers or mods during the production years I don't know.

R-model frame rails (F600) have light decline toward the front end. F700 rails had steeper decline. But they're also belly-fished (or fish-bellied?) and have incline at the bottom side of the rail toward the front end.

Presence of that torsion bar indicates it's F600. But I'm not 100% sure. Mike would say the truth. But he unfortunately wouldn't.

[cruiseliner64]

The Volvo F88 had torsion bar tilt cab which worked very well on reasonably level ground...One I drove popped a water hose going down a steep hill.The repair required the cab to be tilted but when repaired I had a hell of a job to get the cab back down.At one point 6 guys were pulling and hanging out of it to no avail.In the end we had to winch it back down with a rachet strap.....Good old days when guys would stop to help

Paul