mowerman Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 lol thanks for that always fascinating to watch what you guys got the side of the world Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-591705 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 2 hours ago, cruiseliner64 said: Am I seeing this right?...That drive across the dash is for the steering??? Never seen or heard of that set up before but if it works then why not?..... Paul right hand drive common in other parts of the world. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-591715 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted February 24 Author Share Posted February 24 3 hours ago, cruiseliner64 said: Am I seeing this right?...That drive across the dash is for the steering??? Never seen or heard of that set up before but if it works then why not?..... Paul You are seeing this right This is a F model and they were only sold for a very short time before the F model cab was put on a R model chassis and from then on they became the FR The R model chassis was used well into the 2000's as it is suited to RHD trucks Paul 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-591719 Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseliner64 Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 9 hours ago, mechohaulic said: right hand drive common in other parts of the world. Sure is.We are right hand drive in Ireland.What surprised me was the left to right conversion.Neat job... Paul 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-591731 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post cruiseliner64 Posted February 24 Popular Post Share Posted February 24 8 hours ago, mrsmackpaul said: You are seeing this right This is a F model and they were only sold for a very short time before the F model cab was put on a R model chassis and from then on they became the FR The R model chassis was used well into the 2000's as it is suited to RHD trucks Paul Nice.Yeah just never seen that type of set up before.Interesting they used the R model chassis for the F but then what real difference would there be in a chassis between a cabover and a truck with a hood?? Paul 2 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-591732 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Weeks Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 2 hours ago, cruiseliner64 said: Nice.Yeah just never seen that type of set up before.Interesting they used the R model chassis for the F but then what real difference would there be in a chassis between a cabover and a truck with a hood?? Paul Paul, for a while Freightliner was converting their old leased cabover "turn ins" to short wheelbase conventional sold cheap. I don't know what all had to be changed, but they had leased so many cabover units to the big carriers that got turned back in when the length limits went away. No one would buy the old units, and they had to either export, scrap or find some way to get some money out of them. They overhauled the engines and transmissions and offered a warranty close to that of their new trucks. Still, there were not many "takers", some farmers that needed something cheap to haul short distances, bought them. They didn't learn their lesson, and there were a ton of conventional turn-ins a few years later. Used to be a huge storage yard not far from me of Freightliners sitting in a field, They would try and sell through dealers, but most just sat. 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-591737 Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseliner64 Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 Very intetesting Geoff.Id say that yard full of Freightliners was a sight to see.Id walk around it for hours just looking.Im sure it was a difficult time for them trying to shift that much stock.The cabover to conventional conversion is something I love to know more about..... Paul 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-591739 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Weeks Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 (edited) I don't know much about the actual conversion, what was re-used and what was new. The engines were Detroit 11.1 L 60 series, and the transmission I think were Meritor. I remember the ads, "new truck for the price of used". I don't know if the frames were the same, it would look that way, otherwise why were the wheelbase limited to short conventionals? It was doomed from the start, the 11.1liter Detroit was the 1st electronic engine and while not bad, the displacement and power were not what people were looking for. I can't remember if the 12.7 L was a option or not. They were trying to use up what was already in the chassies. The bodies looked like Freightliners "business class" mid range with a hood that was different then their other trucks IIRC. That would seam to indicate that the original cabover frame was used and parts from newer trucks would't work. I don't think the program was a success, by any measure. I didn't pay much attention, as I wasn't in the market for new trucks, I always bought used and held onto what I had. When I retired, I sold my 1st truck I ever owned, it remained with me for the whole time. It was used when I bought it. Edited February 24 by Geoff Weeks 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-591741 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted February 24 Author Share Posted February 24 9 hours ago, cruiseliner64 said: Nice.Yeah just never seen that type of set up before.Interesting they used the R model chassis for the F but then what real difference would there be in a chassis between a cabover and a truck with a hood?? Paul It must be pretty big difference Even C models as I may call them, CH, CHR and so on used the R model chassis in Australia There has gotta be something special about the R model chassis I'm gunna say, without looking it up that Mack Australia stopped using the R model chassis maybe 10 - 15 years ago Paul 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-591774 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mrsmackpaul Posted Monday at 05:35 PM Author Popular Post Share Posted Monday at 05:35 PM Well the mess is in full swing now Mrs Mack is up on blocks, wheels off, exhaust off, bull bar off Spent way way waaaay to much on parts Have a week off work, it isn't gunna be long enough My boys down from QLD and he is chief in charge of polishing the bull bar as I apparently can't polish to save myself I have lost a important part of new exhaust system I ordered years ago Spent hours searching for must have item that I have carelessly missplaced or as I would suggest, put some where for such safe keeping even I can't find it Lost a couple of days visiting a friend who is having a bit of bad issue with a brain tumor, thats a fair bastard of a thing Anyway some unexciting screen shots from a less even exciting video I might actually get to edit and finish one day The boy on his phone, porn hub no doubt shinner than my head on a hot day to quote my father, "your exhaust is exhausted Paul" And squashed And Mrs Mack up on blocks Paul 2 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-593109 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted Monday at 07:24 PM Share Posted Monday at 07:24 PM Well let’s giterdone bob Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-593114 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Swishy. Posted Monday at 07:45 PM Popular Post Share Posted Monday at 07:45 PM Here's my v: of the 2016 Mack Muster @ Kyabram Victoria Australia cya 4 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-593116 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Swishy. Posted yesterday at 03:18 AM Popular Post Share Posted yesterday at 03:18 AM Nothery from 2014 cya 2 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-593136 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swishy. Posted yesterday at 06:20 AM Share Posted yesterday at 06:20 AM Mack bites back 2010 there was more interest with the older Mack than the new Mack cya 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-593137 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mrsmackpaul Posted yesterday at 08:53 AM Author Popular Post Share Posted yesterday at 08:53 AM Rained half the day today, so off to Echuca for a Mag drill and other supplies Stuck about in the wet and sticky clay this afternoon My grand achievement for the day Got my new to me after loosing (missplacing so safely I can't remember were) 4" - 5" reducer for the exhaust 4 inch turbo outlet and putting a 5" exhaust on So we, my son Jack'0' and I had our virgin run on a bead roller and made a 1/4" step roller, roll a 60° flange on each end, this bolts to the new to me exhaust brake Then grabbed from the selection 90° mandrel bent 5" elbows my first victim I soon realised that there just wasn't going to be room to fit the elbow in between the fire wall and exhaust brake Oh and I'm fitting a exhaust brake as well because as good as the Dynatard on a Mack isn't, we can always do with a little extra stopping power So I promptly chopped the new flanges off the reducer as short as I dare go, minus a little bit more Then re rolled flanges on the new "how short can you go reducer" and refitted the exhaust brake and reducer I then looked at the elbow/victim and after much discussion with Jack'0' I ignored all of his advice and protests and cut away with the grinder Would you believe it, it wasn't right So next victim in site and more guidance from Jack'0' ignored, I sliced away merrily This result was much better and not as diabolical a egg shape as doom and gloom Jack'0' suggested So thinking this might work okay we rolled a bead or ten and flattened these out to form flange It almost didn't fit, but if we made the flange sharper on the bottom and less on top we could adjust the down pipe slightly so it fitted fine So after a afternoons work and lots of discussion we have a exhaust brake fitted and engine down pipe, Jack and I were certainly pretty impressed with our results We have a 5 inch down pipe were it shouldn't fit and a Jacobs exhaust fitted to possibly assist the not so impressive Dynatard engine brake I know it doesn't look much but struth, it was a lot of work for a couple of rookies using the wrong gear Paul 3 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-593138 Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseliner64 Posted yesterday at 09:58 AM Share Posted yesterday at 09:58 AM (edited) Great work Paul....Love the last bit about rookies and wrong gear. I know that situataion only too well🤣.... Paul Edited yesterday at 09:58 AM by cruiseliner64 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-593140 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swishy. Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago So this weekend (21st-22nd March 2026 we have 2 Mack Musters on the same weekend Kyabram Victoria Perth Western Australia half a world apart 3300 k or 2050 miles https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/Kyabram,+Victoria+3620/Whitby,+Western+Australia+6123/@-26.1137484,125.5476931,3508460m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x6ad8f3f9c916b223:0x40579a430a09160!2m2!1d145.0496442!2d-36.3135283!1m5!1m1!1s0x2a328c9478191e5d:0x504f0b535df5470!2m2!1d115.9973912!2d-32.2849912?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMxNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D cya 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-593184 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjc transport Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago so you are saying they are within driving distance of each other? 🤣 1 1 Quote when you are up to your armpits in alligators, it is hard to remember you only came in to drain the swamp.. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-593186 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted 17 hours ago Share Posted 17 hours ago 14 hours ago, cruiseliner64 said: Great work Paul....Love the last bit about rookies and wrong gear. I know that situataion only too well🤣.... Paul lol we all started off somewhere Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-593190 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey Mack Posted 17 hours ago Share Posted 17 hours ago I find it interesting that the steering shaft slip joint that is under the dash in an American R Model, is at the steering box. Although, I dont see the steering box, just assuming.. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-593191 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted 17 hours ago Share Posted 17 hours ago I’m assuming there’s another knuckle between his knees like mine Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-593192 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted 10 hours ago Author Share Posted 10 hours ago Bob your on the money I don't notice the shaft or uni joint at all, dunno what R models have in Yanky land Joey here is a very unexciting view of the steering box Paul here is our self rolled flanges to clamp onto the turbo and exhaust brake And the 5" down pipe that fitted in pieces but not once someone welded it together Paul 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-593197 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swishy. Posted 9 hours ago Share Posted 9 hours ago Mrs gudday m8 it would B good 2 C U n the Mrs Mack @ Kyabram but U can still roll up in person cos U aint got too many pubs to pass to get to Kyabram I must have gone thru life with me blinkers on Never ever heard of a Engine Brake and exhaust brake used together are U gunna bother fit n the pyrometer doo dadd? Mowerman Re: bit about rookies and wrong gear In Australia it boils down to 'Make do or do without' RE: conversion to right hand drive A mate had on old mack well past its use by date with all the gearing across the dash ti was more like a death trap until U got use to wrestling with the steering wheel due to the gearing slop and backlash... A bit more of the Mack Titan dreem cya 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-593201 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted 2 hours ago Share Posted 2 hours ago lol no pyro no Jake …. But the angle of that last knuckle and steering box is crazy … thanks for that …. As far as out dated I’m floored at how different big rigs are compared to the tanks I started out on… bob Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-593222 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjh Posted 2 hours ago Share Posted 2 hours ago 15 hours ago, Joey Mack said: I find it interesting that the steering shaft slip joint that is under the dash in an American R Model, is at the steering box. Although, I dont see the steering box, just assuming.. the shaft is install backwards to what I'm use to??? 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/76132-60-years-of-the-r-model-in-australia/page/2/#findComment-593224 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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