Question about thermodyne transmissions

[Vladislav]

Water manifold on your engine (as I expect by the look of the engine) must be a very common part used on many Mack engines of 70's, 80's, 90's and even 2000's years. It's cast iron, consists of two portions, front and rear. I may be having some extras besides my personal needs but you may be lucky finding it in your home country too. Very similar manifolds (or even the same) were used on E7 and E-tech Mack engines mounted on Renault Magnum trucks. Yes, similarity of some Mack engine parts spreads from late 30's up to 2000's years!

But also depending on the kind of the issue with the manifold it could be fixed. If there's a crack it can be cooper-soldered or welded or just epoxy-glued for some limited service time (a decade or two )

[mowerman]

Well, there’s plenty of parts around for those things. Good luck.

[mowerman]

Meant used engine parts lots of them 

[mrsmackpaul]

On 2/7/2026 at 12:44 AM, Brocky said:

The Mack engineers designed the complete power train to accept the heaviest (and overweight) loads that a customer could put on the truck. As a hobby truck, bobtailing or with a light load of toys, this usage of the entire available power train is not necessary. I would first determine what YOU are going to use the truck for?? If NO heavy work is planned, you can play with the present duplex and enjoy yourself, with out going to the work and expense of swapping transmissions.

My brother bought a ex Australian Army Mack, 285 Maxidyne 5 speed

Anyway, bro bought this truck and reckoned a 5 speed was no good and needed extra gears like a 12 speed

I said 2 him, just let it lug, and when you wanna change a gear don't, let it lug a lot more  

Once you've done this for 6 months, see if you really want a 12 speed 

That was a few years ago now and the 5 speed is still there 

My point is just get it going, drive it for a while and then see what you think

 

Paul 

[Mack guy Ata]

Thank you Vladsilav. Here is a photo of it I hope this type of manifold is what you are talking about. I havent had any luck yet but good to know other macks used this part. Sorry for my late reply I didnt know these chats had a 2nd page just found out. 

- Mowerman if you know anyone that sells used b series parts would be a great help I havent had any luck yet.

- mrsmackpaul Yeah after talking with people on this forum ı came to the same conclusion. Im going to drive the 9 speed and see if it meets my expectations 

[mowerman]

Your best luck is going to be from the guys in the northeast. That’s where most of them are. Good luck.

[Brocky]

1 hour ago, mowerman said:

Your best luck is going to be from the guys in the northeast. That’s where most of them are. Good luck.

Bob means the Northeast of the USA. Since you are in Turkey, I have no idea of tariffs, import regulations, or shipping?? You might be better off going thru Vlad in Moscow or one of his Dutch contacts in the Netherlands????

[mowerman]

Oooooooooohhhh hell I forgot all about that… and yes vlad would be a much better choice Genius Robert lol 

[mechohaulic]

5 hours ago, Mack guy Ata said:

Thank you Vladsilav. Here is a photo of it I hope this type of manifold is what you are talking about. I havent had any luck yet but good to know other macks used this part. Sorry for my late reply I didnt know these chats had a 2nd page just found out. 

- Mowerman if you know anyone that sells used b series parts would be a great help I havent had any luck yet.

- mrsmackpaul Yeah after talking with people on this forum ı came to the same conclusion. Im going to drive the 9 speed and see if it meets my expectations 

question is :: what's wrong with the water manifold ???? pin holes / cracked???  top half missing ??? little corrosion can be cleaned up . being aluminum; extreme care in the clean up. emory on piece of flat stock to clean off top mating surface and keep it flat. small file by hand clean inner surface thermo sits in. wire wheel on drill faster : but can also disform the alum surfaces.