I got my CDL driving a GMC dump truck with a detroit 2-stroke in it. Sucker was 3 years older than me (on its 3rd engine and 2nd tranny - the truck that is). She would scream like a raped ape coming up out of the gravel pit in 2nd-low. I'd get to the top of the hill and all these shiny new Mack and Kenworth drivers open up their cab doors to applaud the old girl making it up the hill.
We had a Kenworth with the 12 cylinder Detroit on the farm back in the 70's. If it sat for more than 3 days it was a PIA to get it started. Dad sold it to a guy that used if for logging. He replaced it with a 25 year old Mack Thermodyne that had a turbo Cummins.
Knew a guy that had one, back in the early 70's, in a KW conventional that used to tell about getting pulled over for speeding on the long grade between Lehighton PA and I-80 on the PA turnpike Northbound. Doing 70 mph pulling 45,000lbs of steel.
My late brother had a 70's model cab over ford9000 that had a Detroit motor in it. One of his buddies told him if he took a picture of the truck and hung it on the wall, he'd have to set a five gallon bucket on the floor under it to catch the oil. (Evidently back in the day, they used to call them "Driptroit motors.")
His last truck, a 01 Freightliner had a 60 series 575 hp Detroit motor in it. I just sold it a month ago to a guy down state NC. It was pre DEF and no electronic log, plus it would run like a scalded dog. When brother had it on the road, nothing could keep up with it.
It's to bad the EPA forced the 2-strokes from production. Those 71's and 53's were screaming machines, and yes did did leak, but they would run forever!
Had me a 71 Ford 9000 sleeper, single screw, 10 speed Road Ranger, 671 with blower, no turbo. (Never seen a blower/turbo 671 combo equipped truck. Always wondered how they would go down the road. Pretty darn good I'd say) Bought it for 10 large in 82, it was from a horse farm they used it for their 12 horse trailer so it was pretty much babied far as tonnage hauled. Only 98,000 on the odometer. Very simple no frills truck. Ran like a top, never had any problems except for normal maintenance on the air side of the air brakes system, was very easy on tires for some reason. Bought a set of new not retread Michlin's with the high trac versions for the rear. A set of used aluminum Buds from a metal scrap dealer for wieght cost, got rid of those whobbly split rims. Got it to use as a camper/hauler, instrad of a used school bus for my motorcycle road racing endeavours, removed the fith wheel, built a large box over the rear frame rails, had a full kitchen, sitting area, fold down bunks, even a toilet in an enclosed corner, shower too, gravity water tank for sink&toilet, propane fridge, mounted one of those rugged old timey chinese AC generators on the 671, darn thing was a farking miser on fuel at idle, made a very quiet exhaust, boxed in the engine bay with sound abatment panels, and at idle it was surpringly quiet. But darn, those Allison 2 strokes they are just terribly loud engines under power and high rpm. But all the grunt u want. The Road Ranger in it doubled clutched for a treat, super easy to adjust the shift linkage, keep the gates spot on. But mostly hardly ever needed to run it in low, just feather out the clutch, no fuel to it, starting low third or fourth and off that old girl would go, just cruise like nothing at all. Really great old rigs, all you needed nothing you don't. Had ether start, one spirt and it started every time first crank. Parts cheap like chevy pick up parts. Basically except for the cab-over they where total componant trucks. All Dana/Spicer driveline. I changed oil every race weekend, by getting everyone to bring their race bike oil and dump it in a drum i set up. We all changed oil and filters every race weekend, and used the best too, so just letting the drum set for a week then drain off the top it be crystal clean. Even back then 11 gallons engine oil wasnt exactly cheap. Never had a lick of problems, it was a 12volt rig so that made things simple, added two extra batteries on the opposite battery bay, hooked up an industrial inverter for lights TV and such. It was cheap to register and insure, not much more than my 3/4 ton chevy. Served me great for 15 years. Sold it for more than i put into it and the first guy to come check it out whipped out a stack of benjies without even checking it out first. All aluminum cab so no rust, it purred like brandy new, i replaced all the seals and gaskets so it only had a couple tiny leaks, i thnk those Allison's could ever be totally oil leak free, all that high freq 2 stroke vibration and fuel cooled heads plumbing causes leaks no matter what. Oh yeah, with just a plywood over steel tube box on the back, just enough rear bias wieght, it handled and went like a big friendly sports car. Single screw it had a super tight turning radius and great all around visability so it was a fun truck to drive. Whished i could afford to have kept it if only because i just really liked that old thing, it was like kinda a friend you knew and trusted.
In spite of the bullshit here, I was the owner of an 8V-71 Detroit hooked to a 13 speed O.D. in a '71 Freightliner for over four years. Again... in spite of the bullshit here it was nothing to brag about. Granted, it was loud and did mark it's spot every time it stopped moving though.
I got my CDL driving a GMC dump truck with a detroit 2-stroke in it. Sucker was 3 years older than me (on its 3rd engine and 2nd tranny - the truck that is). She would scream like a raped ape coming up out of the gravel pit in 2nd-low. I'd get to the top of the hill and all these shiny new Mack and Kenworth drivers open up their cab doors to applaud the old girl making it up the hill.
ReplyDeleteIf you're interested, search youtube for "deboss garage k100" where he buys a 40 year old Kenworth, resores it and takes his CDL test in it.
ReplyDeleteWe had a Kenworth with the 12 cylinder Detroit on the farm back in the 70's. If it sat for more than 3 days it was a PIA to get it started. Dad sold it to a guy that used if for logging. He replaced it with a 25 year old Mack Thermodyne that had a turbo Cummins.
ReplyDeleteKnew a guy that had one, back in the early 70's, in a KW conventional that used to tell about getting pulled over for speeding on the long grade between Lehighton PA and I-80 on the PA turnpike Northbound. Doing 70 mph pulling 45,000lbs of steel.
ReplyDeleteMy late brother had a 70's model cab over ford9000 that had a Detroit motor in it. One of his buddies told him if he took a picture of the truck and hung it on the wall, he'd have to set a five gallon bucket on the floor under it to catch the oil. (Evidently back in the day, they used to call them "Driptroit motors.")
ReplyDeleteHis last truck, a 01 Freightliner had a 60 series 575 hp Detroit motor in it. I just sold it a month ago to a guy down state NC. It was pre DEF and no electronic log, plus it would run like a scalded dog. When brother had it on the road, nothing could keep up with it.
It's to bad the EPA forced the 2-strokes from production. Those 71's and 53's were screaming machines, and yes did did leak, but they would run forever!
ReplyDeleteAngry, I love it.
ReplyDeleteHad me a 71 Ford 9000 sleeper, single screw, 10 speed Road Ranger, 671 with blower, no turbo. (Never seen a blower/turbo 671 combo equipped truck. Always wondered how they would go down the road. Pretty darn good I'd say)
ReplyDeleteBought it for 10 large in 82, it was from a horse farm they used it for their 12 horse trailer so it was pretty much babied far as tonnage hauled. Only 98,000 on the odometer.
Very simple no frills truck. Ran like a top, never had any problems except for normal maintenance on the air side of the air brakes system, was very easy on tires for some reason. Bought a set of new not retread Michlin's with the high trac versions for the rear. A set of used aluminum Buds from a metal scrap dealer for wieght cost, got rid of those whobbly split rims.
Got it to use as a camper/hauler, instrad of a used school bus for my motorcycle road racing endeavours, removed the fith wheel, built a large box over the rear frame rails, had a full kitchen, sitting area, fold down bunks, even a toilet in an enclosed corner, shower too, gravity water tank for sink&toilet, propane fridge, mounted one of those rugged old timey chinese AC generators on the 671, darn thing was a farking miser on fuel at idle, made a very quiet exhaust, boxed in the engine bay with sound abatment panels, and at idle it was surpringly quiet.
But darn, those Allison 2 strokes they are just terribly loud engines under power and high rpm. But all the grunt u want. The Road Ranger in it doubled clutched for a treat, super easy to adjust the shift linkage, keep the gates spot on. But mostly hardly ever needed to run it in low, just feather out the clutch, no fuel to it, starting low third or fourth and off that old girl would go, just cruise like nothing at all.
Really great old rigs, all you needed nothing you don't. Had ether start, one spirt and it started every time first crank. Parts cheap like chevy pick up parts. Basically except for the cab-over they where total componant trucks. All Dana/Spicer driveline. I changed oil every race weekend, by getting everyone to bring their race bike oil and dump it in a drum i set up. We all changed oil and filters every race weekend, and used the best too, so just letting the drum set for a week then drain off the top it be crystal clean. Even back then 11 gallons engine oil wasnt exactly cheap.
Never had a lick of problems, it was a 12volt rig so that made things simple, added two extra batteries on the opposite battery bay, hooked up an industrial inverter for lights TV and such. It was cheap to register and insure, not much more than my 3/4 ton chevy. Served me great for 15 years. Sold it for more than i put into it and the first guy to come check it out whipped out a stack of benjies without even checking it out first. All aluminum cab so no rust, it purred like brandy new, i replaced all the seals and gaskets so it only had a couple tiny leaks, i thnk those Allison's could ever be totally oil leak free, all that high freq 2 stroke vibration and fuel cooled heads plumbing causes leaks no matter what.
Oh yeah, with just a plywood over steel tube box on the back, just enough rear bias wieght, it handled and went like a big friendly sports car. Single screw it had a super tight turning radius and great all around visability so it was a fun truck to drive. Whished i could afford to have kept it if only because i just really liked that old thing, it was like kinda a friend you knew and trusted.
In spite of the bullshit here, I was the owner of an 8V-71 Detroit hooked to a 13 speed O.D. in a '71 Freightliner for over four years. Again... in spite of the bullshit here it was nothing to brag about. Granted, it was loud and did mark it's spot every time it stopped moving though.
ReplyDelete