1980 Kenworth W900A light rebuild thread

Discussion in 'Kenworth Forum' started by 34kw, Jan 31, 2026.

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  1. Jan 31, 2026 #1
    34kw

    34kw Light Load Member

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    Jul 28, 2010
    Montana
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    AModelCat encouraged me to start a thread so I'll give it a try. First time for a thread but I have built a few trucks. This is a 1980 Amodel short hood. 3406A Cat, later model 9speed, steel frame (uncracked - pretty good shape), air ride 245 wb. It is pretty rough but has good bones, as they say. It had a 60" walk-in from the factory but it was gone and I tried to find it but couldn't. I found a 1978 36" crawl thru and decided to big hole it. Here are a few pics of bringing it home and my 1997 W900L.
     

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    34kw, Jan 31, 2026
    34kw, Jan 31, 2026
    #1
    sawmill, rollin coal, Oxbow and 12 others Thank this.
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  3. Jan 31, 2026 #2
    North Pole Nightmare

    North Pole Nightmare Road Train Member

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    Nice old truck.I was working at DPW,Ft.Richardson Alaska in the 70's and 80's.We had a bunch of old early 70's GMC dump trucks,V 6 Detroit and 5x4 transmissions,they were beyond wore out.
    Bossman talked them into getting some Kenworths and we got some nice ones,350 Cummins and automatic transmissions.They wanted automatic because we hauled a lot of snow,4 or 5 months a year,loading under an Athey loader,and snowblowers.It was too hard on clutches loading at low speeds,starting and stopping continuously.
    Those trucks were awesome.I think they were delivered in 81 or 82.
     
    North Pole Nightmare, Jan 31, 2026
    North Pole Nightmare, Jan 31, 2026
    #2
    Oxbow, Sons Hero, Feedman and 3 others Thank this.
  4. Jan 31, 2026 #3
    Texasgordo

    Texasgordo Medium Load Member

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    Sep 11, 2007
    Gonzales, Texas
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    Nice project but the green W900 is very cool.
     
    Texasgordo, Jan 31, 2026
    Texasgordo, Jan 31, 2026
    #3
    Oxbow, Oldman83, Sons Hero and 5 others Thank this.
  5. Jan 31, 2026 #4
    D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

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    Gettin' down westbound
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    Subscribed! U around montana ? Sure looks like that beautiful montana country
     
    D.Tibbitt, Jan 31, 2026
    D.Tibbitt, Jan 31, 2026
    #4
    Oxbow, Sons Hero, 1999 C12 and 1 other person Thank this.
  7. Jan 31, 2026 #5
    34kw

    34kw Light Load Member

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    Jul 28, 2010
    Montana
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    Yup. SW Montana
     
    34kw, Jan 31, 2026
    34kw, Jan 31, 2026
    #5
    Oxbow, 1999 C12, OldeSkool and 1 other person Thank this.
  8. Jan 31, 2026 #6
    34kw

    34kw Light Load Member

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    Jul 28, 2010
    Montana
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    Thanks. Its a 1997 with a 550 5EK Cat, 18sp, 336 ratio double lockers on a 2016 low air Paccar suspension. 300 in wb. It's not a cut-off. I added to the back of the frame to go from 265" to 300" and then added the new suspension.
     
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2026
    34kw, Jan 31, 2026
    34kw, Jan 31, 2026
    #6
    Oxbow, Oldman83, Sons Hero and 7 others Thank this.
  9. Jan 31, 2026 #7
    Texasgordo

    Texasgordo Medium Load Member

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    Sep 11, 2007
    Gonzales, Texas
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    Nice upgrade from the factory 8 bag suspension
     
    Texasgordo, Jan 31, 2026
    Texasgordo, Jan 31, 2026
    #7
    Oxbow, Bean Jr., 34kw and 2 others Thank this.
  10. Jan 31, 2026 #8
    OldeSkool

    OldeSkool Road Train Member

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    New Hampshire
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    Subscribed. Nice trucks. :)
     
    OldeSkool, Jan 31, 2026
    OldeSkool, Jan 31, 2026
    #8
    Oxbow, Sons Hero, 34kw and 2 others Thank this.
  11. Jan 31, 2026 #9
    PSM379

    PSM379 Heavy Load Member

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    Apr 19, 2019
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    Wow that L is beautiful, not sure why I always loved the L models with the true flat glass and and the studio sleeper. No lame daylight doors either. Beautiful truck! A is cool as well, good find. Those 3406As sound so good.
     
    PSM379, Jan 31, 2026
    PSM379, Jan 31, 2026
    #9
    Oxbow, MACK E-6, Feedman and 2 others Thank this.
  12. Jan 31, 2026 #10
    34kw

    34kw Light Load Member

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    Jul 28, 2010
    Montana
    0
    Thanks. I've owned the L for almost 20 years. Last year I did a rebuild/paint job on it. Air ride steer axle, new susp., bus glass and wing window delete. I changed the steer axle to hub piloted to match the newer suspension.
     

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    34kw, Jan 31, 2026
    34kw, Jan 31, 2026
    #10
    Oxbow, Oldman83, Feedman and 1 other person Thank this.
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