1980 L9000

Kind of splitting hairs there, most 318s I drove were pretty useless. We'd always ask someone, "where's your truck?" (with 318) "Oh, motor puked again, have it back tomorrow",they usually ran really well just before they puked,,I think the 6V92 was just a better motor, but nothing I'd ever equip my trucks with. I was a Cummins man, and that slow drop of revs in between shifts, sounds like air or water in the fuel system. If you suck water up, it takes forever to get rid of it.
Quick note on "it( the 6V92, I'd imagine) accelerates good", empty, or running the truck around for fun is one thing, and 44,000 behind you is quite another. Still a Detroit and with that kind of weight, it's a slow ride.

 

This discussion brings back so many memories...../nightmares. "Back in my day....."

These were the days of CB radios. We had no cell phones, no internet, very few lived in an area with cable tv. What we had were old guys that either worked at one time in production of one or two components for a truck, or who just plain understood how trucks and truck engines of the day worked. Some areas would have one or two 2 stroke detroit tuners, other areas would have a cummins tuner or two and very few here, but a cat guy or two existed. Heck, we even had a Hall-Scott engine guy for a while.

Here, you knew if ol' Harvey was tuning your 2 stroke. The jake had a certain pop to it.

As laws changed and infrastructure started improving, we started to see a lot more sleeper truck improvements, and as such, the need for engine transplants. Two of the more common transplants here were the Cummins KT and the Cat 1693. Those two engines sold more transmissions and rear axles, and....caused tow trucks to increase in size

As tough as it was back then, I feel so blessed to have been around to experience it. Back then we could stop and help a brother with his hood open or cab tilted up. One of us would have the needed tools. If not, we could give or get a ride to the next pay phone or garage. Yep, memories I will cherish to my last breath here on earth.

 

Amen, brother!

 

Now if they’re broke down it seems they just throw up their hands and call for help…and unfortunately in a lot of cases that’s about your only option if you’re running late model stuff.
I was really surprised a couple weeks ago I came up on a truck that had blown a steer tire on my way home from hauling asphalt last Friday. It was only about half a mile from my shop. I stopped and asked the driver who was a young man that seemed half scared to even open his window far enough to talk if he needed help. Couldn’t believe this but he said no I need a tow truck…. I said man I got a shop just down the road I can bring you a tire. He said he didn’t have any money and I said I don’t care Ive got some out back that are good enough to get you going and I will gladly give you one and put it on so you can get home….driver replied no I am going to call a tow truck. I just shook my head and said do as you wish you’re going to be here a while…. Maybe some fragile stuff on the plastic spaceship he was driving had been damaged but there was no apparent damage and it was still running so idk
He apparently did call the tow truck because one showed up several hours later….
It just really shocked me how helpless this guy seemed and it wasn’t a mega…some regional company who I’d never heard of

 

That is funny! Reminds me of several years ago when I was on my way to work in an old farm truck. A semi pulling a container was stopped taking up two lanes. Cars were working around the most open side in both directions on a state road. I went around and u turned at the drive company trucks ran out of about 100 yards up the road. Drove back on the other side of the ditch and walked up to the truck. It had no triangles anywhere or people directing traffic. The driver was engulfed pushing buttons on his cell phone with his head bent over. I yelled ha mister. You need some help. He grabbed the steering wheel and spun it. The wheels did not move. I opened the hood and found the yoke had come off the steering box shaft. Box looked brand new and had a reman sticker on it. Went back to my truck and dug around coming up with 1/4 inch stuff. Went back and Mr Policeman had shown up. I told him if you can take care of this traffic ( which was now really backed up ) I will have this truck out of here in short order. Put it back together, closed the hood and walked to the door. Had to interrupt the driver stuck to the phone. Ha Mr it is just patched up but will make it to the next driveway right there and get you off the road.
He pulled in and I opened the hood. Took my 1/4 inch stuff out and walked in the shop, which was open, and found some 7/16 stuff that length. Lock nut was used so I found some locktite. Had it all back together and walked back to the driver on the phone. Told him it was repaired. He replied: Oh no I talked to the company and the company they use is on their way down here to repair it right now.
Pissed me OFF! In a surely nice way I told him if they wanted to pay someone they could have paid us. Now you are trespassing and need to leave or I will call the police and have you arrested. Had to get fear in him to get him spinning wheels out of there.
We drive among them. Be careful out there.

 

Great looking rig OP! You're living MY dream!

 

Therein shows the majority of the problem. Just like police and fire today, it's a "job" now, not a career choice. No aptitude any more. These so called cdl schools just take people that can't even back a 2 door car up 3 feet, and make them cdl steering wheel holders.
That wheel holder in your story likely couldn't even figure out how to open the hood, much less understand what had happened.