I'm buying a truck need help

Really Good Point Gas Hauler,

Freightliner sells and services Mercedes engines, remember, Mercedes owns freightliner, and there are plenty of them on the road, parts should not be a problem

 

I agree, I wouldnt shy away from a truck just because it has a Mercedes in it, the ones I have driven have been pretty dependable and decent on fuel mileage. Do your homework like Gas Hauler said and before you buy any truck, spend a couple hundred and get a good mechanic to check it over real close

 

Parts shouldn't be a problem I agree. Thing is, they're going to cost much more than say Detroit Diesel parts.

 

You might want to do some research on the ports of Los Angeles. You will find that they go after trucks because it's easy and cheap for them.

 

Dunno if you knw where Carrollton,GA is but, there is a used truck dealer there callled "Jordan's Truck Sales" they have VERY nice tractors at good prices. I have a freind that does their celan-up's/detailing. They don't mess with JUNK only reliable,decent equipment. they are on Bankhead Hwy just west of Carrollton,Ga. Just thought I'd put that bug in your ear.

 

a little off the subject...but a funny story. My dad was a diesel mechanic for YEARS before he passed at 38 ( I was about 14 when this happened) from an abdominal anyerism. I was only 8, but I remember all this ahppening with the engine like it was yesterday.

I remember him working on a Detroit that he had just finished re-sleeving and assebling. It had been a hard build and bad luck from the beginning. First, he had put the sleeves and pistons in the freezer to make them easier to go into the block. He dropped one of the sleeves and shattered it like glass...ooops. He replanced that one and everything was going well.

Then, on initial start up, everything was going well....till the shut down. The engine ran away and wouldnt shut off. He always kept a Chiltons manual about 4 inches thick nearby, just in case it happened. He placed the book ofer the intake and IT SUCKED THE BOOK into the intake and STILL KEPT CHUGGING!

In the end, The motor was destroyed, slung a rod compeltely out the side of the block! BIG OOPS!

The bad thing was, it had plenty of fuel, but the way he explained it, it was either run-away on the start that caused the problem. I don't know all the detais as to how that works, with either...and I have used it on the past on an old 7.3l ford deisel that was in one of our ambulances. It was an either addict and wouldn't start, even on a hot GA summer day, if the engine was cold without it. So, I can kinda see where either would do that...as that meat wagon would idle up VERY high for a few min after the "diesel cocaine" was added to the intake, especially if it puddled into the intake.

jus thought this would add a smile to your faces, after a day of long hauling and stress.