1979 mack cabover

don't forget the G model

 

Fun to own and bring to a show or 2 but dont think I would buy one for the soul purpose of running over the road with it.

 

Wow,.. that brings back some memories.

I drove for JB Hunt for 2 weeks in 1988.

Guys my age will recall JB Hunt had cab over Internationals governed at 55 mph back then. I quit over the non working AC. They kept sending us on new loads,.. after the second week I got out at a Union 76 in Houston and took a bus home. Miserable truck to live in.

Hurst

 

The idea of using any truck that is 35+ years old in regular service is the question. As has been mentioned, will your company even lease it? If they will, the only way I would consider operating something like that would be within a radius that a tow back to home wouldn't break you. Say a 500 mile radius. Depending on your ability to effect either temp or permanent repairs, given few shops these days are going to know anything about them, or try to get parts.

 

I ran that 79 K100 in my profile pic almost a year to the day a few years ago. Parts for the engine don't exist unless they were shared with the 855 or KTA. Having inboard (or was it outboard?) brakes is a pain in the wallet since the wheel seals come off any time you so much as want to look at the brakes. Body/interior parts will have to be salvaged or fabricated. Good luck on getting a steering system that wasn't outdated 20 years ago. Good news was the torsion bar suspension will likely last until the next century.

If you run a truck of this age, you're going to either need to have it torn down completely and rebuilt ($40,000 or so puts you in the right ballpark) or be ready to get elbow deep in it daily, or even more often. I can't count the number of times I got cussed at by the person cleaning the showers because I went into my shower pitch black.

By the way, crawling on top of the motor up north in February to pop off the fuel pump is no fun. Waiting 5 days for the pump shop to scrape up a serviceable core isn't much fun, either. Watching your thermometer and your clock hoping it gets over 10F before you climb back under to fumble the new pump in before dark is a bit of a test of sanity when you go to jack up the cab and ice crystals have blocked up the hydraulic lines, making you wish you had a 26" waist, but you get out your farm jacks and 4x4's, and try not to cry when you drop the shims under the frame for the 3rd time because your eyes will freeze shut in the wind, since your fingers are too numb to tell what isn't drenched in diesel so you can wipe the tears away without giving your cornea a lube job.

That being said, once the freightliner gets paid off, I'm rebuilding the old K100. Now that I'm regional, and will have a farm and garage by the time it's done, I'll have the time, money, and infrastructure needed to really make a living with one of these old beasts.

 

What type of budget you working with? Go through her front to rear before putting her to work . Replace all hoses and lines. All that stuff is 35/ 36 years old.

 

I started with HO Wolding in 92 with one of there older Freightliner cabovers. I remember begging for one of the older cabover Petes that they bought from Werner but it had a bunch of issues at the time. NO AC and I remember in the middle of July baking in that thing at night down south. Guess I was just happy to be out there doing it. I kind of miss those days when every other truck you saw was a cabover or something unique.

 

If you end up going for it. I'd try to stick local for awhile or with in limping distance. I did and it was a good thing had some rear suspension bushing puke on me also a couple solenoids and I have an oil pan that was rusty and running it has caused a couple leaks been trying to get them to stop with jb weld until I can afford a new one. Also have to buy at least 4 tires before any real snow comes. I have a leg up than some I'm leased to my father in law who runs an 85 international so he knows the game of running old stuff