Anyone Working a W900a or 359

Hey all,

I’ve been thinking of getting back into the business, but I really want to do it on my terms — something classic.

I’ve an option on a restored W900a with a 400 big cam Cummins and wonder if anyone actually works older iron? I understand the Cummins can be blown to about 500 without negatively effecting its longevity, but how dependable are the rest of these trucks?

Any good or horror stories?

 

@rank

 

Well other than parts for the older rear ends are absolutely impossible to find…..transmissions can be the weak link (not all 13 speeds are the same) and engine blocks can have excessive wear as well as excessive machining that make them impossible to keep alive.

I’m not picking on you but take this as you will. I can appreciate that old trucks look cool to you, you see alot of them being worked. It takes a different type person to do so. I can tell by the way your post reads you ain’t one of em. Don’t let that hurt your feelings it’s not meant to.


Older trucks can’t be worked on by just any body. Even the best X15 guys can be lost around a 400 Big Cam. You start talking about high flow and low flow they get a far away look in their eye. Older doesn’t mean simpler even though it is. Down time searching for something that doesn’t fix your issue will kill you. You want an older truck buy one that has been updated to a late model drive train but grab your ### pocket

 

How good of a mechanic are you ?

 

Here in the Willamette valley Oregon, there are a few antiques that have been restored and used daily, but local and vocational. We're fortunate to have a few remaining, but getting fewer, shops that have old school knowledge and experience.
I fully respect what it is I think you wish to do. I admire that idea. However,....right now it is a buyers market. The amount of truck you can buy right now for 25¢/$ is unfreeknreal. Just my opinion here, but I'd go talk with your accountant and give some real numbers, (as you say, on your terms) see what they say you can handle safely for a serviceable debt to stay solvent, and buy as new of truck as you can. THEN !! go pull that 9a into the shop and have at it on weekends etc.

The few classic 359s and W9s that run mostly original innerds are owned and operated by folks near retirement. The other 359s and W9 classics have been glidered in reverse. There's an old needle nose, I think it's a 281 that drags a lumber train locally. We used to have a 359 dump truck local with an 06b. I'm seeing a trend with the local owned regional fleets to restore and update old COEs for the owner's kids.
But man'oman, trying to run a classic as a primary source,....if you're not fully committed to the culture, you will be fully committed to the asylum.
IMO.

 

I’m a red seal diesel engineer with 35 years of mechanical experience and 20 years of owner operating experience. I have much less exposure to the newer electronic equipment, though, as I was laid off from heavy diesel engineering in a ‘90s recession (which resulted in my turning to trucking) and I never developed any experience with electronic engines.

The last 10 years or so I’ve also been out of the industry, so I’ve zero experience with all the EGR/DEF stuff — hence my inclination towards something that’s not that.

 

What did this restoration entail? Lipstick on a pig or was it ripped down the axles and rebuilt from the ground up? Lipstick on a pig would be good for a farm truck and nothing more IMO. A proper restoration is going to sell for close to 6 figures from what I've seen.

 

From what I can gather over the phone:
Rebuilt back ends and suspension, new engine, rebuilt transmission, new wiring and air lines throughout, new bearings all round, new brakes and drums, conversion to auto slack adjusters, repainted chassis, air wiper conversion, new seats, some new gauges, replaced aluminum on some parts of the sleeper and doors, and original leather.

I’m interpreting this as a ground-up resto with some conversion to new parts (the 40s have been swapped for 46s, for instance), but I haven’t yet been to see it (it’s and 18 hour drive away and the guys away for two weeks), but he’s been doing these sorts of builds for 45 years, apparently. This is well into 6 figures — but cheaper than new (it’s also cheaper than something with 3 million km on it).

 

As long as the cab isn't full of bondo it sounds like some time was put into it.

I have a Canadian built W900A cab. It needed a lot of work, lots of rot in the firewall and frame.

 

That’s good to know. I can check for that sort of thing when I go and see it. The guy who’s selling these does about 2 of these a year — and that’s all he does. This one is also Canadian (which is good, as I believe it will have the Canadian sleeper spec insulation I’ll need up here). Is yours working or a show truck?