Upgraded to a K100E

In my short driving career of 7 years as a business owner with 1 truck. What I have learnt is manufacturers and dealerships have developed a system to corner you, then have their way with you. If its not the control and supply of parts and their pricing, its labour. Running an old product of theirs, one that is a mere 13 years old, its all structured to rape you until you upgrade then we are all happy apparently.

So I did a bit of this


to look at an add that ol mate talked it up as his pride and joy. A reluctant sale and only happening as his moving from the seat in the truck to the one in the office. Have you ever had that experience where the add is good, the talk is saying all the right things, but something still doesn't add up. Well I umm'd and ahh'd do I really want to do this, but in the end my want won out.



I admit I'm no super trucker, and I bought a 12 spd auto for my new business after getting my license in an 18 manual. Using 5 gears to cross the intersection was enough for me. But hear I am 650 mile from home on the wrong side of Sydney in an 18 spd. All was going well, sort of, until my phone battery died and my spare battery pack fail to charge, so in all the excitement of getting through round abouts and intersections in a road ranger a wrong turn was made I ended up un the suburbs instead of the motorway in the fading light This was were I discovered ol mates pride and joy had no left indicator or hazards. Its also where one of those weird feeling came from. He made out he was a good bloke for leaving some loose fuses in the truck. "You have them he said, you might need them, never know." Well that was big of him giving me 5c, I guess the same generosity applied to all to the emptily gatorade bottles, chip packets, socks etc he left in the sleeper.

So in proper trucker stye I push on eventually finding my way onto the motorway. It was hear I started to fear I had bought a dud. I had been told the fuel gauge didn't work and the second fuel tank was not plumbed, seems ol mate had low standards for his pride and joy and I over looked yet another issue. But all the vital were wrong. Engine temp was running hot at 100, oil pressure just above red, and volts down near 12. It was a demoralising time pushing into the night making my way him. I pondered on how much and what needed doing.

However bit of a kip and a new day brought optimism and feeling good about my new work truck. It appears ol mates electrician ( a staff member) has a bit to learn or at least check the grounds, for in the light of day with no lights on the gauges looked good. Well beside those gold beezels.



So time to see what she had, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100 rpm in cruise control it thundered up hills and along flats for hour upon hour and not one bit of movement on the gauges. Well if I turned on the air con the volts dropped, but at least ol mate didn't lie about the air con, it is good.

So I made it home in my new 33 year old truck with a fair idea of what needs fixing and overhauling. My mechanic spent some time fixing all the electrics so they all work, with all the proper associated dash lights. Got an Eaton 18 spd auto to replace the manual, and will give the ol 12.7 Detroit an in frame rebuild. Yes ol mate, a god fearing man, advertised it with 1.2 million but the speedo only registers speed, and has not counted miles since 2019, when it last changed hands as a registered vehicle. Still has 800 something on and I'm confident it failed its yearly safety inspection, hence why it was for sale. I guess when the seat belts's buckles don't match so you can't click them together, I should have known better. So fool I may be but here I am.

 

So the mechanic has resoldered many of the connections of the back of the dash, and rewired ol mates dodgy electrical efforts. I now have a full set of dash lights, horn, indicators and hazards. Also shouted it a new set of brake switches as they were looking a little brittle or broken. I conformed the motor actually was a 12.7 and pulled the trigger on an in frame rebuild kit and exchange head as well after discovering the cog that makes the speedo count, removed. So speedo is off to be refurbished and recalibrated. All the tie rods, king pins, tie rod joints and steer bearings are fine, so ordered a set of parabolic springs and Koni oil filled shocks to match. Hopefully that will be part 1 to making a Kenworth cabover ride somewhat acceptable. Also ordered some new windscreen glass and rubbers. And advised the mechanic to put auto slack adjusters on while checking the brakes. So off to a good start I'm feeling.

The donor Eaton has an Ultra shift like this which I think we can fit, but it does look a bit modern for the truck or expansive to fix.


I prefer this type mounted just off the side of the tunnel or somewhere ergonomic for application. I will put the gear selector screen center of dash where the exhaust temp is. It's not working and been a failure from day one I hear.


Another bit of ol mates hand work on his pride and joy was an abortion of the oil fill and dip stick. All taped and zipped tied together dripping in oil because $30 must have been to much to fix.
Looks a but better now,

 

Bringing home the new money earner I noted ol mates new single din head unit and 4" speakers somewhat grossly inadequate. Compared to my european truck general cabin noise is up, and then this 4" speaker screaming in my right ear is just no good. Have no idea if the other side is working. Then being 56 the eyes are average at best and I have discovered touch screens even in a european truck can be a hit and miss affair. So given the sound clarity will bever be great in a Kenworth, I've gone for 10" screen with a volume knob; then this 300w sound bar. Figure it will go well across the head board of the cab.

10.1 Inch 2 Din CarPlay & Android Auto Car Stereo | Eonon UX7SK-PLUS
https://kickassproducts.com.au/prod...SwT-M3kQscRiCCqlv15nsGAagBg9O5ioaAocHEALw_wcB

 

So been chatting with kw34 and oldman83 on 1980 Kenworth W900A light rebuild thread thread about air ride steer suspension. And thought it best to stop hijacking for my own needs.

In the pursuit to air spring the back of the cab which is still in the making, I found Stengel Brothers. Which to my snooping appears well priced with a web site that shows all that one needs.

Kenworth - Air Glide 130 (Peterbilt Front Air Leaf®) Front Air Suspension



Using the site I've crossed referenced the shock to match Koni 90-2883. They are a 70mm dia large capacity oil filled shock that matches extension, compression, with a little more travel with the 20x 60mm eye mounts required, designed for trucks and busses, and rebound tunable for the perfectionist. I prefer oil as its a smoother action to gas and this ol 100 is going to need as much loving as it can get. Just hope the 70mm fits as the OE is 60mm dia.

I'll find out today but pretty sure my hangers are the same, though will need moving to accommodate the air spring. It measurers 1540 I believe and my OE set backs are 1626, so should grant me space for a single bag, and no moving air driers etc.

My dilemma is AG130 does not exist in Australia, so needs engineering and plates so we are all safetied up. The most direct and cheapest path is just go the 4 bag set up. Engineered by KW so carries a lot of pre determined factors. My liking is a single bag that Peterbilt use (I think) that matches my AG100 rears for simplicity, however requires new bag and shock mounts which is not that hard, but may also attract a heap of costly Qs from the certifier that need answering, testing, and proving perhaps. I can't find a Peterbilt kit or parts that aren't on the hot rod side of things. Lowers, 4 shocks, double convoluted bags etc. So think a 13,200lb 4 bag will be it. Of course I spoke to a cowboy recently who said I bought the truck with it on. But he also doesn't register or insure his trucks, so loose is his middle name.

 

Please, that would be great. I also just noticed in the catalog the upper bag mounts are not listed, or if so there are 1000s. Would they be better custom or know of anything that may take a 7.1" bag.

 

Oldman, I see they don't have listing for the upper spring mounts. Is that a custom thing or do you know of a 7.1" bracket. The data base has 1000s, perhaps its a Q for the retailer.

 

Had a snoop around the suspension yesterday, it looks as if the Australian K100 has a large 4 bolt plate for the rear hanger. So guess that negates any chassis cracking. But does raise a question why is it an upgrade on the upgraded pictured 1 above.




Still its looking like not much if anything has to move. I was a bit concerned the leading eye of the 1.5 pack may not fit due to the larger spring. Still not 100% but think it will, not much room for with a lager but can always make it fit haha.


Have my order ready but waiting on Engineer whether he is happy with 2 or 4 bag. I see the 4 bag spec has 19" of travel, which I presume is to accommodate full HP or braking on full lock. Where are in observation the 13" bag 9422 does not have a much lateral stability, or droop, but when a truck gets bogged on concrete in a drive way, does one need that much of everything. I can't seem to find much on single bag that is OE or Peterbilt I understand. If anyone has something official that can help the cause that would be great. The single bag is a good deal cheaper and bags cross reference with the rear so easy for a bot of redundancy.