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.