I started working as a mechanic apprentice at Mack in 1978. The 864 & 865 had longevity issues but they were BEASTS. Great sound and a truckload (pun intended) of torque.
I remember hearing the V8 would break too soon on average. I worked in the ready mix business ( retired now) and we were mostly Mack for years. The few V8 tractors we had hauling stone in dump trailers could eat up a hill jack. Cummins and Detroit didn't have it like the Mack V8. But the longevity thing apparently was more likely than not so they faded from the highways. For 2, 3, 400 thousand miles if you drive one you were king of the hills with a heavy load. Man they had the torque!!!!
Our company had a 3 cab over V-8's with 5 speeds. I never got to drive them. They were always have problems with anti-freeze boil overs or leaks and it was real hard on wheel seals in the rear axles. Apparently the torque from the motor would literally twist the entire axle shaft under a load. They lasted about 2 years and then the boss got rid of them because of the constant repairs.
@@cidertom5140 It says right in the video description that it's a five speed with compound low, which is referred to as a six speed. Not only that, but do you see him splitting any gears? Lol
Owned one for about 10 years, always thought it was missing but it wasn’t. Even pulled the heads off to see if there was a problem but nope. Loved that truck. Mine was 5 speed but shifted the same just no low range. Most dependable truck I ever owned.
Dammit!!! It sounds just like the old Scanias (142/143). They do share the same block but the rest is different. If i remember correctly Mack and Scania we're working together during that time. The E9 and DC16 are also the same block. Sadly the E9 was killed after Volvo found out they we're trying to revive it. Imagine if Mack still had a v8 in today's rigs.
Didn't even have to look into the description to know it was a Maxidyne...that gold paint and it's most orgasmicly pleasing sound to the ear can only be done by a Mack Maxidyne. Not to mention I love me my R700s (not the Western built RS ones but Eastern built ones from my home state of PA). I'd take that beauty over anything with a Jimmy in it or a Peterebuilt/Kenworthless.
I drove a body job like this in the late 70's . Guys would laugh when they head me grabbing gears in reverse!! Thanks for the amazing talent you share!
Very nice to see a guy shift so effortlessly. So many driving videos out there and most just jammin every gear and not even knowing it. Love the R-700’s. My dad had an 81 with a 300+ and the air shift version of that transmission. Great truck.
Back in the 80’s I worked for a company that rebuilt and repaired diesel fuel pumps, injectors, and turbo chargers. I worked on several of those Mack pumps and injectors. They were some well built and heavy duty pieces of equipment that were as tuff as they came!
Great to see a fellow r700 v8 6 speed still running down the road, im planning on straight piping my 865 here soon, glad to see videos of the original v8 macks instead of the flood of larger 440 amd 500 and e9s
I've always thought the American trucks especially the vintage of a R700 Mack has great character, given the chance if I ever visited the States I would love to have a go in driving a classic as in this video, just to hear such a gorgeous burble coming out of that V8, a Fantastic upload, great to see a Superb truck on the road doing a brilliant job :-D
wow...started up minty. 14 liter, kinda rare. Usually they are the 16 liter 998's. There is one sitting at "Jim Bob's hauling" in Geraldton ontario. Super good V-8 sound, great vidya there Bud ! ! !
Glad to see you are following your passion, few people get to do what they truly enjoy for a living. Keep grabin those gears man... you need a wookie bobble head on the dash ;)
Learned to drive on a Mack 237 with a 5 speed, no power steering. The old adage: If you can drive a Mack 5 speed, you can drive anything still applied. In 36 years I went from 237's to super Sixes, 300+'s, 350's, 400's and 450's. All inline 6's with 10 and 13 speeds. My ultimate ride was a 300+ mated with a 5 speed and a 3 position air shifter and a hand shift creeper gear. That would go up the hills with ease. The transmission was perfect for travelling in the Hills of northern Pennsylvania. All spring suspension on a long wheelbase. It had a really good Bostrom air seat that made the ride livable. Mack stopped making the transmission because of the cost.
As Macks go this isn't that old as it is a Maxidyne with a triple countershaft five speed T107 transmission. I drove the older Thermodyne series with a 72 series transmission with two shaft so it had move double stick shifting. Drove that back in the later 60's before college and after college worked as an engineer in the Mack Powertrain plant building the Maxidyne and related geared products.
I love that sound, reminds me of my old 1995 F250 with the 7.3 Powerstroke when i straight piped it. Boy do I miss that thing. But really nice looking old bulldog, What year is it?
Thing is though, by owning 2 of my own trucks. I always used the clutch because they're cheaper to replace than trannys when you're paying the bill. If used right you can't hurt em. After years of floating, they whine, howl, jump out of gear and with damaged synchro's. They'll no longer shift correctly even if you tried. Saw guys use bungee cords to hold em high gear.
There was one of these V8's at the boulder hole in a DM 800 rock truck and till 'driver' let the oil get low and it spun a bearing. SWEET engine till then.
Because you said it's a pretty rare motor does that also mean Parts are not readily available for it, Though Mack or Websites... And/Or Do MACK even still support parts for this engine? I've always been a fan of these but my true love is for the Mack DM models... I would love one with a Detroit & Steel Dash. P.s Sounds like a Predecessor to the E9!
