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Got my new toy home today. It's a 1980 LN 9000 single axle cab/chassis truck. It has the remains of a ramp deck on it, but it's of no use to me, so it's scrap metal. The cab will be getting sent to the scrappers, and a FTE member will be down to get the hood, fender extensions, and fuel tanks from me. The engine is a Detroit 6-71, that appears to have lower miles than the truck as it is clean enough to eat off of in a few places. It has a Roadranger 9 speed, with a compound low range. A pair of aluminum 22.5" wheels up front, with steel inners, aluminum outers 20s out back. The rear diff is a single speed 5.29 on springs, and it will be making way for the big 3.73 on air leaf Pete axle I have. The front spring hangers are toast, as is typical on these trucks, so I will be putting the matching Pete front end under it. This truck is the perfect base for my 53-55 Big Job project, that has been escaping me for the last several years. GRRRRRR. As most of you know, it was on a 1974 LNT 8000 frame, with Caterpillar 1160, and 5x4 spicer trannies, but the entire thing was a mess, since the Cat was junk internally (found out when I was replacing the rear main seal), and the main trans was down first gear. The rears were well worn, and on a ready to die "walking beam" suspension. So, this will be a major step up for a 53-55 Big Job repower. I've opted against a crew cab build, and have decided on a custom sleeper cab on the single axle tractor frame. The LN 9000 smoked a bit at first, but once it got some warmth to it, the smoke went away, and it ran flawlessly. I had a trucker friend drive it home for me, since I hadn't had enough time to play with it, and feel comfortable driving it the 40 miles home. I was right behind him, and the whole thing sounded great going down the highway, especially when he descended a couple hills, and let the "Jakes" control his down hill speed. This thing is gonna be BITCHIN!!!!!!.
