DRIPTROIT 71

I started this project with the intention of building it box stock except for the wheels. The company that my dad worked for in the early 80's rented one of these for a couple of weeks and I'm hoping to build a similar one. I didn't realize the changes to the Cruiseliner from 75 to 81 until I started this project. My goal is to build a well worn rental truck. Here's the engine. I started it before I realized that I was going to make this one an 80 model. If I had known, I would have probably painted it grey. IMG_6992 by Brian Smith, on Flickr IMG_6990 by Brian Smith, on Flickr IMG_6989 by Brian Smith, on Flickr The 77 and newer models had filler panels beside the headlight. I made some by cutting the corners out of an old cab. IMG_7017 by Brian Smith, on Flickr The paint turned out so good that I almost hated to spray dull on it, but a daily rental wouldn't be super shiny. Today was a very shaky day for me. The trim around the vents didn't turn out as good as I would have liked it to. I added some finger prints in common areas. IMG_7073 by Brian Smith, on Flickr IMG_7072 by Brian Smith, on Flickr IMG_7077 by Brian Smith, on Flickr

Very nice looking dump!! Great work!!

Very Nice!!

I'm not familiar with that set up, but geometrically speaking, I think that if you remove the end with the extra bars and mount the end of the springs to the trailer frame, leaving the tip of that rear beam attached to the spring and fabricating some brackets to make it appear to pivot like the end of most springs, and I believe that it would represent one that would function. I'm not sure what the suspension would have been in that era on that trailer, but I'm pretty sure with your fabricating skills that you can pull something off with what you have.

I'm really liking this build! Everything about it is cool! Detroit power, Auxiliary trans, and a Louisville cab, with a GMC sleeper to boot. Great start on a great project! By the way Auslowe has some great Ford tanks (Rectangle with the battery box on top), but it takes about 6 weeks to get them. The quality is very nice though.

Looks good from here!

KJ, you are most definitely the resident cabover KW expert. You certainly have a way of bring them to life. I've been admiring this one. It looks AWESOME!!! The weathering is spot on!!! Excellent Work!!

Looks Great!! Do you give a 1 year unlimited mileage warranty with your engines?

I like the Mack camel back tandem conversion, especially since this is a log truck. I saw a KW W900 in Overdrive Magazine once that pulled a dump that had been converted to Mack axles. Great work!!

Thanks Kevin! I'm going with the later run with the high mount turn signals. For some reason I just like the grill without the emblem better, then I saw that KJ was offering one without the emblem. That's what started this ball rolling. Not to mention I'm pretty sure the truck I'm replicating was a later model.

I'll be getting one of these. I always liked this truck. I've only had one and sold it before I ever built it. I thought that I had quit building. I wasn't building when it was re-released, so I missed it then. Looking forward to this one.

Very nice!! The paint job is perfect! Great work!!

Looks Great! Very nice work!

Thanks for the picture Greg! I've got some old Clint Freeman 2 hole Budds for this project. I personally have never been a big fan of the AMT 10 hole split rims anyway.

Looks great! Great work!

I apologize for not responding sooner Anthony. Thank you for your input. I've actually been trying to research and find some solid evidence regarding a recall and the year differences. I actually looked through I think every article at Hank's that mentioned a Cruiseliner. After researching truck brochures, trucks for sale, old magazines including overdrive, truck websites, etc, here is what I've discovered for sure: 75-76 Have recessed lights like the kit with low mount turn signals. Every subject that I found had the emblem in the grill. 77-79 have filler panels beside the headlights with turn signals mounted in the front of the cab. It appears that the later versions lost the grill emblem. 80-81 have the filler panel with high mounted outboard turn signals. I did not find an example with an emblem in the grill. 82 was the year of the grill change as well a a slight change in the dash. Trucks with the filler panels have headlights that are not as recessed as the 75-76 versions. There may have been a D.O.T. recall, but if I can pull it off, I'm going to try to make an 80 model. Since the truck I'm trying to replicate was rented in 83-84 it was probably around an 80 model, because I'm pretty sure that it didn't have an emblem in the grill and it did have outboard turn signals on it. Thanks to everyone who commented! I think I'm heading in the right direction now.

Thanks for the help guys! For those who were wondering the difference. Here is the 75/76 style like the AMT kit. Every one that I find has the emblem in the grill 1976 Mack cruiseliner by Ken Gilkeson, on Flickr This is the 77 style. Notice the difference around the headlights. Also notice that the turn signal are in the front of the cab. 1979 Mack Cruiseliner by Ken Gilkeson, on Flickr I have also seen this second style with turn signals mounted high on the side of the cab.

You have really done a great job detailing that Driptroit, I mean Detroit.

I just looked at mine. It only has the top loader rear ends. The directions only show one set of rear ends too. I saw the two on Ebay that show Hendrickson style suspension. They seem to be later releases than mine. I do have a copy of the directions from the Construction version and it only shows the old style too. You may contact the seller for some better photos to see if the other set up is in the box.

Looks great so far!

Looks Great!!

Thanks Dave! That's what got this started. I planned to use one, but I'm not sure if I want to change the headlights. I plan to use one of his grills.

Thanks for the kind words! Thanks so much JT! Odd trucks seem to be my thing. I planning something a little more common next though.

Very nice looking! Excellent work! Your paint work is awesome!

Very nice fabrication work!!