Your build is looking great. Extremely realistic. The cushions are really cool. This is going to be a really nice Brass Era fire truck. I wonder if your cushion idea will work on the 1/16 Kenworth W900. Hmmm.
The basic model is an early 1970s (like a 1973 or so), but with a different engine & a few cosmetic changes (square headlights, different grill) it can be made into just about any LN8000 through the 1990s.
Yes, the T600 kit has a lot of issues; mostly because the engine & frame are from a 1970s W900.
You did a good job with the kit, and it's perfect for October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month). Think Pink! Hey! You could call it the "Pink Panther".
Oh, and a Luberfiner is an oil filter. That style of oil filter system generally wasn't used on trucks in the 1990s (which is what the T600 is supposed to be).
For Cat Yellow, you can use Equipment Yellow sold at most hardware stores, although for the year of the truck & engine, Ford Dark Blue would be "more appropriate". Yes, you'll need to strip the chrome from the engine parts.