Cabover Freightliner info for special project.

[SpreadAxle]

A project I'm researching will be somewhat challenging, but the only pic I can reference is really small. It's actually an ad in Wheels of Time(ATHS) and was the inspiration for this idea. It was a black and white pic that I've tried enlarging, but it gets blurry when I do that. It's a 1976 Freightliner cabover with the sleeper above the cab, and a drom box. It was in like the Nov/Dec 1995 Wheels of time and was for sale with a moving van. It was an Allied Van lines truck. This was such a unique truck that I just have to try it. I've seen Freightliners with above cab sleepers, but they were all from the 40's/50's. I have two ebay cabs designated for the project, and I have an idea of what's involved.

Thankfully, the sleeper on AMT's freightliners is actually an insert, so I can cut it down for above the cab. Just looking to see if anyone can guide me to some decent pix that show the front and side of the cab. I will be doing my truck pretty much like this one. It had a 6v92 Detroit Diesel engine and like a 7'drom box. Appeared to have weedburner exhaust, but pic is so small I cant tell, hard to get details from it. Going to do it in 1970's Allied colors. If anyone has pix, or can guide me to them(been looking at Hanks when I have time) could you help me out?

Also, was the frontal intake that comes in the kit used on Detroit engines? Never saw this setup in person. When I worked on trucks the ones I saw had the intake stack like all the other cabovers. Considering how long the truck is, although frame is short behind the drom, makes sense to use the kit setup. Anyway, thanks for your help. I will post in progress pix soon, although you will more than likely see the drom box first. Still working the details on paper right now.

[Old Albion]

Ray,

Sorry I cant help you! But the project sounds great. I like the idea of building a scale replica of a real truck to show people how things were.

Great Idea!! Good luck!

[BIGTRUCK]

I do remember a 1:1 freightliner in the late 70s called ''double bingo'' and it was an allied van lines tractor, it had two small windows in the front of the above sleeper....

[scummy]

G-day Ray , I think the truck your looking for is on , Hank's Truck Picture's under the file of -Larry Choates truck picture's . I tried to copy and paste it but couldnt , my comp would'nt do it for me . I hope this helps , cheer's .

[SpreadAxle]

I will check that pic out. As for Double Bingo, not sure if this truck had a name, but I know it was a 76, and the guy had it since new. It was repainted in the color scheme like your trailer when it was for sale. Interesting note about the trailer, according to the ad, this moving van was extendable, from 40 to something like 48/50 ft. Again, thanks for all the input everyone.

[SpreadAxle]

Although this one has a different drom box, as this one drops down to cover the tanks. At least I can clearly more details in this pic because they are in color. As for the extendable moving van I mentioned in last reply, I think it was an 80's model trailer, I just can't remember who makes it. I'm just going to go with the Trailmobile I have rather than the extendable, so this really shows what I am trying to do. 8) This is much better than the two tiny black and whites I have. BigTruck, go look at this pic, is this what double bingo looked like?

[BIGTRUCK]

Thats not the one I remember Ray...

the one I seen had two circle style windows up front...and a more up-dated AVL paint scheme...I do remember some after-market company making a conversion for 1:1 trucks in the late 70s early 80s for a roof style sleeper...the other was a full roof aerodyne style conversion for any cabover truck....although the '76 cabover KW was seen with this from the factory it was odd to see a GMC Astro or IH 4070 'A' with this option...

[SpreadAxle]

This is better than the pic I copied last night. Thanks for enlarging it. Now I can really see the details. This is the look I am going for. Perfect. And I have seen the aerodyne conversion kits on a handful of trucks. mostly Freightliner and International trucks. I maybe saw 1 or 2 Astros with it. thanks again for the bigger copy of the pic.

[SpreadAxle]

I notice that this truck has stacks, at least for the exhaust. the truck I saw didnt, but I will be doing this truck instead. It's the same truck as far as I'm concerned. I prefer stacks anyway. I drove weedburners for 4 years and that was the only thing I hated about my boss's trucks. Otherwise, his T600s were nice trucks. I will be doing my best to copy this truck. Maybe not the same moving and storage co., but this is exactly what it will be. Including this style drom box. I can't wait to get home and pick up my Freightliner kits so I can get started. I've been buying eBay junker cabs 4 this purpose. Getting the cab worked up shouldn't be too difficult. It will definately take 2. Just need to figure out the intake setup, but it will have the 6V92 like the one I originally saw. All that's with me is the drom box, and the engine. So I will probably start on that over the next few days.

Stay cool. 8) I'm in New Braunfels(San Antonio), Tx 2day and summer's already here.

[BIGTRUCK]

Ray I think it will be a great idea for a different build..if you need any photos of a Allied trailer...I'll be happy to shoot some at work.....

[mackinac359]

This Allied Van Lines Freightliner Condo with Drom would certainly be a cool build! The trailer looks similar to the AMT Trailmobile Moving Van but with shorter doors. The shorter doors would make for easier placement of the decals.

Cool idea!

Tim

[SpreadAxle]

Tim, you're right about the doors. I didn't even notice til you said that. Decal placement would be easier. The rear of the trailer doesn't seem to be as long behind the wheels as the kit. I wonder if this is less than 40'.

Big Truck, I certainly appreciate the offer. I will take you up on it, but I will need to learn how to make decals on my computer, as I have no clue, and I'm sure they all have the newer paint scheme and markings. I have the Testors setup, but everyone tells me it was a waste of money. Although I would like to scratchbuild a newer moving van. Thanks to both of you. I knew this project would be a hit. now I'm really excited. I'm examining my engine as I type this.

[SpreadAxle]

I have a few pieces of info passed along to me about the truck pictured. There is a Cummins engine under that cab Laying sideways. Exhaust side up.Also, it has the Freightliner "Spacesaver Floor", which I assume is more flat. Just trying to find out how the driver gets up to go to bed. I stopped by the house this weekend and picked up the two eBay junkers that will be used in this truck's construction. They are the Pabst Blue Ribbon Freightliner, and a freightliner SD. Anyone with interior pix they can share would be appreciated. looking for any shots at all really. there is another individual building this same truck, and I hope to see his progress, but we both are looking for more info. This Freightliner is hard to find info about. :x but that's ok. I like a challenge. This will be an off and on project for now, as info is limited to this pic, and a couple of pix of a Willamette Valley Freight lines truck that I have in black and white.

[SpreadAxle]

I will post some pix this evening. I cut my sleeper down, and I've been trying to figure out the best way to remove the cab roof. Whoever built the Pabst Blue Ribbon Freightliner I'm using has really taught me what a glue bomb is. One word:WOW!!!!! That, and some REALLY thick paint to strip. the SD cab was done by someone else. It's black, but much better. It too is an ebay junker that was disassembled when I got it. I'm sorry there's not much to report right now. this one will require some homework, so it will be awhile before we really see progress with this one. I will be working the cab. the next step is to figure out the Cummins engine and how it's supprted. It's laying sideways under the drom box, not the cab like I said before. Just to be different, I may go with my original plan of doing it as a Mayflower van(hey, green's my favorite color). I'm not sure if the other builder wants to be revealed, but I hope he has luck with his project, but I know he does first rate work, so it will look good.This is my first slice/dice/totally change the cab kind of project.

this is the Cummins engine on its side. I will pass any info i get as I'm sure others have kicked this idea around as well.

[Old Albion]

Ray,

From the research that has been done so far this looks like a fantastic project. That flat cummins is an unusual concept. Its amazing the ideas that people had to get around the loading and length gauges. I wish you well with it and look forward to seeing photo's, as and when you get around to making a start. :wink:

[SpreadAxle]

I've been so distracted with my KW that I forgot to post a pic or 2 of the cabs. All I have done so far is cut down the sleeper. Just above the side compartment door, all the way around. In other words, the top half. I'm just making drawings, and matching sections right now. It's one of those "take a break from the other two" projects at the moment.