The blue colored lemon

[SpreadAxle]

Here is my present truck. 2002 KW t600B with a 400HP(not enough for the 45 to 48000 I usually haul in mountainous areas)Cummins ISX, 13 spd, 3.55 rears, and the 72" sleeper. Plans include an enclosed headache rack, dual exhaust, the rest of the guages, an a REAL/PROPER genuine Cummins overhaul and horsepower increase, and customization of the sleeper. For now, I call the truck Mis-behavin'. I like it, but in 5 months, it's cost me a lot. I'm so glad my girlfriend is patient, she's put up with the bad moods this truck creates. Kw's are my favorite, but this one hasn't lived up to the T600s I drove years ago. I wanted a w9( My favorite truck), but finding one with a cummins is HARD!!! And this one weighs less. When you do find one, it goes quicker than a factory sealed KW challenge Mixer on eBay with a BUYITNOW of $5( There's an imaginary critter, huh? lol). If you want pix of the ISX in detail, let me know. Also, the 2006 Utility I'm leasing will be detail photographed for reference. Not enough modern day trailers in kit form in my opinion. It shouldn't be 2 hard of a scratchbuild, but still taking measurements for right now. I want the photos to be helpful. Also, will take closeups of the hood and sideskirts, as the AMT t600 kit represents a pre 1995 hood. I believe that's the year that KW put the turn signals in at the rear of the front fenders. measurements will be enclosed.

Thanks for looking

[Old Albion]

Ray,

Great to see some photo's of your truck. Stumbled across this KW on Ebay. For a second hand truck and in an auction its a bit pricey?? Still great looking truck though. Some times your better off with the "Devil you know" What sort of price would a new truck cost like this one on E-bay?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1999-KENWOR...1QQcmdZViewItem

Anyways thanks for sharing the photo's with us.

Best Wishes

Dave Bates

[SpreadAxle]

Considering all that's been done to it, the price isn't too horrible. nice tractor there. Of course, I love anything with an N14. As of OCT 2002, no more N14s have beeen made. :cry: Shame, because the basic design of that engine proved itself for decades. The older Cummins engines( like in the AMT kits) used the same 855 cid block same basic heads as the N14. The N14 was Air to air aftercooled and electronically controlled, but minus some very small things, no different than an NTC 350, or NTC 400, or 444 or any of their popular older models. All good things come to an end I guess. I like the ISX, but I need to turn this one up. Not much, uh, you know, guts. Thanks for looking though. This truck is my mobile work bench. lol. Almost all items on the passenger side of the sleeper relate to building model trucks. I will have those pix for reference soon. AMT's kit represents an 1990-1994 model.

[SpreadAxle]

as to a new truck like this one, hard to say as far as price. It's at $120,000 USD at a dealership brand new now. not sure about evilbay though

[SpreadAxle]

Due to warranty issues, this truck has officially been down for 3 weeks again. The wrong turbo was installed last time, a new valve cam has been installed now, and the cylinder head has suffered some damage. That is what happens when the warranty allows the job to be done only half right. It's being resolved, but feet are being dragged. A new replacement head is on its way, then I can get back to work. It's been a dillemma, but things are going better. I should be back to work any day now. I know some have followed along with me as I waited. Thanks to all who wished me well. 8)

[Old Albion]

Ray,

3 weeks is a long period of downtime for any machine, truck or whatever. When you're on your own it hurts your business more so because its your only way to earn a living. On a good note though maybe it wont need the money spending on it to turn it up?? Perhaps the performance was down because of the problems you highlighted. At least you got some great work done on the Autocar.

Either ways, Good Luck and take life easy.

[SpreadAxle]

I feel like I have the best guys working on my truck while I'm here. I've been staying away from the dealer except to get little reports because it is stressful. Thankfully, the truck is pretty much my only expense, so it actually doesn't hurt me too much. Not like it would a lot of operators with mortgages, children, car payments, etc. Kenworth will not let the warranty company bully them into performing 1/2 finished work, whereas other dealers wouldn't care less. Less than proper work is why I'm here now. The final phase of the battle is underway. It needs a new cylinder head due to small cracks that could get worse. Kenworth's been trying to make sure I get a new head, instead of having to reuse the old one. I know one thing, NEVER purchase a warranty from NTP! Live and learn, right? Thanks for the encouragement, Dave. I'm not giving up.