Not sure if this is the best forum to be posting this on but figured out of the options listed this is probably the nearest in relevance…
I’m looking at buying an early 80s Kenworth K100 with a GM 8V92 from the States to keep as a show / hobby truck.
Was just wondering if anyone had any experience with dealers, parts, maintenance etc over here in England and how difficult or not it is running a Detroit in the UK…? Also wondering whether I might run into problems with emissions levels given the oil and smoke that the old GMs spew out…
If anyone has any experience of this at all I’d much appreciate you sharing with me a bit of what you know…
Thanks Sir. That is a brilliant thread and I’ve been through it a few times over the last 6 months or so. Still can’t get over the number of Kennys that have graced the UK roads over the years given I’ve never come across one apart from at shows. Looked through the thread again just now but can’t really find anything on the situation with how it is running Detroits here though.
pork_chop:
Was just wondering if anyone had any experience with dealers, parts, maintenance etc over here in England and how difficult or not it is running a Detroit in the UK…? Also wondering whether I might run into problems with emissions levels given the oil and smoke that the old GMs spew out…
If anyone has any experience of this at all I’d much appreciate you sharing with me a bit of what you know…
Thanks,
Dan
Not sure of your location, but I used to work for the parent company (Turner & Co) of this lot Central Diesel they are a DD agent. If your nearer to Glasgow then Turner Diesel should be able to help, though they are now known as Turner EPS.
The old Brit Lorries were running on American Engines and it shall be no Problem with the elderly Mechanics.
Try avoiding the new who just find with a Laptop which Part to exchange.
You will need to do some changes on Brake and Light,and,going to MOT Centre.They also can answer some of your Question.
And,think that you would seat on the wrong Site if you buy the Unit in America.
Not sure if this is the best forum to be posting this on but figured out of the options listed this is probably the nearest in relevance…
I’m looking at buying an early 80s Kenworth K100 with a GM 8V92 from the States to keep as a show / hobby truck.
Was just wondering if anyone had any experience with dealers, parts, maintenance etc over here in England and how difficult or not it is running a Detroit in the UK…? Also wondering whether I might run into problems with emissions levels given the oil and smoke that the old GMs spew out…
If anyone has any experience of this at all I’d much appreciate you sharing with me a bit of what you know…
Thanks,
Dan
Ah, the old Detroit 8V92! great engine but as you say, quite smokey. But if you’re looking for an 80s K100 Kenworth, especially for use as a purely show truck, surely it would be classed as “vintage” and be exempt from a lot of the environmental and emissions regulations?
And given the Dollar/Pound exchange rate, I reckon you’d be able to get spare parts pretty easily. Fitting those parts and repairing a damaged or even old engine might be more of a problem. That said, I guarantee you’ll find a specialist mechanic, and if you’re lucky, he’ll be a show goer too!
Don’t just look at the States. There were plenty of K100’s in Australia, although the snub nosed SAR became more and more popular in the early 80s. Engine power was pretty equally split between ■■■■■■■ and Detroit. Oh, if you’re going for a Detroit engine, make sure you get one fitted with a Jacobs brake - hours of fun and bucket loads of noise complaints, but what a sound!
Thanks Colingl. Just looking at their website Central Diesel look like they might be worth talking to. Noticed they are ■■■■■■■ with Allison who I’ve heard are an agent for DD so will see…
Colingl:
pork_chop:
Was just wondering if anyone had any experience with dealers, parts, maintenance etc over here in England and how difficult or not it is running a Detroit in the UK…? Also wondering whether I might run into problems with emissions levels given the oil and smoke that the old GMs spew out…
If anyone has any experience of this at all I’d much appreciate you sharing with me a bit of what you know…
Thanks,
Dan
Not sure of your location, but I used to work for the parent company (Turner & Co) of this lot Central Diesel they are a DD agent. If your nearer to Glasgow then Turner Diesel should be able to help, though they are now known as Turner EPS.
You must be from the same school as me East Anglian… Couldn’t agree more with you on the Jake brake especially on a GM… I’m thinking the same as you re the exemption for emissions, just need to get confirmation of it as I’d be stuffed otherwise. Being an Aussie myself I’d also already looked for some trucks back home, in particular the SAR which is a great rig and gets my blood pumping and neck prickling almost as much as the K100. Only probs with sourcing from Oz is (i) the Aussie dollar has gotten so strong it is a killer buying anything there, and (ii) the shipping from there is likely to be twice as much as from the States.
EastAnglianTrucker:
pork_chop:
Hi all,
Not sure if this is the best forum to be posting this on but figured out of the options listed this is probably the nearest in relevance…
I’m looking at buying an early 80s Kenworth K100 with a GM 8V92 from the States to keep as a show / hobby truck.
Was just wondering if anyone had any experience with dealers, parts, maintenance etc over here in England and how difficult or not it is running a Detroit in the UK…? Also wondering whether I might run into problems with emissions levels given the oil and smoke that the old GMs spew out…
If anyone has any experience of this at all I’d much appreciate you sharing with me a bit of what you know…
Thanks,
Dan
Ah, the old Detroit 8V92! great engine but as you say, quite smokey. But if you’re looking for an 80s K100 Kenworth, especially for use as a purely show truck, surely it would be classed as “vintage” and be exempt from a lot of the environmental and emissions regulations?
And given the Dollar/Pound exchange rate, I reckon you’d be able to get spare parts pretty easily. Fitting those parts and repairing a damaged or even old engine might be more of a problem. That said, I guarantee you’ll find a specialist mechanic, and if you’re lucky, he’ll be a show goer too!
Don’t just look at the States. There were plenty of K100’s in Australia, although the snub nosed SAR became more and more popular in the early 80s. Engine power was pretty equally split between ■■■■■■■ and Detroit. Oh, if you’re going for a Detroit engine, make sure you get one fitted with a Jacobs brake - hours of fun and bucket loads of noise complaints, but what a sound!
A classic of it’s type, with exactly the engine you’re looking for. A bit pricey at $Aus 60,000, (which is about £38,500) but in fantastic nick. Probably already a show truck, and from the Albury/Wodonga area. The only thing I’d want if I was doing what you’re looking to do, is get the torsion bar suspension!
Good luck with your search and let us know how you get on!
She’s a proper beauty aint she. Love the spider rims… If I end up getting a US truck I’ll be looking into changing the 12 slotters over to spiders. It wouldn’t surprise me if she’s still a working truck that one, you’d be amazed how many sparkling rigs from the late 70s and 80s are still working back there. We’ve always taken real tender care of our equipment at home, usually at the expense of all other things…
Not wrong, bloody pricey though. I noticed that with all the trucks I looked at in Oz. They’re asking probably 50% more for them than what you’d pay for the exact same thing in the States (even taking into account the exchange rate). Could probably ship over, put spiders on and convert the American truck to RHD and still come out ahead…
Will let you know how goes…
EastAnglianTrucker:
I take your point pork_chop but hey, look what I’ve found you.
A classic of it’s type, with exactly the engine you’re looking for. A bit pricey at $Aus 60,000, (which is about £38,500) but in fantastic nick. Probably already a show truck, and from the Albury/Wodonga area. The only thing I’d want if I was doing what you’re looking to do, is get the torsion bar suspension!
Good luck with your search and let us know how you get on!
You may be right about it possibly still being a working truck pork, although it would be a waste to take it up an down the Hume too many times in my opinion.
I must admit, after I converted the Aus$60,000 into approximately £38,500 I did dream for a few minutes about how much it would cost to get it over here. Especially as it’s RHD. I’d estimate about £5000, although not sure how much of it would be missing by the time it got to Felixstowe.
I’m guessing you could actually insure and tax it quite cheaply, and if you didn’t use it for hire and reward you might not need an operators license or a CPC? Which is a pity, cos it would help cover the costs if you could do a few short trips for money. Imagine turning up at a Tesco RDC with that!
Anyone any ideas about running a “vintage” truck for hire and reward?
The other problem is that it might become a tea-leaf target once here! But [zb]ing stunning truck in anybody’s money!
P.S. I just noticed it’s got a 4.1 final drive, so it’s going to zip along pretty fast! (None of your limited to 50mph with that baby!)
Yeah from the conversations and the research I’ve done insurance and tax aren’t bad and there’s no need to MOT. I’ve talked to some of the blokes around the truck shows and truck races and some of the ones who are just doing it for a hobby or just pulling trailers with the racing trucks on floats behind them have a little sticker saying not for hire or reward on them so they can get around the CPC. And def no need for operators licence.
From what I understand you can’t do for hire or reward with the pre 90s trucks unless you are pulling a float / low loader or using it as a recovery truck. I could have that wrong but that’s what I’ve heard. But yeah, imagine how many heads you’d turn at the docks with it if you could just pull the odd container or pan behind every now and then…
So what’s a tea-leaf target?
EastAnglianTrucker:
You may be right about it possibly still being a working truck pork, although it would be a waste to take it up an down the Hume too many times in my opinion.
I must admit, after I converted the Aus$60,000 into approximately £38,500 I did dream for a few minutes about how much it would cost to get it over here. Especially as it’s RHD. I’d estimate about £5000, although not sure how much of it would be missing by the time it got to Felixstowe.
I’m guessing you could actually insure and tax it quite cheaply, and if you didn’t use it for hire and reward you might not need an operators license or a CPC? Which is a pity, cos it would help cover the costs if you could do a few short trips for money. Imagine turning up at a Tesco RDC with that!
Anyone any ideas about running a “vintage” truck for hire and reward?
The other problem is that it might become a tea-leaf target once here! But [zb]ing stunning truck in anybody’s money!
P.S. I just noticed it’s got a 4.1 final drive, so it’s going to zip along pretty fast! (None of your limited to 50mph with that baby!)
I remember all those years ago when I dreamed of American trucks What a total spaz I must have been, because haveing lived here in the US for almost 12 years and driven about every type and model I now know what rubbish they all are. I would be happy to do things the other way round and ship a Scania over here.
However … since you seem keen on the idea of lumbering yourself with a useless pile of trouble and expence, Detroit build engines in the UK too, Motherwell and Wellingborough are plants that spring to mind.
Mate of mine on Hangartners got a KW demonstrator with ■■■■■■■ & made money . He bought a KW with DD & went broke. It kept on breaking down & it was hard to find a qualified mechanic.
What age truck are you thinking of pork? As I understand it any vehicle manufactured before 1973 is exempt from road tax, but not sure if that applies to HGVs as well.
I also hear understand that any vehicle over 7.5 tonnes (may be 3.5 tonnes) has not got to be fitted with a tachograph. And I heard the exact opposite about the need for an operators licence… I haven’t seriously looked into it, but you’ve got me thinking may be I should.
Pat Hasler:
I remember all those years ago when I dreamed of American trucks What a total spaz I must have been, because haveing lived here in the US for almost 12 years and driven about every type and model I now know what rubbish they all are. I would be happy to do things the other way round and ship a Scania over here.
However … since you seem keen on the idea of lumbering yourself with a useless pile of trouble and expence, Detroit build engines in the UK too, Motherwell and Wellingborough are plants that spring to mind.
Well you may be right Pat, but as an exhibition/hobby vehicle US trucks are the same as any vintage vehicle… It’s when you try to run them commercially, in a country where there are few facilities and even fewer people who understand what to do with a US truck, that the problems start.
I seem to recall Detroit Diesels were prone to throwing cylinder liners, and high bore wear… which was one of the reasons why they tend to smoke quite a lot. But you know, my experience of US trucks in Oz is that they’re no more unreliable than Euro trucks. And conditions were very harsh… In fact Macks were almost a tradition in the logging business in Tassie and Victoria…
