Just to confirm the models Sitec, the A means all wheel drive. A proper factory A will always have hub reduction on all axles. The second letter refers to a chassis built for a particular purpose; an AK being an all wheel drive tipper chassis, AS a tractor unit, AB concrete mixer, AF fire engine the list goes on, Iif there is no second letter then it was built as a standard haulage chassis. The new red chassis cab in your pic doesn’t appear to have a rear tipping hinge and a tapered chassis end so I think it’s a 1831A rather than an AK.
The V 400 series engines came in 3 bore (120, 128 and 130mm) and 2 stroke (125 and 142mm) lengths at different times as well as 6, 8 and 10 cylinders. I shan’t bore you, me and everybody else with the full list, but if you really want it send me a pm.
EPS as you have realised divides the crowd, however I will say that in general, and it’s a rule with many exceptions, those who drove them only very occasionally tend not to like them, those who drove them regularly tend to be more positive. The later ones on the Merc box were better than the early ones fitted to the ZF. In the UK EPS was standard right from its first introduction in 1985 with no option for several years, later MBUK did relent and offered a manual version as an option, in Europe EPS was always an optional extra. In Oz I know at least some had Fuller boxes fitted, that was a local option not available in the UK since the mid 80s. Interestingly when the 1628 was introduced in 1980 it was offered in the UK with a 13 speed Fuller as an option, it was dropped 3 years later because in that time they had sold the grand total of one! Another Oz only option was an Eaton double drive back end instead of the hub reduction, this was only for single trailer highway use.
Hope that this has been useful, drop me a pm if I’ve missed anything, good luck with the trip.
acd1202:
Just to confirm the models Sitec, the A means all wheel drive. A proper factory A will always have hub reduction on all axles. The second letter refers to a chassis built for a particular purpose; an AK being an all wheel drive tipper chassis, AS a tractor unit, AB concrete mixer, AF fire engine the list goes on, Iif there is no second letter then it was built as a standard haulage chassis. The new red chassis cab in your pic doesn’t appear to have a rear tipping hinge and a tapered chassis end so I think it’s a 1831A rather than an AK.
The V 400 series engines came in 3 bore (120, 128 and 130mm) and 2 stroke (125 and 142mm) lengths at different times as well as 6, 8 and 10 cylinders. I shan’t bore you, me and everybody else with the full list, but if you really want it send me a pm.
EPS as you have realised divides the crowd, however I will say that in general, and it’s a rule with many exceptions, those who drove them only very occasionally tend not to like them, those who drove them regularly tend to be more positive. The later ones on the Merc box were better than the early ones fitted to the ZF. In the UK EPS was standard right from its first introduction in 1985 with no option for several years, later MBUK did relent and offered a manual version as an option, in Europe EPS was always an optional extra. In Oz I know at least some had Fuller boxes fitted, that was a local option not available in the UK since the mid 80s. Interestingly when the 1628 was introduced in 1980 it was offered in the UK with a 13 speed Fuller as an option, it was dropped 3 years later because in that time they had sold the grand total of one! Another Oz only option was an Eaton double drive back end instead of the hub reduction, this was only for single trailer highway use.
Hope that this has been useful, drop me a pm if I’ve missed anything, good luck with the trip.
Excellent. Please continue. These details are the cream of the forum.
Thanks acd1202. That does help! I’d wrongly assumed that AK’s were 4x4’s but thinking about most have a K… Heavy Klass etc! Re the selected truck, I’m in a dilemma here as I have three avenues to go down… 1) Buy a locally sourced Aussie delivered $20000 500000km 2435 6x4 tipper/bulker with the V8, Road Ranger (not ideal, and not wife friendly), and double bogey drive (hub reduction) and swap the bogey for a single on steel, add a transfer case and front axle (sourced locally… Already found), and go from there… or 2) Buy a factory built 1831A with 8 speed Merc box, (pictured below)… V6 (not my favourite), correct chassis length, hub reduction front and rear, but LHD… Currently in Germany, (ship out here and convert to RHD)… or 3) Buy a £10000 ex UK 1735 V8, EPS, with a long chassis and sleeper cab, then ship it over, shorten the chassis, shift the rear axle, and fit a Transfercase and front axle… So, no option is ideal, but in the very unlikely chance I find a sleeper cabbed 1735A V8 with an EPS box and a chassis suitable to take an 18’ box, sat on hub reduction axles with the correct transfer box, firstly it would be listed for very silly money, and secondly… Well, they were never here in the first place! Logic tells me to buy the factory LHD, then all the chassis numbers tie in with what it is when I inevitably break down in the middle of whoop whoop! The next best option I guess would be UK V8 EPS truck which would only req a front axle and Transfercase… Thoughts please!!! And thanks again for sharing the Merc lettering and numbering!
Sitec:
Thanks acd1202. That does help! I’d wrongly assumed that AK’s were 4x4’s but thinking about most have a K… Heavy Klass etc! Re the selected truck, I’m in a dilemma here as I have three avenues to go down… 1) Buy a locally sourced Aussie delivered $20000 500000km 2435 6x4 tipper/bulker with the V8, Road Ranger (not ideal, and not wife friendly), and double bogey drive (hub reduction) and swap the bogey for a single on steel, add a transfer case and front axle (sourced locally… Already found), and go from there… or 2) Buy a factory built 1831A with 8 speed Merc box, (pictured below)… V6 (not my favourite), correct chassis length, hub reduction front and rear, but LHD… Currently in Germany, (ship out here and convert to RHD)… or 3) Buy a £10000 ex UK 1735 V8, EPS, with a long chassis and sleeper cab, then ship it over, shorten the chassis, shift the rear axle, and fit a Transfercase and front axle… So, no option is ideal, but in the very unlikely chance I find a sleeper cabbed 1735A V8 with an EPS box and a chassis suitable to take an 18’ box, sat on hub reduction axles with the correct transfer box, firstly it would be listed for very silly money, and secondly… Well, they were never here in the first place! Logic tells me to buy the factory LHD, then all the chassis numbers tie in with what it is when I inevitably break down in the middle of whoop whoop! The next best option I guess would be UK V8 EPS truck which would only req a front axle and Transfercase… Thoughts please!!! And thanks again for sharing the Merc lettering and numbering!
I agree with your conclusion. I know the 31 is a V6 but it is the later type with the offset crank so it doesn’t run like its missing 4 cylinders; it is flexible and more economical especially at the weights you will run.
If you can find a UK spec 1735 great, one of the best versions of the 400 series engines but they all went off to Africa years ago, also the live front axle will almost certainly be a different ratio to the original rear. All the UK 35s were quite tall geared, the last of them from 92 were even taller I seem to recall 70mph at 1600rpm, there is no way that an axle for an on/off vehicle would be geared anywhere near that.
I like the sound of 1700rpm at 70mph!! The axle casings are all very similar tho, so I’m guessing a rear ring and pinion could be fitted to an older front axle… Hmmmm food for thought… Sorry everyone else for getting off track here… Should prob start a thread elsewhere. Mods, feel free to tell me if that’s the case! Anyhow, have had long chats with customs today re importing 90’s era trucks… Seems there is a way around it with a manufacturer sourced “Letter of compliance” stating that my ‘euro sourced’ V8 Powerliner is built to the same std as an Aussie equivalent of the same era… I think it’d be above and beyond!! Watch this space… as I’m talking to lots of people in lots of padded boxes over here… none of whom have the ability to talk to the person in the different dept next door!! Oh joy!!
Sitec:
I like the sound of 1700rpm at 70mph!! The axle casings are all very similar tho, so I’m guessing a rear ring and pinion could be fitted to an older front axle… Hmmmm food for thought… Sorry everyone else for getting off track here… Should prob start a thread elsewhere. Mods, feel free to tell me if that’s the case! Anyhow, have had long chats with customs today re importing 90’s era trucks… Seems there is a way around it with a manufacturer sourced “Letter of compliance” stating that my ‘euro sourced’ V8 Powerliner is built to the same std as an Aussie equivalent of the same era… I think it’d be above and beyond!! Watch this space… as I’m talking to lots of people in lots of padded boxes over here… none of whom have the ability to talk to the person in the different dept next door!! Oh joy!!
Hi all,
Some great sk and ng info emerging on here at the moment.i don’t mean to pour cold water over things,though based on my experience of asking mercs homalgamation dept. for a letter of compliance.the manufacturer told me (3 weeks later) that they will not supply any of these documents for ANY vehicle they built before euro6! The legislators are trying their damdest to stop private individuals importing vehicles these days.it can be a real minefield,whole vehicle type approval legislation has changed things dramatically,sorry.
Regards andrew.
They seem to make it that hard, that I’m even looking into buyin a truck and shipping it over in bits… and letting it assume the identity of an old V series here! I’m yet to get a straight answer from anyone, even by going thru the right channels! And they wonder why people run things they shouldn’t on the roads!
pete 359:
hi all,
back in january 2015 i flew to munich with a mate and bought this 1996 eurocab 1853.new to an operator in italy,later sold to a german operator,unusually fitted from new with a manual 16 speed zf merc gearbox.paintwork will be complete this coming week and after u.k. registration and mot,i look forward to attending events with her.
Congratualitions!
That Merc looks like it’s in good original condition.
The paintwork on the cab looks really good, please show more pictures after you’ve finished the renovation.
I not sure if I read it on trucknet but did a company buy the tooling for the sk merc cant remember if Chinese I ordered panels for an sk 12 weeks ago and they still haven’t arrived up to today at our local merc dealer
sammy dog:
I not sure if I read it on trucknet but did a company buy the tooling for the sk merc cant remember if Chinese I ordered panels for an sk 12 weeks ago and they still haven’t arrived up to today at our local merc dealer
Hi Martin, keep chasing euro,s they are terrible we always having trouble with them or you will be waiting a long time cheers
hi all,
this green 1625 ng was seen at gaydon in june.one of several ng and sk’s at that event.the black sk 44 i saw at waterford in may along with a good friend of mines very rare v10 1632 ng cattle box wagon and drag along side his 1844 sk .
regards andrew.
