1976 Kenworth A900

[f.boyle]

I'm thinking I might either restore this truc or scale it to fit my dodge. But I want to know about the late model Cummins 903 under the hood . It has about 70K on it as a tractor the guy who had it in 98 still ran it over the road but got stopped by dot and didn't want to put the $$ in to it to fix all the little stuff. i know the early 903's had problems with the heads, but they were fixed in the late models. It has a 10spd eaton roadranger, rockwell 38's

I can think of more if you have questions.

chainsaw

 

[Philip]

Don't worry about running it hard. It will hold up. A place I used to work at had 20ea 1976 day cab KW's with 903's and 10 spd's. These trucks were pounded on every day during the week. They ran short haul 125 miles trips. Some times two trips a day. We had very few problems with the 903's. Most of them had 500k miles or so. The injection pumps were about the only major item that had been done on them.



Is the one your looking at a turbo model 903?



Does that KW have the alum frame under it?



Does that KW have the torision bar suspension under it?

 

[bgilbert]

Wheres a pic? i wanna see!! Does it have a football field length extended hood??? Those are sweet. . Bill

 

[f.boyle]

yes looooong hood yes alum frame yes turbo!!!! duuuh no turbo not for me!!! I believe it does have the torsion bar. any leads on a radiator??daycab even!! black with yellow flames ohhh so sweet!!!!

chainsaw

 

[Philip]

I was hoping for your sake it didn't have the torsion bar setup.



I would keep my eyes open and do some measuring. Find a used air ride cutoff rear section. Then swap it in. The torsion setup works nice when you are carrying a full load. But empty or light loaded you will get pounded. Also with the age it most likely needs all new bushings and the bars built up to fit the bushings.



I'll explain a little better. The torsion bar is machined on the end for a hard phenolic bushing. As the bushing wears it also wears the torsion bar. So the bar will need welded up and machined back to spec's.



Myself I would swap in a air ride rear setup and enjoy the ride.

 

[f.boyle]

what a bout a cab over freight with a 400 big cam?? and wet system? I have to get them running again and take the vins to the apropriate dealer and get stock specs. I like the kw the best but a lot less work on the freight. and it has a sleeper + and - to both I intend to be loaded other wise whats the point? and I really dont worry about ride it can't be much wors than the dodge.

chainsaw

 

[bmoeller]

My boss used to have a '85 KW K100E cab over. His neighbor used to have a CO Freightshaker. Both had air ride and Big Cams. 400hp in the KW, don't know on the FL. Of the 2, the FL rode MUCH better than the KW. The KW otherwise was a much better truck.



Some FL had positive grounding electrical systems up to the early '80, from what I was told. Some also had (as this FL had) air assist steering. Not hydraulic power steering. As long as there are no air leaks, it works fine.



With exception to the ride quality of the KW (or the lack there of) and being a pain to climb into, I sure miss the old girl.

 

[Philip]

it can't be much worse than the dodge

LOL If you are loaded most of the time the torision setup rides pretty good. If you are empty it rides worse.



The KW with the torision setup will ride better than that cabover Freightshaker. On the Freightshaker check the floor boards. They were bad about cracking with high milage. Mostly around the brake pedal area. The KW conv cab wasn't noted for that.



The freightshaker conv cabs had the same problem on the floors to.

 

[f.boyle]

I have access to a 70 cab over kw no engine or trans but alum frame air sus. dual 150 gal aluminum tanks, i can get more info if an one is interested. same on the other 2 not sure of wich one I want. I'll probly go up to his house this weekend and check them out more in depth and do the vin thing so I know exactly what I'm looking at and can price parts.

chainsaw

 

[Philip]

That 70 cab over KW would make a good donor. Everything from it would be a close to bolt on swap to the conven cab 76.

 

[f.boyle]

yep the doors, fuel tanks, air sus, etc. but if your going to restore a 76 KW I'd keep it original. mo$ but oh the bragging rights and the head turniing on I-40:--) probly cause an accident:-laf . I'm gonna have to waight though cause I'm moving to AZ and my trailer will be loaded with my house so no rooom for KW this trip may be I can find one out there?! hope so

chainsaw

 

[Philip]

on I-40

Last time I was on I40 you needed air ride.

 

[f.boyle]

is I-40 that bad??? I'm on it for a bout 300 miles from illinois to az come may, june. I'm moving to az