Info. On 96 Ford L8000 With A Cummins 8.3 And P-7100

[RHestand]

I need a truck to move out of CA to WI and was going to rent a 26' Penske when I happened on to a pretty good deal on above mentioned truck here locally. It has a six speed trans. , P. S. , air brakes, A. C. , Air Ride seats, radio, a 22' refrig. box, 366K miles and seems to be in very good shape. I haven't driven it yet (Lic. not current) but the engine sounds good and the current owner said it drives great. I'll be driving it as soon as we can get new tags.

These are the questions I'm hoping you guys can help me with:

1. Aside from obvious stuff like, howling trans. or rear-end gears, clutch slippage, etc. , what should I be looking for.

2. I ran the VIN #s on Carfax and it showed it had the correct miles, no bad wrecks, etc. , but I couldn't get any info. on engine H. P. /Torque, Trans. (O. Drive?) rear-end ratio? Is there anywhere I can pull up a build sheet using the VIN #?

Anyway what I would like to do is use this truck to get my stuff to WI, then if I can't find anything to do with it, and it's getting in my way, I'll sell it.

Any help/advice will be much appreciated,

Ray

 

[HBarlow]

Copy the data off the engine data plate and post it here or pm MWilson (Mike). He'll have the full description for you in minutes. He can probably do the same for the VIN and truck equipment.

 

[Bob4x4]

You have a CDL ? You need one due to trucks GVW (airbrakes)

 

[mwilson]

I need a truck to move out of CA to WI and was going to rent a 26' Penske when I happened on to a pretty good deal on above mentioned truck here locally. It has a six speed trans. , P. S. , air brakes, A. C. , Air Ride seats, radio, a 22' refrig. box, 366K miles and seems to be in very good shape. I haven't driven it yet (Lic. not current) but the engine sounds good and the current owner said it drives great. I'll be driving it as soon as we can get new tags.

These are the questions I'm hoping you guys can help me with:

1. Aside from obvious stuff like, howling trans. or rear-end gears, clutch slippage, etc. , what should I be looking for.

2. I ran the VIN #s on Carfax and it showed it had the correct miles, no bad wrecks, etc. , but I couldn't get any info. on engine H. P. /Torque, Trans. (O. Drive?) rear-end ratio? Is there anywhere I can pull up a build sheet using the VIN #?

Anyway what I would like to do is use this truck to get my stuff to WI, then if I can't find anything to do with it, and it's getting in my way, I'll sell it.

Any help/advice will be much appreciated,

Ray

Ray,



Happy to help, please pm or e-mail the last 8 of the truck's vin.



Do you have an air brake endorsement on your license???



Edit... Bob just asked the very same thing at the same time.....



Mike.

 

[mwilson]

If it is an Eaton 6206A transmission or similar one thing to check for is complete gear engagement.



They are syncro trannys but drivers would hurry the shifts, force the shift lever into gear and bend the shift forks.



Mike.

 

[HBarlow]

I don't think he'll need a CDL if he's only going to haul his own personal (not for sale) household items. Some states will expect him to have a non-commercial Class A or B Operators License with an air brake endorsement but I don't know how seriously that is enforced unless he is inspected at a scale or comes to the attention of DOT for some other reason. I have one but have never been checked.

If the old truck still has someone's business name and phone numbers on the box or truck doors he'll probably have to cross the scales to avoid being chased down and then he could be inspected.

 

[RHestand]

mwilson, you have a PM.
Thanks guys for your responses.
Yes I do have a current CDL. I'm lic. for everything except haz-mat.
HBarlow, The last time I rented a Penske Truck (not knowing??) I stopped at the first CA scale I came to in Gilroy, they pulled me in for an inspection (Slow day?). While writing me a ticket for a loose u-bolt nut holding the 26' box to the frame, they said I would be required to stop at all scales going cross country. Since the stop in Gilroy cost me over an hour, I decided I would take my chances for the rest of the trip. I drove the rest of the way not stopping at any, with no problem. It did make me watch my mirrors for a while, every time I passed one.
So what are the laws about having to stop, if you're driving a (Two ton?) single rear axle privately owned truck, hauling my own personal household stuff? My thinking is they might be letting rental trucks slide, but maybe with the older private trucks, they might hold them to the letter of the law?
Also, can anyone give me an approx. location of the engine data plate?
As side note, according to what I've found on the internet with my VIN #, my GVWR is 26001 - 33000 lbs. Would that be considered a two ton truck?
TIA, Ray

 

[NIsaacs]

The engine tag will be on the left front area of the engine, probably on the front gear case. The drivers door might have your actual gvw, I would guess it is closer to 33k than 26k, maybe a 2. 5-3 ton truck.



Nick

 

[HBarlow]

mwilson, you have a PM.
Thanks guys for your responses.
Yes I do have a current CDL. I'm lic. for everything except haz-mat.
HBarlow, The last time I rented a Penske Truck (not knowing??) I stopped at the first CA scale I came to in Gilroy, they pulled me in for an inspection (Slow day?). While writing me a ticket for a loose u-bolt nut holding the 26' box to the frame, they said I would be required to stop at all scales going cross country. Since the stop in Gilroy cost me over an hour, I decided I would take my chances for the rest of the trip. I drove the rest of the way not stopping at any, with no problem. It did make me watch my mirrors for a while, every time I passed one.
So what are the laws about having to stop, if you're driving a (Two ton?) single rear axle privately owned truck, hauling my own personal household stuff? My thinking is they might be letting rental trucks slide, but maybe with the older private trucks, they might hold them to the letter of the law?
Also, can anyone give me an approx. location of the engine data plate?
As side note, according to what I've found on the internet with my VIN #, my GVWR is 26001 - 33000 lbs. Would that be considered a two ton truck?
TIA, Ray

Ray,

Under USDOT regulations a private individual operating a motor vehicle not for hire is not required to comply with commercial DOT requirements. That means you are not required to stop at all scales, keep a log book, comply with commercial hours of driving limits, or have a CDL. The phrase "For Hire" means you are not transporting goods belonging to others for compensation or transporting goods belonging to you for sale or for profit.

Now, having said that, individual states have different laws and signs posted at their scales and enforce the laws differently. Some states have signs stating "All Trucks" but mean only large commercial trucks must stop at scales. Some have signs stating "All Trucks Over xxxxx Pounds" but don't mean RVs. Standards for actual enforcement may vary regardless of what their signs say. If you are a commercial hauler you get to know what they mean or what you can get by with and what you can't from experience. Some DOT LEOs are not aware that a large and complicated world exists outside of their crappy little states so they think everyone should be born knowing what they meant.

I once stopped at a KA scale up in the Siskayoos when I was driving a dually with DOT signs on the doors towing a trailer for hire and was yelled at and told to never drive on their scales again! Other states I knew the signs stated I was required to stop but always sailed past them anyway because I knew they wouldn't chase me down. Go figure!

If you are driving a box truck that belongs to you personally, not your transportation company, hauling your own household goods and are completely clean ie no contraband, no weapons in the truck in a state that is anti-gun, no potential violations, you can choose to stop at all scales to see if they'll wave you through or simply blow on by and see if they chase you down. It's a judgement call.

If it were me and I knew I was legal and not worried about attracting attention unnecessarily I would probably ignore them and drive past their scales. It might be wise to stop at the first scale you encounter in each state you cross and ask politely what they expect. Almost all the DOT LEOs I met were just ordinary guys doing a job. If you are respectful to them they're usually friendly and helpful. They'll tell you what their state wants you to do.

 

[mwilson]

Ray,



Typing with one hand so forgive any errors...



Can not pull up ESN, get me all 17 digits of VIN and I can get at it through Cummins.



Tran is Eaton/Fuller FS6306A.



Rear Axle is a Meritor 20,000lb unit. Model RR20145. Ratio is 4. 33.



Looking for a ratio / speed chart, will post again once I find it.



Mike.

 

[NIsaacs]

Ray,



Tran is Eaton/Fuller FS6306A.



Rear Axle Ratio is 4. 33.



Looking for a ratio / speed chart, will post again once I find it.



Mike.

I think the "A" box is direct drive, if so, 4. 33 will be on the slow side even with big tires. That transmission is also on the light duty side, so the Cummins will also be low powered. Maybe around 210/605-250/660. Just guessing



Nick

 

[mwilson]

Go to this link..... http://www.roadranger.com/ecm/groups/public/@pub/@eaton/@roadranger/documents/content/ct_062746.swf



Enter transmission final drive ratio (1-1 in this case, 6th is direct)



Enter tire size



Enter RPM (for example 2000 rpm)



Hit "Calculate"



When chart appears go down the left until you come to "4. 33"



The road speed will be to the right.

 

[mwilson]

Trans Ratio Chart... .



go to "roadranger.com", hit the "customer support tab" top center.



When you see this screen select "ratio chart" on the right under "tools you can use" and a spreadsheet will load. Pick the 6-speed tab at the bottom and find the FS-6306A. That will show the ratio for each forward gear.

Mike.

 

[Bob4x4]

I am pretty sure the law does not care if a truck is for hire or not. 26001 gvw means cdl and scales

 

[RHestand]

More Questions

MWilson, You have another PM.

Thanks again for all the help guys.

Bob 4x4: I'll have make a trip to the local DMV for new lic. anyway, so I'll see if I can get some hand-outs with more answers about D-Lic and scales, etc.

Questions:

1. Doing the calcs. with a 11R-22. 5 tire and 4. 33 gear @ 2000 RPM I'm going down the road at 55. 6 MPH. Looking at 2200 =61. 2 MPH. I was hoping for somewhere around 65 MPH cruise, but it looks like that's not going to happen. What would be your guess for a good cruise RPM for this engine? What ever it is, I'll just deal with it. At this point in my life, I've got more time than money.

2. Also, I'll be changing all the fluids and filters before I leave, starting with engine oil. RPM Dello-15W40? How many quarts? Trans. and diff. 80/90 wt? And how much approx?

3. Is there a good owners manual available for this truck?

TIA, Ray

 

[NIsaacs]

Eaton recommends in this order.



(1) HD 50 wt. synthetic transmission fluid



(2) HD 50 wt. synthetic engine oil



(3) HD 50 wt. regular engine oil



No clue on the rear axle or capacities, Mike will know.



Nick

 

[Bob4x4]

When I was running a fleet I converted all the rigs to synthetics for the gear boxes. Even with the company drivers never lost any gear boxes just clutches and axle shafts due to abuse

 

[HBarlow]

A quick look via google shows peak torque of the 8. 3 begins at 1300 rpm and the engine is rpm limited at 2500 rpm. An efficient cruise rpm is probably around 1600 - 1800 rpm but you'd be backing traffic up all the way back to the point where you get on the interstate at that road speed. I would imagine you can run it at 2200 rpm all day without hurting it any.

 

[mwilson]

ESN is 45226528. Looks like 225 hp.



Spec sheet... .