Mack CH 613

good truck early models had a lot of MH parts in them Fiber glass doors, and same dash, later models had all steel cab, and is same truck as a vision

 

I drove a 95 and a 96. Were not the most comfortable but they were well built and very reliable. Ive driven 350s, 400s, 427s, and 460s. The 460 ran nice and pulled very well. The rest were turds. The 350 you expect to be slow but the 400 and 427 were sad. The mack trannys are tough as nails but the roadrangers seem to shift a little nicer. The mack rears are not my favorite. They all leak were the third member or "chunk" set down in. We have had several rears go bad prematurely. Watch out for the models with out the power divider lock out switch. The automatic power divider will do one thing. Automaticly get you stuck when you need it. They are good trucks. Take a beating off road well and are fairly easy to work on. Parts supply can be a problem. Mack dealers are usually smaller and it always seem like the dont stock as many parts as other dealers do. Sometimes need to wait a day or two for parts. Over time rust on the cab and doors can be a problem. Early models have fiber glass outer skins on the doors but the inside are all steel. Over all a good work truck. I wouldn't want to drive one cross country my self but I know it can be done. Maby the later versions are better for that. The last one we had was a 99 and it was the same as th 95 ad 96 I drove.

 

Been driving an 01 CH for four years now, never left me stranded once. Its got the E7-427 with a ten speed, so it is very gutless, especially with the 100,000lbs that I pull with it. We also have a couple that are turned up to 460 or 480, can't remember, but they easily compete with any 500hp engine, totally different animal than stock. In the time I've been driving it, I've had two brake chambers go, a pinion seal, and the head gasket started leaking a little in the air compressor, so the entire thing was replaced because apparently you can't get just head gaskets for those anymore. Like the above poster said, they don't ride great, and the stock seats aren't very comfortable, but other than that, they are VERY reliable, unlike those 04-06 Visions we have now which literally have problems with something or another every week, I'm glad I get to keep my CH! My CH outlasted a round of Volvos, and now the Visions, so I have the best truck in our fleet.

 

What year CH do you drive? How many miles? It seems any Mack with the AC series engines are junk. The paper clip trick works perfect, as long as the engine doesn't actually have low oil pressure, lol!

 

is your truck with V-Mack EDC?

 

If the jake works you got oil pressure. If not shut it down fast.

 

I'm sure you have the E7 if its a 98, usually it'll say "E7-427" or whatever hp you have right on each side of the truck, if not it will be on the plate on the valve cover. I know on the Volvos it says right on the drivers door jamb sticker/plate, but I'm not sure if its there or not on the Macks, if I wasn't laid off I could look for ya...

So you've got the nasty old style black plastic dash and guages, I don't really care for that interior on the CH, but at least the guages, their backlighting, and the heater controls all worked well and were reliable unlike the interior they came out with in 2000 or so.