Kenworth

[Truck Shop]

Strictly Kenworth built trucks.
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[92U 3406]

I always thought it was funny when people thought Ford going to aluminum bodies and Ram coming out with air ride suspension was some sort of revolutionary development in vehicle technology.

Meanwhile it was done 50+ years before then on commercial trucks.

 

[Truck Shop]

I always thought it was funny when people thought Ford going to aluminum bodies and Ram coming out with air ride suspension was some sort of revolutionary development in vehicle technology.

Meanwhile it was done 50+ years before then on commercial trucks.

Much of today and tomorrow is a twist of yesterday, just computerized and covered in plastic
marketed as a new idea.

 

[Truck Shop]

Todays design departments, key boards, monitors, mass computers, cubical office space.
Nothing like the blueprint tables, calipers, T-squares, slide rules used years ago.

 

[Truck Shop]

I met a design engineer that worked for Kenworth from 1937 to 1977. He was walking his
dog along the street by my brothers house, my brother introduced me to him. And he invited
me down to his house where there was a large den. With shelves of old copies of his designs/
blueprints plus scads of Kenworth intercompany awards plus all kinds of marketing posters.
He worked the oil field division of design. Interesting fellow to say the least, that was in the
80's.

 

[JaredV]

When I was a kid in the early '90s, the school district was still running a couple of KW buses with some sort of gas engine that would vapor lock. If it happened, it was always on the same part of the route so we'd stop in front of the church and shut er down for a few minutes. I've always wondered what the engine was, maybe Hall Scott? I still bump into the driver but never think to ask if he knows.

 

[Truck Shop]

The simple days of wiring.
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[Truck Shop]

Basic Westinghouse air brake schematic.
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[Truck Shop]

 

[mekanik]

I replaced this ammeter under warranty on a early 1980's Kenworth because the needle was not centred. Its been in my tool box for over 40 years. There are two 1/4" fine thread studs on the back. One post had heavy wire with the power from the breaker in the battery box connected the other post had a cable from the alternator a heavy wire to the ignition switch and another heavy wire that fed power to the battery breakers in the dash. Not a great design.

 

[Truck Shop]

I replaced this ammeter under warranty on a early 1980's Kenworth because the needle was not centred. Its been in my tool box for over 40 years. There are two 1/4" fine thread studs on the back. One post had heavy wire with the power from the breaker in the battery box connected the other post had a cable from the alternator a heavy wire to the ignition switch and another heavy wire that fed power to the battery breakers in the dash. Not a great design.

That was standard issue wiring for amp gauges. I've never liked amp gauges, volt meters are
simple, reliable, and way less heavy wire. But years ago the theory was using amp gauges
was the way to go.

 

[Truck Shop]

Bus in top photo is a rare bus to find these days, I know of one, and there's one restored, powered by a pancake Cummins.

 

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[Truck Shop]

It's not hard to see where the idea for center stanchion for AG100 8 bag air ride suspension
came from in second photo up.