XT caught up with Daryl Croft, driver and the man responsible for the setup of this fine looking Superliner at a recent event at Pukekohe. Daryl drives for his Dad's company - Wayne Croft Transport which is based in Whangarei. Daryl kindly parked it up and we asked him a few questions about the history and specs of it.
DC: It's been a truck I've wanted from the day I first seen it in LCL's colours. I had always said we would end up with it one day. A few things that really make it different is that its got late model diffs, suspension and gearbox as well as 10 stud alloys all from a late mate CH Mack which Angus Lochore (LCL) put in when he owned it. We brought the truck in March of 2008 off a guy called Wayne Ball a O/D for NZL who only owned it for 3 months and no disrespect to Angus I think that Wayne soon found out it wasn't the sort of truck to be working the arse off if you weren't prepared to spend a fair bit of coin on it to get up to scratch. So as luck would have it my Kenworth had just sold so it was good timing.
It then spent 3 months being stripped down all the doors were taken off freed up and lined up properly as they would drop over an inch when ya opened them, the dash was completely stuffed and only holding together with glue space invader and wood screws. The whole dash was replaced and all the dash panels were refurbished. Every gauge was put back to the original type and 90% off the truck was rewired then once the truck was looking straight inside I added the chrome bezels and billet alloy toggles and steering wheel which is for a '57 Chev. I have just sourced two brand new genuine door cards which weren't fitted at the show, together with the hood lining which are also new.
Moving to the outside, put in new cab ride air valves to get the cab sitting right and hours were spent getting bonnet lined up straight. All the wiring on mirrors has been run through the brackets to give it a clean look. This is carried through to the stainless battery box covers which are strapless. Removing the bug deflector and not getting carried away with marker lights and accessories the theme was carried on by changing the fuel tanks to stepped out new ones and smooth steps full wrapped muffler shrouds and the 8" stacks, were all done by Chris Stanley a.k.a. hotrodpete.
The whole rear end of the truck I made from scratch myself and was inspired by trucks from the States with low mounted lite bars and guard mounts. As for the engine it had a few oil leaks which have been fixed. Engine also has been repainted and given a good ol' tidy up. It's only done a couple hundred kms on a full rebuild so it should have plenty of life still left in her. On a whole I've spent a lot of time in, on and under this truck and for some strange reason I still love it.
Have to mention a big thanks to Chris Stanley and my bro Corey for their help. Those guys really helped get things together big-time. As for future changes, a polished wood floor and some nice leather low base seats and the fibreglass front guard flares will be the only obvious ones.
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