We're restoring a 1988 Mack R688ST, and we're going to document the whole thing. This is Part 1 of an ongoing series — starting with the history behind the truck and why we decided to take it on. Future posts will cover the purchase, the drive home, the initial work, and everything that comes after as the project unfolds.
Why a Mack R Model?
My grandad owned R model dump trucks back in the 60s and 70s. He ran a grading business, and those Macks were the backbone of the operation. I grew up hearing about them, and the look of an R model Mack has stuck with me ever since — that long hood, the stance, the no-nonsense presence on the road.
But it's more than just the look. What draws me to the R model is how purely mechanical it is. No electronics. No computers managing the engine or transmission. Everything runs on rods, cables, and air lines. When something needs attention, you can see it, touch it, and fix it with hand tools and common sense. There's something deeply satisfying about a truck that works that way — and something worth preserving about machines built in that era.
Heavy Equipment Runs in the Family
I've always been drawn to heavy equipment. It's just in the blood. The family farm has accumulated quite a collection over the years — tractors, implements, trailers, the kind of iron that earns its keep and tells a story at the same time. Taking on a truck like this fits naturally into that world. It's not a departure from what we do — it's an extension of it.
The Truck: Chassis #20578
The truck is a 1988 Mack R688ST, chassis number 20578. It was part of a batch of 69 chassis ordered by Kenan Transport back in 1987. We're the third owner, and we picked it up on March 11, 2025 out of Greensboro, North Carolina. I'll save the details of that purchase for Part 2 — there's a story there worth telling on its own.
Already Earning Its Keep
This truck is not a garage queen. We didn't buy it to park it under a cover and admire it on weekends. Since we brought it home, it's already been put to work — moving tractors to farm shows, hauling a 48,000 lb excavator, and handling the kind of jobs that remind you what these trucks were built to do.
The plan is to restore it over time while keeping it usable. There's no timeline pressure and no rush to make it a show truck overnight. We'll work through it piece by piece, fixing what needs fixing, replacing what needs replacing, and improving things along the way — all while the truck stays in service.
The Plan From Here
This is the first post in what will be a multi-part series. Here's what's coming:
- Part 2: The Purchase — How we found the truck and what it took to make the deal happen.
- Part 3: The Drive Home — Getting a nearly 40-year-old Mack from Greensboro, NC back to South Carolina.
- Part 4: Initial Work — The first round of fixes and improvements after getting it home.
- And beyond — Follow along as the project continues.
This truck has already lived two lives. We're going to give it a third.
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