glider kit
 

has anyone built a glider kit? can you buy them from pete or freightliner or are the dealer only items? does kenworth make a glider kit?

I've heard the term used on XM radio- the Kevin Rutherford- Business Trucking and Beyond show--- Freighliner & KW I believe were the two dealers talked about with that "kit" as a option for improving fuel mileage & improved aerodynamics....hence "gliding"...


so much for that B.S.-- that's not what a glider kit is at all-- don't see what rebuilding an entire truck from salvaged trucks have anything to do with gliding.... wouldn't think that would be a dealer endeavor..

Thats why I like you headborg, you always provide such good information. :lol: :lol:

Any dealer will sell you a glider, or any portion of a truck you wish to tackle. With or without rears etc. I have never and will never even consider building a glider but might consider buying one already put together as I believe you can avoid a big chunk of the FET. But I would want to make sure it had one heck of a good warranty.

yeah, rub it in....rub it in...but you know -- Kevin on XM is also a big believer in Turbo3000 too----
at least I didn't try to "edit" that out-----to cover for obvious ignorance.

hey, maybe instead of calling it a "glider kit" they could call it the:
"honey, Maybe I should have had a mechanic install that Power Inverter" kit

A glider kit is ordered as a part from the dealer, you can spec it any way you want, with or without any components, engine trans rears etc.

A glider kit will have a "G" after the serial number and cannot be sold without anyone knowing what it is.

Because a glider is a special order it requires a hefty up front cash deposit, and there is NO financing on a glider, because it is sold as a part, it has to be paid in full.

A friend of mine and my self did a Pete in 2000, it came with the rears, we put in the engine and trans, etc, I cant remember the exact cost, burt he was in it for around $80,000 when it was done, in 2000 he could have bought new for around $100,000 and got a warranty, the glider had NO warranty, except on the rears which because the are rebuilds and not new was one year, unlimited miles.

thanks for the info, the reason I ask about them is we just got back our 97 379 that was involved in an accident 3 1/2 yrs ago and although the tractor is pretty messed up I'm pretty sure the motor, trans and rears are still usable with 500,000 miles on them. my other thought was that by building the glider kit with a 97 c-15 you could have a 2008 truck with an older motor without all the emission crap on it. or does the gov make you have a emmission compliant engine in a truck thats titled 2008?

Pretty sure they don't care. I have seen a few 08' trucks on truckpaper that are gliders with new motors already installed. I think it might be some kind of work around FET as well but don't quote me.

I knew of one company by me that up until 5 or 6 years ago they assembled there own glider kits. They reused suspensions from wrecked or burned trucks and trucks they put together 10 years ago are still around and running. They sometimes bought rebuilt engines or transmissions depending on what they needed to make the truck complete. They even drilled the holes in the frame rails to fit whatever suspension they were putting under it. Meaning sometimes they had a Pete suspension under an International truck.

yeah, sounds like a good way to keep Shop personnel busy on those ---slow days.