1980 Peterbilt 359 Restoration | 3408 Cat Engine | 336 " Wheelbase | 5X4

[@SmartTrucking]

Hey there Big Strappers. So glad you've dropped by to check out today's vid! You'll find a nice little surprise in this video (and more in upcoming videos!) Let us know how you liked this vid! Keep on trucking' drivers. Stay safe and stay healthy.

[@2ndgenshedmover]

Smart Trucking great video really cool to see it all come together 😎

[@iBackshift]

Ooooooh thats a beauty. I could hear the angels sing when that Cat was polished. When i was 19 I got to drive a 70's pete with a 3408 w/a 13 spd for about a 1/4 mile. haha. I grew up on 5x4's old Binder gas jobs. Then got my AZ license with an R600 Schmack w2 sticks.

[@kevinlesch9656]

I sometimes wonder if Dave is actually "the lettuce king"???? Conspiracy theory!

[@hammerslammer3006]

🤫🤫🤫

[@SmartTrucking]

Nope Kevin, I promise you, it isn't me! Cathy caught us on tape shooting the breeze one time, she may play it in an upcoming video, I'm not sure!

[@mattberg916]

I asked this a bit ago. No reply. I really think until proof surfaces we must interpret denial as PROOF! Lol.

[@SuperHigear]

Smart Trucking : I'm looking forward to you making that conversation a reality!

[@johnm6642]

Could be. You notice you never see Dave or the lettuce King same place during a video for a picture is being shown repeat the same person

[@davidkatz9014]

Smart trucking is becoming one of my favorite channels and I'm not a trucker. Science and Philosophy are now#2 & #3 .

[@SmartTrucking]

Thanks David!

[@maxpuppy96]

@@SmartTrucking It is a great channel old school owner operator, he could probably write 3 books.

[@pheleant]

David, it's an amazing industry, and we wouldn't imagine doing anything else. It's great to see your words!

[@davidsteele1667]

Lettuce King has some real talent. And the trucks...from a bygone era. I don’t think we’ll see people doing these kind of project trucks with 2020 year model trucks in 40 years. I was born too late.

[@mole646]

Nice! I learned 2 sticks growing up in the logging industry! The R-Model Mack 2 sticks are still in use for logging here in Mississippi!

[@erica-lillycrider1088]

R model Mack trucks are one of my favorite trucks along with Mack Super liner and long nose Peterbuilt

[@nickd.4512]

Used to run an r model dump. Something about shifting 5 times while just in reverse i loved

[@pheleant]

@@nickd.4512 Definately.

[@carlwilliams8354]

mole646 Almost every logger that I know still have R models on their jobs for off-road spot trucks. They are still the toughest trucks for that job!

[@protonhead1]

Great story of a guy keeping the dream alive.

[@pheleant]

I remember the old man I was driving a 59 B Model Mack for telling me about a 5 & 4 "Kid, you learn how to drive this, you can drive anything!"

[@loudpipes66]

Not only is the craftsmanship impressive but the fact that this was all done outside in his driveway makes it more impressive. Working in the elements is no fun, been there done that. GREAT video and well documented build.

[@johnny22single99]

ABSOLUTELY----> OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!!. 🙂

[@airvaquero7839]

Hand loading a truck full of lettuce 3 times! That's what made him the Lettuce King!

[@jonnothetrucker]

Ohhhh baby !!! What a perfect combination this rig is

[@alleycat1084]

Love these old pictures. History at it’s best! I like reading comments people make about older trucks, too long looks funny. Sleeper not “condo style “. Here I go......you can just about tell they’re not from that time period. “Hard to back up “, and other statements like that. We had most of our good stuff from the cab to the front bumper. Cranked up cat, brake light switch on the dash, radar detector, scanner, cb radio and maybe a front door or back door. Atlanta to Shakey every week. Man what ride! Never worried about it being too long to back up, went forward all day and night, don’t back up but maybe two minutes every couple of days! Just don’t forget to turn your brake lights on in the morning. Thanks again for your good stories from the vault. I’m sure there was bad times and good times, I just remember the good times! Looks good back that way driver, hammer down!

[@SmartTrucking]

Yeah, I just remember the good times too! Those were the days and I miss them. Thanks for watching and for writing in!

[@MrBigR928]

Man i would've love to hear that Beastly 3408 mashing...Eeeeeeh doggie 👌

[@clinthochrein888]

1980 was a good year. That was quite a project an it looks beautiful.

[@wannabtruckin9099]

He's a very talented guy for sure

[@SmartTrucking]

Yes he is!

[@roybond1251]

Man i love your stories .. they are great storries no b.s no vulgar language just good old trucking storries i love it

[@SmartTrucking]

Thanks Roy!

[@SoCal780]

Great video Dave! 👍👍 Nice to see how a project like this comes to fruition step by step. Now I REALLY have respect for the Legendary Lettuce King! I’d love to have him fix the vibration in my transmission that the guys at my shop can’t seem to locate! 🤬 The finished truck looks beautiful, nice job indeed. Loads of respect for the Lettuce King!

[@nanomike2069]

Nice build love the 5x4 old school!! Put a newbie up in the seat and just watch for the confusion !!!

[@garypollard9770]

Wow! My goodness now you have me missing the old days of trucking. We had a lot of fun and moved a lot of product in the old days! That one right there is sho nuff a large car!

[@SmartTrucking]

That's part of what changed for the new guys now Gary, I don't think it's fun for them! It sure was for us though and I miss it!

[@johnwilson7243]

My very 1st truck was a 1980 Pete, 400 cummins with straght ten! Wish I had kept! U brought back memories & looking nice!

[@JB-ew6ze]

Phew that was a fast click!

[@bradmason6929]

Oh n by the way ...enjoy your videos very much ...n brings back lots of memorys too !been driving since 68 n still am ...the old 359

[@SmartTrucking]

Thanks Brad! And I'd be hanging onto that 359 if I were you! Like having money in the bank that you can enjoy!

[@aj-kwt909truckin31]

Cool ~👍😎👍~ Riding like a Rolls-Royce and Power to boot !!! 👌3408 Cat👌 !!! Thanks Dave Great Video.

[@hansgugel8034]

Can you imagine turning that truck on tight right hand corners

[@SmartTrucking]

Yup, you had to swing her wide! The dump axle on the spread axle trailer helped quite a bit.

[@nickd.4512]

I can see tryin to make corners with that setup in nyc. Holy hell it'd be a nightmare

[@jocamp4837]

Two wrong won't make a right. But three lefts will.

[@jerrykinnin7941]

Tobin bridge Chelsea Market would be fun in that truck. About 1985.

[@milohrnic2023]

@@nickd.4512 You would avoid Boston, NYC and Philadelphia altogether. That's a truck for the Alaska Highway

[@captainflatbed.7927]

We had very similar trucks on our farm Grew up driving them ole mules miss those days

[@tierone4761]

That was cool seeing a white 3408 from back then. We had a ‘83-359 Pete & it had a 3406B in it & it was painted white as well. Not sure when Cat went with the yellow paint on them but we never seen a white 3408 in person on the road back then. If I remember the longest factory hood, it was called “extended hood” on the 359’s was the 127” BBC. Ours was the 119”, it couldn’t have been much longer because the truck had a head rack built on it to haul a car above the cab, as it had a portable parking lot hooked up behind it. That was a great ride & a good era to be on the road running to Shakey & the Gay Bay, out there on I-40 between Okie City & Barstow was great for sight seeing, for sure. Good Day Everyone!

[@theimortanjuan3780]

Im a Rookie trucker, my cdl is only 5 months old! I get alot of my Advice from Smart Trucking. I'm a big fan of your Channel!

[@SmartTrucking]

Thanks Juan!

[@Runndeep]

Great story , your very enjoyable and informative to watch.

[@Raspberry_x]

What an amazing build from the lettuce king! He sure does have some cool projects 😎 I remember watching this impressive build as a kid and attending the fergus truck show 17 years ago shocking 😮 Keep the videos coming @smarttrucking

[@julianwaldner6252]

I really admire the skill it takes to do something like that. Really impressive. But damn i do not like the looks of those stretched out trucks. Polished and chromed up 379 with a normal wheelbase can't be beat in my opinion. Thanks for the video!

[@carlwilliams8354]

I love the sound of a 3408!

[@mattberg916]

Loved the video. Concise and condensed, pretty cool project

[@aviatortrucker6198]

Oh yes! Recognized it right away double over, (double overdrive) I’ll bet he ran tall rubber, 11x24.5 in that truck and was a triple digit for sure! BTW the RTX Eaton was still overdrive but the were able to design the shift away from the wall. This was because newer drivers couldn’t master the concept, so they made it easier. US military trucks with a 5 speed were like that till the sissyfied the new ones with lazymatics!

[@SmartTrucking]

Yup, tall rubber. That low pro stuff hadn't started yet.

[@maxpuppy96]

Built that thing in his driveway, bet the neighbors love him. Those 3408's were fuel guzzlers. Your right that is the large car engine, that and a KT Cummins. I know were there is a 79 359 with that engine in it, old owner operator who retired and he wants to sell it. He probably has by know, that was a year ago, it needed a clutch it was a project.

[@heavyhaul8621]

Dad had a KTA 600. Sure pissed the guys off that had 3408’s 😂🤣

[@maxpuppy96]

@@heavyhaul8621 That to me was the engine, much better then the 3408, We had neighbor had one in a K100 that thing would pull. They had them juiced up they would turn the pumps up they had to be 700 hp when they were done 4 miles to the gallon they had pistons like a 5 gallon bucket.

[@russvoight1167]

Double Overdrive! Went with my Dad in the late 60s and early 70s. F and B model Macks with Tri-plex Mack transmissions. It was fascinating watching him shift those gears. And at times he would shift both sticks at the same time

[@Bubbles8V92]

Appreciate what you said about not having to reach through the steering wheel I've had a lot of guys tell me I'm doing it wrong in my videos but I'm still learning and sure dont need that pressure. Would love to see a video explaining in greater detail about shifting sticks sometime. All the best from Ontario🤙

[@SmartTrucking]

I've watched your videos and you know what you're doing. Tougher on a Detroit for sure. Big Rig videos showcases 3 Bar C driving an A model KW. Watch that guy shift, he's a pro!

[@Bubbles8V92]

@@SmartTrucking wow that guy knows his way around a set of sticks thanks for the reply

[@matthewgodwin3050]

On this evidence, I say the Lettuce King is an artist. Man, that truck is beautiful. 👍

[@SmartTrucking]

You should see the new one! Coming soon!

[@the.porter.productions]

It’s good to see the process on this fine rig...oh the joy to drive your ride once you’ve completed the build! 🥰 I love a Cat engine! I don’t know about the 3408 though...never had one. I bet it rides NICE!

[@SmartTrucking]

Yup!

[@danielhofer7386]

The day cab had Donaldson air cleaners & the finished built has Vortex Stainless Air Cleaners . Born in the dark but it wasn't last night.

[@ralphkrahn7440]

Great way to spend time .🖖🙌👇🇨🇦🕵

[@russellhadaller8903]

What a cool build! I’m lucky in my 37plus years of driving! I’ve got to drive ten speeds 13,15,18,5and4, 10 and 4. Never and 08 cat but in 98 my then boss bought me a brand new c 16 , lot of fun to drive! Drive an auto shift now, life is good!

[@enriquealvarezjr.6880]

She's a beauty that's 1 of my dreams nothing like a 5×4.

[@ruaraidhmcdonald-walker9524]

Great video!! Space enough for a 3412 in there with that super-extended hood!!

[@SmartTrucking]

Definitely!

[@stephenbrown571]

Some idiots tried shifting. Through the steering wheel and got broken arms. I started out with a Mack 5X3.

[@RobertBOUSKILL]

Personally I love this video. Back in the early 1970's I was an apprentice and we used to stretch trucks all the time. A few customers had 5-4 boxes and if you forgot what gear you were in and the whole thing was spinning out of control, no syncromesh on these, you had to pull over and wait for the gears to stop spinning and start again. Of course I am too old now but I dream of a Pete just like this with a bunk with a door straight out the back and have a Hiab Crane mounted on the frame which would be used to lift a nice boat that could sleep four people off the cradle and launch the boat anywhere. Now however we can't go anywhere because of the virus so the Finger lakes are inaccessible anymore. Instead of a bunk there would be seating for three friends.

[@SmartTrucking]

Hang tight Robert, all this virus stuff can't last forever. Love the idea about the Hiab and the boat!

[@Matt216321]

Another great video! Loved watching this build, thanks for sharing! I haven't been in the industry nearly as long as you and the Lettuce King but I truly appreciate the content you put out. I absolutely love hearing the Old School stories! Thanks again for all that you do, safe travels!

[@SmartTrucking]

Thanks for watching Matt!

[@mikeservais888]

Thanks Dave that was cool be safe!!!

[@Leftlanee]

man i want to be like the lettuce king some day. amazing

[@Ezrider359]

nice build 👍

[@davids4063]

Subbing for that legendary lettuce king story

[@blakewithadhd7358]

Love your show, thank you for this episode

[@SmartTrucking]

Thank you sir!

[@donaldbrowning4602]

great work, done right and a working truck

[@agg2179]

Awesome story. Awesome truck. Always loved your videos. Keep them coming brother. If you ever take a run to the northeast, maybe I'll catch you then.

[@XxAlphaxX5]

I've seen this truck before it was awesome looking

[@eugeneklemenz]

Very cool tractor now that's a real truck

[@johntaylor7256]

Love the lettuce king stories

[@SmartTrucking]

It's too bad that some of the best ones can never be told!

[@rodneystewart8958]

They don't make guys like the lettuce king today

[@SmartTrucking]

Probably just as well, the prison system is over crowded as it is!

[@SoCal780]

Smart Trucking 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@enochstutzman8017]

Oh I definitely know a couple guys like the lettuce king

[@aviatortrucker6198]

Rodney Stewart Guys like the Lettuce King are gone .They just disappeared when the trucking industry started sissfying trucks and making these cheap fleet trucks that are powerless useless pieces of garbage. You can’t even have a truck that has a decent antenna system for a CB radio, let alone a little bit of power and torque to run up even a 2% grade. Today, literally trucks are nothing more than lipstick on a pig.

[@milohrnic2023]

@@aviatortrucker6198 May I suggest taking a look at the Western Star lineup

[@johnreid2837]

I knew someone that had a peterbilt like that. The tractor itself weighed 22,500lbs. Every year he had to buy a overweight permit just so he could run LTL Colorado to L.A. and back.

[@redpodbird]

the lettuce king is the one we come to watch Right on

[@shaunp5081]

The Lettuce King is my hero..!!! Hahaha..

[@williamcarey8529]

WOW!! This was a great story and video!! I love the stories about "The Lettuce King"!! I was laughing the whole time about loading in Yuma (as I have done a few times) and I am looking forward to the next video and story!! I will close with a question. Did the Lettuce King ever take his prized truck to Salinas, Oxnard, Cochella Valley or Yuma with his "prized possession"?

[@detlevwilloughby7175]

Wouldn't want to run a 5X4 today but sure glad I learned on them. Was so good I could run with the Jake on, this was when if you messed up the Jake would kill the motor.

[@SmartTrucking]

That's right! Happened to me a few times!

[@crudedriver]

Back then the jake only had one stage. Worked great to shift main box.

[@surajtruckingvlog6585]

Nice video sar ji 👍🙏

[@SmartTrucking]

Thank you!

[@rolling3868]

Nice truck. 👏👌👍🙏

[@michaellance9278]

Is the "lettuce king" in Ontario? Would it be possible to talk with him because I am looking for parts and ideas for my 359 resto...

[@SmartTrucking]

Yes, he's here in Ontario.

[@peters1560]

another good video has been nailed

[@arpitwalia7265]

Hi, can you please do a video on how to use CB radio or how to set it up? Thanks. Always learning from your videos. I got a little over a year in driving big trucks, and loving it so far, besides the disrespect truck drivers deal with from the general public and shippers/recievers.

[@paulkatelyntoney3219]

Not to be picky but he should have put an unibuilt opening between cab and sleeper so you can slide the seat back further to give a guy a little more leg room. 359 cabs are already pretty tight front to back.

[@jessesager9460]

Good lord that sucker is large!! Sweet ride tho!! All hail the Lettuce King!

[@Miniaturehorseexpress]

It's to bad all the guys that do these big top shelf projects don't have a proper shop... But that's always the case, the nicest work always comes out of the sketchyist places. 👍👍👍

[@efrainberrios8494]

Awesome restoration!

[@rustyshackleford5060]

Keep up the good work.

[@timbober1]

Nice ride

[@hammerslammer3006]

I want that truck!!!!

[@keithbender5759]

Wow that’s a long ride

[@bradmason6929]

Hey its great ...cool look ...long n mean ....good luck gettin it turned....my 359 is 286 wheelbase n they need the song ...gimmie a forty acre field to turn this rig around ...lol they werent known for turning

[@SmartTrucking]

No they weren't. My favourite truck was the KW900A but by god they didn't like to go around a corner!

[@jaimecarmona6205]

Cool Truck love the stories keep em coming

[@SmartTrucking]

Thanks Jaime!

[@curtackerman9771]

The lettuce king lol. Him and let's call him Strapper have built some wild rides. I know both but wont share their names lol.

[@chrise3801]

Super nice 👍👍 I woulda repainted the engine white to be different

[@redmesa2975]

2:57 The main box is an over drive pattern. 4th & 5th are opposite of a direct drive pattern.

[@millionmiler]

That's awesome if I could afford it I would buy one of his built also does the lettuce king have warrants for his arrest since you used a blurred picture of him

[@SmartTrucking]

I don't know how to say this in a politically correct way, so, Yes!

[@millionmiler]

@@SmartTrucking okay unless dave is the lettuce king 🤔

[@alleycat1084]

Michael Mueller Damn, what a question.

[@JR113FTW]

I've watched about 200 of your videos and just laughed my ass off when I figured out who the lettuce king was.

[@royphelps8084]

Turning the 4th and 5 th around, turns it into a overdrive! The brownie is a overdrive, so its a double overdrive

[@davidlee771]

With the custom length hood it would be an easy 3412 repower

[@BrandonLeech]

Personally I liked it better as it sat on the trailer, but have to respect the work that went into it.

[@hamishkay3010]

Ain't nothing sweet like a long nose Pete

[@JamesEDennison]

Love your videos Dave... especially the stories.... reminds me of my trucking past..... while you are technically correct, you don't HAVE to shift twin sticks with your arm through the steering wheel, we used to just main stick it if loaded light or empty, you better be able to shift both at the same time if you were fully loaded pulling a hill in BC.... if you shifted 1 at a time you'd have to drop 2 gears as you lost too much momentum... and as you undoubtedly know you had to put the main into gear first and the aux second after matching the RPM. to road speed … if you tried to put the aux into gear first it would just grind as you couldn't match the RPM. until the main was in gear and engaged to the engine.... my Dad taught me to drive in a Kenworth with a Cummins and a 5x4.. don't remember the main being and overdrive though... could be wrong as it was too many years ago.... we had a Pete logging truck with a 1693 Cat and 5x4.... wish I knew where that ruck was now.... I'm in the process of building a bus converted to a motorhome and I'm using as many Peterbilt parts as I can... I have a reproduction 359 Corvette dash I'm installing as well as many other parts …. keep up the great videos.... while I don't comment often, I watch em' all!! :-)

[@SmartTrucking]

Thanks for watching James! Good luck with the project, sounds like she's going to be a beaute!

[@truckinfam2207]

Never late V-8. 2 sticksMarried to the dashboard. Sittin on the $$$.Westbound headin to the Shakeyside. Midnight Flyer said that.

[@SmartTrucking]

10 dash 4!!

[@hansgugel8034]

Is the lettuce king still doing restoration to this day

[@SmartTrucking]

Indeed he is. He's just finishing up little things on a current truck. We'll be doing a video for that truck soon, when it's finished. So look for that one.

[@kmafia229V2]

All hail The Lettuce King😄

[@milohrnic2023]

Why didn't he go with tridem drives? He has the room and it would allow him to use the truck for better paying heavy haul work.

[@phantomxter]

Awesome

[@kylemorice4870]

My god is she pretty that brightened up my day. I hope that mean green looking old girl he's working on now comes out great. I got me a lettuce king rides again shirt too.

[@SmartTrucking]

He drove it home from the detailing shop last night. Says at 80mph he can take both hands off the wheel and she runs straight and rides smooth. We're going down to see her soon!

[@kylemorice4870]

@@SmartTrucking sounds like everythings coming together real good with her.

[@Pete-from-Tn]

Trying to buy a 359 now. 3406 and trans is gone, but interior is as close to new as you can find. Its a short hood, and all panels are in great shape. Working on the price, and its under 50 miles from me. It's a factory 36" sleeper truck, but a sad 220" Wheel base

[@SmartTrucking]

That wheelbase is easy to fix!

[@frankgyomoryjr6167]

Need one of those shirts for the Kroger produce dept.

[@blakerobinson5233]

When I tried shifting in the big truck I had a hard time shifting and I figured that it was because I found I dint have manual car experience I thought of how it would help with this but the school staff said no it is not transferable because it’s totally different from a manual car and this is one of the few trucks with a v8 engine I have seen mostly these trucks engines were inline 6

[@dennislarson4960]

A stick shift in a car has synchronizers which match up the gears to the engine speed as you shift. A big truck doesn't - you have to manually match the engine revs to the appropriate gear and road speed. It's quite an art... but smooth as butter when done well.

[@patrickbooth2329]

thats jamies truck wow you know him small world lol never new he was the lettuce king you probly know larry kratt also

[@ericshimer6669]

Would be cool to get all of his trucks he built into a show. Line them all up together. Alas probably few left and far between tho.

[@SmartTrucking]

Don't even know where they all are now!

[@NWforager]

tbh sometimes i wish Lettuce King and even most of Smart Truckings stories were just based on reality for cautionary tales , at the same time i know lifelong truckers have real tales Galore . So much stuff happens on these roads its crazy❤ No movie could what some of these oldtimers have experienced if full