10-4 Magazine September 2023

10-4 Magazine / September 2023 39 had to invest in the truck. “Last year I bought and installed a new Detroit Series 60 DDEC IV, rated at 500-hp, along with a new reman 13-speed Eaton-Fuller Transmission,” Stanley said. Besides the new transmission and engine, the truck has received tons of other new parts, including a radiator, new clutch, flywheel, carrier bearings, u-joints, new motor mounts, radiator mounts, power steering, hoses, a new turbo, new ECM, new A/C compressor and blower, controls in the dashboard, and new air vent tubes in both the cab and sleeper. “It’s a running and driving working restoration,” Stanley said, with more new parts and items that were just too numerous to list them all here. In addition, his W900L has new 7-inch Lincoln Chrome exhaust pipes, an RLK stainless drop visor, and a 20-inch Texas bumper from Valley Chrome that’s “bent and needs to be replaced.” While the truck is a restoration in progress, Stanley does have big plans for his classic W900L. “I’d like to stretch the wheelbase out to 290-inches in the future, along with a new paint job, more stainless, and more chicken lights, as well as other custom goodies,” said Stanley. “I recently removed the air horns atop the cab and am going to add more cab lights. Also, at some point in the truck’s life, the factory Kenworth air cleaners got changed out for Peterbilt air cleaners, so I need to get a new pair of the Kenworth air cleaners for the truck so it is correct,” remarked Stanley. On the interior, the truck has an Oxblood red VIT diamond tuck interior. “I did convert the cab/sleeper boot from the factory Kenworth to a Peterbilt big hole to make it roomier,” Stanley said, as he was showing me the interior of the truck. One thing Stanley has been busy doing is removing and reinstalling the sleeper interior upholstery in order to soundproof it with deadening material to help quiet the ride. “As I said, it’s a work in progress,” Stanley said while laughing a bit as he continued to tell me about all the things he’s got planned for his truck. Referring to his W900L, he said, “All it takes is more money, and this old girl likes to spend my money!” One thing I noticed about Stan’s Aerodyne sleeper was the more modern Kenworth sleeper doors equipped with windows. “Yeah, those sleepers can be a bit dark and cavernous, so I decided to lighten it up back there,” Stanley told me. “I’ve had Kenworth purists criticize me for adding the modern window doors, but I don’t care, it’s not their truck!” I agree with Stanley, and I like having the windows back there, as well. Stanley also told me that he’d like to add a window in the back of the sleeper at some point in the future. For driver comfort, his seat of choice is currently a Bostrom Wide Glide, and he has a new steering wheel to be installed, along with a few other miscellaneous interior parts that are coming soon, as well. While Stanley has no idea of how many actual miles are on his W900L, that doesn’t bother him. Now 40 years old, he has the truck he fell in love with when he was a child and gets to operate a classic Kenworth for a living. “I get a lot of older truckers hollering at me on the radio complimenting me on my old Kenworth and it’s Aerodyne sleeper,” Stanley told me. Leased to Bo Jones Trucking out of Sebree, KY, Stanley pulls a 48-foot 2008 Reitnouer Big Bubba spread-axle flatbed, equipped with a Quick Draw Tarpaulin System, and hauls steel products and materials. “I’m not afraid to run the truck. I’ve been to the Pacific Coast of Washington State with it and back,” as Stanley told me about some of the freight lanes he’s been operating the KW in lately. A bit humble about his Kenworth, Stanley intends to keep restoring and customizing it and someday, when it’s “show worthy” as he put it, Stanley would like to attend and put the old girl on display at some truck shows like MATS or Walcott. When Stanley is not out trucking, he loves spending time with his wife Sarah and their three daughters, Kaydence, Taylee, and Harlee, of which his two older daughters enjoy riding with their dad in his truck from time to time. There aren’t many 1993 trucks still being run every day, but this is one that is still out there getting it done! n