Chapter 207: with translation of chapter title

Harbin Institute of Technology, school-run factory.

Qin Miao's Land Rover had just pulled up to the school gate when he saw two Steyr heavy trucks parked in the school-run factory's courtyard; they were parked alongside a Mercedes-Benz and held their own in comparison.

Cars of this era were generally boxy and angular; the advantage of this design is naturally low stamping die requirements, making it easy to reduce costs.

The cab of the Steyr heavy truck is similarly shaped: viewed from the side of the front end, it forms an obtuse triangle, with a protruding straight line in front that tapers backward both above and below, creating two sloping surfaces.

Above it sits a wide windshield and three wipers; below, the three-section intake grille is on the right side, while the left side bears large lettering reading "STEYR91".

This is the mainstay supporting the Eastern heavy‑truck sector—the Steyr heavy truck!

Qin Miao got out of his car and strode over; at that moment, several people beside the vehicle were watching him, and Factory Director Ruan almost came running up: "Comrade Qin Miao, you've finally arrived. Let me introduce you: this is Engineer Feng Lao, who came from headquarters, and this is Levenka, the representative from Steyr."

Feng Chao, a domestic heavy‑truck expert, was the chief engineer when Red Rock Factory produced the Red Rock CQ261 based on the Berliet GCH prototype. Now, as the state seeks to import heavy trucks from abroad, he is also the technical lead for that effort.

Naturally, Qin Miao holds such a person in great respect.

"Welcome, Engineer Feng, to the Harbin Institute of Technology school‑run factory!"

Their hands clasped, and Qin Miao felt the other's rough palm, indicating that the person before him was not someone who spent all day in an office but someone who frequently worked on the front lines.

"Mr. Levenka, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Levenka looked at Qin Miao and said: "Mr. Joseph specifically instructed me to come to Harbin and stay here to help complete the truck‑cannon conversion of the Steyr heavy truck. Mr. Qin, we hope this project can be finished as soon as possible, and even better if it can go out to bid."

Qin Miao smiled; the other party's eagerness to enter the Eastern market was just an added bonus, something Qin Miao certainly wouldn't mind.

"Well, Factory Director Ruan, our factory will mobilize its elite forces to finish the conversion as quickly as possible, even if it delays our own production—we must prioritize our friends' project."

"Yes!"

Don't be fooled by Factory Director Ruan being the top boss here; key personnel authority rests with Professor Yuan, who is merely a go‑fer. Yet he, too, holds Qin Miao in high regard—without Qin Miao, their boiler factory would not be what it is today.

The factory's worker benefits are enough to make any Harbin plant employee envious or even jealous; the big‑wigs can even go abroad to work, earn dollars, and come back bringing televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, and the like.

"Thank you, Mr. Qin!" Levenka said gratefully.

"Well, these are things we should do: whoever values our Eastern market can grow and become strong, and that makes them our friend. Mr. Levenka, I'm optimistic about Steyr's future—its future output will surely surpass that of Mercedes‑Benz."

It's true that Steyr's output will exceed Mercedes‑Benz's, but… the Austrian Steyr is no longer related to them; they cannot escape the fate of being acquired by Mercedes‑Benz.

Qin Miao walked over to the truck; having examined the front, he turned his gaze to the axle—hmm, not bad, both front and rear are drive axles, and the technology there could be borrowed, only…

"Why haven't you installed a central tire inflation and deflation system?"

Levenka was somewhat skeptical: "Your Mercedes‑Benz heavy trucks don't have one either!"

"That's because we can only purchase the civilian version of the Mercedes‑Benz heavy truck. Since your Steyr heavy truck needs to win military approval, you must have your own technology—your frame, suspension, and axle can't match Mercedes‑Benz's, so you'll need to think of something else."

For ordinary vehicles, low tire pressure means stopping to add air; in summer, high pressure means letting some out. For military vehicles, however, tire pressure must be adjusted according to terrain—lower off‑road, higher on paved roads.

"What to do? Get out and operate it? That would waste precious time; on the battlefield, spending that moment inflating tires could get you blown up by the enemy."

Therefore, military vehicles must be equipped with a special device: a central tire inflation/deflation system. Simply put, there is a T‑shaped pipe at the axle hub that contacts the tire valve, allowing the tire to be inflated or deflated at any time.

The end of the T‑pipe connects to the vehicle's air‑brake system; because the tire rotates, the joint between the T‑pipe and the vehicle's air line must be able to rotate relative to it while remaining airtight.

Though it sounds simple, it's hard to make; even our missile carriers need this system. Rather than develop it ourselves, it would be easier to coax Steyr into providing it.

"Well, you're right—I'll contact domestic suppliers right away to send over the kit, but… the entire axle assembly needs to be replaced."

"No problem—we'll have the Harbin Institute of Technology school‑run factory help! Don't bother shipping the removed axle back; the shipping cost wouldn't even cover it—just leave it at our factory."

Now we've even gotten hold of the Steyr axle! Having another reference is certainly a good thing.

After walking around the vehicle, Qin Miao finally turned his attention to the cab.

The Steyr's most criticized feature is its tiny sleeper berth behind the cab; after all, European countries are small, so the berth is only good for a noon rest—at night drivers go home to sleep, and even if they cross several countries they can still make it back for dinner.

In the East, however, it's different. During the peak of business, a truck was standard‑equipped with three drivers: one rested at home while the other two took turns driving—one drove while the other slept. The sleeper berth behind the cab was like a submarine's hot bunk, always occupied by someone sleeping.

Such a narrow bunk is unsuitable! The cab's tilt mechanism is also manual—it needs to be changed!

"The bunk also needs to be lengthened—you probably don't have anything like that domestically—let's fix it right here! And while we're at it, let's convert the tilting mechanism to hydraulic drive."

Levenka was first taken aback, then reacted: "Thank you, Mr. Qin, for your help."

They may fall short in performance, but in comfort they surpass other European manufacturers!

Feng Lao said nothing, merely listening to Qin Miao's suggestions and nodding repeatedly. Qin Miao, who had never been heard studying heavy trucks before, now offers these modification ideas, showing he really knows trucks—could this be what they mean by a smart person who knows everything?

"Of course, I truly wish Steyr could enter our Eastern market; unfortunately, I have no chance to participate in your tender, but if I could, I'd certainly speak well of Steyr."

The speaker meant nothing by it, but the listener took it to heart, and Feng Lao immediately wrote down those words.

"Well, once we import the heavy trucks, the Three Auto Project can get underway quickly!" Feng Lao said this with eager anticipation, only to see Qin Miao respond with a dismissive look.

What's going on?