AL BRUCK: DO-IT-YOURSELF FARM BACKGROUND INFLUENCES ALL-NEW SUPER DUTY TRANSMISSION
Al Bruck, engineering manager, 2011 Ford Super Duty’s all-new six-speed automatic transmission
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- Al Bruck is the engineering manager for the all-new 6R140 heavy-duty TorqShift® six-speed automatic transmission, which will debut in the all-new 2011 Ford Super Duty this spring
- Bruck began working on engines and transmissions while growing up on the family farm in Monroe County in Michigan, performing maintenance on farm equipment and grain trucks
- He and his family have a passion for music; Bruck sang and played the guitar through high school and college
Al Bruck, engineering manager of the 2011 Ford Super Duty’s all-new six-speed automatic transmission, understands firsthand how important it is for equipment to be reliable, dependable and productive.
Bruck grew up on a farm in rural Monroe County, Mich. Farming provided the sole source of income for the family, so it was imperative that all the machines were in working order at all times. His father taught him how to do overhauls, maintenance and repairs on tractors, grain trucks and other farm equipment.
“When not doing farm work, my brother and I were working on vehicles and equipment – anything with an engine,” said Bruck. “I’ve always been interested in cars and trucks. And I appreciate how important it is for them to be reliable. Especially with a truck like the Super Duty, where so many customers depend on it as the core part of their businesses.”
The all-new 6R140 heavy-duty TorqShift six-speed automatic transmission designed and engineered by Bruck and his team is a key reason why the 2011 Ford Super Duty will continue to be the leader in towing and payload.
His dedicated team of engineers jumped at the chance to deliver a clean-sheet design, targeted exclusively to the needs of truck customers. Bigger and stronger gearsets and an all-new torque converter manage the significantly improved torque and horsepower produced by the new diesel and gasoline engines. Live Drive PTO (Power Take Off) is available for diesel customers, the first time Live Drive PTO has been offered in this segment.
“The new TorqShift transmission extends the capability and productivity for Super Duty customers,” said Bruck. An extensive testing regimen ensures reliability as well.
Wrenching, remodeling and strumming
Bruck continues to enjoy fixing anything mechanical and hopes to get around to restoring a ’69 Ford Mustang at some point. In the meantime, home improvement projects are rewarding, such as a recent bathroom renovation.
When Bruck does put down the wrench or hammer, he sometimes picks up a guitar. He sang and played frequently throughout high school and college, and still occasionally jams with friends. His daughters, Alexandra and Simonne, love to sing and are learning to play the piano, which brings much enjoyment to Bruck and his wife Cecilia.
“We’re a close family, and music is something we can enjoy together,” Bruck said.
Personal Insights
- Bruck has been married to Cecilia for 16 years. They have two children, Alexandra (Allie), 12; and Simonne, 8
- They live on four acres in Lyon Township. They enjoy hiking, riding bikes and walking their German shepherds, Liberty and Justice
- On one of their first “dates,” Bruck replaced the blown head gasket on Cecilia’s ’86 Chrysler. In return, she cooked him a steak and lobster dinner
- His first car was a baby blue 1962 Chevy Bel Air hardtop, which he purchased in 1980 and sold three years later. “It was a 235 (cubic-inch displacement) six-cylinder… I always wanted to put a 409 V-8 in it,” Bruck said
- Bruck’s favorite Ford is the Mustang. A neighbor who restored 1960s Mustangs loaned the family a red ’65 for a couple of years. More recently, Bruck leased a 2005 GT
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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 198,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.
Feb. 25, 2010
