Speed

Hello Joe; Well,I don't have it home yet,but on my last trip to Reno I went over and talked to the owner again,and got him to sign a receipt for the deposit I paid earlier,and I agreed to pay the $1,500.00 he raised the price to. I think it's still a good deal,and on closer inspection I don't think it'll be as hard to ressurrect as I'd thought. Anyway,we have an official handshake agreement to a set price,and I have a signed receipt-that makes it a binding contract. Still scratching my head over the shift pattern on the main box though. It isn't a traditional H pattern 5 speed. Did ever use this "scrambled" pattern on their stock 5 speeds? If so,okay,I'll learn it. If not,the transmission is a trans-plant,and I might be looking for a more original box for it.. I'm tentatively planning to go pay it off and drive it home in a month or less,pending the sale of my Triumph. Maybe you can answer a question about air brakes for me;I'd like to know about how much air volume and pressure it takes to run the brakes on a tandem axle trailer. I'm trying to figure out how big of an air tank and compressor I'd need on the E to pull a trailer safely. Thanks! Speed

I'm jazzed!! I went down and talked to the owner of the 1945 EH I was hoping to buy,and we worked out a deal on it,so I'm getting it after all. (Okay-I caved and agreed to the $1,500.00 he wants for it.) At least the rat rod monster won't be dining on it! I'm hoping to have it paid off and be able to go get it within the month. I made a couple of decisions about the truck; One-I'm going to leave it six volt and install two 6 volt batteries rather than making it 12 volts and going with a big 12 volt one. I've found a place I can get six volt 7" Halogen headlights for it. That way,if I decide to change over later I'll just have to figure out an alternator,change the light bulbs and re-route the cables and I'll have 12 volts. I think it's a positive ground system so I might have to reverse the amp gauge wires too. The original bumper's thrashed,so I'm thinking about running a '34 Ford bumper on it. Two-Instead of installing a flatbed on it,I'm keeping the 5th wheel,and I now have a deal in the works for a flatbed trailer for it. The trailer's pretty long,so I might have it shortened a bit. It has Dayton wheels too. I'm still planning to build (Actually my brother Dutch will be doing most of the building of it.)a 2,000 pound capacity boom on the ,right behind the cab,though. After spending a little more time going over it I have some more questions about it. Looking at the engine's right side pictures in the ads for this model,is the air compressor driven by gear off the crank or is it driven by fanbelt? The spec's I'm reading say it was available with either a 5 speed or a Mono Shift 10 speed (optional);what I'm seeing in the truck is a 5 speed with a strange shift pattern and a Brownie with under/direct/over. Does the standard 5 speed have something different than the usual H pattern? The Brownie looks added in,but I'm not sure if the main box is original or not. I'm not well versed in transmissions, so I don't know for sure what I'm dealing with. Also-does the EN354 engine have any weaknesses I need to know about? Anything I should do to make it live longer?I've been told about taking it to the governor and shifting,what's the highest RPM I should run it on the road,assuming good bearings etc? I'm really looking forward to getting this old truck on the road,and already have work lined up for it. Anyway,any info,opinions,memories or comments you want to contribute would be much appreciated. Speed

Greg; When you referred to your "crazy shift pattern trans",it sounds like mine. According to the Mack Truck Museum's info on my truck,it's supposed to have a Mono shift. Does that have a "crazy" shift pattern? I don't see the trigger it's supposed to have on the shifter,and the previous owner has installed an overdrive Brownie. I'm guessing the trans in it is not the original. Speed

Got an email from the owner of the I wanted to buy. He says he needs to get $1,500.00 for it or he's losing money on the sale. (We all know ya can't buy and sell old trucks and cars and expect to MAKE money at it.Ya have to do it for the love of old iron.) Anyway,that's still very reasonable for this truck. I'm sure it could be driven out of there with a little basic servicing and a new battery. He says it had a 12 volt battery in it when he bought it,so he assumes it's been converted to 12 volt. DON'T LET THE RAT-ROD MONSTER EAT THIS TRUCK!!!! Speed

Hi Andy; Guess you've heard the Mack EH deal fell through,so I won't be getting into the registry. I'm trying to find this truck a good home anyhow,though,and whoever buys it(rescues it) I'll pass on the information and try to get the new owner to log on,so it'll get registered somehow. Best of luck with the registry-hope you get all the E models out there covered! I'll keep all you BMT folks informed on my search for a truck. Speed

Trashman; Thanks for your support. If it was something I didn't care about I'd have a LOT to say to him,but I really want to see that truck in a good place,so I'm biting my tongue until I see it's rescued. Then he's likely to hear some things he won't like much. Bennet-Mack; If there's anything else I can do to help,please let me know. As upset as I am with the truck's owner,I can't let the truck suffer for his attitude. I did email him to ask what price he THOUGHT he said,and to instruct him to go ahead and return my deposit;it'll be interesting to see if he responds or returns the money. In the meantime,I'm checking into a '47 International 1-1/2 ton C&C,a '49 GMC 1-1/2 ton flatbed,and a '47 Diamond T C&C,all of which are supposed to be runners,for $500.00 to $2,500.00. That runs a little over my budget,but I think I'll be able to work the prices down to a reachable number. The Diamond T interests me,but needs a lot of workfor 2,500.00,logically,I'm thinking the '49 GMC would be my choice,if for no other reason than that I can still get parts for it pretty easily. More news as I get it... Speed

I think theres some pics of it in the Truck of the Month submissions. If you don't find 'em let me know and I can email some to you. The owner says he had it running by hand feeding it fuel,and says it sounded fine-no knocks,no oil smoke,good oil pressure. The only reason he didn't drive it home was he didn't have the time to go through the fuel system,electrics,etc. then and there. I had plans to go get it,do some basic stuff to get it driveable(install new mirrors and a new battery,clean out the carb and gas tank,change the oil/filter and service the air and fuel filters,replace the hoses and belts,grease the u-joints and front end,top off the boxes and take it to my brother's place and spend a week going over it and building a flatbed and boom on it,and driving it back home,(about 300 miles) with my '62 on the back,so I'm sure it would run without much work. I figured it'd take pretty much a full day to make it ready to drive. If you go for it,I'd recommend you get everything in writing,and verify the terms before paying him. (thats where I screwed up). It's a very decent truck-hope you buy it. Speed

Well,folks-it looks like I won't be getting the EH after all. The owner suddenly decided the amount we had agreed upon isn't enough,so he's sending back my deposit on it. He told me the price was $1,000.00 earlier,so if any of you might be interested you might still be able to get it for relatively cheap. I haven't yet found out how short of "his price" that is,but I think this truck is way too cool for a guy like its current owner. So if you're interested,just ask and I'll get you in touch with him. I even heard he's considered making a "rat-rod" out of it! You GOTTA save this Mack!! I'd still be interested except for 2 factors:1-Where I come from,if you make an agreement with someone,you stick to it. and 2-The thousand is about all I can afford to pay,without dipping into money I have earmarked for repairs,service,and fuel for the retrieval of the truck. It saddens me to be treated this way by someone I considered as family,but I guess it just proves that you can't trust relatives in matters like this. I'm looking into different makes,as well as Macks,as I'll be needing a truck this summer even if it isn't a Mack. Maybe I'll be able to find another Mack in the same price range,probably not as nice,but regardless of the outcome now,I'll still be a Mack Truck fan,and I'll have a Mack someday. Roll Safe,my friends! Speed

Refer to new topic-It won't be my Mack. Thanks! Speed

Hi all; Are there any owners/drivers of gas powered Mack trucks that could give me an idea what gas mileage to expect or hope for when I start putting some miles on this ol' 40 EH model's EN354? I'm hoping for about 10 mpg,but expecting 7-8;is that in the ballpark? does a little lighter foot make for a little better economy,or do they run like my old flathead eight Ford-same mileage loaded or empty,fast or slow? As always-thanks for any info you see fit to share with me while I learn a new world. Speed

Well-her trim does kinda match the truck;maybe they come as a set... Speed

WELL-WHAT CAN I SAY-WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO PROVE HOW TOUGH YOUR WALL IS,YOU HAFTA USE THE TOUGHEST TRUCK THERE IS,OR YOUR CLAIM IS WORTHLESS. I HATE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN TO A GOOD MACK,BUT WHEN YOU CARE ENOUGH TO RUIN THE VERY BEST... Speed

So--what's the purpose of that long wheelbase? Appearance must be it. Looks nice,but can't be much fun to drive,except on the freeway... Speed

Hi,it's me again; On this ol' gas engine ,does it hurt to run it against the governor going down the road? I remember a friend of mine used to drive an old Detroit powered truck,and he said those were designed to run wide open. That rig never seemed to suffer from running up against the governor on the highway,but I'm not so sure on the old 354 I have. It'd seem to me the governor would be set towards the maximum rpm the engine should see,so that'd be a bit too high to cruise at. What's a reasonable engine speed to cruise on the highway? I saw that the max torque was at 1,100,but the max. horsepower was at 2,850. I'm thinking 2,200 would be about the best. Am I thinking right on this? Speed

Different ballgame,but my Dad broke a smallblock Chevy so bad it broke the manifolds and cracked the carb base. All the mechanic could save off it was the air filter and the fuel pump. It was in a 1969 four wheel drive and let go at about 95 miles per hour coming home from Salt Lake City one night. (Nevada had an open speed limit back then,and he typically drove at that speed on open road.) Dad said the engine suddenly just went quiet and the truck coasted down to a stop. He thought it had broken the input shaft,and out of curiosity tried to start the engine again. the starter spun,but nothing turned. (Actually it was turning the flywheel and about the last 3 inches of the crank.) Coincidentally,that night the mobile phone's repeater site lost power,too,so when he tried to call for a wrecker,the phone wouldn't work either. He was wondering how these two things could be related. Wierd night. You guys have him beat cost-wise though! Glad I didn't have to pay these repair bills!! Speed

Well,here's what I found;Champion D-16 is a Bosch M10ACO,AC C-87,Autolite 386,NGK A-6,and Denso L14U,L14RU,and/or M17,depending on what brand you cross from. Couldn't find a way to cross to a Bosch Platinum. It's amazing how few online parts suppliers have provision for us to shop by part number.Pretty near everything I found required that I give a make,model,year,etc. but NONE even showed ,let alone a 1940 . Maybe I need to get me some new search engines... Speed

Naturally I like my '40 EH best,but I also like the looks of the B-61;that's what most people think of when you say " truck. I've always gravitated towards vehicles you don't see very often-I guess that's a lot of what I like about 30's and 40's trucks,but ya never know-maybe as I learn more about my prefrences will change. But I doubt it. Speed

Probably easy to spec one of those out;"Gimme the biggest truck,the most power,the most gears,the heaviest GVW,the most fuel capacity,whatever it is-if there's more,I want it...Hell,just max it out across the board!!" Speed

Nice work! I couldn't do that if I had half a day to work at it. Seems like the idiots who leave things in the alleys like that don't give a thought to the drivers. I ran into some places like that when I delivered for the 7-up distributor here a few years ago,I had a different way of doing it. I'd nose up to the dumpster and skate it down the alley about a hundred feet,then back into the dock. (Old GMC reefer with a killer grille guard for delivering to the ranches.)Once,the kid from the store next door came out to throw out some boxes just as I was leaving. He waved me over and asked "Where's the dumpster,did the trash guys come and get it?" I said "Nope-its right there.",and pointed to rhe end of the alley." I guess it musta caught a gust of wind or something..." Speed

Probably not,but it couldn't hurt to have a look...Thanks for the info -if I don't find 'em in Bosch,I can at least pick up a set of these for it. Speed

Hi everyone; Hope you all had a fun Christmas! I'm trying to find out what spark plugs my 1940 EH should have. I'm hoping to have a new set with me when I go after the truck,so if they aren't in stock in the parts stores I won't have to wait for them to arrive. If anyone can tell me what plugs it came with,maybe I can cross reference up a set of Bosch Platinums for it. (I run Bosch Platinum plugs in ALL my stuff.) I'm also expecting to have to rebuild the carb,so if you can tell me what carb this truck has,or a part number for the rebuild kit,that'd be a huge help too. I've already discovered none of the parts stores even have any references to parts for ignition and fuel systems parts in their books. Looks like I'll have to get my own set of parts books for it,huh? Speed

Hey Andy; I wanna get in on this,but I won't commit until I have title in hand for my Mack. No matter how well a deal is set up,there's always the possibility of change before it's complete. But you'll be getting my submission as soon as possible. Speed

How about: Do you most enjoy looking at: Show Macks Working Macks Parade/occasional use Macks Project Macks Speed

So--how much per set are we lookin' at? I'm sure my li'l EH will be needing a set... Speed

I'll cruise over and check that out this weekend. Actually,I kinda like the ones I found on ebay,but 50 bucks each sounds a little extreme right now. BTW-check their website;they have a marbled one thats pretty nice,too,and they'll also custom build 'em to your spec's. Speed