Freightrain

You can still get a jacobs style brake. 'Bout 1500 bucks!! Barry looked into it a few years ago for me for my 673.

I am just in the process of converting my B back to a fifth plate again. I converted it back in the begining so I could pull my gooseneck trailer(with ball style hitch). I bought the insert from Putnam hitches and it slides in where the ball insert was. Now I can hook up to my plate. Much easier to deal with too!! No screwing around trying to line up on a ball anymore.

I think ALOT of water would have to be sucked thru to get thru the entire filter element and create any kind of trouble....or help. I think the moisture would drip thru the element, then drop out the weep hole in bottom of housing. If I remember right, most of the newer trucks have a rubber one way that allows water out, and keeps from sucking air in.

I found that GVW thing out a couple years ago. I had plated mine for 33K since I knewn I was at 27K and you could choose, 22, 33, 4?, etc. I then got Hist. Plates and I thought the GVW was null/void. WRONG. I got questioned once at a scales and was told that the rating was still there and it was to be followed. Whew! I don't have to really worry about going over it, but luckily I now know that. I had "chauffer license" way back in mid 80's. I let it laps when I quit driving for company I still work for. I wish I had kept it, since I then had to take the whole freak'n test over. The original test was just multiple guess! The CDL is not much harder, but you do have to drive for it now. As for what trailer you use in test. Not an issue, as long as truck has air brakes that is what is important. I was going to use my B, but I would have had to have someone that could drive it home with me(that also had a CDL). In Ohio, you can't drive a comm. vehicle UNTIL you get your printed license. If I drove my B, someone would have to drive it home(or at least out of site). Plus the twin stick routine...that would have been a trip getting them to let me two hand it LOL!! I know Stan took his test in his Pete. He was allowed some "latittude" with shifting and passed. Not sure how the lady would have taken it in my truck. Might have passed, might have failed me. That is why I used there little truck.

I got caught in one of those situations also. I was going to a campgrounds a couple years ago, driving the B with my 40ft trailer in tow. The road.......or mule trail as I called it was anything but flat/straight. I made up more gear ratio's that day then I ever had before LOL!! I just had pulled away from a stop and had to run around a very sharp cutback then up a very steep hill and around a bend. I used every bit of the road at a VERY slow pace!! Just no rushing 170 hp!!! I looked and saw a local barney fife had come up behind me. DOH!! He seemed to be in a hurry...and I was worried about how I was using all the road to get around. I quickly jerked the flashers on(that's what you're suppose to do, right?) I finally found a straight section and he blew past me. Whew! It had been a longggg trip and I was in no mood to be hassled. Luckily I have yet to get hassled bad in the truck.

A 5x4 would be pretty cool!!!

Oh, ah, ya...that's it!!! Thanks Terry.

The test facility that I used had truck for rent. I think it was $175 for the test. Little DT466 Binder/5 spd/40ft flatbed. Really easy to drive. Not all places give this option and I had to drive an hour or so to get to this place. I have a test place in town, but they don't rent trucks. I had enough time in my B, plus my pickup pulling my 40 ft trailer that I was pretty comfortable driving the rental unit.

Hey....extra turbo motor laying around? Hmmm, I could put it to GOOD use!!! What's a 676 rated at? 237 or 285?

I made my own permanent hitch for the back of my B. Bought a reciever tube, cut, welded and then covered in diamond plate. I know what you mean, something you could just throw on any truck to get it home. What I did is a bit overkill, but it's staying on the truck. I suppose you could mock up something pretty easily, use clamps or such to secure to rear of frame after hooking to fifthwheel. I'm familiar with the truck pull apparatus that Trent is speaking of. That is not far off from what he needs, just need to be able to lock it down in the rear.

Clutch? Huh?? Why would you need to use that Bob?? LOL!!

What Tom...no BIG turbo motor?? LOL!!! Come on...got to put some horse's to that widebody. If you got to do it, might as well do it good.

If you go find the twin stickin question,you'll find the video I made driving my B model. I was doing the "floating" gears routine(no clutch usage). You match the speed of motor to drivetrain speed and the gears just fall together without a click. I'm lucky...my old Mack tranny is more than loose....LOL!! It floats gears easily.

Ya, operating manuals are available either thru Mack museum(basically recopies of originals) or thru Ebay.

My B had roto chambers on it. They were mounted inboard enough that I put #30's on it and had no modifications to do. It was a simple install....cheap too!

Yup...I bought mine as a runner but sat alot. I've done maintenance/upgrades but basically just drive the wheels off it! I had no real experience with this stuff either so was a learn-as-I-go too. The internet was a godsend! With places like this I picked up quick and had fun doing it. I don't have facilities to do major work, but I did my own kingpins(really easy on a , changed to 12v start, compressor rebuild, etc. If you purchase a truck that has been sitting in a field, plan on alot of tinkering to get it roadworthy and dependable. Find something that has been on the road recently to at least have a good starting point. They all have their weakpoints, but a B model is a pretty stout piece and you won't wear it out anymore then it was when you bought it. Other than cab sheetmetal everything else is easy to replace/repair and available. I replaced rear spring bushings, brake chambers, air lines. Most can be done with basic hand tools don't cost too much in parts. The hardest part is getting a decent deal on the truck. Some price them as gold, but are junk. If you're lucky you'll find a nice truck at a decent price. That will give you some room to spend on it without mortgaging the house. Don't think you'll ever get all the money out of these trucks.....they are like boats(hole in water, surrounded by wood, into which one pours money! ). You just gotta love it to do it.

Where did I read a post about someone looking for a truck like this? Or am I cornfuzed about something?

When I put my new full fenders on, I had to drill the frame for brackets. One small starter hole, then I blew thru with a bigger one. A touch of cutting oil makes things last longer. It was not too difficult. Shoot, I wish I had MORE frame! Just my luck.

Mine gets held to the FLOOR to get running when below freezing. I think that is what is in the manual if I remember right? Then I ease up as it starts to catch and actually run. I then have to hold it up to 1000 rpm or so to keep it running til it gets over the lope-da-lope routine. I have not had to use ether since I put the 4-12v batteries in it. It cranks til I'm blue in the face and never slows down. Purrrfect!

Could you just put the 673 pan on the 237 so the starter will fit? Or is there something that would restrict that? Or is swapping the pans a pain? I was thinking the 673C motor(250 hp version), if I could find one cheap and maybe freshen it up. Just a thought...since maybe when hell freezes over I "might" ever get to put a bigger motor in my B.

I drag my 40ft race car trailer weekly with my B. It's been from Indy to Syracuse to BG, KY. Everyone in town knows my truck...as I drive it constantly even to car shows/cruise-ins, work, to the local rootbeer joint or Lowe's.

Not a problem....just thought I'd ask since the R model visor was brought up and this thread was falling off.

I always hit the scales. I've only been pulled once, and she checked my registration, license and apologized for holding me up. I exited stage right.....quickly!! LOL!! Been four years and usually get a thumbs up, smile/wave, or completely ignored. It's always better to be ignored....then CHASED DOWN and yelled at!

Any luck yet Barry??

That is why the big trucking firms have their own CDL mills. Quick in/out hand them the license and get on the ROAD! I don't think it was much safer 50 yrs ago with all the scary stories you hear from the old timers and the stuff they used to do. The equipment is better, most times. Seat time is the bit thing...being comfortable doing it all is the biggest downfall.