1958 F.W.D.

http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?/topic/39960-our-new-rescuepumper-under-construction/ Red Horse, there are many manufacturers out there that build a good product for a decent price. You may or may not have seen this thread. This is our newest rig, delivered this past August. It is what we call a "Squad Company", basically an enhanced Engine Company or a dual-role truck. It can of course perform engine company operations (deliver water onto the fire) and also basic technical rescue operations such as vehicle extrications/rescues (think jaws of life), rope/high angle rescues and some other basic rescue operations. The final note for this truck with some (not all of the equipment on board was purchased new) was about $433,000. It was built by Ferrara Fire Apparatus of Holden, La. The same truck built by Pierce would probably have cost in excess of $550,000. Note the absence of a LOT of chrome (hey we have to have SOME) or other bells and whistles. One of the only extravagant things we do have is a set of Buell train horns (something me and my old man started a while back...) EDIT: Red Horse I see that you and I were discussing the IFS failures at the end of my new firetruck thread....LOL!!!!

Pierce is known in the fire service to be somewhat of "The Mercedes Benz" of firetrucks.....They are the truck that everyone wants to have but not the one that everyone can afford. The Kool-Aid drinkers think that Pierce Fire Apparatus are the "Second Coming of Christ." Pierce thinks the same of their own products. Many firefighters think that unless if they have a Pierce firetruck, they cannot possibly do their jobs because the fire will not go out unless the firetruck parked out front is a Pierce. It's been alleged that if you listened to a Pierce salesman or company representative, they would tell you the same. Many volunteer companies buy Pierces with all of the bells and whistles because they are the trucks that win the parade trophies. Those of us who are financially responsible to our taxpayers opt to buy our rigs from the "Ford and Chevy" firetruck builders because that is the fiscally responsible thing to do- buy a truck that is cheaper, just as well built that does the job. They don't build a bad product, in fact they build a fine product. But they and their loyal, kool-aid drinking customers/followers need to learn that they are NOT the only truck in town. This issue is related to their in-house IFS. (Pierce is owned by Oshkosh, so I assume the IFS to be an Oshkosh design or a modified Oshkosh design.)

30HP...wow....always blows my mind how much HP fans can rob from you.

This is absolutely fucking hilarious. If you are involved in the fire service, and you regularly follow the fire apparatus manufacturing circles, this story makes you giggle happy giggles (if you don't drink the kool aid. If you do drink the kool aid, this makes you weep sad, sad tears.)

Dug these outta the closet- a ceramic beer mug and liquor glass from the original housing parade on May 20, 1978.

Hey....Where in the heck is Slpwlkr?? I'm starting to worry. Guess I better text him.......

What secret? I dunno what you're talking about.

And don't forget the FWD- first truck I ever rode on, period. Dad took me to a parade when I was 3!!!

I thought that was.........oh, never mind. Tasted like chicken.

The Detroit aint goin anywhere....... But it IS nice to dream E9 or 3408 dreams.........

Swishy I think you're pulling my leg.... Anyone have an E9 or a 3408 laying around they're not doing anything with?

Glad she ran good by the way. What engine/trans?

It's not us you have to worry about.....(ok maybe a little.) It's the DOT man and that black, leather-bound binder that he carries with him that would have made me think twice before I left the yard with that load. They DO occasionally roam country roads....Also here in Pa. local cops have DOT officers that can, have and will continue to pull guys over on back roads, inspect, red-tag and fine you......Just sayin.

Long story short. Remember- First truck that Hahn built with a Turbo. For a long time after the truck was delivered, my father insisted it was a turtle. The other members of the company (not being truckers or having any experience with big trucks other than their firetrucks) thought the truck was the cat's meow and told my pop to "buzz off aint nothing wrong with that truck." Over the years they were convinced that yeah, maybe it is a bit slow. So they tried bigger injectors and other bullshit plays, but nothing ever worked. So sometime around 1995 or so, when it was pretty much forgotten, Dad took it down to Penn DD/A down on State Road in Philly. They looked at it and scratched their heads, and put it on the dyno. Sure enough she was losing about 45-55HP somewhere. They were looking at it when an old-timer walked by and looked- And said "yeah theres the problem....." The turbo exhaust port was facing towards the front of the truck- the 3" exhaust line came off, made a 180 up, around and back to the ass end of the truck, and then there were two 90's to get the exhaust down low. Old timer says "get the right manifold- I think I saw one laying out back in the scrap pile....that will turn the turbo around which will straighten out the exhaust....Then use two 45's to drop it down...Oh,and bump up to 4" pipe. Oh and one more thing, get rid of that Farr intake/air cleaner under the hood there- put an external intake and air cleaner on top of the dog house. All its doing now is sucking hot air and not enough of it." So Dad did what he said with the manifold, the turbo and the exhaust....And "obtained" a new Donaldson canister intake that accidentally fell off a shelf at Jevic's parts room....And holy shit....It was another truck altogether. Penn DD/A even ran it in the dyno for free to see what the performance was....And yes picked up 45-55hp. We have the printouts somewhere.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA You are about as funny as a fart in a jar.

Except for the mud daubber's nest on the turbo blanket....LOL

I have videos of it lighting off the first time (2 short puffs of ether) and driving up and down the driveway but dunno how to load video on here out of my phone??? Anyone know?

I am currently measuring the engine compt and frame rails for the installation of an E9. Or at least a 300 Maxidyne.

Well, as you may have seen in cryptic messages on here the last 2-3 weeks, I can neither confirm or deny that I may have possibly have been hinting at something huge on the horizon. Something big and yellow. Something with something under the hood that is smelly, loud and bad for the ground water tables. Something under the hood that is Un-Holy....It is the spawn of Lucifer himself. Today, my father and I pulled the trigger on acquiring our Fire Company's former 1978 Hahn HCP-12 1250/750 pumper. It was delivered in May of 1978, and it replaced the 1958 F.W.D. It is powered by.....yes....here we go.....Imma gonna hear a lotta shit about this.....But like I said....Crow isn't bad when you deep fry it in the leaked oil.......A 671T mated to an Allison HT740. It is the first truck that Hahn built with a turbocharger. There was a lot of drama with that which I will get into later. We have been somewhat secretive about it as the current owner (the gentleman who bought it from the company after our 2007 Spartan/Toyne Pumper was delivered) made a deal with us that we couldn't turn our backs to. He made the deal with us because Dad and I both have history with it, and we are both members of the company and he really wanted to see it go to someone who would appreciate it. However, the truck has been sitting on his farm in Pipersville Pa. and outside since the spring of 2011- has not moved or started since. We wanted to make sure it ran, drove and was mechanically in good condition before we made a decision to accept it. So 2 weeks ago, armed with my heavy-duty battery charger, we headed over there and hooked the charger onto each of the two 8D batteries for about 45 minutes each. Then when it was time to spin the prop, I zapped one with the 200amp START mode. Nope. Wasnt happening. No fuckin' way. So we gave up, pulled the batteries and Dad took em to his buddy' shop where they charged them with 20 amps for 3-4 days, and then hit them with a load tester. The one battery had an internal short, so forget that one. The other had "some" life in it, So armed with that one good one, we headed back up and tried. Nope. Juice was getting to the starter but just not enough. So we dropped back and punted. I put out the word on here for a set of loaner batteries, and Mike Yarnell was kind enough to help us out with two healthy group 31's. Dad went to Mike's place last week and picked em up, and today, we threw them in, and with two small shots of ether, she fired right up. After about 40 seconds you wouldn't even have known she didnt run for 5+ years, she sounded as if she was still in the firehouse and had gone on a run an hour before. So we got her running, and while we let her idle and build up air, I had brought my air compressor, and got all the tires aired up. When we had enough air, I crawled under her and checked the slack adjusters and smacked the drums with my 5lb hammer while dad pumped the brake pedal. Everything seemed to be in working order, so he released the brakes, and she pulled out of the parking spot where she had been sitting. Pulled her forward onto the asphalt, and I climbed under her again and checked the tires- everything seemed ok. The driveway of the property is about 1/4 mile long, so we took turns taking her up and down the driveway a few times. It's pretty steep at the one end, so one time when I was down at the bottom I came to a complete stop and then jumped on the gas- the turbo was talking to me, saying "take me home, take me home." So we shut her down, and as we were cleaning up our tools, we came to the mutual decision to pull the trigger. The only thing is that she certainly will NOT fit into my garage. Dad has no garage nor enough property (he and mom will probably be getting outta there in a while anyways...) so we gotta find indoor storage. We have one good "potential" fairly close by, and "definite" for $50 a month, however thats in Mahanoy City, about 60 miles from here. Not too fond of the thought of having to go that far, but it may be a short-term solution to store her over the winter. So I have the very first truck I ever rode on- the F.W.D. (Dad took me to a parade when I was 3....) and now I have the truck that I went to my first fire call on (16, an alarm system...) She is also the truck I qualified to drive on when I was 23, drove first on a call as a driver (another alarm system) and also the truck I drove to my first working fire as a driver (second floor of a house...) She has a lot of body issues, but mechanically is in superior condition....As Dad was the chief mechanic on her for virtually her entire life with us. We should be executing the transfer sometime soon. We can keep it where it is until sprig, but shes not inside and out of the weather, where she needs to be.

When I worked in Fleet Maintenance at Jevic they swore by Power Service- and yes, the red bottle. Cannot ever remember having to thaw out fuel lines on any of the tractors, chilled or heated trailers as long as that was used.

Why in the hell would you want to?

My FD (Bryn Athyn) is located down near Philly. I don't run locally. And why didn't you have lunch or dinner at the BMT Hellertown Truck Stop?

I saw a big Mack tow truck on Pa 309 near Tamaqua Pa. I saw a dog in a car. I saw the girl in the car with him but you don't want to see her. I saw a big B-Model Mack truck and some flags. I saw four 12V278 GM Diesels in the engine room of the ex-USCG Cutter Tamaroa WMEC-166 back when Large and Medium werent so Large and Medium. They were both Smalls. I saw this E-One Titan III airport crash fire rescue truck a while back. In fact I think I remember that I may have driven the thing a coupl'a times. I was young and handsome then. The women loved the uniform and the high and tight haircut. I saw this Nun-in-Training's butt cheek peeking out. I saw the Ghostbusters headed northboung on the Pa Greenstamp between 20 and 31. I saw this 1978 Hahn 1250/750 Firetruck at a farm in Ottsville, Pa. It replaced the 1958 FWD Firetruck. It has one of those silly weedeater engines- with a turbocharger, too. First truck that Hahn built with a turbocharger in fact. The word Hahn is German (or maybe Japanese. I'm not sure.) It translates into "Cock." Here is a picture of a cock next to a cock. I saw the 1958 FWD and the 1978 Hahn parked next to each other at a show back not too long after I bought the FWD. These are my Dalmatians "Tiller" my big male and "Brooklyn" was my female. They both lived good long lives, past 11 years each which is an eternity for a Dalmatian. They were great dogs. This pic is probably summer of 2002 or 2003. I was better looking then, too.

If its a 1250 it's 6"

Most pumps from 1000 up to 1750 for the most part have the same basic case and internals. The GPM increases with the quantity and size of intakes and discharges. Pump gearing and engine size also come into play. So the short answer is yes, they are probably the same. For a better answer, call Gregg Geske at Waterous and have both serial numbers handy. Tell him that Randy, Sam Yardumian's son sent you.