vanscottbuilders

Well said James - I echo the same sentiment - FREEDOM ISN'T FREE!! And I didn't get any call from Tom - did you? What's he think we are, chopped liver? He's probably just about 7 or 8 hours north for you, and 7 or 8 hours south for me - just a nice early day ride. We could be there for dinner easy. But - he didn't even think of us. Happy 4th! Paul VS

I don't know exactly where the Tackaberry truck collection is, but that would be a great stop to make, if it fits in your schedule. Paul Van Scott

Boy, these conversations sure do take some interesting twists and turns along the way---- Especially with us older folks, who can't seem to stay focused on one thing for very long. (It's because we know soooo much that it's tough to keep it all contained in our heads!!) Anyway - back to poor Jocko, who is innocently waiting for an answer - In my opinion, if you are going to work the Wheel Horse with a snow plow, or any attachment, it might be best to experiment with the length of straight pipe to see if there is any substantial difference in power. A longer pipe should deliver more torque at lower RPM, along with good noise. The long pipe may be a better choice than a short pipe, which is just delivering noise. The magic is in timing the exhaust pulses to be exiting the pipe just as a new charge is being forced into the pipe. However - there is a point of diminishing return on the torque gain through an ever longer pipe. If you check with some of the local folks who have experience using the smaller tractors in pulling contests, you will learn more than you may ever need to know. Most of them use straight pipes, and everybody has a different recipe for determining pipe length. I don't believe that you will hurt the engine with a straight pipe, as, like Rob says, there is a certain amount of resistance (back pressure) created by forcing the exhaust gasses through any tube. The really shorty type of tube would be the 1st to cause trouble, if that were the case. Another good reason for a longer pipe. Nice tractor. Paul Van Scott

Very nice truck. Actually - a really nice collection of stuff altogether! I like the Case crawler and the B-E hoe myself. Thanks, Paul Van Scott

What type of wheels, and type of tires (solid or pneumatic?). Is the chain drive running gear all there? How long is the frame and wheelbase? What condition is the whole piece in? There are people here on this site who may be quite interested in the AC frame, with a little more info. Thanks, Paul Van Scott

Remember this the next time you vote - IF YOU KEEP VOTING FOR THE SAME PEOPLE - YOU WILL KEEP GETTING THE SAME RESULTS. Isn't that an awful lot like the definition of insanity?? Paul Van Scott

Mike, I just recently bought a Bendix AD-9 dryer and mount. It's around $400.00 with the mount and harness, and a pretty standard air dryer in the industry. But - I don't think I'm going to use it in the B-67. It's just too big! Probably, I'll end up looking for a particular Haldex unit, that I know is quite a bit smaller, and less expensive. The fact is - the way that we use these trucks, I'm not really convinced that we need air dryers at all. Good routine air tank draining should take care of any moisture or oil issues. Paul Van Scott

John, There is good comment made earlier here - You might consider contacting Dale Francis at Francis Engineering, if you haven't done so already. I have heard that he is an authority on these V-8's, especially in the aftermarket and modifications that might be possible. He may be able to help you with some of the historical and technical data. Paul Van Scott

This is fantastic!! And there is absolutely no way to argue with the logic. Paul Van Scott

John, I think I would disagree with the term "infamous". Anyone I know who has, or currently is, operating an E-9 really likes it. Two of the contractors who work for us have fleets of five or six E-9 equipped Macks, and really don't know what they are going to replace them with, as they time out. Saw the new truck in Macungie - sure looks good! Paul Van Scott

You're right - that's really good. Just another reminder that every elected official, every government employee, and every county, town and school employee works for us. And we let them get away with everything that is happening. It won't change until we change it. Period. Vote in new people, and enact term limits of two terms each, just for starters. And send these SOB's all of your letters, e-mails and phone calls. Let them know that you have had enough! Do it Now!! Paul Van Scott

Picked up some good ideas in Macungie for this DM-800. There was a really nice one there on display. We are tentatively planning using the Allison as the main transmission, with a heavy auxiliary transmission as a "range finder" to provide both better low gearing, and better overdrive gearing. This project is ways off - but we are gathering ideas now.

Life's funny. I guess you need to be prepared for anything. Still, with all of the excellent photos you take - it's hard to believe that you missed something this interesting! Have a good week. PVS

Any word on the stray ostrich? I mean - did anyone else besides you see it? Did it talk to you? Was it pink? Seriously - It was a pretty nice truck show in Macungie. You would like that show anyway, it's in a park with a lot of big shade trees. Although, I think there was going to be some interesting times getting the trucks out of the grass after today's rain! There was a fantastic little military half-track running around pulling stuff out of the mud. It ran like a sewing machine, and there was no noise from the tracks and undercarriage. Nice toy! Lots of good trucks at the show. And a lot I haven't seen before. Jimmy says he's going to Winchester, Va. for the show with his W-900 - maybe you could meet up with him there. I can't go that weekend. PVS

I'd had enough of wandering around in the rain by 10:00 AM. Should have stayed for the BMT picture, though. Nice show, especially Friday! And a lot of late arrivals on Saturday morning. Thanks for the pictures Morgan. Paul Van Scott

Marc, There are people here who can explain this a lot better than I will, but I'll take a shot - Thermodyne diesels were a great leap forward in dependable diesel truck engines in the 1950's and early 60's. With minimal care, it was hard to kill a Mack Thermodyne diesel. As the US developed more and better roads, the need for maintaining higher driving speeds, while moving heavier loads became a real consideration. The Maxidyne engines, particularly the early engines, are basically an evolutionary development from the Thermodyne diesels. They were developed in the early 60's, and became instantly popular for their dependable and economical power. (I don't know when the Thermodyne was discontinued) Although physically they are very similar in size, the six cylinder Maxidyne develops a lot more torque much earlier in the power band (the factory called it "high torque rise") than the older Thermodyne. The increase in torque, and the broader useful operating RPM range make the engines popular yet today in a wide variety of truck applications. The Maxidynes are very popular conversion engines in older Macks, again, because they are very similar in size. The engines are also fairly available, and parts are reasonably easy to find. Maxidyne horsepowers range from the basic 237 hp up to 300 hp for the two valve engines. Whereas the older Thermodyne naturally aspirated 673's topped out at 185 hp, the 711NA at 211 hp, and the turbocharged 673's could make 250 hp. All of the Maxidyne engines are turbocharged. Only a couple of series of Thermodynes employed turbos, and only one of those series was really good. Turbocharging is obviously a much more efficient method for force- feeding air to an engine, but it does place additional stress on the engine internal parts. The Maxidyne was designes for turbocharging as a critical part of it's operating system. As time went on, a four valve per cylinder head was developed for the Maxidyne. That's too new for my limited knowledge. Conversions are usually pretty straight forward from a Thermodyne to a Maxidyne, with the most common challenges that I have heard coming from differing type clutch operators, differing clutch set-ups, and water pump lengths. Space considerations can play a role too, when you are dealing with the intercooler box and piping for the "tip turbine" higher horsepower Maxidynes. Some consideration needs to be given to the transmission when converting to the higher power. "Drive it like you own it" is a saying that applies here. The older triplexes, duplexes and quadraplex boxes were not rated for the high torque Maxidyne engines, and some care needs to be taken, if you are thinking of using one. They will work, but the transmission can also fail from the increased power, if not treated carefully. Hope this explanation helps. Paul Van Scott

I just "inherited" a truck that I know absolutely nothing about. Somehow, I wish that was unusual, but it's not. I've never even seen it. As a compensation for a Mack engine that I bought from a local company that had a cracked block which was unknown to me or the former owner, I have been given a Mack DMM-800, less the rear ends. The truck has a brand new Mack certified 350 hp engine and an Allison ---750 transmission and a retarder (once again - I don't know anything about it). So - now with Jimmy retired - he's thinking that this might be a good candidate for his "retirement heavy tractor". Doesn't everybody need one of these? And don't you like how he just assumed ownership. We have a customer that he has moved buildings for, for thirty years. They have several DM-800's with the rear-ends intact. Those trucks are pretty much shot, but the rears are alright - sooo.... The building movers are in a little bind with Jimmy threatening to quit for good - can you smell the wheels of creation turning? Stay tuned.............

I've had the best prices using a common carrier like Yellow. And I've had good luck with UPS - freight service. Fed-Ex is great, if I'm in a hurry for things at work. Yellow is my 1st choice, though, for truck stuff, if I can't find someone with room on a trailer. Be sure the little parts are all boxed up really well, and best if the whole thing is on a good pallet too. Paul VS

Have a good week! Hope you survived the beating after taking that picture of Jo and putting it on the Internet! PVS

For what it's worth - I have two very early R-600 Macks, and the non-metallic greyish green in the B-7-- I looked at matches that R cab color perfectly. Thanks for backing me up Matt, I didn't think my eyes had gotten that bad! Mike, I know some trucks were custom painted by the factory, but this color seems too "run of the mill" to be ordered as an extra cost "custom". And it does seem that the late series of B models do have a mix of different interior paints from one truck to the next. As said here earlier - Probably best to take a small interior piece, that has not been exposed to the sun, to the paint vendor for exact color matching. Paul Van Scott

Tony, Before you go the Cummins route - consider a Mack 237 Maxidyne, or the 250, 285 or 300 hp versions. Physically, the engines are basically the same size as the 673 that you have, although the intercooler apparatus on the 285/300's will eat up some additional room, up in the area under the doghouse, where you don't have much room to spare. The 237 would be almost ideal, as you could use your existing transmission and clutch, flywheel and bellhousing hardware. It develops a lot more torque, and it does so at a much lower rpm range, making it a lot easier to drive, especially for high traffic or "stop & go" situations. Acceleration should be much improved, and pulling power would be very different. The 237 is readily available, and all of the parts are easy to come by. And, best of all - it says Mack on it! Very few people would even know that you changed it. Congratulations on getting the old girl running! Paul Van Scott

Maybe we could convince Barry to bring some adhesive name tags and marking pens with him, and we could sign in at their booth, and put on the name tags. Just a thought.

Just to keep this discussion going - Almost all of the green B Mack interiors are a metallic paint - but apparently not all. I was looking at a group of trucks this week, and found a B-7--with a flat, non-metallic green interior paint. It certainly appeared original, with no sign of repaint inside anywhere. Kind of a grayish, light green color that I thought looked a lot better than the metallic green that is in so many of the old Macks. I know the early R models had a non-metallic green paint inside, and this looked much the same. I don't know what year the B-7-- is, but I suppose it could be a late production B model. Anyway - I found it interesting that this particular green was so different from any I've seen. Paul Van Scott

Mike, You have a right to be confused - I was reading two forums back to back, and talking on the phone. Waaay too much activity for me on a Thursday. And I got disoriented. Anyway, I apologize for suggesting that you were selling your truck. It's that darn Rob again - always messing with my mind. Seriously, we were at Huntsville with Jimmy's Kenworth W900A. A blue & white original paint scheme long nose truck with a Caterpillar 3408 engine. Parked next to the dark blue Mack H-67 tractor. We also took in the Davidson Space and Rocket Center on Saturday afternoon. It was right next door to our hotel. Fascinating stuff!! Sunday we went over to the North Alabama Railroad Museum. Nice old stuff in there, too. There was a B-53 (red & silver) truck that was just recently finished - did you look that over at all? The details and the workmanship were superb! I think it came in late Friday or early Saturday. It might be the nicest "resto-mod" Mack I have ever seen. The integration of the updates were really impressive. Are you going to make it to Macungie? Paul Van Scott

Watt's Mack's booth at noon on Saturday June 20th. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks, Paul Van Scott