vanscottbuilders

Dropping the turkey in salt water sounds like a real good idea. I'm going to to do my own on Sunday, and I'll have to try that. Won't be smoking it. (No smoker) But I'll slow cook it for a good long time with plenty of butter under the skin to keep it moist. Had to have the in-law's turkey today - so I'm still hungry. PVS

Just wanted to wish everyone here a Happy Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is one of the "feel good" holidays. Our economy might be poor, and our concerns growing every day, but right now we don't have to think about any of it. Just eat, be thankful and be happy. And - it is turkey season - so Tom, you better lay low for a couple of days.

A cook shed sounds like a good idea. I could do one off the end of my barn at home, pretty close to the back door. I've got an old gas grille that I was thinking of converting to a rotisserie. Along with the regular gas grille and the charcoal grille, they would pretty well fill up a cooking shed. I'm just thinking of a lean-to roof to keep the rain and the snow off. Maybe with a light too, although the light won't really help the quality of the food too much. Nothing will except a new cook. Got one of the 16' long rack sections assembled and lifted into place today. It will sure be nice to get all of the parts and stuff off the floor. Joe - how's the family? Probably growing like crazy!

Spent today taking apart my wood pallet racking. Some ideas just don't work out. This was one of them. Got some used heavy duty steel pallet racking, and plan to spend tomorrow putting it together and getting it loaded up. Other than my failed attempt at building the racks, I am really happy with the way this shop is coming together. Once all of the pallets are up off of the floor, there will be plenty of room to work on two or three trucks at once, without getting in each other's way. And room to store a couple more, with room in one bay for a tractor & trailer combination, for trailer service, or for crane unloading of a trailer. It's been snowing here off and on for a week or so. Cold too. Just a reminder of what's coming in the next few weeks. For what it's worth - I actually hope that we can have a nice cold and snowy winter. Sure beats that icy, slushy, rainy crap. And a white Christmas really sets the Holiday tone. Plugging away on the B-67 frame and running gear. Looks pretty good. About ready to final paint the frame. Then we can start the plumbing and wiring. This has been a fairly expensive project - I may have to apply for a federal bail-out. I'm sending for the forms ASAP. Hope everybody has a good week.

Bob, Also don't forget that if you do this - the starter needs to be adapted for 12v use, rather than the existing 24v, and the entire system needs to be reviewed for negative grounding, rather than the old positive ground. Paul VS

Bob, Actually my approach is exactly the same as Larry's. He just did a much better job of explaining himself. I am also replacing the harness with new. But after talking to Top-O-Hill, I was told that by running the internally regulated alternator wire to the batteries, the harness essentially is unchanged. I did the same thing Larry did with the starter solenoid for the same reason, and I left the old series parallel switch box in place, with a new floor panel in it, and a hinged lid, to mount my new maxi brake and trailer brake buttons in. I've left the original air switches in the dash for an original appearance. Have Fun! Paul Van Scott

If you call Top-O-Hill, they will ask you how you want the harness set up. I have a new one from them for a B model that I am using a single big battery, no series parallel switch, and a single wire alternator in. They set it up just the way I wanted it. Barry at Watt's Mack also has harnesses made up for them that they sell. Paul Van Scott

If anything could take the place of my old Macks - it's an old Peterbilt. Nice looking truck. And pretty good video, too. Thanks, Paul Van Scott

This is just a thought, and I don't know if it will work or not - but, why don't you try Cummins Customer Service? They very well may have a reprinted manual for you. Most companies have a "historical department" or a "records department". I think it's worth a try. Good Luck, Paul Van Scott

For a 30 or 40 mile move you might consider talking with a local trucker. Some ideas might include a local excavating contractor with a lowboy, or a local flatbed carrier. Depending on the truck, it might even be able to move on a tag type trailer behind a dump truck, or potentially, a heavy pick-up truck. I like to use the local trucks whenever possible. You should try to get a fairly accurate weight, and measure the height, width and length to give someone a good idea of what he is picking up. Good Luck, Paul Van Scott

Don't forget Mack itself. A lot of R model parts are still available. Paul Van Scott

The chicken looks good! Not so sure about putting the squirrels on a can for dinner - but, it might be worth a try.

...and you were asking ME about cooking ribs? I could take a few lessons from you! But I usually only do one rack at a time, since there's just the two of us. There's only two of us too - I'm just bigger than you.

I agree - charcoal is better, and the flavor can be "adjusted" with different wood chips, either wet or dry. There is nothing like de-strapped ribs slow cooked over charcoal with a lot of carmelized "customized" barbeque sauce. And beer. Can't forget the essentials. I've been experimenting, and the best method I've tried yet is layering the racks of ribs on top of each other, two or three high; turn the bottom one to the top often, and rotate the sides facing down for a really slow, even cook. Brown each side up real good before adding any sauce. Then keep on cooking with the sauce just getting nice and dark. Mmm -mm. Gotta go - I'm heading out now to get charcoal. Made myself hungry.

Hi Joe, I am gathering some "fleet" photos to prepare for a big truck sale. I'll get you those R model pictures ASAP. I've decided to sell a few of my old trucks to fund a B73L project that keeps calling me. Paul Van Scott

The Autocar was built for use in WW II, and I believe that it continued in use through the Korean war, though I am not sure when production actually stopped. So that would make it anywhere from the early 40's thru the early 50's. There was a good article a while back in the Wheels of Time about a man who used one of these with a homemade lowboy trailer at the beginning of his career. Paul Van Scott

It's getting toward turkey cooking season. Time to start passing around those lies .... I mean recipes. Got a few new ideas to try. And hoping to put a couple of wild birds in the freezer this fall. I like them a lot. And I still think that mixer would make the absolute best portable pit BBQ cooker in the world!! If not a cooker, then we could use it to dispense the sauce!! Johnsonville Brats owns the best cooking grille I've ever seen. They took a 45' or so stainless tank trailer - split it horizontally, hinged one side, added a catwalk on the other side, put the proper hardware & grille racks in for gas burners, and it is about as cool as you can get. It gets pulled from site to site with a nice looking tractor. Not nearly as cool as as an antique hot rod Mack, but not too bad none the less. Something to think about --- Paul VS

I think a late 50's DC cab Autocar tandem tractor is one of the best looking trucks ever built. You can black ball me from here if you want - but that's what I think! Paul Van Scott

If someone wants - I have several good running original engines for this truck - both 673's and 711's. This particular truck is too good to scrap, someone should do it up right. Send me a personal message on this forum for details. Paul Van Scott

We will have about half of a 53' step deck trailer available for a trip from Rochester, NY to Jasper, Tx. (Northeast Texas) in about three weeks. (end of November) That equates to a standard size conventional, tandem axle tractor. A cabover might be too tall, although we could talk about it. Parts are also welcome, but you will have load and unload them at each end of the trip. The ideal load for us, in this scenario, is a running truck that can get on and off the trailer with minimal fuss. The space will be available in both directions, if anyone has need for very economical transportation to or from the Northeast and to or from northeast Texas or Beaumont/Houston area. We will be loaded with crane boom both ways, but should have plenty of space and load capacity available. Send me a personal message on this site, or call me at (585) 509-4783 to make your arrangements. It is first come - first served, and a one time opportunity. This trip is on one of our own trucks, so we can make it very reasonable for a fellow hobbyist. Paul Van Scott