vanscottbuilders

If you think time is flying now - just wait a short while. It gets worse!! I'm not sure how time can be any different today than it was for me fifty years ago, but it sure does seem to go faster and faster. We're all pulling for you and your new family. Best Wishes, and Keep us posted. Thanks, Paul Van Scott

Speaking of being a lab rat - has anyone tried a PAC exhaust brake with their old diesel? It sure looks like a simple and effective way to help the service brakes. I know Williams was a big exhaust brake manufacturer, but I haven't found any information about their current products. We just had a rented straight truck for moving some work stuff - an Isuzu with a six cylinder diesel, and a factory exhaust brake - really nice, smooth and quiet braking. The brake would automatically shut off at about 15 mph. It was plenty strong enough to hold a steady speed down a pretty steep grade, and to slow the truck before a curve, rather than using the service brakes. And - it looks like about half the cost of a Jacobs or equivalent TEC engine brake. Thanks, Paul Van Scott

Thanks, I'm going into the office tomorrow, and I will try my new found knowledge on the truck photos. Just might work !! PVS

If there is a nice picture here of my dogs, I think I am making progress!! No Mack photos on the home computer. PVS

I think that the problem has to be the Google Picasa photo holding system. I will take some current pictures and try my old Kodak Easy Share system. Never had any trouble with it. And it's a local company for me. Paul VS

These are some early photos of my B-67 restoration. Please forgive the photo quality. The truck, originally a city tractor in Philadelphia, was really in very solid condition. Minimal body welding required, and in running condition (yard driveable) before the disassembly. The disassembly began in November 06. Today the frame rails are completely bare, sandblasted and epoxy primed. The cab has the sheet metal work completed and is in red oxide primer for sanding. I have a wiring harness coming from Top-O-Hill for a 12v negative ground system, using a single wire alternator. After a lot of discussion and brain-storming, I decided to go with a 4.28 final drive in the original mack rear end housing on a softened spring stack for ride quality. I am planning a nine speed overdrive transmission behind the original 673P diesel. A Pac exhaust brake is probably in the mix, too. (Keeping my Jake brake for a future project) Of course new brakes and lines are part of the picture, with maxi brakes on the rear axle. Staying on the Daytons with new radials all around. Not using my power steering on this truck. I expect my use of this tractor will be limited to local and light loads. It was my first Mack purchase, and is probably less than an ideal truck for much other than local use. (space limited both inside and under the hood) But - it will be a heck of a nice local truck! I have a pretty nice 25 ton Eager Beaver lowboy to pull. I will update with more photos soon. Paul Van Scott

I think I'd better get one. Thanks, Paul VS

That looks like a really good iron stew pot. And I re-season my cast iron frying pans each time I use them, too. I am curious, How do you keep the fire slow and low enough to let the pot simmer while the stew cooks? I normally cook my stews and soups on the stove in the kitchen, but this looks like a great idea, if the fire can be controlled. Paul VS

I purchased one of Barry's TEC engine brakes. Parts quality looks really good. Packaging was really good and solid. My understanding is that all of the parts are interchangeable with Jacobs brakes of the same model. And these kits will work on any of the two valve, six cylinder Mack diesels. What probably swayed me more than anything else is that new parts are currently available. We have a couple of older Jake units. Occasionally when a solenoid fails or something breaks, parts can be a hassle. On the hobby trucks that is not such a big deal, but on a work truck parts availability is an issue. I have not used PAC brakes, so I can't comment on them. Other than the fact that, once again, I really do not like buying something from out of the country, I think the TEC brake is a good replacement for the obsolete Jacobs unit. Barry, I hope you can see your way clear to inventory a new TEC brake for your stock, to have available for sale. Paul Van Scott

Had my old R-600 out for a ride yesterday. Nice old truck and runs so sweet. I just went to the gravel quarry where I keep the old girl to check the anti-freeze and I ended up starting and running the truck up to temperature, then driving it around for a while, then looking it all over for the hundredth time. Before I knew it, the afternoon was gone. Not a bad way to spend a day. My old lowboy trailer is loaded full with parts from the shop that I don't need right away, things like old wheels & tires, rear end and front axle, air suspension with frame cut-off etc. So I couldn't hook it up to take the tour around the pit. Too bad - it would have liked the ride too. On another note - I set the B-67 cab on the frame to check for fit, and to make me feel better about a little progress. Looks really nice sitting up there! Just ordered air line material and brake valves for it, and need to order a wiring harness ASAP. The rear end rebuild and ratio change is underway and all the springs are going to a spring shop for repairs and modifications. Real glad I cut the rear U-bolts - I found one stack almost completely broken. No sign of any damage while the stack was all together. Front springs look brand new. And the front spring rubbers - which look impossible to find, and expensive, just happen to look brand new too. Sheet metal work should be complete in the next couple of weeks and reassembly is in full swing. I have Picasa from Google on my computers for photo management. Does anyone know how to get the photos from there to BMT? I, being a computer illiterate person, have not been able to figure it out. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me out.

Spanky, Where on the East coast? There is some possibility that we might be able to put together a combo load including B61Fred's new Pete, which is also in Oregon. And I think I have a B61 cab & chassis in Wyoming to bring home to NY. Sure would help if we could load from East to West, too. Paul Van Scott

Barry at Watts Mack has Jake brake kits for two valve engines, I believe. Bought one myself a while back from them. And you are right - they are getting harder to find. Paul Van Scott

Hi Adam, It might be helpful if you could post the exact engine that you need. There may have been only one engine in that particular truck model, I don't know, but typically the engines were used in more than one series of truck. We have a lot of firetruck enthusiasts on these forums, I think you came to the right place. Just for starters - try Kevin All at All Macks. (www.allmacks.com) I'm not a fire truck guy myself, but I know that he has at least one 40's vintage fire truck in his yard. And I know there is someone in Punxsatawny(?) Pa. who has old Mack fire equipment. Tell them you heard it here. Good Luck, Paul Van Scott

I don't think our H-63 was on Dennis Meahan's OldMacks site. I could be wrong though. There is a guy in North Carolina who has several H-61 and H-63 tractors. Brad Wike is his name. He has a good website, although it takes some time to download. (Lots of photos) www.bradsclassictrucks.com I think. The early Mack cabovers, other than the W series, seem to be concentrated on the East coast, and specifically in the Southeast. From what I see, there are not too many of these H-63's around. Appears to be more H-67 cabovers. We are pretty excited about this newest find. The trouble with getting another project truck is that I want to start that project, and I am not even close to finishing the one in the shop. Probably just like everybody else - what I really need is a lot of money, a huge shop and a very understanding wife. My shop is pretty good, and my wife is pretty understanding - I just don't have any money. Ah Well. How's your work doing - any busier?

I guess I need to ask one of those dumb questions. Sorry for being so ignorant. I've never heard the term "bailey channel" before. Can you please explain it. Thanks, Paul Van Scott

Strange weather indeed. Our fall temperature is way above normal. We just got our 1st frost here last night. Normal date is mid-September. In fact, we've quite often gotten snow in October before. Sounds like you guys are getting the frost at the same time. I think both of you are probably a month behind us normally. We have gotten quite a bit of rain through September and October. Too late for the farmers, but it sure helped the lakes and water supply. Paul Van Scott

Thanks James, I found that story again the other night, myself. That was a nice truck - I hope that truck is in good hands. Joe might have had more power than we have! If memory serves me correct - he used a 1693 Caterpillar. Ours has the Mack 673. Big difference! I've got to try and get a hold of Fred Beauchamp in Vermont. He had a really nice H-63, that I understand he has sold. The interior in his was perfect, and he might know where to find some of the materials and sources for parts. I like the hunt as much as the finished project. Paul VS

Been an interesting past few days. For the 1st time ever, I am sharing a project with a friend. A friend new to trucks. Although his dad drove a Selden years ago delivering coal. It is surprising to me how many people are interested in these old trucks. And people from all walks of life. Kind of cool actually. I've got a top notch hot rod builder doing sheet metal work for my B-67. He's more excited about this truck than any rod in his shop! Those people who think these trucks are reserved for those of us with "background" or experience are very small-minded and will actually hurt the the hobby in the long run. Hopefully we have covered the bases well enough to avoid the pitfalls that can come from misunderstandings in a partnership. We bought Kevin All's H-63 with the intent of doing a complete restoration. Keep your eyes open on the BMT forums for Dennis "Cherry Picker" Christiano. I know he has tried to join, and may have had some difficulty getting in. Anyway, he'll be here soon. As I said before, we are looking for any information about originality, particularly with the interior detail. The exterior is complete with all moldings and emblems, so that should be pretty easy. There probably will be some concessions to usability; like maxi brakes and plastic air lines, but we would like to keep the original power train, wheels and exterior details, and keep the inside as it was new. (OK, maybe an air seat, but one that could be changed out quickly) Next on my list of "Mack wants" is something with an "L" cab and a small sleeper. Ideally an LT series truck. But a B series with the bigger L cab would do fine. I've seen a couple of possibilities, but the time is not quite right. Need to finish at least one before I bring home another one.

Well my trip to Kevin All's place last week got more expensive today. I became the proud owner of a pretty straight and decent H-63 cabover Mack. Single axle diesel tractor with a duplex. Pretty standard stuff. Needs a total rehab. Given the rarity of the truck, I will be looking for any information as to originality. Things like interior details are going to be fairly important to me. It is a cool old truck! And it looks to be very complete, except as I said, the interior is missing some of the finishing touches. If anyone has any knowledge of these old cabovers, I would sure be appreciative. We probably will not do too much to the old girl for a year or so. I need time to complete my B-67 and get the R-600 in the shop and painted. But I will probably put it on a trailer and take it to the Watt's Mack anniversary party using one of the other old dogs to haul it. At least then I will have a bunk to take a nap in! Maybe I could rent the bunk out to other tired show-goers, by the hour?

Glenn is right - by the nature of a duplex, triplex or quadraplex Mack transmission, there are actually two separate transmissions mated in one case. Hence two sticks. The gear ratios do overlap in some instances, especially when there may be an overgear in each of the transmissions like a TRT-7220. You still have, as Glenn said, all 15 gears, but you may only use 12 or 13 of them on a regular basis. Confusing, I know. But - If it were easy anyone could do it! Good question, Paul Van Scott

Congratulations Dale - If you get anxiety pangs from missing the old girl, and the red wine isn't helping - call me, I'll come down and tow a boat or two around for you. Make sure Dave Brown joins us on these forums, and puts the truck in the B Model Registry. Meanwhile, I can ask around for a qualified driver. Do you have a phone # for Dave Brown? Paul Van Scott

I had a very pleasant experience this past Friday. I went to Harpersfield, NY to meet with Kevin All, the owner of All Macks. Nice day, nice trucks, nice people and very fair pricing. Kevin has a new web page - www.AllMacks.com He also has a really good selection of used Mack, mostly B and R model parts and whole trucks. Pretty well organized yard - and a lot of good stories. People like this make the sport very enjoyable indeed. Try them - I think you will like what you find.

With all of the asking around I have done, the general opinion is that, unless you have a fairly new diesel with synthetic seals and O rings in the fuel system, the 100% biodiesel might not be your best option. And the ASE article seems to bear this out. So, Garth, in your B's 673 diesel with the natural rubber seals and O rings, it seems that a B20 mix might be a good choice rather than synthetic fuel additives. More power, better lubricating qualities and less smoke should result. In the Dodge/Cummins, however, I think you might want to inquire from a knowledgeable source about a higher percentage mix, or even 100% biofuel. You may find it is still a little pricey. But I can't think of a better cause than to reduce our country's dependency on foreign oil. It would very interesting to find out what Willie's people are using in their busses and transport trucks. I have heard that it is 100% biofuel, but it's just a rumor. Someone should call him up. Interesting Stuff. Paul Van Scott

This is the best forum conversation we have had in a long time- and some of it might even be true !! I love this place. Paul Van Scott