vanscottbuilders

So what's the deal with the Port Card? Is it "National Security" or just another money grab? $130.00 seems like plenty of money, just to let a guy in. Sounds like bullsh-t to me. Seems to be a lot of it out there. At least the short freight hauls are moving. Have a good weekend. PVS

DTR, I would suggest that you look around this site, or go online to E-Bay to find and purchase a Service Manual for the R688 right away. It's a practice I have used for years for all of my vehicles, and it has served me pretty well. Reprints and original manuals in all conditions are readily available for most later Macks, and are pretty reasonably priced. I know my early Mack R model Service Manual has wiring diagrams. I'm just curious - how are you going to use the truck? Paul Van Scott

You were plenty lucky with the Iowa State Police! There's only a handful of us who use the blog feature on BMT regularly. So we're really glad to have you here. Someone else to pick on!! Anyway - it's a good way to trade ideas and keep up with our friends. How's the new truck? Is it what you expected? Paul VS

Just my opinion, but - I think the resistor you are referring to near the headlight may actually be the junction block between the main wiring harness and the headlight wiring harness. The original wiring harness should consist of three sections; a main section, a cab section and a front light section for lack of a better description. Each section was connected via junction blocks. Paul Van Scott

Hard to imagine how fast summer slips away. All of a sudden, the days are shorter and cooler, and the nights are still dark. Anyway, I got a new clutch, rebuilt pressure plate and had the flywheel cut this week. Got new throw-out and pilot bearings too. Time to join the transmission and engine together. This old 711 should look and run with the best of them I think. All new Aeroquip hoses and ends. New gaskets and seals done. Everything cleaned and painted and ready for re-installation in the frame. Got new tires and wheels too. Should be rolling around in my new go-kart in no time! We went down to the annual Steam Pageant and old Caterpillar equipment show yesterday. I haven't been to that show in more than twenty years. It is absolutely fantastic!! I had no idea that it had grown like it has. First of all - it's huge. Acre after acre of old steam, kerosene, gasoline and diesel tractors, construction equipment and early farm equipment. Literally, hundreds and hundreds of pieces. Second - the rarity of some of the equipment is amazing. Stuff you've never seen before, or even knew existed. There was a Rumley self-propelled plow. Three bottom, about twenty five feet long, engine and steel drive wheel in front, controls at the back and the plow offset for use in the field. It was built in 1912, if I remember right. Pretty cool. Third - the stuff all runs, all day long. They do work with the steam engines and the Oil Pulls, they have tractor pulls for the different antique tractors. The construction equipment is all running and moving dirt. It's really nice to see kids about six or eight years old driving the huge old steam traction engines with their grandfathers walking alongside or behind just keeping an eye on the boys. Those kids are hooked for life now! Fourth - the flea market is so big, you can't possibly see it all in one day. Lots of fleas. This is a great event. It would be a great event to couple up with a truck show. It looked like there was room enough. And some of the haulers were pretty nice. There was a long nose single axle "A" series Autocar updated with an 855 Cummins and a ten speed that had moved a D-7 tractor for it's owner from New Jersey. It was a real beauty. And there was a nice high mount cab Brockway moving tractors. Last, but not least - I knew Other Dog was slow. I never said anything to anybody. But now the plants are growing right over his truck from going so slow. Someone should really help him out. It may be time for a walker. He had a good title for a blog, though!

I think you will find that it is easiest to simply fabricate your own repair panels. The only after market panels that seem to surface from time to time are usually of questionable quality, and poor consistency in their availability. A good sheetmetal mechanic can fab up exact pieces for you quickly and efficiently. The guys that have worked on old Mack cabs for me have always been impressed at the quality and workability of the original steel used by Mack. That seems to make the job easier to get accomplished. Best of luck with your project. Paul Van Scott

I like the Ford Fairlane - kind of a rare piece; and that dark blue Chevelle is really nice. But the one that really steals the show is that Mack mixer. Who was that masked man anyway? It's nice of you to participate in the charity event. It's what we all should be doing. Paul VS

I'll bet the wrecker was a lot easier to steer with the load carried in that position! Maybe too easy. Paul VS

I love that sleeper cab - Thank you for sharing the pictures! Paul Van Scott

We're all rookies, really. Some of us have better lines of BS than others, that's all. Let's start at the beginning; what truck do you have, and with what body? (ie: wrecker, dump, tractor etc.) Is it running and driveable? And, if so, how would you like to use it? This is a great hobby, and we look forward to hearing from you! Thanks, Paul Van Scott

Suejoe, If you still need a load hauled - Contact Mike Lutz at (607)643-5242. Mike is an independant owner/operator who moves quite a few old trucks both North to South and vice-versa. I have found him to be very professional and very reasonable. Paul Van Scott

That's a lot a lot of hardware in there!! Going to make airport security a little challenging. Hope you're recovering OK. Paul Van Scott

Dynamat is a good product - but a little pricey. Check on the competitors, and there are a few. Also - be a little careful when reading the specs, some of the stuff is for sound reduction, only, and may not be heat resistant. Paul Van Scott

What does anyone know about the lead seal used for the rear crankshaft seal in the 673 and 711 engines? When did Mack stop using them? How difficult are they to change, and is any special tooling required? Also - what about the rubber replacement/upgrade seal? Same question - any special tooling required? I am well into the conversion of a 711 for use in my B-67, and I am changing all of the parts from the original 673 that need changing to fit the short engine bay. Part of that is the bellhousing. Seems like a good time to reseal the crankshaft, although there is no significant leak evident. Thanks, Paul Van Scott

Moving right along, and spending right along too!! Anyway - Got the 711 engine out of the old R-600, and did the transfer of those "few" items that need changing to fit in the short hood of the B-67. Basically, everything on the outside of the engine except the exhaust manifold and the rear section of the air intake has to change. The engine was steam cleaned and degreased. It got two good coats of hi-temp enamel tonite, and looks great! I took off all of the aluminum water manifold and air intake pieces so I could polish them up. Bought all new Aeroquip engine hoses and re-useable ends. They don't give that stuff away!! Also got new upper and lower engine gasket sets, crank seals, clutch disc, throw-out bearing and pilot bearing on the way. Expensive week for the old wallet. I'm having the flywheel resurfaced, and will see if anyone will tackle re- surfacing the pressure plate. It looks pretty good, and I'll use it as is, if they aren't re-surfaceable. Time to get the radiator checked out and get the transmission covers off to see if everything's happy inside it. Moving right along >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Mike, My 1963 production year, bone stock 673-P engine and duplex transmission are both a light metallic "industrial grayish-green" color that I have seen on many Mack engines. I have heard it called "Chrysler Turquoise" too, but I'm not sure if that's accurate. The engines must have been several different colors, as I also have two that are both a simple gray color, and appear to be original. Haven't seen a gold 673-P yet, but it doesn't surprise me, as the early Maxidyne engines were sometimes gold, and production overlapped. I have seen transmissions painted a dull aluminum color that looks pretty good, especially on the "light" aluminum cases. That's probably my choice for my own stuff. Just a guess, but I think the transmissions and engines were painted as an assembled unit at the factory. Just tonite, I have painted one of my 711's in the medium gray color, that I think was original on that particular engine. It's getting an aluminum colored transmission behind it, with the emergency brake operating hardware, e-brake drum and all attached steel parts painted satin chassis black. Hope this helps - Paul VS

I think that 1985 vintage manuals are still available from Mack. Paul Van Scott

Is your Caterpillar service facility OK? Ours, in Batavia, is a Milton Cat shop, and probably the most arrogant group of people I have ever dealt with. The mechanics all seem to be pretty nice. Everyone else is affected by some personality disorder. They have a fantastic facility that is virtually empty on any given weekday. I believe that the company actually chases away more business than they get! It's a really good reason not to buy Cat, if you live or work near here. I'm told that the Syracuse shop is a little better, but the attitude problem starts right at the top in Milton Cat's corporate structure. PVS

Initially at least, my plan is to fit a tandem air ride rear suspension. I have a Freightliner donor set-up ready to go with 3.70 rear gears. I don't think the old 220 would be adequate for pulling any weight at all while keeping up with today's normal highway speed. So, I'm thinking about a newer 855 Cummins of 350, 380 or 400 hp, with a single stick overdrive transmission of some sort. It just won't sound as good. The original driveline will be kept intact for re-fitting, if that should ever be a possibility. The front axle could also get changed to accept a modern power steering system. Although the original Budd hub front axle may work out just fine. Don't know yet. My thought is to install a 36" bunk, but may forego that idea for looks. At any rate, I do not want to cut up the back of the cab, and at my size, the window opening is going to be a little tight to crawl through! I'm planning to re-route the intake air to a frame-mounted vertical air intake behind the cab, and a single frame mounted vertical exhaust. I think that getting the air cleaner off of the side of the cab might look pretty slick. I need to have hood panels made for this project, so I might louver the hood just for grins. Anyway - I'm way ahead of myself. One truck at a time, one truck at a time.

Moving along on my B-67 project. Ready for new wheels and tires, and then it will roll again - for the first time in about three years! Nobody ever said I was fast. Anyway, I'm real happy with the way the frame and running gear are coming together. And I'm very appreciative of my uncle, Jimmy's, work to keep the project moving forward. The cab also is coming along really well. Although I'm not doing that part of the work at all. The body man is doing a great job and is priming this weekend, after a month of more welding and dent pounding. That was after I thought it was ready to paint!! It really looks nice. I am disassembling the green R-600 for the donor engine. Being real careful with the dismantling so as many parts as possible are salvaged for future use. This was the truck with the double frame rails that had pretty bad rust jacking and rail separation. It still breaks my heart to take it apart. The old girl did everything an old truck should do, and did it all very well. The rust got the cab and frame. But, I will have a perfect R model hood, all interior parts for the early series, wheels, tires and axles, radiator and perfect shutters, doors, latches and all operating window hardware, headliner, instruments, dash panels, glove box door and anything else except the old frame available for anyone who might need early R-600 parts. Looking forward to taking delivery of two long wheelbase Macks for a near future project I've got in mind. One is a B-73, the other is a B-75. I'm planning a B-73 with Cummins power for myself. The B-73 has the original 220 Cummins in it, and we'll wait and see if that will work or if more power is needed. The B-75 has the straight frame rails that will allow a fairly easy rear air ride conversion. This project won't start until the B-67 is delivered, but I'm gathering ideas now. The learning curve of the B-67 total restoration has been fantastic. Now I would like to kick it up a notch, and use what I have learned to get through a project with fewer distractions and fewer "wrong turns". Still thinking of a complete disassembly, total restoration and updating. But with a much better upfront plan and a better understanding of what is needed as far as parts, pieces and costs are concerned. Kevin All had a beauty of a B-73 or B-75 a few years back. Black with red frame I think. That's kind of what I'm thinking of. Something that can pull any of our trailers, anytime and dependably. New company slogan: "OLD, SLOW TRUCKS..... SLOWER, OLDER DRIVERS"

Boy that looks like some pretty serious power sticking out from under that boat! Have a good holiday! PVS