Wobblin-Goblin

I don't know a lot about the trucking industry outside construction (I'm in concrete), but it appears to me that virtually all trucks made today are of lower quality than even 25 years ago. Sure, they may be more powerful and more comfortable, but they don't seem to be built to as high a standard as they used to be. Mack, unfortunately, appears to be "just another truck" instead of being head and shoulders better than the competition like they were 30, 40, 50 years ago. Mack is iconic. It is what America used to be. It used to be what America used to be. I don't know if it will be possible to go back to that business model, but we can always hope.

I've never driven a Granite, but I can say that after hauling 75 loads of material this summer with my '64 B61SX, I never felt undergunned and had fun virtually every moment doing it.

Niiiiiiiice. Think a 2010 Granite will be around in the year 2065, let alone working?

Stopped in at my uncle's place. He already started cleaning and painting the rear portion of the frame, springs, and wheel. Last couple of pics are a '51 Ford cabover (on a GMC dually chassis) with an MG roadster. Both are for sale.

Truck is now in the garage sitting next to its B65 cousin. Will post pics of the progress soon.

Nope. Looking at another one.

All of them were before my time, but I've heard plenty about how tough and rugged LJs were, followed by Bs (especially B81s for construction purposes) being even more so, and finally the DMs being as rugged as they come. LJs were long gone by my childhood; I never saw one on the road. When I was young, there were a few B models still running, but they were mostly B81 dump trucks. DMs were plentiful right up until my teens, but like I said, by the time I was old enough to drive trucks, even the DMs were in the process of being phased out. To this day, my favorite trucks of all time are B81s and steel nosed DM800s. R models would be my #3 favorite. Hard to believe Mack could dominate trucking like it did right up to the R model and then wind up where it is today.

My apologies, yes I did see it, but haven't had a chance to get back to you. Please see my PM.

Ethanol sucks.

B81s always look funny with single axles. There, I said it.

Does he still have the DM in picture 024?

In late model B81s, the top of the radiator was higher than the top of the hood by a few inches. I am assuming this is because the radiators were bigger. From what I understand, only '64s and later had the higher radiators.

Just as I figured. I told the guy I thought it was a '60 or so, and he scoffed at me some. Also, the radiator isn't raised up from the hood at all, which, according to my father, is a dead give-away that it's not a '64 or later.

I'm scoping out an 813SX that the seller claims is a '64, but the VIN appears to be too low for that year. The VIN is 1445. There were 3,900 B81 series trucks made, so that puts it about 40% through the '56-'66 model year run. That suggests this truck is around a '60 or so. Any thoughts or help on this?

Very little that we have seen. Not used for plowing, only hauling, so there isn't much corrosion on exterior items other than surface rust.

Pics of the rears and frame.

Yep, B42X with a double frame. 11x20 rubber. Reasonably nice set up for hauling. Should make a very nice single axle dump truck.

Couple more pics of the B42 and the loader (1975 International 540). My uncle bought the loader last winter (while we were working on my B61) and refurbished it this summer. It has a two yard bucket. Between the two of us, we now have: B-model pickup '58 B65LT '63? B42X '64 B61SX '75 540 Int'l loader

It had RI plates, but we bought it from someone in Oneco, CT. From what we understand, the owner had purchased it about 15 years ago or so, ran it for a little while, then parked it for the last dozen years.

My rule of thumb is whenever possible, 12V is better than any combination of 6V.

My best guess is two, and originally they might have been 6V.

Nope. We're looking for a used aluminum 10' dump body for it. Besides, it's a lot easier to clean and work on if the body's off.

About a month ago or so, my uncle bought a '63-'64 B42 w/673 and Duplex. The refurbishment started today with us pulling the dump body off.

I am in lust.

Took the one apart on my 711 last year, but off the top of my head, I can't remember how it came apart or went back together. The canister was half full of sludge, however, so it was worth cleaning.