1961H67

Great story,, I have often wondered how you got the knowledge to use the machines you have in your shop. There is a guy locally here in his late 50s that has a machine shop, I’ll get him to make a pin or press a bushing , surface a flywheel from time to time, he has a ton on lathes and equipment, he can’t find any one that wants to learn the trade, I’m sure when he retires it will be closed down.

I got my LJ (gas) parts truck from some house movers, I’ve watched them, it takes days to block, crib and brace all that stuff, lots of hard work for sure. There Grandpa bought the LJ new in 48 , one picture I have didn’t go well, the axle on a old army truck broke, started going backwards down a hill and jackknifed, the house fell off, not sure what the LJ was doing, maybe trying to tow it . The other picture is more classic!

I got a few minutes to work on the floor yesterday, I still have a little trimming, but I think it’s going to be ok .

That’s the most Detailed Tractor I’ve ever seen! A few years ago I saw a guy bring a few of those size tractors to a local show,, he had went far and beyond that Flathead Ford kit,, he had a 302 Ford in one and a Chevy V8 in a 30 Ferguson the best I can remember,, All very nice.

Sweet ! I Love watching your H Model progress! That’s the FIRST truck from my childhood,, no matter how many Ls, Bs, Rs , Super Liners I see,, The H still makes me feel like a little kid!

Sorry to hear about the trouble with the crankshaft,, I went through the same issue with a 3406 , Its the same EVERYWHERE,,I’ve gotten myself in the same situation that Mr Rockwell did, I have been asked about a Machine shop that once was top notch and the older guys have sold out and the quality is not as good. It’s a Dying trade ! I’m glad you found a good shop. ( My wife wasn’t happy about driving through Boston in a Honda after our visit with you, I’ll tell her you made it in a B Model)

The Flathead V8s are a nice touch! Lol on the Trucking Business,, My Dad used to give advice on Trucking, He would say “ The way to make a Small fortune in the Trucking Business is to Start with a Big One “ !

Hopefully I can get back to my floor in a week or so,, my old wood is 1/2 inch, I picked up a 2 foot x 4 foot piece of 1/2 plywood, I’m going to cut it out and try it, I think it will lay flush, then I can put sound deader on the bottom, I might be able to use 5/8 , the foot valve base bolts to it so it needs to be close to original. I’ll experiment with the 1/2 and see how it goes, ready to get the inside done and move on to the rest of the body work.

O yeah we’re going to get back to the LJ ,, got more parts now,, Just a matter of time before we throw some more Coca Cola yellow on this baby!

Took a few days off from the LJ ,, Came down to a huge car,truck show/ swap meet in Myrtle Beach SC , 100s of parts vendors, I stocked up on sandpaper, wire , wire loom etc…. . I’ve attended this event about 10 years in a row, brought my IHC Scout down for the past 6 or 7 ,,, For the past few years seems I end up buying mostly stuff to work on the LJ Mack ,, Lots of great ideas from fuse boxes to weather stripping ,,,, well back to work Monday.

It’s a must for restoring, cleaning on engines ,, get a kit, it has a lot of attachments , wire brush’s , grinding stones, cutting wheels.

I need the same, so if you find them let me know,, I haven’t asked anyone about them yet. One of my parts trucks has a perfect clutch pad on it but it’s so old it will fall apart if I tried to pry it off.

Great tips! I do like the wood, it does have a good solid feel to it. Thanks for the ideas.

I can’t tell what the old ones are, ( it would be nice to know what Mack used back then and years before, just for the history on their choices of wood vs Metal. )

Yeah you see several different floors in them, I’m sure you’re correct on years of u joint grease and trans oil soaking it up like a lamp wick. I have no clue what wood Mack used, looks like plywood, that’s what I’m using to replace it (1/2 inch) .

One of my parts trucks has the floor replaced with metal, this one still has the original wood, but in bad shape where the accelerator pedal and foot pedal bolts down , and it’s soaked with oil from underneath, I have no idea how it got so oily, I steamed cleaned both them and it’s like brake shoes,, just keeps bleeding out.

Got started on my woodworking skills today, I guess we’ll see how this turns out.

Just in time hopefully for warmer weather, it will go quickly when you get all your parts laid out to install in that refurbished block!

I know where a Giant and a Raider is but I’m not by that way often, about 50 miles from me. I stopped and looked at the Raider about 2 years ago, it was all there, Cummins, 13 speed. He wanted $5000 for it, I thought about buying, but I have too many projects already! If I’m out that way I’ll measure them.

Just saw this on eBay,, still available! I’ve got to many Hobbies/ Projects, if someone has a HO collection it would be a cool addition, I don’t think it’s complete , probably worth $40 for parts.

Another truck related thing about the last local train show we went to is that all the really detailed layouts have a lot of Mack trucks involved, one guy had a setup with a fire station, quarry, coal mine, trucking company, all using B models, Trains and Mack’s just go together, They should they Built America!

I still have a few parts of HO trains from my Son, and I bought my Grandson some to add to it. I got this 1941 model from a guy that sounds like the one you mentioned. He realizes it’s 82 years old , that makes it special to him, also the cars are metal, no plastic. I’m not a Train collector, but I love to go to the local shows an check out the detail layouts. All Kids need more of this and less videos!

I got a few minutes to start making the wooden floor panels in the LJ , I let my help take the evening off,, he stays with me on the weekends,, No Video Games! 1941 Lionel 1666 , Much More Fun!

A good friend of mine that was in our Truck/Tractor club was a Belly Gunner on a B17 ,, he joined the Army Air Corps while in high school, just turned 18 , he was later moved to tail gunner, he flew 26 missions over Germany , he told me some great stories. I’ll always remember he said the “ Flack was so thick you could walk on it “ I would call him on his cell every Veterans Day, and tell him “ Thank You “ he would always say,, For What! We had a job to do ! I also had 2 Uncles in Pattons Army,, 18 also! You can’t get a 18 year old to do anything today! We would be so screwed if we had to rely on our High School graduates to fight a war, they want every thing free, and our Gutless Politicians keep giving in . Personally I’m sick and tired of hearing,Woke , Racism and all the nonsense in our colleges, it’s Sickening knowing what those kids went through over 75 years ago!!!