ThaddeusW

What truck is this, an M15, M20, M25? If its used for a daily worker have you considered an engine swap? Moving to a newer more modern mechanical engine may be the way to go. A 237 Maxidyne should fit nicely and have all the torque you will need. Parts are easier to find as of now. Engines will break down and when they are that old and rare, its gets increasingly harder to find parts as time goes by. If that engine blew up and was beyond repair, then what? I say look into the cost of a swap. You might be able to get an old truck with a 237 for around 3000 USD. Better to upgrade now than chase a crank shaft or pistons/connecting rods down later on.

Thanks Paul!

My truck does not have a low air warning device. I figure it was not a requirement in 1961 so it shouldn't be a big deal. But I plan on cleaning up the air lines soon, few leaks behind the dash spewing oil out little by little, its a mess back there. In the process I figure it would be good to have a low air warning wig wag or similar device. were low air warning devices required in 1961? Do I need to update the system and add one? (from my tires post, 41 chevy posted a list that points to yes) What low air warning devices were common in those days? I know of the wig wag that is mounted to the roof and would drop down if the air was low, were there any others?

So I was looking at the tires the other day and I noticed something. The cracked tire is on the passenger side, both of those tires are re-caps. I didn't notice it until I moved the truck the other day and noticed the tire had a joint running across the tread. I then noticed that where the tread meets the sidewall, it looks like glue. You can see the smeared glue in the picture. The tread is in great shape but the sidewalls are bad. I couldn't understand why the side walls would deteriorate when the treads looked so new, now I know why. The drivers side axle has non recapped tires. Odd mix if you ask me. The steer tires sor not recaps and look pretty good. I know this question has been asked a thousand times but what is the general opinion of retreads? I know that you should never put them on the steer axle but other then that they should be fine. How much cheaper are they, is the saving significant? I might throw a new set of 4 matched decent used tires on the drive and forget about the whole problem.

It sounds like he is selling it as a working truck. Not that it cant do the job but It may be exported to who knows where. I hope someone gives it a good home.

Thanks for the replies. I figure I can keep them on unless they are a huge problem. If for some crazy reason I get pulled over, will the bears have a field day with these tires?

Thanks for the kind words Speed. Its just therapy for now. I am working on it for Gerharts.

My drive tires have cracks in them on the side wall. I assume these tires are shot and need to be replaced or am I wrong? And has anyone ever looked into used tires? I imagine truck owners will run them till nearly bald so used would be a tough find. The tires on the lift axle are also cracked but are 9R20's and I believe these tires are obsolete. They are almost the same size as the 22.5's but are about a inch or so smaller in diameter. Is there a modern replacement for the 9R20?

I saw that truck at the long island equipment show. He wanted 12 grand for that bad boy. In person it appears to be in great shape. I would like a tandem B80 next.

So far so good, its not too bad. I headed off to bed at 10:30 and woke up 2am as the wind picked up. I didn't go back to bed yet, keeping an eye out. I don't like sleeping through something like this. Still have power, cable and internet. Winds are around 40 and since my room is top floor, I keep hearing bits of my neighbors roof hitting mine. He hired a shoddy crew to do his roof just 3 or 4 years ago. Since then I have been finding bits of his roof all over the street after storms and windy days. My only beef is I didn't get in a nice full day or two of working on the truck. I want to make Gerharts!

It is a bit worrisome. I have been running around all day after work yesterday preparing for the storm. Its a bit scary what you keep hearing in the news. The rain is one thing, the wind is another. I have family in both Zone a and B evac zones. Thankfully we are higher up where I live but still I am worried. Thankfully the cities water supply is gravity fed from the reservoirs but we have two coolers of water ready to go along with some canned food just in case. Flashlights have been working, don't know why people wait to the last minute to buy batteries. We also have one of our generators and 12 gallons of gas at the ready. I also bought a cheaper sump pump along with a long hose in case of basement flooding but I doubt that will happen. I am ready but at the same time a bit worried about damage. But in the end what are you going to do? I am not scared, bring it!

Yea, I am barely along with my B and I already fell the itch to save up for another. I like the color. I keep hearing its an addiction, now I know why. I bet heroine is cheaper.

Keith, I was going to call you but I realized I would be sending you on a suicide mission. Their roads are winding and narrow, sharp turns and short yet steep hills. They are on a long cul-de-sac with a sharp right angle and on a hill. I had fun trying to back a 16 foot equipment trailer hooked to a 20 foot long 3500 van. You would have to have somehow made a u turn at the bottom of the hill at the round dead end, its big but I don't think semi truck big. Then come back up and try to back in which would mean you would run over their grass, garden and bushes. I was getting yelled at for going over a little grass. I really appreciate your offer. Too bad they live in such a secluded area, an equipment roll back would be the best truck to get in there.

Sounds like something is loose. Check all of the wiring connectors behind the dash and under the hood. While parked and the truck is running, get someone to sit in the cab while you shake the wiring and see if it happens.

Its good to still see the logos there, I hope the owners appreciate the history behind the building. How about the Atlantic ave plant (its still there!):

They don't last long enough for anyone to actually care. Go to truckpaper.com and click on a truck make, then limit the search to the year 1980. How many useful 30+ year old trucks are around? Freightliner: 5 (lol) IH - 149 Ford - 203 Peterbilt - 60 Kenworth - 225 Mack - 224 GM (GMC + Chevy) - 155 Now this isn't a scientific test but I would assume the majority of Ford and GM trucks are medium duty so we can knock them out. Next up is IH and I bet the same goes for them, mostly medium duty. So that leaves us with a few true heavy truck makers, FL (before the 80's they had no medium duty), Mack, Kenworth and Peterbilt. You can see only 5 yes 5 freightliners from before 1980 are for sale. It looks like they cant last past 30 years (surprise surprise!). Limit the year to 1970 and you will see that Mack is in the lead with 44 trucks, Peterbilt with 13 and KW with 10. Most of the Mack's are B's and R's, a testament to their ruggedness and collector value. An even better metric would be to see the number of truck produced and sold to those two years. Bottom line is no other maker has the respect Mack does. Even though Volvo looks to be unable to properly manage it, the drivers and owners will never forget the years upon years those Macks worked hard as hell for them and asked for more.

I am going to say 8000. It may be as little as 7000 but the rule of thumb for smaller lifts is double the lifting capacity to get its weight (its a 4000 pound lift). It needs to go asap. I may get an extension to the end of September, but that is only if I am guaranteed someone WILL move it. I am pushing to get my truck ready for Litiz but no guarantees. If anyone has any idea, let me know.

So last year I bought an old Clark forklift for next to nothing. Its still sitting by my friends house in Md with me just spending (and still spending) all my money on the B. I know its an oldie but I had a neat idea to make a theme with the truck, an old rigging company with the forklift painted to match the truck with a logo. Its been there long enough and he is getting a load of gravel and new shed delivered in the next two weeks and the lift has to go. Even though its old, I am willing to pay, its an antique as well. IT DOES NOT RUN so that is a problem, would have to push it or winch it on. If my rig was on the road it would be a no brainer. Its in Ellicott City, Maryland and I need it hauled to Ozone Park, NY; roughly a 210 mile drive. Any takers?

Wow! That truck is in amazing shape. That is an excellent restoration piece right there.

At least its not fully gutted. The old rail substations in the city were ransacked because they were chock full of copper. I bet there is still some really neat stuff in there. Id like a look at the waveguides and klystrons.

What the heck happened to the forums? The old high contrast themes are gone

LOL thanks for the offer Rob. I just may have to pass. I have ideas on how to do the body work, i just don't own a body shop. I am thinking of getting a decent used mig welder for the sheet stuff, tig sounds better but its a new skill to learn on top of the body work. As of now i have a crap Lincoln buzz box that does nothing but burn holes in thin stuff because its low amp settings cant hold a decent arc. Also a nice small press brake would do some good, I already have a big old foot sheer.

Or Obama, pick you punching bag. Everyone has excellent points. But like you said you have to be Macgyver sometimes. I just hope no one gets hurt.

If it does have a 672, then it has its original Mack-Lanova diesel engine. A very rare find! Very nice truck.

That sure is allot of scratch to put into parts and then walk away.