57 bcr

That is cool,Paul! And a must for the property owner,like you.There was an outfit around here that had 2 chain-type trenchers and another CJ-5 fitted with a post hole digger (PHD). Haven't seen them around for years,though. One of my favorite attachments for the CJ-5,was the p.t.o. driven welder,like HeavyGunner noted. Only had room enough for the guy and a box of rod,but you could get right out to the field and weld your implement with it. Al

One of my favorite R models,Jim. First got to look it over @ Lititz,a few years ago. The interior is just as nice. Done up in red diamond-tuck Super/Value-Liner,black metal and dash,woodgrain panels. Very sharp. Al

I loved my 300+ in my '79 R. The tip-turbine engines sounded great to me. A buddy of mine just went through his 3408.The gaskets were still available but totaled in the thousands. Give me that 6 banger any day. I understand the novelty of the big cat,just would not do it myself. But thats me,and what you do with your truck,is your deal. Al

I'm kinda diggin' the F-model! Lose the water tank,though. Al

Ah ha. Easier in that department,then. Still a task. Al

Wow! Not a restoration, but a transformation! A buddy of mine who never really cared for the DM,had always wanted to use a DM chassis to build an RD(M?) dump truck. He had the chassis all done,but then needed the components for his other trucks. Was over there one spring day,and the torch came out. He cut it up.Would have reaĺly liked to see him finish it. It would have been a unique as yours. Nice job! Al

Can be a tough call at times,for sure. Was running a brand new mechanical RD in '90 and a friend was running a B-75. He told me I was nuts for going with a new truck when his his would do the same job. He eventually got tired of hearing "NLA-No Longer-Available" when it came to parts. He did buy another truck,but it had a red oval on the side. He called new vs. old,a double-edged sword. Al

The FORD application 3406 motors are canted slightly,like a 673 was in a B-67. So changing that from the get-go is going to be somewhat of a challenge,right off the bat. Like underdog said,hope you're talking an R-700 chassis. The R-600 didn't leave a bunch of extra room under the bonnett for much more than an an E-6,E-7,or the occasional 6V-92,Scania,3208 Kitty-CAT,and the 413 Chrysler (the last 3 engines were in R-400's). Al

The Mack Museum would be very helpful in this department. A nice donation should be based on your appreciation of the service provided. To me and many others......... PRICELESS! Al

Congrats on the class A! Just watch out for the 4 wheelers,they'll now have more room to "stack up"along side of you! Al

The average 1st grader could have found dirt on Hillary! But all they were taught was to tell Mommy & Daddy to vote for her. Al

Yep, just like that one,upsman. Al

Trying to find a picture of one on the internet. A rare piece. Theirs had an H model (same as IH Fleetstar) cab on it,but a sloped,short hood. Al

Nicks dad goes by the handle, "Whiskers". Ranchopper,do you remember the slope-nosed Hendrickson they (R.G. Distributing) ran in the '80's-'90's? Al

Like many,I agree the stress put on the end of the frame to do the tag vs. pusher deal is not worth the shorter turning radius you would be gaining. My cousin works for a paving outfit in Michigan that tried that concept on a group of DM's they bought in the early '90's. The results were disasterious. Frame damage was the norm on the back of these trucks. The guy that spec'd the trucks out,made sure the tags would dump the air as soon as the tranny was it put reverse. Needless to say,none of their trucks have been spec'd like this since. They went back to the 2 pusher system on quad axle trucks.Would leaving the tags down while dumping,relieved the stress put on the rear frame of these trucks,maybe. That was in a fleet enviroment also. An O/O enviroment like yours,Robert I would venture to say you would do the "right thing" to prevent such damage,as you would be the guy fixing the problem if/when it happened. O/O's (for the most part) do a pretty good job in controlling their destiny. Their very existance depends on it. Al

Thats a Canadian air cleaner.The top tube ends under the hood,for foul-weather intake(like the old oil baths). Guess you could use the top one for the tip-turbine. Had the same air cleaner on my '79 R-612ST. Took it off and incorporated it to a 2 stage like the American built trucks used,as the Oakville trucks still used the hood scoop/filter setup. The 2 stage "uncluttered" the engine room. I will check that truck out a little better next time,Matt. Its got me wondering what its got under the hood now???? It always puzzled me if its a true RS or just an eastern R-700 with wrong emblems on it? The tanks & grille,battery boxes,etc.,has late R-700 written all over it.The guy could have put the RS emblems on it the same way "this guy" put " THERMODYNE" emblems on a BCR! LOL! Al

Definetly better lookin' than the thing! Al

That truck was on my tail coming back from Macungie '15 on I-80 in Pa. He was back a little bit,but stayed with me as my cruise was set on 75. He had 2 trucks on the wagon and I had a Ford Fusion! Al

Good luck! Almost a B model restorers nightmare! Be prepared to lay out some cabbage. There are some around,but not very reasonable. Al

The Drury Inns do a pretty good job of converting the breakfast bar to a mini cocktail lounge also. You do pay for the perk,but what the hell! Al

Also Hegerty and Berkley Classics are a couple more to throw out there also. I have Berkley (they bought my original insurer,Continental Western). Reasonable,but they have restrictions. Al

10-4 Jack! Now you have to buy 2 more Superliners! LOL!! Al

Out of likes,but LIKING that! Had heard they used road grader stuff for the conversion,don't know. Neato! Al

Oh man,did not know he passed.Met him once. Nice guy.Matt P. did that R model for him. Sorry to hear. Nice tribute.Yes,way too young. Al