b61fred

Hi all, I have been hunting for enough parts to start on my b-61 restoration. I have aquired a 237 maxidine engine. I am planing to mate this to a triplex transmission. I have talked to several people on this site about the swap, and it appers to be very straight forward. I have a condensed it in outline form here, I would like for any input on anything I might have forgot. A: change bellhousing, using 673 B: change starter, using 673 C: change flywheel and clutch using 673 D: change oil pan, using 673 ( clearance for starter) E: change front accesories to b-model 673 for radiator clearance. I do have a question about the viberation dampner, I have been told by a very reliable person that the front engine mount is in the way of the harmonic balancer. can the 673 balancer be used in its place or what? If there is anything I have left out, please add it to this post. I think this is a very popular retrofit for the b-model and am going to document, and photograph the install. That way if anyone would like to do the same we can have the info here on the website, maybe in a archive or something? Thanks Fred

Hi, I would recommend the 673 or 711 because the weight and physical size is almost identical, the 707 likely had a adapter to make the smaller belhousing fit on the 67 series transmision, I think a 673 would be a almost direct bolt in for the 707, the only thing is the starter will be on the lower passenger side. There will be some work if you want to pump water with the fire truck part, there is some vacuum operated items like wipers and if you have hydrulic brakes the booster, there is a valve under the truck that has something to do with volume or pressure that is vacuum operated. diesels don't make vacuum like a gas engine. I have talked with charlie hatfield about this conversion with him. See if you can talk with him, he knows more about this, he wants to do the same thing with his l model fire truck. good luck Fred

Hi Paul, I think I would hunt for the 4.17 rear axle, When I drive my truck with the overdrive duplex(overdrive in the front box) with 5.13 rears, 20 inch rubber, I can get up to 75 mph at 2300 rpm. I hardly ever split the 5 speed until 3rd gear, so low end grunt is still there if I need it. Or I can split the gears if I want to sound cool or impress someone by shifting with both hands. I believe the trans you got from me would work very nice. I do have some 12.00X22.5 tires (goodyear recaps) in very nice shape. they are the same hight as a 11.00x24.5, might help some. Fred

hi FireMack I would say that your problem is not the pump. If you think of how the oil system works the oil pump provides a volume of oil and the total of all the clearance's provide the restriction which the oil can't flow through and makes pressure. Your engine appears to have oil pressure( although not quite to spec. but close) so the pump is capable flowing to the level of the rockers, I would look at see where the restriction to the rocker shaft is. Back in the old days mechanics would install restrictors in the rocker shaft oil supply to limit oil in the top of the engine, mainly for oil consumption problems around the valve stems. While going down the road at near top RPM oil would not run back down the oil drains in the heads and pool around the valve stems. You may look at you oil weight also, the old single weight oil would carry some what higher pressure. Glad to see that you put that 464 to good use, The old man that I got that from is still wanting a picture of your fire truck, He asks me about it every time I see him. Fred

Hi Paul, I would suggest that either will work fine, I don't believe 200 hp will tear up too much. If you are going for the junk yard differental I would make sure your u-joint match up to the b-model transmission is the same, It will save alot of problems down the road. I have been helping Garth Huff with this very same problem for a while, the fine spline yoke seems to be hard to find. I haven't come across one yet. I am tring to talk the Mrs. (soon to be anyway) in to going to mcungine, I hope to see you and your uncle there. Fred a.k.a. Morgan

hi, You asking what kind of engine you might have, I believe that you have a 262 cummins, the truck serial number should be b733xxx. Sometimes a mechanic would install a turbo on a 220 cummins, and some extra pump work and make a 262. If the serial number is b73xxxx then it originaly was a 220.The extrior fuel lines make it a 220 or a 262. Some of the older trucks had 200 cummins but your year was 1965 so thats my guess. Fred

hi, got the e-mail of the registry, thanks for all your guys help. Fred

hi, I guess that I will make some. I have seen some that are crome plated and apear to be original mack stuff, but the diamond plate looks good too. Thanks

Hi, still no luck. could somone e-mail it to me or ?????? Thanks Fred

Hi, What is everyone doing for battery boxes on the b-model macks? Fred

Barry, Got a blank screen with done at the bottom, same as before... I don't know what to do. Fred

Hi, I tried to download some information and the registry today and just got a blank page. Is this on my end of the information super hi-way, or ?????? any body else having problems? Thanks Fred

Hey now, Lets not bash on the dealership Tech, I just happen to be one. It can be a hard way to make a living! Fred

Hi, So Rob, are you going to have project "R-12" ready for our Macungie trip next summer? I start on the b-61 tonight after work,(finally!) going to get the good cab out of storage and start cleaning out the wiring and extra stuff that I don't need. Should be ready for sand/soda blasting very soon. I am going to try and document all of the work on this resoration, have my camera ready. Fred

I think that it will, From my knowledge the 2 vlave mack used the same part number for 673,711, 675. Fred

Hi, use fabric softner sheets, like bounce. Throw the sheets around where the little boogers can find them, they will try and use them for building a nest. The smell and the chemicals on the dryer sheets will run them away. don't use the unsented ones, they dont work. They also smell alot better than moth balls. Oh I forgot the best one..... get a cat..works for me. fred

September 8th through 10th. W.R.V.A.A. is hosting its show, complete with flea market, tractor show, truck show, field demonstrations, much much more. The normal turn out for the show is 20,000 visitors, so it is a good sized show. This years truck show is featuring Mack trucks. all trucks are welcome big, small, restored, or "barn fresh". Wabash valley ATHS is having a chilli supper and meeting on saturday evening, Tire chocks are to be given away to the first 50 registrations to the truck show. The truck show is sponsored by the south central indiana aths, any question please call Morgan Heaton (812-381-0983) or e-mail cj5fred@aol.com. Thanks Hope to see you there! B61fred

Hey Packer, when do you expect to be in Indiana? Fred

Hi, You can become a member of the club when you arive at the show. 5 bucks gets you in for all three days. I will be there in the antique gas station collecting the dues, snaping photos and whatever else needs to be done. Come on down and I will fix you up no problem. We like trucks in any condition, un restored, restored, big, small, or any thing of interrest. I think one of our truck club members are taking a military vehicle to the show. We plan on having some fire apperatus there also. Fred P.S. Mack is the feature truck this year

Hello, I am helping out the White River Valley Antique assn. with the Elnora show this year, Bill Osmond was formally in charge of the truck portion of the event but, has decided he wants to step down. I would like to invite everyone to the show that can make it. I am working on some fliers to be sent in the mail to advertise the truck show. The South Central Indiana ATHS is helping out on labor day to get the show grounds ready for the show. We will have some sort of dash plaque or tire chock( don't know yet )for all that attend the show. The WRVAA will provide insurance with membership to their club, ( $5.00 for all 3 days) with full voting rights in the club. Membership to WRVAA is reqired to show a truck. I believe it is customary for the host to make the Chilli for the club meeting, Is this true BLOCK? If so I will have the chilli ready for anyone at the meeting. We are also going to try and take a picture of all the trucks entered, just like the big clubs. If you would like to be on the mailing list for info flyer, please contact me here Thanks cj5fred@aol.com 812-381-0983 ask for Fred

Hi Ron, I will be there, mainly because I will be In charge of the Elnora truck show this year. The south central indiana ATHS is sponsoring the truck show, this year will have dash plaques and I am tring to come up with some things to do. like to get photographs of the trucks like they do at the big shows. Make sure to get a hold of me. Fred We all should meet together at a designated time and location, At the ATHS show everyone had name tags, so if you bumped into someone you knew who it was. Fred

I am planing to go to Macungie for the show next weekend. Who is planing to be there? I've always heard that there's lots of parts for macks there at the swap meet. I plan on taking some pictures. Is there a tour of the Mack plant or muesem during the show? I'm going to try and get there Friday around noon. Thanks Fred