Rob

I've used the air hammer trick myself. Sometimes they are really stuck but good. I've found having the truck hot is usually best. Rob

I highly doubt it.Rob

The field. All shifting is rough when you don't know the piece of shit you're driving.At least it was the right brand. Ever seen a Peterbilt in that bad of shape and still run????? Rob

Not by me it didn't.Rob

Might be a good idea for you to take a break from your "U" model for a bit. Rob

I've fought the color battle for years. Actually quit mixing paint for walk ins stating they just wanted Mack interior green unless they were doing their complete cab interior. It was easier that way. Rob

Scrap prices are up. Got my gas axe ready to save this "U" model. Rob

Yes but have you ever been victim to the trendy catchphrase: "Get down on your knees and lick my ass slave"!Ahhh, just one of the joys of having a 300# leather clad, whip weilding, domineering spouse. Rob

He is prolly too young to realize the meaning in that statement, or what product it was pitch for."We need more CxXXXX". Rob

It's your story, and you own it. If you're happy, I'm happy. Uncle Rob

Brakes are sooooo overrated. I'd get me one of those freon powered horns and drive it home since they are loud enough to get everbody's attention.Rob

Good research but however as you age and gain more experience into these trucks you will discover just how little any of that research pertains. This is truth unfortunately.Now to answer your posts in the order presented: 1: Your are from the northeast part of the country where salt is the predominant deicer used upon roadways. We all know how badly salt acts upon sheet metal. 2. When a truck is recabbed it seldom retains it's orginal paint scheme. Unless the truck were very new when recabbed, it is doubtful a factory replacement cab was utilized to repair the rollover damage incurred. The Bostrom seat was a favored option and is readily transfered from one cab to it's replacement. The horn button is a 1/4 turn either direction and all of these trucks used basically the same steering wheel and column. This part readily transfers to another steering wheel, or the original column was utilized in the replacement cab. Many trucks were built with tandem rear axles and this has nothing to do with either the cab damage the truck has endured throughout it's lifetime, or it's present state of repairs. 3: It would make perfect sense that after a truck is sold to another company they would repaint it in their own colors. This second owner maybe didn't exercise the "layover" option most of the owner's of "U" models did, and maybe they never operated it to ensure it stayed on it's wheels. I don't know for sure but if it doesn't look like it's had the "layover" option exercised to you, it's probably not been operated much since the latest cab was installed. 4: And finally the door tag. Now how many doors have I put on Mack trucks where I have relocated a tag, or decal to a donor panel replacing an original destroyed one? I lost track of that close to 40 years ago or so. It's probably safe to say "FlexiVan" got tired or recabbing the truck so they pawned it off on some unsuspecting bakery thinking it would haul lighter loads but after the bakery put several cabs on the chassis, they "offed" it also as a prudent business decision. But, that's just a guess as you could be right. Uncle Rob

Looks rougher than a cob. Rob

I think they were error stamped, fucked up R models that were sent to the Vactory to have the initial "Suck" put into them they'll never get over.Rob

At 500 pounds you best not swing your ass from the grab handle on the left or that bastard's gonna flatten you on the spot. Rob

Been there myself more than once. Wrecks involving fatalities are never easy, no matter how cold you are. Rob

It would be a new one to me if you could prove the cab to be original to the chassis as originally built. Mack kept ample supply of those cabs on hand for many, many years because they liked to roll on the left side. Uncle Rob

See the stiff leg boom on the left? That was an attempt by the wrecker bed manufacturer to keep the truck on it's wheels. They were to automatically deploy via a early attempt at a roll over sensor to keep those lopsided things upright. They had skid pads for feet and would slide along the road surface until the threat relaxed, (usually a left turn would do it) and the truck could then maintain stability on it's own. Uncle Rob

Not necessarily. 1975 is/was a long time ago and nobody knows how many times that thing has been recabbed as an open secret. We would however assume it made the jaunt at least once; without flopping over is anybody's guess. My guess would be it did given how bad they were about it. Rob

They are a very stable and reliable engine in generator applications. I haven't been around them much in truck applications but the 6V-92's, (I have one) when set to about 350hp are very stout IMO. Rob

So that is how they got those lopsided things to reproduce. They were made in a "vactory".I always wondered. Uncle Rob

But do you feel bad, realllllllllly bad about it?Rob

I always heard that you grab a tit with one hand, put your other in the air and whisper in her ear, "You're the worst fuck I've ever had". Then try to stay on for eight seconds. Rob

How long before you start asking about "U" model Mack trucks???Rob

They were bad about that. Attrition finally got the best of them and we no longer have to look at too many.Rob