Rob

Today is birthday boy Kenny Lane's special day. 63 years young. Have a good one. Rob

That looks a lot like Shamrock's B73 and it's from Michigan also. Rob

The following are 40 pieces of evidence showing America is in decline…. #1 Back in 1985, 11 million vehicles were sold in America. In 2009, only 5.4 million vehicles were sold in America. #2 In 1990, the median age of a vehicle in the United States was just 6.5 years. Today, the median age of a vehicle in the United States is approximately 10 years. #3 The average price of a gallon of gasoline in 2011 has been $3.50. That is a new all-time record. The previous record was $3.24 in 2008. #4 The average American household will have spent an astounding $4,155 on gasoline by the time the year is over. #5 The number of children in the United States without a permanent home has increased by 38 percent since 2007. #6 A decade ago, the United States was ranked number one in average wealth per adult. By 2010, the United States had fallen to seventh. #7 The U.S. tax code is now more than 50,000 pages longer than it used to be. #8 American 15-year-olds do not even rank in the top half of all advanced nations when it comes to math or science literacy. #9 The United States once had the highest proportion of young adults with post-secondary degrees in the world. Today, the U.S. has fallen to 12th. #10 After adjusting for inflation, U.S. college students are borrowing about twice as much money as they did a decade ago. #11 The student loan default rate has nearly doubled since 2005. #12 Our economy is not producing nearly enough jobs for our college graduates. The percentage of mail carriers with a college degree is now 4 times higher than it was back in 1970. #13 Our infrastructure was once the envy of the world. Today, U.S. infrastructure is ranked 23rd. #14 Since December 2007, median household income in the United States has declined by a total of 6.8% once you account for inflation. #15 Since the year 2000, incomes for U.S. households led by someone between the ages of 25 and 34 have fallen by about 12 percent after you adjust for inflation. #16 According to U.S. Representative Betty Sutton, America has lost an average of 15 manufacturing facilities a day over the last 10 years. During 2010 it got even worse. Last year, an average of 23 manufacturing facilities a day shut down in the United States. #17 In all, more than 56,000 manufacturing facilities in the United States have shut down since 2001. #18 The United States has lost a staggering 32 percent of its manufacturing jobs since the year 2000. #19 Manufacturing employment in the U.S. computer industry was actually lower in 2010 than it was in 1975. #20 In 1959, manufacturing represented 28 percent of all U.S. economic output. In 2008, it represented only 11.5 percent. #21 The television manufacturing industry began in the United States. So how many televisions are manufactured in the United States today? According to Princeton University economist Alan S. Blinder, the grand total is zero. #22 The U.S. trade deficit with China in 2010 was 27 times larger than it was back in 1990. #23 The Economic Policy Institute says that since 2001 America has lost approximately 2.8 million jobs due to our trade deficit with China alone. #24 According to one study, between 1969 and 2009 the median wages earned by American men between the ages of 30 and 50 dropped by 27 percent after you account for inflation. #25 Back in 1980, less than 30% of all jobs in the United States were low income jobs. Today, more than 40% of all jobs in the United States are low income jobs. #26 The size of the economy in India is projected to surpass the size of the U.S. economy by the year 2050. #27 One prominent economist believes that the Chinese economy will be three times larger than the U.S. economy by the year 2040. #28 In 2001, the United States ranked fourth in the world in per capita broadband Internet use. Today it ranks 15th. #29 Back in the year 2000, 11.3% of all Americans were living in poverty. Today, 15.1% of all Americans are living in poverty. #30 Last year, 2.6 million more Americans dropped into poverty. That was the largest increase that we have seen since the U.S. government began keeping statistics on this back in 1959. #31 According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 6.7% of all Americans are living in “extreme poverty”, and that is the highest level that has ever been recorded before. #32 The percentage of children living in poverty in the United States increased from 16.9 percent in 2006 to nearly 22 percent in 2010. In the UK and in France the child poverty rate is well under 10 percent. #33 As I wrote about the other day, since 2007 the number of children living in poverty in the state of California has increased by 30 percent. #34 A staggering 48.5% of all Americans live in a household that receives some form of government benefits. Back in 1983, that number was below 30 percent. #35 Back in 1965, only one out of every 50 Americans was on Medicaid. Today, one out of every 6 Americans is on Medicaid. #36 Between 1991 and 2007 the number of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 that filed for bankruptcy rose by a staggering 178 percent. #37 Today, the “too big to fail” banks are larger than ever. The total assets of the six largest U.S. banks increased by 39 percent between September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2011. #38 Since the Federal Reserve was created in 1913, the U.S. dollar has lost over 95 percent of its purchasing power. #39 During the Obama administration, the U.S. government has accumulated more debt than it did from the time that George Washington took office to the time that Bill Clinton took office. #40 The U.S. national debt is now nearly 15 times larger than it was just 30 years ago. Sadly, most Americans are not fired up about turning this country around. Way too many of them realize that things are getting worse, but they have “checked out” and are just going through the motions of life.

I would think if you are looking to spend up to 30K for a tandem dumper you would be able to find something without rust in the rails. As mentioned, this goes from bad to worse only. Rob

Thinking this poster is a spammer but no proof yet. I'm on it. Rob

I haven't seen a single axle R model in several years. I wonder why the DM series step tank on this one? Rob

When I built my new shop in 2000 I investigated such a scenario as this. I went with industrial zoning as opposed to commercial which gave me a lot more control of my property as to what I could, and could not do. Basically, anything can be done with an industrial zone rating. Of course the flip side is the cost of taxes which are about 10% higher, but this is highly offset by the lack of harrassment endured through the years, mainly due to trucks much the same as you have experienced. I don't know if rezoning is an option for you, but it has worked well for a few people I know with similar problems. Rob

Just received my state of Illinois unemployment compensation contribution rate in the mail for calendar year 2012. It is increased 1.6% from calendar year 2011. This is with all my years in business, I never had a chargable claim. The politicians just don't understand the lack of job creation is their own fault. I've been waiting for this annual determination to decide to take employees in the new year or not; the fate is now sealed. I'll draft my letter to the director of unemployment security this evening removing my business from the rolls of an employer in the state of Illinois. This will eliminate about 1.5 hours of administrative overhead each month from the office workload. The time for change is upon us, and it starts in Washington, D.C. Remember to vote you conscience at next election. Rob

My thoughts exactly. I've made the crossmembers from 1/4" wall tubing and bolted webs through the rails, and the new crossmember. Get everything tight. Rob

Works better if you move your face side to side really fast........ Rob

The Stemco part number for the front wheel kit including inner oil seal, and wear ring is: 382-8011. The wear ring is Stemco 310-1051. The oil seal is Stemco 320-2031. These numbers are conversions from the former numbers of the Stemco seals that were installed originally, and are discontinued. I have oil hubs on the B67 these are for with an FA-517 axle. Hope they help you out. Rob

No, I am not a member of that "esteemed" crowd. Phoney, fake, hypocrites are all of em. Rob

Same thing about civil rights activists. How many do not enjoy Martin Luther King day off as a federal holiday? It don't much matter what or who someone is, was, said, did, or suffered through, there are hypocrites everywhere. Most people don't celebrate Christmas for what it and is supposed to be no matter how they talk. It is simply another retail season, or a way to make money on the general movement. I always favored the "evangelists" that seemingly get caught up in unscroupulous affairs; Jim Baker, Jerry Falwell, etc. Rob

It took some digging to get the ones I have. Hopefully they are still an active part number. Rob

And you only thought I couldn't grip that seat very tight. Ya see, I get real nervous without a seat belt and sudden stops. Rob

They are still in the boxes at the shop. I'll be out there in the morning and will relay later in the day. Rob

number, doobie, oz......

I had to go with Stemco seals as we couldn't cross over to CR on my FA-517 axle. I also replaced the wear ring and they were over a hundred and a quarter per side. Rob

Careful, we're showing our ages........ Rob

Hi Jeff, I'm afraid me and your boss wouldn't quite see "eye to eye" on making someone purchase a part for any reason ordered incorrectly. In the communist republic of Illinois I live in, it cannot be done by state law. Don't know about other states. Most of the folks in the antique Mack world will not be looking at that exact grille as it is wrong for the vintage(s) of RL, and RS series trucks we collect. This can be readily ascertained by the amount of punched mounting holes along the bottom flange that don't exist in my three RL, and one RS 700 series trucks. Possibly this is for an "FS, or FL" series as I've not been around many of those. I truly wish you the best of luck with a sale and hate to see a guy lose money but there is little option here unless you go to swap meets and such. Sometimes a guy can sale a part even though they are upside down in cost at these type of affairs. Again, I do wish you the best of luck. Rob

You do not remove the steering shaft from the steering gear on a B model. The steering gear case has to be dissassembled to remove the column/shaft from the gear while out of the truck. Rob

I'd seen those on most cabovers of the 60's and 70's. Wasn't really around much of the 80's stuff before they died out. Rob

Yes, that is how they were designed to work but a "Torin" stainless band clamp would work well if you are going to use a rigid mount like the original setup. Rob

I know Donaldson still markets them. I don't know if it is offered in chrome or not however. They were a bell and flare shaped affair on the upper part rigid mounted, and a ball type affair that mounted rigid to the lower exhaust. They leaked very little when the cab was let down and the two pipes slid together. These aren't large enough but someone else may market larger. http://www.donaldson.com/en/exhaust/support/datalibrary/040443.pdf Rob

I have a new pair, (never mounted) of 15X22.5 tubeless bias tires and matching rims I've been meaning to ask you about. Prolly too costly to ship however. Rob