Rob

I probably wouldn't screw with it. Especially knowing that I'm willing to sell you Other Dogs' mixer for say, $500.00 american. Rob

Most had the wet tank on the passenger side frame rail just rearward of the fuel tank. Most, that is that I've seen. My 58 B-61 has both tanks on the driver's side frame rail just rearward of the fuel tank. My truck was a winch truck driven from the rt. side of the transmission though so the tank was probably relocated. My 64 B-61 has a wet tank on the passenger rail mentioned earlier, and a tank across the back of the frame much as you mention. I doubt you have a split tank unless someone has installed it later. The wet tan probably rusted out through the years, and was by-passed. Rob

Yeah, be especially leary of that "Other Dog" character. I don't know if he is low enough to roll a girl scout to get her cookies but he does drive a Pete. You have been forewarned. Welcome to the site. Rob

Hi Terry, this truck does not have a rolling or unstable idle at all. Over, and undershoot is very good for a mechanical governor. It feels, (to me) like a weak pump shot, or low compression on one cylinder, but is not a dead miss. I will run the overhead and do a compression check when the injectors are out. Rob

Hi David, you are correct on modern trucks but in the reign of the B model Mack, two tanks were very common as built. I've seen some older trucks with three tanks, but they were not built that way new, but were modified/added to by owner/operators. I can't remember which FMVSS mandated a split system for primary, and secondary and had the red, and green needle gauges for indication of pressure(s), but it was in the mid to late 1970's. Rob

Here I was in between three jobs: 1: Putting a driver's side on a Durango 2: Building up a front end on a Mustang 3: Installing the aluminum tanks back onto my RL797LST after cleaning. Prior to installing the driver's side tank onto the truck I installed a brand new fuel SW level sensor to replace the original defective one. As a test for the gauge, I dump one gallon of fresh diesel fuel into the tank with the crossover valve shut off to the passenger side tank. One gallon gives no deflection to the fuel guage; The second gallon gives a slight deflection of the guage; A third gallon brings the needle to just past the line indication "E", indicating "enough". I then dump the balance of the five gallon can into the tank. I had bench tested the new sending unit to ensure the dash guage was a good unit and the deflection was linear with movement of the float arm. Well, I needed to get the Mustang into the paint room so I put the Mack outside and it is on a slight incline. My dumb ass, (not thinking) proceeds to go about my business and a couple of minutes later when I go to bring the truck back inside the shop, I discover the truck is dead and the pickup tube is out of the fuel as evidenced by looking into the filler opening. Now I'm thinking, Rob, you dumb somebitch, you are about as smart as a box of rocks. It's like my grandpa used to tell me as a young man: "Better to be pissed off, than pissed on; Learn from your mistakes, boy"; (I HATED when he called me boy cause I knew better than to sass that man). I had just filled my truck bulk tank so I backed up to the Mack and gave it about 40 gallons. I then removed the filters, filled them and it basically popped right off after a bit of engine cranking. The engine was still warm from the idle time of backing out of the building. I think I'm going to pull the pump and nozzles and have them evaluated before starting to rely on this truck for transportation. Nine years is a long time to sit not running with the pump loaded with water. The engine runs very well but has a slight "lope" at idle that could be fuel related. The throttle response is crisp, and very precise but I don't want to trust it several hundred miles "right out of the gate" without more experience looking at it. Rob

Mike, most had two tanks. One the compressor discharged into, (wet tank) and another downsteam, (usually at the rear) that the supplied main air for the brakes. Rob

What brand of paint stripper are you using? Rob

Sure are, but can be expensive. The cabs up until the end of the R production will work with minor tweaking. Of course a DM, or U series is a little different but straight R cabs can be found easily. A roof skin, and drip rails all around will easily tear up a $1000.00 bill for parts. The cab structure around the perimeter of the back window like to rot, (a lot) so be sure to look closely at these areas. Of course pull the mat and look at the floorpan, and seams into the cab sides. A rusty cab quickly becomes a money sucking pig on short order. Personally, I would keep the Autocar and work with it. Looks to have a good start. A truck that has been "sitting for a few years", may have a reason it has done so although everybody knows an old Mack is near bulletproof. Not too many of that style still around neither. Rob

For the 1973 model year. Also went to the plastic dash. Prior were metal. Cab entrance handles went away in favor of grab bars also. Rob

Your mentioning of paper rolls brings back fond memories as I worked for the Illinois State Journal-Register, (Copley Press) when we were a young family starting out, (long time ago). I used to deliver newpaper bundles to the rural communities in central, and western IL. These were literally "Hot off the press". They printed the paper there and trucks would come in with either two giant, or four smaller rolls on them. They were shrink wrapped very tightly and were always tarped, hauled on flatbeds with three axles. There was an extension to the building that had an overhead bridge crane and all four rolls of paper could be unloaded, and placed onto a conveyor for routing within 10 minutes. Really smooth operation and nobody even got wet. It took the driver more time to unhook the tarp and roll it up on the roller at the front of the trailer than to unload the deck. Man that was a good job while it lasted. In 1981, they went to contract hauling and the job I was offered as replacement of cleaning presses did not interest me at all. It did however, pay well. I left for "greener" pastures. Rob

Around central Illinois all the ready mix operators use Hendrickson rubber pad suspension. I've not seen a spring setup for many years. As mentioned, Camelback springs tended to break as did the Hendrickson springs just as frequently. The puck suspension does not seem to fail except for wear in the beam bushings. Rob

I've seen these things on the road but don't really understand the viability to them. Is there much benefit over a tarped load? They certainly don't appear very "secure" to me, and water intrusion looks to be a detriment. Other than ease of loading/unloading what would some useful hauling applications be? Thanks, Rob

People go there all the time to play with their Pete. Rob

I just had some diced pancreatic giblets, slow roasted over an open flame, slathered in sauce homemade from the intestinal walls of a roadside retrieval cocker spaniel that was lightly seasoned. Quite delicious with no bitter aftertaste I must admit. Now that my latest recipe is proven; I will be sending out special invitations for dinner. Don't let that roadkill go to waste. Scoop, scrape, pry, or use what ever means necessary to retrieve this future mainstay of subsistence. Nothing goes to waste. American Test Kitchen has nothing on us. Rob

Think he wins "Ass in the frying pan" award. Rob

If I remember correctly the transmission mounts are bolted to the section the frame rails that "splay" out in width. If you move them further to the rear, they will be to long to allow your transmission mounting bolts that run through the mountings to align. I solved this with a conversion I did by sawing the mounts horizontal arm in a band saw removing the extra length, deep "Vee" grooved the weld zones, and welded the arm(s) back together. If memory serves I took put about 1/2" out of the center of each arm. To ensure proper alignment I installed the transmission without trying to install bolts. With the insulators, and washers in place a measurement was taken as the transmission rested on the mounts in the chassis. I was then able to measure for the material removal to get the holes to align. I am now old and feeble and the mind is not what it used to be. I could be suffering from the hallucinatory effects of my medications, but this is the way I vaguely remember it. Think I'll go into the kitchen and grab a leftover slice of German Shepherd Pie that's calling my name before "Momma" gets home and hogs it all down. Good luck with the project. Rob

Well shit. What is the right thing to say? While I am not family, I share in your sorrow. There just aint no good any way it's looked at. My sympathy to you, yours, and rest of family. I grieve with you my friend. Rob

Utility, not futility. That is my motto. Much more comfortable than sitting on the floor. Rob

Keep a sharp eye on that Other Dog character. He uses an inflatable hemorrhoid cushion to even out his disposition from driving a Pete all day. Welcome. Rob

If he were a former squid, he would have known to tie straps together with a double bowline knot to get more load on. I still think he is under his licensed load rating, and there is more room on the top. It looks to me like he ran out of strap length. Rob

Man, the wind musta been really strong to turn that Ford pickup around 180 degrees like that. How much power ya gonna need? My gensets in storage at the shop can supply almost 1 megawatt. Would 50KW be enough to get you through? Rob

Hi Michael, welcome to the site from me also. What series of truck was "Little Joe"? He looks to have a short hood like a B-67 and only having the one lower chrome strip on the hood such as that model had. I've never seen a B-67 series with the real heavy front hubs, or rear axles like that either. I'm wondering is someone "built" the truck using possibly B-53 series underpinnings? Sure was a good looking unit and obviously well cared for. Rob

Smart man to be rid of the infectious "Red Oval" disease. Life can begin anew. E-9 V8 powered RW series Mack trucks are getting rare and expensive, but they are out there. Good luck with your quest. Welcome to the site. Rob

Gladys Virginia is where all the snow is today. Other Dog is one of the most honest people I know. If he said the view was from his front porch, you can take stock in believing it is the truth. Rob