Mike

Say Mixers, If I had a Mixer I would find something better to MIX than manure or concrete in it. Sounds like a great way to fix cocktails. Welcome to BMT mike

Hey Rob and Larry, I'll run radials on front then buy them later for the rear, and run 70lbs. in each. Thanks for the help, that clears alot of guessing for me. mike

Hi Randy, Man, I would have loved to have seen and heard her run in person. Their is nothing like it when you can hear one startup, especially when you can be in the pilot's seat. The most excitement for me was the summer of 05 when I got to fly in a P51 Mustang. It still excites me when an engine comes alive, then moves on its on power. Read my story when you get time. Best of Luck!! mike

Yes Rob, I know what you are talking about. It all makes sense to me. I just have one more question about tires for these trucks then I will let the subject rest. What air pressures should be ran in these B61's ? I down loaded from Bridgestone Tires specs, and they showed air pressures should be between 70 & 80 lbs. for radials. Am I in the ballpark yet? Thanking You!!! mike

Hey Rob, Thank you for replying. This answer has greatly helped me to decide. A used set of radials sounds to me the best idea. But I still don't understand what is causing these trucks to roll so bad. By the way HAPPY BELATED ANNIVERSERY!!!! mike

Guys, Are you saying do not run bias and radials? But can run bias or radials? I remember the 55 Ford Fairlane we had growing up. The car would bounce badly until the tires warmed up. They were rayon tires back then. These two trucks remind me of that. But I have not driven these trucks far enough to get them heated up to highway temp. I'm thinking that these trucks have been sitting so long that they have developed a flat spot inside of a front tire. I cannot figure this out. mike

Yes, It makes me wonder about the two trucks I'm looking at. One of the trucks gets a dose of truck pulls during the summer. Doesn't seem very good for the springs at it's age. I would like to ask, what is the cause of each truck that I drive seems to have a square tire on the front. I expect a hard ride but they all have a tire that seems to be shaking the truck very bad. mike

Hey Snowy, A neighbor friend used to drive these trucks back in the 60's. He told me that ATF was the best lubricant that you can use. He said the Cadilac Dealers used ATF in the engines of new cars instead of oil. Well I know that it is GREAT to use in just about anything. It can withstand alot of heat. It will not freeze up in the winter. Nuf Said! mike

Larry, Just curious to know if you have changed springs yet on the B61? mike

Yes, That is what I would try. Let us Bull Dogs hear back from you. mike

Hey Jeff, Sounds like the shaft has dried out, where there was once grafite around the shaft. You might try some grafite lubricant or squirt some oil around the shaft to let it seep inside. That is what the old school boys like me would try first. I have also tried WD40 spray. That is sometimes a great improvement. Hope one of these suggestions help. If not, it could get a little more difficult taking the steering coulmn loose. mike

Hi Fred and Larry, Thanks for replying to my message. I just don't have any fun if I have to clean, paint put on chrome fix or repair often just to go and let someone judge my vehicle. I used to go and get what we called " Home Cookin". That was when you would carry your car etc. to a show, maybe drive several hundred miles, worked most of the night after working the day before just to get a possible $25.00 trophy or plaque. I had a National Winner vehicle and would sometimes go to a show, people would see me getting registered at the gate. They would come over and tell me that I had no worries, that I had taken the show in my class only to be taken by the "Home Cookin". Sometimes our club would go home with nothing. Man when you stick around awhile in life it can trip you up many times. I do like to see vehicles that have the original paint and equipment. Anyway i'll get off of my soak box and say thanks to you guys for the encouragement and let you talk now. Larry, when I first saw your drag car on this site. I thought it was a 64 Thunderbolt, 427 ci sideoiler leaving the line. Sure had my curiosity up. Man those were the days in my life that were fun, at the local Dragstrip, outside of Nashville. I would sometimes go to Bowling Green, KY. and watch them. Good Luck with it. mike

Hey Packer, If I leave them as is, then I could tell the POLITICAL JUDGES that it is the original colors. Maybe they would buy it. That is a 50/50 chance. I have done the car shows and bike shows back in the 80's and 90's and I would have to say crap on showing anything, because of the political bureacracy. Not being short with you but Ihate politics. I've been their done that. Check out the guy from the Netherlands paint job June 15th. He got The GoodHouse Keeping Seal of Approval on that job. Thanks for the reply. mike

Hey Super Dogs, I've been studying, trying to figure out which Mack to buy. One is a B61 single axle all original needs only minor work, brake air leak, faded paint, no big deal. But, it was the Marsh Grocery Store that owned it. Green fenders and roof. Biege body and interior. The seats good shape and all original. If I buy this truck I would want to change the paint color to what I like. This would change the originality of this truck, not nessarily a good thing, right? The other B61 is a tandem, has Mack colors inside and out. I would not have a problem changing the color on the outside, leaving the inside as is. This truck has me scratching my head about the price, and time on the engine. I really need you'all's advice PLEASE!!!!!!! Thanking You! mike

Barry, Thanks for sharing the pictures. They are great! I should have been there. But maybe someday. Mike

I get 310,685.6 miles on that truck if the engine had not been touched enternally. Mike

Yea, I go along with Herb on this one. I've been there before trying to just fix the heads. That dog won't hunt for long, not with that many miles. Good Luck!!!!!! Mike

HK, I appreciate your expert help. I look forward in learning from any of my Mack Brothers. Thanking You Mike Sanders

Trent, Thanks for your reply, I kind of knew I was right, because if I paint the one i'm getting ready, and paint it black, then I can't go wrong. I think this gentleman won't mind. I guess he did not know either. Maybe politics won't be too hard on him when he starts taking the truck to shows. Mike

Guys, I have been looking at different B61's and all so far have many different looks about them. I have seen mostly oily black ones, green ones, red ones, and one that was white. Men,....... I really am confused! Can someone clear this one up for me? I would like to see what was original from the factory and know what the paint code might be. I enjoy seeing people that have restored these trucks back to mostly original condition. Thanks Mike

Hey Rich, I live in Tennessee, and also looking for a good B. So listen to these PROS, it may get snached up before you get home. I also have the same problem you do with no garage to store yet. But I do have the mechanic blood running through me. Good Luck Mike

My story with trucks probably started when my dad bought me metal toy trucks. I somehow believe it comes from the genes, because my dad drove jeeps and trucks with General Patton’s 3rd Armored Battalion during WWII. After returning from the Army he and his dad bought a KB-6 International flatbed and hauled coal from Kentucky to Tennessee. By the time I was born in 1953 he had sold the truck. I went to stay with a neighbor for a couple of weeks when I was about four or five. The husband drove for Pulaski Highway Express (PHE) out of Pulaski, Tennessee. He would bring home B61 Mack’s or GMC’s. I would wander outside and play on and inside the trucks. One day while sitting inside a B61 I reached up and pulled the cord and a loud blast came from the twin horns. That day was the last time I would get to sit inside any make of truck for a long, long time. From that day forward I was crazy about any large truck, but the B61 Mack was my dream. In 1961 my family was headed to Florida. We stopped for breakfast at a restaurant in Birmingham, Alabama. I was starring outside the window when I saw, sitting at a traffic light, a pink B61 Mack with lots of chrome pulling a polished reefer. I was mesmerized. When the light changed to green the Mack blasted off a sound of straight pipes and the changing of gears could be heard as the truck faded away in the distance. That sound and the changing of all those gears have stayed with me to this day. My dad took on jobs with Industrial Tractor Company, Cummins Diesel of Nashville, Super Service, and Mason Dixon Truck Lines. It was about 1960 when I rode with my dad to pick up a check at Mason Dixon. As I sat waiting in the car, out of the silence, I was suddenly shocked by the sound of an air starter from a B61 Mack starting up. That was the first time I had heard anything like that. Although it has been 47 years since the Florida trip, I can still remember perfectly the sound of the B61 Mack. When playing at home with my toy trucks, I would imitate the sound from that sunny morning in l961. I would someday hope that I would get a chance to not only sit in a B61 but to drive one. That dream came true when I saw a B61 for sale on EBAY in December of 2007 in West Tennessee. I called and arranged a trip to see it. I probably spent five hours looking at that Mack. As I was walking to my car to go home, I asked the owner if I could drive it. He agreed, with his guidance I drove it on his 18 acres of property. I was in heaven that day. I did not buy the truck. I told him I would probably regret my decision. I am still looking for another B61 close to Tennessee.

Hey Old Iron Expert, many thanks for the info. Was hoping it was not going to be that much to do. This happens to be a truck that i'm looking at, have not bought as of yet. Still scratching my head over this one. Thank you Mike

Freightain, I believe you have the Hottiest Video on the Mack site. And I'm one of those greenhorns that needs a lot of home schoolin in this area. I hope that I also don't wear it out. Thanks Mike