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Looking at buying my first mack.(I bought it!)


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I have always been interested in older Mack's and caterpillar machines. Over the past few years, I have really been going to more and more shows in south jersey and eastern pa. I have also met and became fairly close friends with some local collectors. All of this combined has really given me an itch to have something of my own. About a year ago a friend of mine took me to meet a local collector, while talking to him I noticed a heavy B61 parked out back. I didn't ask much about it on that fateful day. I say fateful because I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since then. Over the next couple of months I noticed that it keeps moving around the yard, so I figured that it runs and it might be worth asking about. Well, it turns out to be a 1964 B613SX that runs beautifully. The original ENDT673 was replaced at some point with a 237. It still has the quad box in it. No rust between the frame rails and just some minor surface rust on the cab. The floor was replaced at some point too. I got in touch with the mack museum and they sent me the build sheet. It has a 15000lb front and the build sheet shows the rears as swd68 units. One person told me that they are 55k rears while another told me that they are 58k rears. I'm hoping someone here can clear this up for me. It sits on 11.00x24" rubber. It needs four tires replaced but could use all ten replaced. It could use a new compressor and needs the left side hood emblems. I finally decided to ask if he would sell it. He said that he didn't really want or need to sell it. A few weeks later I was helping him put together a Cat D2 when he says that he's been moving the mack around the yard and garage for 5 years and it might be another 5 years before he starts restoring it. As He has alot of projects ahead of the mack. He blurted out "give me 3 grand for it". I was almost speechless. His only conditions with that price is that I have it road worthy by spring and that he can drive it whenever he wants. Well, I think that's not too much to ask. He also has all new glass, a new drivers door, new right side hood emblems, new floor mat, headliner and firewall insulation. Is there anything else on the truck that I should look for before pulling the trigger? I feel like 3 grand is a steal of a deal. Now if I can just ok it with the wife(she thinks I'm crazy)

Edited by tdozer
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I know what you mean - once it's in your mind....I saw a chain drive Mack sitting upstate, and two years later found and bought one fifteen minutes from home. In case you needed any more encouragement, three grand sounds like a no brainer. The nice thing with the truck hobby is that if they drive and run there is always a following, and there are probably fifteen nice drivers or survivors for every true show truck. And while original is always best, no one looks down on replacement motors, etc., it's all about keeping them going whatever it takes. As said above, you can pace yourself on the work, it can get pricey. As for explaining to the family, it can be a little tough. A twelve thousand pound Harley, but a lot safer - and the price of fuel is finally coming down! The old truck guys are great, a really supportive community. Good luck!

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I'm in Philly if you need any help.I also have some antique Caterpillars that i play around with.There is a spot down in the city that the guy has some B models for parts and he is really good with his prices.Waiting for some pictures if it's in eastern Pa it may be one of our old trucks or i may know who's it was by the paint if it was a dump.Good luck.

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well if you dont buy it pretty quick some one else on google will now that you have put all the information up so might wanna make a move fairly quick smart as this has happened before

Pay the owner with cash and get a receipt he cant change his mind and not bank the check if someone else turns up ten minutes after you leave and offers twice as much might also pay to get a time and date on the receipt just encase because I reckon at twice that price it would still be pretty good buying good luck with what ever you decide you just mighten want to dick around to much

Paul

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