mattb73lt Posted June 17, 2019 Author Share Posted June 17, 2019 9 hours ago, Red Horse said: Matt- Brooklyn 2020 for sure! Looking VERY good. I hope so, I’ve got a long way to go to get there. If I don’t, it’ll be close. I am going this Sunday, if the weather is good. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-425542 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted June 20, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 20, 2019 All in primer now! Finished the cowl belt line patches today and primed the lower cowl panels. Now just a lot of small repairs and the windshield area before the body work starts. 4 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-425729 Share on other sites More sharing options...
glitchwrks Posted June 20, 2019 Share Posted June 20, 2019 Been following this thread for a while, excellent work! Projects like this give me hope for my long list of things that need a lot of help. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-425731 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted January 11, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 11, 2020 Back at it after a busy season with the new job and a friend's project the consumed a lot of time. But, I haven't quit and jumped back in this week getting organized again. This doesn't look like much , but it's the first repaired panel permanently re-attached. The cab needs to go over on it's back one more time for a bunch small things to be completed and undercoating. I'm very optimistic for having the cab ready for paint come this spring and my motivation is increasing about it> 11 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-440102 Share on other sites More sharing options...
cncFireman Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 Good to see more progress. I've been following along. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-440188 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted February 8, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 8, 2020 Had to get a little creative with my “coach work”. The lower cab frame I had fabricated was made out of three pieces and welded together. The issue with it was it lacked the bow the original had. The upper two frames have it. The bows help keep the sheet metal taught when assembled. Made a template off the upper bows and then made a tapered shim out of mahogany and bonded it to the lower frame. Issue solved! 6 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-442234 Share on other sites More sharing options...
terry Posted February 8, 2020 Share Posted February 8, 2020 Quite the project!! But it is going to look awsum! terry Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-442244 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted February 9, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 9, 2020 And it came out quite good!! 7 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-442254 Share on other sites More sharing options...
h67st Posted February 9, 2020 Share Posted February 9, 2020 Niiice! How in the world did you cut that shim with that long taper? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-442257 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattb73lt Posted February 9, 2020 Author Share Posted February 9, 2020 16 hours ago, h67st said: Niiice! How in the world did you cut that shim with that long taper? I’m no woodworking expert by any measure. Once I figured out how much of a curve I needed and the area where it needed to be in, I roughed out the mahogany to fit the area, then worked it out where the center needed to be about 7/16” thick and taper down to about 1/16” at each end. I then used a Dewalt hand planer to remove the wood. A regular hand planer would work, too, to shave it down. Now, there’s no void between the sheet metal and the frame. There’s also black tarpaper between the sheet metal and framework, as Mack did at the factory. BTW, you can see the shim peeking out on that interior shot I posted, between the back skin and lower frame. 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-442299 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vladislav Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 Wow! Looks like I missed some part of the party. Kept the project in mind but found out it had great development since I checked in last. Very impressive and nicely done job either by the result and the art of fabricating. Very pleased to observe all the stages. Once again, many thanks for detailingly represented every step, sure a real help to anybody who would rebuild an L-model cab. I'm also in the line but my story is a bit different since military cab is in fact a convertible, with no metal roof. Good luck on the continue, will keep my attention more close. 1 Quote Никогда не бывает слишком много грузовиков! leversole 11.2012 Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-442610 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted February 13, 2020 Share Posted February 13, 2020 Fantastic stuff, Im impressed Thanks for sharing Paul 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-442658 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainCrutch Posted February 13, 2020 Share Posted February 13, 2020 I wish I had that level of ambition and attention to detail... so much more would get done around here... But dear lord that cab looks factory new! I can't wait to see how amazing this truck looks once it's finished! Looks good already... 2 Quote Who needs a back yard when you could have a Yard?! Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-442682 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted February 16, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 16, 2020 Nothing like new. Scored this early N.O.S. LJX (3 hinge, no vent window) door while buying up a bunch of B model parts up in Massachusetts a few years ago. Just needed to remove the forward window channel to make it work. Sanded off the 70+ year old primer to etch prime it. I found one minor ding on the door, but its perfect and will save a lot of time trying to fix the original. 5 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-442932 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vladislav Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 That's not enough to say drool looking at these pictures. More close to the content of animated pic Hatcity used to post sometimes in the past. A long while back Mike Siuperdog put brand new L-model door up for sale on here. I don't remember which side and sure don't have an idea on he sold it or not. Quote Никогда не бывает слишком много грузовиков! leversole 11.2012 Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-442964 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted February 17, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 17, 2020 Strapped, clamped, bolted and pinned together. Gaps and panels all lined up and now all welded together in one big piece. Just the roof to attach and a whole bunch of fine tuning before bodywork. Big progress in the last few weeks and can't wait to have this part behind me. 6 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-443027 Share on other sites More sharing options...
terry Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 never knew they made vice grip clamps that big!! terry Oh yeah your going to have a beautiful truck when done!! 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-443029 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattb73lt Posted February 18, 2020 Author Share Posted February 18, 2020 1 hour ago, terry said: never knew they made vice grip clamps that big!! terry Oh yeah your going to have a beautiful truck when done!! I had to special order them. needed them to reach the hard spots. 24" reach!! 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-443034 Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZB755V8 Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 16 hours ago, mattb73lt said: I had to special order them. needed them to reach the hard spots. 24" reach!! I was going to ask about your tooling. Looks like you have a tool for everything to do fabrication. Nice, Great job! Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-443100 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattb73lt Posted February 18, 2020 Author Share Posted February 18, 2020 45 minutes ago, AZB755V8 said: I was going to ask about your tooling. Looks like you have a tool for everything to do fabrication. Nice, Great job! I’m pretty well equipped, but once in a while I come up short. It would be nice to have a shear and a brake for fabrication, but I don’t usually get this deep into a vehicle. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-443102 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 cant believe you stripped all the sheetmetal......man what a job....but im sure your glad you did.....seems that truck will bring top buck,,if you ever decide to sell .god love ya,,,and thanks for keeping us posted...bob Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-443107 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted February 18, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 18, 2020 On 2/18/2020 at 2:15 PM, mowerman said: cant believe you stripped all the sheetmetal......man what a job....but im sure your glad you did.....seems that truck will bring top buck,,if you ever decide to sell .god love ya,,,and thanks for keeping us posted...bob Neither can I. Never thought I'd go this far into it. I always liked this cab on the B. I think what saved it and allowed me to go this route was the shoddy repair that was done after the original owner crashed into his trailer after missing the fifth wheel. It was literally pop riveted back together and the two replacement panels were falling off. They did a lot of damage too, as they chiseled the spot welds apart instead of using a cutter. Like i said, I can't wait to get this part done. 3 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-443125 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhh i gotcha,,,musta missed that part....that would have been eating me alive as well....you would be looking at those flaws the entire time you owned it,,,,,besides your liable to devevope squeeks,or rattles somewhere along the line,,driving you crazy..after you get it all painted and put together,,,,,,yes i dont blame you them,,,,,great job....bob Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-443193 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainCrutch Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 18 hours ago, mattb73lt said: Neither can I. Never thought I'd go this far into it. I always liked this cab on the B. I think what saved it and allowed me to go this route was the shoddy repair that was done after the original owner crashed into his trailer after missing the fifth wheel. It was literally pop riveted back together and the two replacement panel were falling off. They did a lot of damage too, as they chiseled the spot welds apart instead of using a cutter. Like i said, I can't wait to get this part done. I like this cab on the Bs too. Must've been a quick job so save money the first time, but how in the world was somebody trying to hook up a trailer so fast they not only missed the 5th wheel and didn't realize it but then cause so much damage that you need to replace rear panels?! I could see a sizable dent maybe and the glass to be blown out but something on the cab that couldn't just be beat out or dealt with? Makes me scratch my head... Glad someone is fixing it up right! Can't wait to see the old dog growling around again... Quote Who needs a back yard when you could have a Yard?! Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-443195 Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavyGunner Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 Probably had the trailer lifted too high and the king pin skipped right over the fifth wheel plate. Quote The problems we face today exist because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by the people who vote for a living.The government can only "give" someone what they first take from another. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/11/#findComment-443199 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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