B-73 Restoration

[1961H67]

I have a Gut Feeling we will get a GOOD Backdrop video from a B73 in a few months,,,,,

[mattb73lt]

24 years ago this weekend I found this truck in Litchfield, CT. Dragged it home and dropped it in front of my barn at the house I bought about a year and a half beforehand. Lots of things have transpired since that time, but one of the good things is seeing this truck, nearing completion, sitting in the same exact spot.

[1961H67]

Thanks for Sharing the Journey! And the Picture . Also thanks for the Tips , Parts and Most of all the Motivation I have gotten from watching your progress! In a sense,, You have restored a B73 and a LJ ! Thank You! 

[Red Horse]

14 minutes ago, mattb73lt said:

24 years ago this weekend I found this truck in Litchfield, CT. Dragged it home and dropped it in front of my barn at the house I bought about a year and a half beforehand. Lots of things have transpired since that time, but one of the good things is seeing this truck, nearing completion, sitting in the same exact spot.

Looks great- and I like the painted headlight buckets!-as well as the new roof on barn!

Will miss you this weekend. About 25 trucks there already as of this afternoon-including Brian T's new RD 800 with huge planetary axles-looks like its about 9'wide!

[mattb73lt]

Thanks, Bob. The barn got a huge restoration in 2015 and the roof in 2002. I’m bummed I can’t make it up there this time. I just gave the B42 a day of love for this weekend. There’s still a slim chance I could make Sunday.

[mattb73lt]

Thanks, Dean. It’s been a pleasure working “with” you on our projects and I’m glad it’s been helpful on several levels. I’ve really enjoyed watching your progress, too!!

[mechohaulic]

50 minutes ago, Red Horse said:

Looks great- and I like the painted headlight buckets!-as well as the new roof on barn!

Will miss you this weekend. About 25 trucks there already as of this afternoon-including Brian T's new RD 800 with huge planetary axles-looks like its about 9'wide!

WHERE IS there this week-end ??? truck show CT area. going for cordo shot right knee friday; i  hopefully can walk around 25 p[us trucks 😁😂

[mattb73lt]

2 hours ago, mechohaulic said:

WHERE IS there this week-end ??? truck show CT area. going for cordo shot right knee friday; i  hopefully can walk around 25 p[us trucks 😁😂

It’s the Dreamride event in Farmington at the Polo Grounds. My employer’s huge annual fund raiser for the CT Special Olympics. The main Dreamride is on Saturday, but the whole thing runs Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Big car show on Sunday. I’m helping move some vintage State Police cruisers up there Friday. I’ll be driving a ‘41 Ford cruiser Saturday. The show Bob was speaking of is up in Lancaster, Ma. The Bay State Chapter’s 20th anniversary show, Saturday and Sunday.

[mrsmackpaul]

Only down side to this rebuild is it makes anything I do look rather shabby 

 

Great work as always, dont think I  could sleep been this close to the end

 

Paul

[Brocky]

The SC Special Olympics Convoy is Tomorrow Saturday the 27th at the Farmers Market in Columbia SC. Last year we had about 25 trucks which could be classified as Antique / Historic in with the 150 participants.   I will be there with my Diamond T 201 as part of the static display and ATHS Member recruitment table.

[mattb73lt]

Helped move six vintage cruisers this morning over to the Farmington Polo Grounds. THere's a group coming from Australia, too! Mostly a car event, giving rides to the special olympians and their families. Lots of smiles will be had and a lot of funds, too.

[Red Horse]

1 hour ago, mattb73lt said:

Helped move six vintage cruisers this morning over to the Farmington Polo Grounds. THere's a group coming from Australia, too! Mostly a car event, giving rides to the special olympians and their families. Lots of smiles will be had and a lot of funds, too.

Nice Matt and sounds like a worthwhile charity!  I remember 1961-I was a senior in high school-ugh.   CSP had I do believe  plain jane two door Galaxies with solid lifter 390's-black of course.

[Mark T]

2 hours ago, Red Horse said:

Nice Matt and sounds like a worthwhile charity!  I remember 1961-I was a senior in high school-ugh.   CSP had I do believe  plain jane two door Galaxies with solid lifter 390's-black of course.

Solid lifter 390s ?  2 door Galaxies ?   That's quite a rocket , love to have one of those now (like when it was new)

[tjc transport]

NJ State Police had at least 2 66 galaxie 500 2 door hardtop "interceptors" with 428 4close ratio 4 speed and 3.25 geared 9 3/8 rear ends. 

basically 7 litre cars with the 7 litre package delete. a friend has two of them in a secure garage in Newark NJ. he bought both when they were retired, and restored them with everything but working two way radios. they have CB's in them instead.

[Red Horse]

4 hours ago, tjc transport said:

NJ State Police had at least 2 66 galaxie 500 2 door hardtop "interceptors" with 428 4close ratio 4 speed and 3.25 geared 9 3/8 rear ends. 

basically 7 litre cars with the 7 litre package delete. a friend has two of them in a secure garage in Newark NJ. he bought both when they were retired, and restored them with everything but working two way radios. they have CB's in them instead.

Nice See if you can grab some pix.

[Red Horse]

6 hours ago, Mark T said:

Solid lifter 390s ?  2 door Galaxies ?   That's quite a rocket , love to have one of those now (like when it was new)

I think they were 330 horse.  the hyd lifter 390 was 300.  I remember the local paper did a feature on the new "State Police Interceptors".   Can you imagine a newspaper publishing such a story today?

[mechohaulic]

today's law enforcement vehicles are titled " robo cop cars. I can remember  the ford galaxies. I was a caretaker for a few homes in town even then they were broken into, so i used what was called a house phone (sorry youngsters ). point is watching the fords pull in the driveways. beside the car when the door opened out steps this Trooper at least 6ft tall or more( there were height restriction then) and proceeded to put on this tall hat making him look 7 ft tall. remember when the large single blue strobe lights were installed! that was technology back then

[Mark T]

8 hours ago, Red Horse said:

I think they were 330 horse.  the hyd lifter 390 was 300.  I remember the local paper did a feature on the new "State Police Interceptors".   Can you imagine a newspaper publishing such a story today?

I know they would have been in the HP would have been over 300 but they were pretty impressive in the torque area . Those cars had to weigh over 4000 pounds too. Cool stuff.   and yes..... law enforcement used to look like Matt Dillon 

[mowerman]

amazing progress matt....thanks for all your updates.....had mine 28 years now,,,hardly looks any differant....funny thing,,,you posted that video shifting those 2 sticks....most of us were pissing ourselves,,,,and im sure these days,most of these young kids are glad thier all automatics now,,,    i got my licence on a 2 stick U model...not many people can say that now......bob

[mowerman]

On 8/25/2022 at 10:32 PM, mattb73lt said:

It’s the Dreamride event in Farmington at the Polo Grounds. My employer’s huge annual fund raiser for the CT Special Olympics. The main Dreamride is on Saturday, but the whole thing runs Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Big car show on Sunday. I’m helping move some vintage State Police cruisers up there Friday. I’ll be driving a ‘41 Ford cruiser Saturday. The show Bob was speaking of is up in Lancaster, Ma. The Bay State Chapter’s 20th anniversary show, Saturday and Sunday.

when i lived back there,i used to do business with bob dufours auto wrecking,there in lancaster...he had a B model wrecker back then.....im sure some of you fellas remember him,,,,,that was 45 years ago...bob

[mowerman]

also,looks like you truck was pretty clean to begin with from the start...bob

[mattb73lt]

35 minutes ago, mowerman said:

also,looks like you truck was pretty clean to begin with from the start...bob

The '63 B42 really was. Around 67K miles when I found it. Gas powered, local truck that last saw service with a tree company. Only used in the summer months and garage kept. No rust, factory paint intact on the floor that was covered in an chainsaw oil soaked shag carpet. I added the roll back deck to it on the factory wheelbase. Then re powered it and cosmetically restored it. It's been a great truck for almost 25 years. 

[mowerman]

Wow sounds like you were definitely at the right place at the right time!!!!! . Bob

Edited August 27, 2022 by mowerman
Misspelled

[mowerman]

Curious what did you replace the gas job with not sure if I mentioned this I met a fellow in Las Vegas that had one almost the exact same set up same color was 20 years ago.. bob

[mattb73lt]

First repower was a 1957 END-673. Ran that for 10 years and then it ate an exhaust seat. Current engine is a 1973 ENDT-675, totally different truck with that engine.