mechohaulic Posted August 26, 2023 Share Posted August 26, 2023 18 hours ago, Red Horse said: The late Phil Noonan. Fruehauf salesman who bought the Wallingford branch..great guy! You going to make your show debut tomorrow? Hope to see you there..it will draw a crowd with or without a body😎 what show were you referring to? the BMT/Watts show or a local CT event ? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-537728 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Horse Posted August 26, 2023 Share Posted August 26, 2023 24 minutes ago, mechohaulic said: what show were you referring to? the BMT/Watts show or a local CT event ? Bay State Chapter ATCA..RT 117, Lancaster.. five minutes west on 117 at 495 Bolton exit. Sat and Sunday hr and 45 from Watertown. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-537731 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattb73lt Posted August 27, 2023 Author Share Posted August 27, 2023 3 hours ago, Red Horse said: Bay State Chapter ATCA..RT 117, Lancaster.. five minutes west on 117 at 495 Bolton exit. Sat and Sunday hr and 45 from Watertown. So pissed I missed this show, it's one of my favorites. One of the few where it's almost equal distance for my brother and I to meet up, like Brooklyn. I wish it moved back to the Fall, it's a lot easier for me to attend. This weekend is flat out for work, every year. 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-537753 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted August 27, 2023 Share Posted August 27, 2023 22 hours ago, Red Horse said: Bay State Chapter ATCA..RT 117, Lancaster.. five minutes west on 117 at 495 Bolton exit. Sat and Sunday hr and 45 from Watertown. Dang ; 1 1/2 hr drive : i would have attempted that for a good truck show. went through prospect today. they are having their car show. don't do much for me. a lot of "plastic". tooo much $$$ for plastic that many didn't build just wrote out expensive checks for. guess I was spoiled going to Brockway show :which I still have some pictures to down load here. 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-537785 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Horse Posted August 28, 2023 Share Posted August 28, 2023 On 8/26/2023 at 9:10 PM, mattb73lt said: So pissed I missed this show, it's one of my favorites. One of the few where it's almost equal distance for my brother and I to meet up, like Brooklyn. I wish it moved back to the Fall, it's a lot easier for me to attend. This weekend is flat out for work, every year. Matt...priorities! Unfortunatley at times earning a living wins out😎 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-537804 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted August 28, 2023 Share Posted August 28, 2023 On 7/27/2023 at 3:38 PM, mattb73lt said: Up at Matt Pfahl's today to drop off a NOS Early L model driver's window and regulator that came out of my door. He's got a LM he's doing for a customer. Still running great, 475 miles on the truck and 375 on the 220. Now that I'm driving it, it's still hard to believe I polished this turd up to what it looks like from how I found it. I've owned it for 25 years next month and have been consistently working on it since 2015 when I started this thread. the 73 as a tractor originally ,was it a slider or fixed 5th wheel? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-537837 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattb73lt Posted August 28, 2023 Author Share Posted August 28, 2023 46 minutes ago, mechohaulic said: the 73 as a tractor originally ,was it a slider or fixed 5th wheel? It had the shortest factory wheel base, fixed fifth wheel. The person I bought it from put a tandem setup in it and added 8” to the frame for the air tank. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-537839 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted August 28, 2023 Share Posted August 28, 2023 now that explains a lot to match the pictures. thank you for reply. reason for asking due to one side shot of tractor looked to be the fontaine fifth wheel slider rail . thought the distance from battery box to front set of tandems looked real close. went back to page one (long time back) no clear shot of side. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-537850 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattb73lt Posted August 28, 2023 Author Share Posted August 28, 2023 1 hour ago, mechohaulic said: now that explains a lot to match the pictures. thank you for reply. reason for asking due to one side shot of tractor looked to be the fontaine fifth wheel slider rail . thought the distance from battery box to front set of tandems looked real close. went back to page one (long time back) no clear shot of side. It is real close, it was a very short wheelbase. I have some pictures of the back, but I’ve never digitized them. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-537855 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post 1961H67 Posted August 29, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2023 Today was a hard day, My friend of over 40 years, Jim Buckner Passed last week, this is his B73 leading his Funeral Procession today. This truck was a factory single axle with a Mack engine, He put a Big cam Cummins in it, with Pete air ride, he added 8 inches to the rear of the hood , Great Guy, Great Mechanic and Fabricator. I had shown him Pictures of your B73 , he was very impressed, it’s like you said Matt ,, Enjoy EVERY DAY! 2 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-537859 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted August 29, 2023 Share Posted August 29, 2023 Wow, that’s some rig. Thanks for the post and sorry about your bud … bob 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-537861 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattb73lt Posted August 29, 2023 Author Share Posted August 29, 2023 Again Dean, my condolences. Very tough to lose a friend of that long. Sounds like he was very talented and that's an amazing truck he built. Enjoy those close to you and what you have. 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-537865 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted August 29, 2023 Share Posted August 29, 2023 ALL funerals are sad events ;when attending one such as You posted, and see the group of trucks attending it shows a gathering of the greatest friends respecting the loss of one of their own. Sorry for Your loss. I attended Mass this morning which was given on the passing anniversary day of a good ole farmer from town I am honored to have known. has been said " longer you live the more funerals you attend. any age someone passes is bad ; when the ole timers pass , knowledge lost is unreplaceable. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-537907 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted August 29, 2023 Share Posted August 29, 2023 interesting the pin stripe on the wheel spokes. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-537908 Share on other sites More sharing options...
1961H67 Posted August 30, 2023 Share Posted August 30, 2023 Thank you for your comments . As for the pinstripes on the spokes I love that! Another fading art , everything is decals now days. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-537923 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted August 30, 2023 Author Popular Post Share Posted August 30, 2023 Well, that was fast. Thought deck would be done towards the end of next week from what I was told when I set this up. Got a call this morning that it was done and ready for pickup. Jumped through my ass and got the B42 up to Torrington by 11:00, loaded and headed back to the house by 12:00. Glad I shopped this out. I don’t think I could’ve done it cheaper by myself, plus the mess of sandblasting. They guy I dealt with said it took 6 gallons of paint to cover it. It’s done now I’ve got to hustle it up and get it mounted. Painted all the mounts and guides for the frame, today. I have the oak for the frame top, where the bed slides and rests on. All my hydraulic hoses should be headed out to be fabricated tomorrow or Friday. Lots to do and source, but it’s coming together pretty quick at the moment. 7 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-537960 Share on other sites More sharing options...
1961H67 Posted August 31, 2023 Share Posted August 31, 2023 That’s good,, you will get a jump on winter, I can’t wait to see that flooring! Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-537974 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted August 31, 2023 Share Posted August 31, 2023 Wow everything looks dynamite thanks for that. Bob Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-537999 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted September 1, 2023 Share Posted September 1, 2023 head board having lights mounted in it ? the winch going on deck or under with roller set up in front ? bed looks fantastic. looking forward to pictures of wood when finished. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-538070 Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleclutchinweasel Posted September 1, 2023 Share Posted September 1, 2023 You know, it is my considered opinion that this truck SUCKS! And the only way I can think of to make it "cool" is to...give it to me! Then it would be cool! I can't wait to see this thing finished. 2 Quote "Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-538072 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted September 1, 2023 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 1, 2023 Utilizing my amateur woodworking skills today. Ripped down the oak for the frame rail strips. Drilled and countersunk all the holes for mounting and now treating the wood with preservative. I’ll give them a few coats before I mount them. Ordered up some parts from Jerr-Dan for the sliding pads and some hydraulic line protector for the winch lines. Mocked up a NOS control box I found to replace the crusty one where the valve body mounts. Ordered more hardware to attach all the bed bed mounts and guides. All the new hydraulic lines should be back next week. And…. Busy day getting a lot of things ready for the bed. Thinking I might make Gerhart’s this year(maybe)!! 5 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-538082 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattb73lt Posted September 1, 2023 Author Share Posted September 1, 2023 4 hours ago, mechohaulic said: head board having lights mounted in it ? the winch going on deck or under with roller set up in front ? bed looks fantastic. looking forward to pictures of wood when finished. I'm going to add some work lights to it for the deck and some underneath the body for backing up. I'll probably add some LED warning lights at some point, too. The winch mounts into the deck, up front below the head board, like most roll backs. 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-538083 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted September 1, 2023 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 1, 2023 4 hours ago, doubleclutchinweasel said: You know, it is my considered opinion that this truck SUCKS! And the only way I can think of to make it "cool" is to...give it to me! Then it would be cool! I can't wait to see this thing finished. Thanks. But it'll be a while before I get tired of driving this one, then we'd have to duke it out before I give it up(LOL)!! 1 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-538084 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brocky Posted September 1, 2023 Share Posted September 1, 2023 A light bar on the Top of the headache rack will give you additional safety in stop and turn for normal driving as well as some amber to show off in a parade.. 1 Quote Brocky Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-538091 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Horse Posted September 2, 2023 Share Posted September 2, 2023 On 8/29/2023 at 5:10 PM, mechohaulic said: ALL funerals are sad events ;when attending one such as You posted, and see the group of trucks attending it shows a gathering of the greatest friends respecting the loss of one of their own. Sorry for Your loss. I attended Mass this morning which was given on the passing anniversary day of a good ole farmer from town I am honored to have known. has been said " longer you live the more funerals you attend. any age someone passes is bad ; when the ole timers pass , knowledge lost is unreplaceable. For sure, The last of my WW II veteran uncles passed away and I start thinking of all the things I did NOT ask them about 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/68/#findComment-538092 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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