mechohaulic Posted October 21, 2023 Share Posted October 21, 2023 13 hours ago, mattb73lt said: The fastening system for this deck was originally self tapping screws into the cross members. I'm going to use the same thing. I'll drill and then countersink the holes to keep the heads below the surface. the wood is Apitong and very dense and hard. It's very durable, nearly impervious to rot and doesn't really swell. now that the deck is having a number of small shorter pieces; the self tapping screw would be the way to go. large head bolts would look awkward since there will be so many fasteners. tongue and groove the pieces (heck of a lot of work) would eliminate some fasteners . at this point with boards cut and looking excellent T&G not likely. difficult to see ; even with enlarged picture , did you eliminate the chain / binder holders in front? winch underside with cable coming through rollers ? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-540761 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted October 21, 2023 Share Posted October 21, 2023 Frankly, yes, you need a nice shiny bolts to give it to finish look I’m sure most of us agree it would kind of look funky with no bolts showing Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-540763 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattb73lt Posted October 21, 2023 Author Share Posted October 21, 2023 It's ship lap cuts, one over laps the other. A lot of screws, but the original deck lasted 40 years so this should be fine. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-540765 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted October 21, 2023 Share Posted October 21, 2023 He probably got the same attitude as me. Hopefully you live long enough to enjoy the way it looks. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-540766 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post h67st Posted October 22, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted October 22, 2023 On 10/20/2023 at 8:27 PM, mechohaulic said: NO- bolts I'm talking of have a larger diameter head which is thinner. tightening the bolts which have the flat washer against the steel channel NOT under bolt head go close to flush with top deck boards. Elevator bolts. We used them when we built roll-up trailer doors, they pull down almost flush with the surface (except Apitong is pretty hard, sounds like Matt is going the correct route). 4 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-540783 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 right on; that's the bolts I was referring to. roll-up door repair; old age I couldn't remember where they were used. LOL Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-540797 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 pancake bolts????? too much steel just my opinion I would prefer carriage bolts or I think Dean mentioned Counter sink Allen head that would be kind of cool everybody has their own taste Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-540800 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vladislav Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 Allen head are not period correct. Elevator ones would work. Quote Никогда не бывает слишком много грузовиков! leversole 11.2012 Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-540809 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brocky Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 When you mentioned Roll Up trailer doors I knew exactly the bolts you were talking about.. 1 Quote Brocky Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-540813 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted October 22, 2023 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 22, 2023 You guys are over engineering this thing!! The hardware is 2 1/2” Torx drive self tapping countersunk screws, same as what the factory did to secure the wood. Elevator bolt and carriage bolt heads are too big and would protrude too much. I started fastening it together late morning today. I started countersinking the first few holes, but found driving the screws directly and getting the heads below the surface was a better method. Each run takes 207 screws to do. There’s 12 runs and a filler I’ll cut on the driver’s side. But, that’s 2500 screws to set the deck. It’s going to take a bunch of time to get the deck on. At least another full day and maybe a little bit more. I found that setting several boards and closing all the gaps with several ratchet straps allowed me to set two boards at a time. Each run goes a little faster as I get my practice down. As for elevator bolts, I did use them when I re-secured the cowl to the cab, back when I was doing that part. It’s interesting what Mack did during assembly of these cabs. On the L cab they run down the forward door jamb and pass through the cowl side. 9 3 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-540821 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey Mack Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 Beautiful !!! You have great skills and resources.. Jojo Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-540822 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted October 22, 2023 Share Posted October 22, 2023 All those bolts kind of bring out the best in the wood if that makes any sense nice, neat work. Thanks for that Matt. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-540825 Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubleclutchinweasel Posted October 23, 2023 Share Posted October 23, 2023 On 10/21/2023 at 9:12 PM, h67st said: Elevator bolts. We used them when we built roll-up trailer doors, they pull down almost flush with the surface (except Apitong is pretty hard, sounds like Matt is going the correct route). I like those! 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/73/#findComment-540858 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted October 25, 2023 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 25, 2023 Just about finished. Three full, long days followed by long hot showers and a fistful of Advil PM each night. Just set the filler pieces as I lost day light today. A few hours tomorrow should have the deck down and I should have a few screws leftover. This was definitely one of the more tedious tasks to complete on this project. With it mostly screwed down the deck is amazingly stout and several hundred pounds heavier. My screw count was way off. It took 851 screws to anchor it down. 12 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-540933 Share on other sites More sharing options...
1961H67 Posted October 25, 2023 Share Posted October 25, 2023 Perfect 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-540934 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsmackpaul Posted October 25, 2023 Share Posted October 25, 2023 Looks the goods to me I can't imagine anyone having a wooden tilt tray in Australia I doubt a wooden tray has been used on a heavy truck in Australia in the last 20 or 30 years Steel is normal now on everything these days Tray looks really neat and tidy, you've gotta be proud of the result Paul Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-540939 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted October 26, 2023 Share Posted October 26, 2023 now you have to go and buy a full length rug to put down in front of and on the bed so as to eliminate any dirty tire marks on it. LOL darn nice looking unit. seeing in person day is what I'm looking forward to. 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-541020 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Red Horse Posted October 26, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted October 26, 2023 On 10/25/2023 at 2:51 AM, mrsmackpaul said: Looks the goods to me I can't imagine anyone having a wooden tilt tray in Australia I doubt a wooden tray has been used on a heavy truck in Australia in the last 20 or 30 years Steel is normal now on everything these days Tray looks really neat and tidy, you've gotta be proud of the result Paul Have no fear..I would bet the only thing that gets on this bed will have rubber tires..attached to a valuable vehicle😎 3 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-541024 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted October 26, 2023 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 26, 2023 Called upon my Army floor buffer skills today. I have a modified floor buffer I use for sanding the floors in the house. It sands in a 17" swath so it made quick work of the deck, after I cut the edges in with a belt sander. Gave it a good cleaning and applied the first coat of oil to it. I used a clear type because I knew it would darken the wood some. I'll put a couple more coats on before I'm done. I wish it would stay in it's raw state, but it'll stain and fade if not treated. Not bad for a hack carpenter! 9 4 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-541033 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 only thing missing would have been full size Mack emblem painted on the boards BEFORE clear coat!! LOL 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-541044 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Joey Mack Posted October 27, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted October 27, 2023 Branded in.... Just sayin' it is a beautiful truck.. Be Proud of it !! 3 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-541045 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted October 27, 2023 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 27, 2023 That would be cool to have the Mack oval and Bulldog branded in, in the style they used for the 100th anniversary. 1 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-541051 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 didn't think of the branded idea ; much better classic fit for that unit then paint. 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-541052 Share on other sites More sharing options...
1961H67 Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 You can still do it before it gets dirty! It looks great. 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-541057 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big R Posted October 27, 2023 Share Posted October 27, 2023 Definitely top shelf 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/41547-b-73-restoration/page/73/#findComment-541062 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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