Crow tastes good when deep-fried in leaked oil....Just sayin........

[1958 F.W.D.]

Well, as you may have seen in cryptic messages on here the last 2-3 weeks, I can neither confirm or deny that I may have possibly have been hinting at something huge on the horizon. Something big and yellow. Something with something under the hood that is smelly, loud and bad for the ground water tables. Something under the hood that is Un-Holy....It is the spawn of Lucifer himself.

Today, my father and I pulled the trigger on acquiring our Fire Company's former 1978 Hahn HCP-12 1250/750 pumper. It was delivered in May of 1978, and it replaced the 1958 F.W.D.
It is powered by.....yes....here we go.....Imma gonna hear a lotta shit about this.....But like I said....Crow isn't bad when you deep fry it in the leaked oil.......A 671T mated to an Allison HT740. It is the first truck that Hahn built with a turbocharger. There was a lot of drama with that which I will get into later.

We have been somewhat secretive about it as the current owner (the gentleman who bought it from the company after our 2007 Spartan/Toyne Pumper was delivered) made a deal with us that we couldn't turn our backs to. He made the deal with us because Dad and I both have history with it, and we are both members of the company and he really wanted to see it go to someone who would appreciate it. However, the truck has been sitting on his farm in Pipersville Pa. and outside since the spring of 2011- has not moved or started since. We wanted to make sure it ran, drove and was mechanically in good condition before we made a decision to accept it.

So 2 weeks ago, armed with my heavy-duty battery charger, we headed over there and hooked the charger onto each of the two 8D batteries for about 45 minutes each. Then when it was time to spin the prop, I zapped one with the 200amp START mode. Nope. Wasnt happening. No fuckin' way. So we gave up, pulled the batteries and Dad took em to his buddy' shop where they charged them with 20 amps for 3-4 days, and then hit them with a load tester. The one battery had an internal short, so forget that one. The other had "some" life in it, So armed with that one good one, we headed back up and tried. Nope. Juice was getting to the starter but just not enough. So we dropped back and punted. I put out the word on here for a set of loaner batteries, and Mike Yarnell was kind enough to help us out with two healthy group 31's. Dad went to Mike's place last week and picked em up, and today, we threw them in, and with two small shots of ether, she fired right up. After about 40 seconds you wouldn't even have known she didnt run for 5+ years, she sounded as if she was still in the firehouse and had gone on a run an hour before.

So we got her running, and while we let her idle and build up air, I had brought my air compressor, and got all the tires aired up. When we had enough air, I crawled under her and checked the slack adjusters and smacked the drums with my 5lb hammer while dad pumped the brake pedal. Everything seemed to be in working order, so he released the brakes, and she pulled out of the parking spot where she had been sitting. Pulled her forward onto the asphalt, and I climbed under her again and checked the tires- everything seemed ok. The driveway of the property is about 1/4 mile long, so we took turns taking her up and down the driveway a few times. It's pretty steep at the one end, so one time when I was down at the bottom I came to a complete stop and then jumped on the gas- the turbo was talking to me, saying "take me home, take me home."

So we shut her down, and as we were cleaning up our tools, we came to the mutual decision to pull the trigger. The only thing is that she certainly will NOT fit into my garage. Dad has no garage nor enough property (he and mom will probably be getting outta there in a while anyways...) so we gotta find indoor storage. We have one good "potential" fairly close by, and "definite" for $50 a month, however thats in Mahanoy City, about 60 miles from here. Not too fond of the thought of having to go that far, but it may be a short-term solution to store her over the winter.

So I have the very first truck I ever rode on- the F.W.D. (Dad took me to a parade when I was 3....) and now I have the truck that I went to my first fire call on (16, an alarm system...) She is also the truck I qualified to drive on when I was 23, drove first on a call as a driver (another alarm system) and also the truck I drove to my first working fire as a driver (second floor of a house...) She has a lot of body issues, but mechanically is in superior condition....As Dad was the chief mechanic on her for virtually her entire life with us.

We should be executing the transfer sometime soon. We can keep it where it is until sprig, but shes not inside and out of the weather, where she needs to be.

[j hancock]

Well......well.....well....

Yardo owns a Detroit Diesel.

I wonder if this will put all the invectives on the shelf? Or maybe the can of Whoop Ass is coming off the shelf...?

[carlotpilot]

as the aussies say good on ya mate. that 671 is as clean as they come and turboed it should be about 330 hp

[j hancock]

PS. Congratulations on the new "old " family member!

[1958 F.W.D.]

I am currently measuring the engine compt and frame rails for the installation of an E9. Or at least a 300 Maxidyne.

[1958 F.W.D.]

I have videos of it lighting off the first time (2 short puffs of ether) and driving up and down the driveway but dunno how to load video on here out of my phone??? Anyone know?

[1958 F.W.D.]

as the aussies say good on ya mate. that 671 is as clean as they come and turboed it should be about 330 hp

Except for the mud daubber's nest on the turbo blanket....LOL

[other dog]

I am currently measuring the engine compt and frame rails for the installation of an 8V92. Or at least a 6V92.

Wonderful.

[1958 F.W.D.]

Wonderful.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA You are about as funny as a fart in a jar.

[Bigdogtrucker]

Good looking truck

[Loadstar]

Awesome Randy.....nicely done!!!

[kmeitz]

Congrats. Enjoy. Glad to see she's in great hands.

[DCR]

Congratulations Randy. You certainly are preserving history.

[GreenGiant2]

I want to hear about the turbo story

[1958 F.W.D.]

I want to hear about the turbo story

Long story short. Remember- First truck that Hahn built with a Turbo.

For a long time after the truck was delivered, my father insisted it was a turtle. The other members of the company (not being truckers or having any experience with big trucks other than their firetrucks) thought the truck was the cat's meow and told my pop to "buzz off aint nothing wrong with that truck." Over the years they were convinced that yeah, maybe it is a bit slow. So they tried bigger injectors and other bullshit plays, but nothing ever worked.

So sometime around 1995 or so, when it was pretty much forgotten, Dad took it down to Penn DD/A down on State Road in Philly. They looked at it and scratched their heads, and put it on the dyno. Sure enough she was losing about 45-55HP somewhere. They were looking at it when an old-timer walked by and looked- And said "yeah theres the problem....." The turbo exhaust port was facing towards the front of the truck- the 3" exhaust line came off, made a 180 up, around and back to the ass end of the truck, and then there were two 90's to get the exhaust down low. Old timer says "get the right manifold- I think I saw one laying out back in the scrap pile....that will turn the turbo around which will straighten out the exhaust....Then use two 45's to drop it down...Oh,and bump up to 4" pipe. Oh and one more thing, get rid of that Farr intake/air cleaner under the hood there- put an external intake and air cleaner on top of the dog house. All its doing now is sucking hot air and not enough of it."

So Dad did what he said with the manifold, the turbo and the exhaust....And "obtained" a new Donaldson canister intake that accidentally fell off a shelf at Jevic's parts room....And holy shit....It was another truck altogether. Penn DD/A even ran it in the dyno for free to see what the performance was....And yes picked up 45-55hp. We have the printouts somewhere.

[Apple dog]

Congrats. Nice truck except for the leaf blower motor everything is good.

[yarnall]

Congratulations and welcome to the Detroit Diesel Owners Club. You say you're measuring the FWD for a Detroit?

[Brocky]

Randy

Congrats on the purchase of history.. Will you have it a Macungie?? Will be looking for it!!

[41chevy]

Congrats! I looks good and good project for you and your pop. Is it missing Spotlites on the cab? Paul

[farmer52]

Nice truck Randy. Too bad you have to eat deep fried crow! Good luck with it and looking forward to seeing it at Mudcungie.

UPDATE: Maybe TK will add "deep fried crow" to their menu and call it the "Yardo Special".

[Freightrain]

Congrats on the new purchase. Pretty neat story and history behind it.

Oh...............you better get some tall boots on as the chit storm that is coming your way......................

[Vladislav]

I'm not almost with the rest of the gang this time.

Randy, all that including the stories sounds great!

I know when you have one truck it's difficult to avoid a chance to increase the score.

Now you got into that kind of pit like the most of folks on here.

But I'm pretty sure you're absolutely happy at the moment.

Very good point you're making that deal together with your dad.

For what I think about all that personally read below.

[Vladislav]

Wonderful.

Tom, I planned just to say "Keep it stock with 671 and it will be good old original" but reading your quote I lost any possibility to type or say anything for no less than 3 minutes !! You may hate them or love them two strokes but the both ways will give you alotta emotions.

[41chevy]

Wife got trhis today, nice story on Yardo's D.D.

click pic

[j hancock]

Culinary dilemma:

Deep Fried Crow vs Deep Fried Tofu?