Dick815th Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 Down in FL there is a great restoration project underway. A genuine M54A1 5 ton cargo truck, complete with it's orginal ENDT673 engine is being restored for use as the basis of a replica 5 ton gun truck "Black Widow" as used in Vietnam by the 8th Transportation Group's 523rd Trans. Co. Here's a pic of the truck during it's disassembly process.If anyone is in the Ft Eustis, VA area the 3rd weekend of June, stop in and check out the gun truck replicas that will be there for The Gathering IV, a reunion of Vietnam Transportation and Engineer personnel who served on and maintained these unique convoy security vehicles. Recently constructed, highly accurate clones of 8th Trans Group, 523rd Trans. Company's "Ace of Spades" and D Company, 815th Engineer Battalion's "Wild Thing" will be there. Hopefully "Black Widow" will be completed in time and in attendence.Residing there in the US Army's Transportation Museum's collection is the only surviving actual Vietnam gun truck, "Eve of Destruction", an M54A1 5 ton cargo truck with its orginal ENDT673 and red Vietnamese mud still clinging to its chassis components. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Maikshilo Posted January 15, 2006 Share Posted January 15, 2006 Down in FL there is a great restoration project underway. A genuine M54A1 5 ton cargo truck, complete with it's orginal ENDT673 engine is being restored for use as the basis of a replica 5 ton gun truck "Black Widow" as used in Vietnam by the 8th Transportation Group's 523rd Trans. Co. Here's a pic of the truck during it's disassembly process.If anyone is in the Ft Eustis, VA area the 3rd weekend of June, stop in and check out the gun truck replicas that will be there for The Gathering IV, a reunion of Vietnam Transportation and Engineer personnel who served on and maintained these unique convoy security vehicles. Recently constructed, highly accurate clones of 8th Trans Group, 523rd Trans. Company's "Ace of Spades" and D Company, 815th Engineer Battalion's "Wild Thing" will be there. Hopefully "Black Widow" will be completed in time and in attendence.Residing there in the US Army's Transportation Museum's collection is the only surviving actual Vietnam gun truck, "Eve of Destruction", an M54A1 5 ton cargo truck with its orginal ENDT673 and red Vietnamese mud still clinging to its chassis components. It's nice to see a true military truck being restored as part of our past. I figured what was brought over seas stayed overseas and this unit made it back. Thanks for the picture,will be nice to see one of it all done,Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superdog Posted January 15, 2006 Share Posted January 15, 2006 Dad drove one of these when he was in the service.Somewhere I still have the manual for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick815th Posted January 16, 2006 Author Share Posted January 16, 2006 As a side note, the military 5 ton trucks were introduced in the '50s using Continental R6602 gas engines. The A1 version appeared in 1964, sporting the Mack ENDT673 motor. The military then came up with the A2 version that used the LDS465 Continental Multifuel engine. The M800 seriies appeared in 1971 using a Cummins engine though none were used in Vietnam. In Vietnam, and here in the States the A2 version was most common. The A1 with the 673 engine was a rare bird except in Transportation units. Trans outfits had first call on any Mack powered tractors and cargo trucks. Engineer outfits had a few A1 dump trucks. The Mack powered A1s were easy to spot since at the time they were the only ones that had the clear plastic pre-cleaner jar type air cleaner inlet . Multifuels, while having higher HP ratings from 200 fewer cubic inches turned at 2600 rpm and did not live long. Very weak kneed. The current crop of 5 ton gun truck replicas have been built using A2 Multifuel engined trucks but "The Black Widow" will be 100% the real deal, right down to its spider web graphics. She'll be slow - 51 mph top end - compared to the other A2 replicas that have had their direct drive Spicer transmissions swapped out for the OD version used in the Macks. They'll run 70 mph+. The builder has said Widow will be at Eustis this summer, I can't wait to hear it. Keep an eye out for it on I-95 in the middle of June. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 We're counting on you to get some great photos of this truck! Sounds really cool...can't wait to see the finished product! Quote Barry - Watt's Truck Center Parts Manager and BMT Webmaster...1-888-304-MACK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeInNC Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 I was at Ft Eustis for helicopter mechanic school. I remember seeing the gun truck there. Pretty cool. They have some pretty wierd stuff in there, including a flying sauser! Would have hated to do the first test flight/crash on that one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick815th Posted February 3, 2006 Author Share Posted February 3, 2006 Here's a pic of the real Black Widow's graphics, from The Vietnam Guntrucks MSN Group site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick815th Posted February 3, 2006 Author Share Posted February 3, 2006 Here's another shot of Ron Smith's new Black Widow during chassis restoration. These things have air over hydraulic brakes, and Widow is getting everything NEW to ensure safety on our highways. This is a good view that shows the similarities between a 5 ton's rear suspension and the traditional Mack camel back design. Here's one of Ron giving the new Widow the power wash treatment prior to going to the sandblasters. Wet weather gear is a must! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhtrucka Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Here is a picture of the M52A2 that I owned. I sold it last fall. Wish I still had it. Nothing like the sound of a Continental multi fuel with a straight pipe.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick815th Posted February 3, 2006 Author Share Posted February 3, 2006 Here is a picture of the M52A2 that I owned. I sold it last fall. Wish I still had it. Nothing like the sound of a Continental multi fuel with a straight pipe....Yeah, slick looking tractor. The Multifuels with the original "whistler" turbos did have a unique sound. Did you sell it on Ebay? I remember seeing one up for bid last fall or late summer. A computer aquaintence bought it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhtrucka Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 I did list it on ebay. It didn't meet reserve. I sold it to Jeff in VT. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick815th Posted February 5, 2006 Author Share Posted February 5, 2006 I did list it on ebay. It didn't meet reserve. I sold it to Jeff in VT.Yeah, I remember it. If it had been closer to IL I would have given serious consideration on bidding.Jeff, (I think his last name is Houghton or something close to that), is a computer aquaintence - we've conversed talked about these things several times. He's doing good work with his Line Haul Museum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhtrucka Posted February 5, 2006 Share Posted February 5, 2006 I would like to go and visit Jeff someday to see his collection. He sent me some pictures of his yellow nose trucks they look very nice. Someday I would like to get an M715 again. I sold the one I had on ebay a while ago and it went to VA. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick815th Posted March 11, 2006 Author Share Posted March 11, 2006 Here's a couple of recent pics of the Widow.....Ron called it the Gray Widow....... I always admired the curvature of the 5 ton's gear shift lever.......in reverse the knob was really close to the dash board but you had a little better knuckle clearance in 2nd and 5th gears (or 4th gear if it was a direct drive multifuel model)...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Barry Posted September 16, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted September 16, 2021 Bringing this thread back to life for more info!! A guy here at Watt's is buying a 1962 M54A1 with a Mack 673 in it but the title says it is a Reo truck...is this true or a title mistake? We are looking for more info on this bad boy! 4 Quote Barry - Watt's Truck Center Parts Manager and BMT Webmaster...1-888-304-MACK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brocky Posted September 17, 2021 Share Posted September 17, 2021 Barry, Go over the Just Old Trucks website, John Gott and Jeff Lakaszcyck (pronounced La-cash-check) are very knowledgeable military truck people.. http://forums.justoldtrucks.com/149453/1968-Mack-M123A1C-10-Ton-Army-Tank-Transporter There is also an outfit around New Oxford PA who restore military stuff but I cannot remember the name right offhand?? Hope this helps Quote Brocky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brocky Posted September 17, 2021 Share Posted September 17, 2021 Barry, An update!! The restoration shop is Tracked Lifts and I think(??) there is a museum by the name of Wheels of Liberation?? Both are in New Oxford PA.. Quote Brocky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted September 18, 2021 Share Posted September 18, 2021 Thanks guys...I'm checking these leads out! I also talked to the OP of this thread...he is very knowledgeable too! Quote Barry - Watt's Truck Center Parts Manager and BMT Webmaster...1-888-304-MACK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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