The Mack brothers finally got a Mack truck

[T-Mack1]

Hello All,

   An intro.....   I'm Tom Mack,  I'm the Mr. Fix-it type, who is rather mechanically inclined and also has a associate degree in computers.  I'm weeks away from retirement, Yay!.    I live in the Allentown, Pa area.   I've worked in the electronics industry here for many years, until 2010 when I got downsized.  Then, after being laid off for 7 months,  I got hired at a local company..... Mack Trucks.    I originally started on the production line.  Now, for the last 7 years, I've been in the Quality Group at the Macungie plant (now called Lehigh Valley operations), in a cushy job.  I'm a product auditor.  Basically, I take a completed truck, look it over, test drive it and then submit a report to help improve the production line.  This means getting to test drive a new Mack once or twice a day .  Tough job but someone has to do it...LOL.

My older brother Jack (( yes, Jack Mack)) and I bought a Mack truck.  We both have always wanted one.  It's a 1957 B85F, and is the tractor portion of a hook & ladder truck from Boston, which then went to East Hampton, Long Island, NY.  and eventually landed in Connecticut.  And was bought as a 15 truck package by a person here in PA.

As you can see from the pictures, it's needs some TLC.  The engine is free, the wiring is a mess, the body is really nice.   We're not sure about the added on out-riggers. Not sure when they were added.   Plan is get engine running.  Get Brakes working to include converting to spring brakes (want it MAX safe since grand children will be riding in it).    Then, I want a canopy top.  Jack wants 4 doors, which is a long term project that we already brain-stormed. 

Tom Mack,  The great-grandson of the Founder of Mack trucks.

[mowerman]

Excellent have a ball with it and welcome aboard… bob

[Joey Mack]

good deal.. looks like you bought one of the trucks that was posted on here last week..  I liked that one,,,  

[cruiseliner64]

Welcome to BMT.That is a really nice looking truck.Good luck with it.Nice job you have...... 

Paul

Edited Friday at 01:56 AM by cruiseliner64

[skydawg]

I thought they were just building cabs in Macungie,to be put on Volvo chassis somewhere else.Nice truck ya  got there.

[Brocky]

Welcome to Big Mack Trucks!!!!!😃 Will be looking forward to progress pictures.

[mrsmackpaul]

That's cool as all get out, never seen anything like that in my life

Welcome to the forum 

 

Paul

[T-Mack1]

21 hours ago, skydawg said:

I thought they were just building cabs in Macungie,to be put on Volvo chassis somewhere else.Nice truck ya  got there.

Full truck assembly at Macungie,  Two assembly lines.  One line for Conventional trucks,  one for cab overs.  We even assemble the frames again.  They out sourced the tire mounting.    Target is approx 120 trucks per day.  That is if the vendors can deliver the components we ordered.  Usually make around 100 to 110 a day.

 

Edited Friday at 11:54 PM by T-Mack1
spelling

[Brocky]

19 hours ago, mrsmackpaul said:

That's cool as all get out, never seen anything like that in my life

Welcome to the forum 

 

Paul

Paul that is a tractor (prime mover) for a trailer based aerial ladder.  Some of which had a steerable trailer axle and a man with a steering wheel on the back. That is why the out riggers have been added  for stability.

[Jack Mack]

About time you get on here little brother, I’ve been here a long time!

This all started on this forum and it is a great find , 1957 ,red convertible with a five speed , everybody’s dream! Took about hour to talk  Tom into it. We are both pretty stoked that the descendants of Jack Mack own a Mack truck!…..Jack  

[Joey Mack]

Heck,,  After reading these post's,  I'm surprised you guy's werent on here 20 years ago....   Great stories..  and family history ! 

[cruiseliner64]

12 hours ago, T-Mack1 said:

Full truck assembly at Macungie,  Two assembly lines.  One line for Conventional trucks,  one for cab overs.  We even assemble the frames again.  They out sourced the tire mounting.    Target is approx 120 trucks per day.  That is if the vendors can deliver the components we ordered.  Usually make around 100 to 110 a day.

 

Ok have to ask...what cabover models are being assembled now?....

Paul

[mowerman]

Joey.   I’m surprised this is the first we heard of them.. like wow man lol bob

[mack31]

On 11/21/2024 at 7:51 PM, T-Mack1 said:

Hello All,

   An intro.....   I'm Tom Mack,  I'm the Mr. Fix-it type, who is rather mechanically inclined and also has a associate degree in computers.  I'm weeks away from retirement, Yay!.    I live in the Allentown, Pa area.   I've worked in the electronics industry here for many years, until 2010 when I got downsized.  Then, after being laid off for 7 months,  I got hired at a local company..... Mack Trucks.    I originally started on the production line.  Now, for the last 7 years, I've been in the Quality Group at the Macungie plant (now called Lehigh Valley operations), in a cushy job.  I'm a product auditor.  Basically, I take a completed truck, look it over, test drive it and then submit a report to help improve the production line.  This means getting to test drive a new Mack once or twice a day .  Tough job but someone has to do it...LOL.

My older brother Jack (( yes, Jack Mack)) and I bought a Mack truck.  We both have always wanted one.  It's a 1957 B85F, and is the tractor portion of a hook & ladder truck from Boston, which then went to East Hampton, Long Island, NY.  and eventually landed in Connecticut.  And was bought as a 15 truck package by a person here in PA.

As you can see from the pictures, it's needs some TLC.  The engine is free, the wiring is a mess, the body is really nice.   We're not sure about the added on out-riggers. Not sure when they were added.   Plan is get engine running.  Get Brakes working to include converting to spring brakes (want it MAX safe since grand children will be riding in it).    Then, I want a canopy top.  Jack wants 4 doors, which is a long term project that we already brain-stormed. 

Tom Mack,  The great-grandson of the Founder of Mack trucks.

Hi Tom and Jack 

I am glad to help you find this treasure in the rough. It has great bones and it will be fun to drive around. Too many projects on my plate so I am glad it’s going yo the Mack family. We are here to assist you in any way with our many contacts. 
Ryan 

[yarnall]

My parents bought a 1955 B85 tractor in 1997. It had pulled a ladder for Harrisburg then Camp Hill PA. It was great fun to ride around in but a very rough ride. It has hydraulic brakes. They went out about 15 years and it has never been fixed. You have a great advantage if yours has air brakes.  I’m sure you can find a B85 with a canvas top to copy.  My father’s had a top at one time because it has snaps on the back of the cab. It would be a lot of work to make it a 4 door.  Might as well play with it the way it is.  Mike 

[Jack Mack]

18 minutes ago, yarnall said:

My parents bought a 1955 B85 tractor in 1997. It had pulled a ladder for Harrisburg then Camp Hill PA. It was great fun to ride around in but a very rough ride. It has hydraulic brakes. They went out about 15 years and it has never been fixed. You have a great advantage if yours has air brakes.  I’m sure you can find a B85 with a canvas top to copy.  My father’s had a top at one time because it has snaps on the back of the cab. It would be a lot of work to make it a 4 door.  Might as well play with it the way it is.  Mike 

Thanks Mike, cool there is another one nearby. I’ve seen your truck at my boss’s (John Haines) truck shows . Perhaps you should take your own advice and play with your parents truck as is, it’s only brakes my friend, and it is still a red convertible …..Jack 

 

[Joseph Cummings]

There is a place by Pottsville that handles all kinds of brakes for industrial applications. They have all kinds of odd stuff there, and do rebuilding of hydraulic parts, make control cables etc. They might be able to help get those hydraulic parts for that juice brake B85. They are in an old bakery building on if I remember right Bakery road. They got me some stuff for my juice brake Lancer Boss forklift that was made in Germany. I'll have to see if I can find the name of the place

Found It  

https://www.airbrakeandpower.com/

Air Brake & Power Equipment Company, LLC

1048 Bakery Rd, Pottsville, PA 17901, USA

Edited 17 hours ago by Joseph Cummings

[The Heinz]

On 11/23/2024 at 7:08 AM, cruiseliner64 said:

Ok have to ask...what cabover models are being assembled now?....

Paul

The only cabovers Mack offers are the LR and Terrapro (TE). The LR is exclusively meant for refuse work, with dual steering wheels and a low enough cab that stepping into the truck is easy and safer. The TE is predominately used in trash trucks around here, but it's designed to be tougher to accommodate vocational use like concrete pumping. They also make the electric LR, but we all know how that's been going. 

[Joseph Cummings]

22 minutes ago, The Heinz said:

They also make the electric LR, but we all know how that's been going. 

I haven't followed up on that much lately. I would imagine weight, and getting enough power into the facilities to charge them is a problem. It's not like you can just call up Billy Bob's electric and get him to install a 1,000KVA transformer to supply the chargers. That requires long term planning and in a lot of places 8 figure budgets

[The Heinz]

I helped put a quote together for ONE charger install, and it was mind boggling how expensive it was. Add on the fact that the EV truck has an incredibly short range, and it ends up making no sense to have one. I remember attending a class where one of the Paccar developers working on the EV program told everyone that none of the EV designs would have a great range, it's just not feasible yet. 

[cruiseliner64]

Is the TE what was nick named the Bug Eye? There were a few Bug Eye Macks in the UK but none made it to Ireland as far as I know.I thought they looked nice.  ....

Paul

[cruiseliner64]

On the subject of E trucks,I cannot see them working.the range of most E cars is small enough.So far I'v only seen one E truck.It was a Daf with a diesel powered refer body...the mind boggles!!!

Paul

[Joseph Cummings]

27 minutes ago, The Heinz said:

I helped put a quote together for ONE charger install, and it was mind boggling how expensive it was.

Pepsi Sacramento required upgrades to the utility substation and powerline to be built to run their chargers, and they had to install a Tesla Megapack on the ground. Those Megapacks are 1 Million dollars installed a couple years ago. The project took 3 years.

Here is Pitt-Ohio's experience with electric trucks

 

[The Heinz]

1 hour ago, cruiseliner64 said:

Is the TE what was nick named the Bug Eye? There were a few Bug Eye Macks in the UK but none made it to Ireland as far as I know.I thought they looked nice.  ....

Paul

Never heard the nickname before, but here's a picture:

[tjc transport]

pepsi here ordered 100 electric T680 tractors to replace their diesel fleet for the terminal 2 miles from our  local Paccar dealer. 

took delivery of the first 10 and canceled the rest of the order. and within 2 months those 10 trucks were returned to Paccar and unusable. they were down more than they were running, and had less than 1/2 the range promised.