1953 Mack LJ

[reb87]

[Geoff Weeks]

1 hour ago, reb87 said:

It is plumbed into the coolant, definitely to hot to leave you hand on after it is warmed up.  I’m thinking it is acting as an overflow

I'll have to take your word on that because I can't see the whole thing. Your picture only shows a line on the right side of the bumper, so I have no idea what they are trying to do, if there is only one connection and it is a coolant line. It wouldn't act as an overflow, as there is no way to draw it back in.

Can't tell what you are refering to on "the right side of the engine. Might be a old style oil cooler or even a coolant filter that was replaced with spin-on one next to it.

 

[Vladislav]

The rears are Mack rears and they look original to a L-model excepting the carriers. To a heavy L-model I would say, LJ or LM. I can't tell the capacity, no less than 44000 or heavier. Original differentials had less bolt holes (10 if the memory serves good) and there were two studs which went through the banjo from underside and attached the diff housing. The studs take their place but I never had idea CRD92/93 may fit into those old banjo's. I used top gear sets off 92/93 and installed them into old carriers keeping original bull gear sets when "accelerated" my stuff (my original diffs were stamped CRD32/33).

The power divider is in its place on the photo's. Has long housing as they all were up to a certain year (60-something?). You can see them in B-models normally. The principal is almost similar to the later style in a short housing, even the inner cam and peanuts are interchengeable (if I'm not wrong). Those long dividers were both used in carriers with 10 mounting holes and later ones with 18 (or how many?) holes as CRD92/93 are. I'm not sure if a CRD92 wouldn't be called different with long divider though but besides of that it's identical. But the top (bewel) gear set is special for the long divider carriers, the later style pinion can not be used since it's not long enough for that. 

The front axle is also well looks like a heavy L-model axle. As for the chassis number it may be found at the left (driver's side) frame rail above the front axle beam near the top of the rail. Some L's had it there. Some had at the rear of the chassis I heard many times but never saw in person. And not sure that works for tandems, I heard of single axle trucks.

Vlad

[reb87]

1 hour ago, Geoff Weeks said:

I'll have to take your word on that because I can't see the whole thing. Your picture only shows a line on the right side of the bumper, so I have no idea what they are trying to do, if there is only one connection and it is a coolant line. It wouldn't act as an overflow, as there is no way to draw it back in.

Can't tell what you are refering to on "the right side of the engine. Might be a old style oil cooler or even a coolant filter that was replaced with spin-on one next to it.

 

I highlighted the coolant line to the bumper with yellow and circled the device in question at the front right side of the engine

[Geoff Weeks]

I believe the last picture is an oil cooler.

Thanks for the color on the line, but with only one line to the bumper, I can't see what they are trying to accomplish.

Lots of "bodged" stuff on that truck, so it is hard to say what was done why.

[terry]

5 hours ago, reb87 said:

Stromsburg area 20 miles north of york

My family used to pheasant hunt around that area, used to have breakfast in a little truckstop in Shelby think it was called Bernts cafe, long, long time ago.  Terry  nice Mack too!👍

Edited December 30, 2024 by terry

[Mark T]

4 hours ago, reb87 said:

Good call!! NTC 335. I thought they were all intercooled

335 didn't have an intercooler.  I'd imagine guys may have added them trying to make it a 350, but 335s didn't come with one.  

[Mark T]

36 minutes ago, Geoff Weeks said:

I believe the last picture is an oil cooler.

Thanks for the color on the line, but with only one line to the bumper, I can't see what they are trying to accomplish.

Lots of "bodged" stuff on that truck, so it is hard to say what was done why.

Definitely the oil cooler circled. 

[mowerman]

You know the last time I rode in a Brockway was 1964. I was very young, but I noticed when my pop would split gears. He had some sort of a switch he would throw and just take his foot off the gas and it would shift to the next highest gear, I have no idea what the transmission was. I was just a little kid. But watching this thing upshift without touching the clutch was very impressive to a little pipsqueak.

[mowerman]

You know back on those days just about everything had a clutch even our 60 impala at the time of a three speed on a column

[reb87]

3 hours ago, terry said:

My family used to pheasant hunt around that area, used to have breakfast in a little truckstop in Shelby think it was called Bernts cafe, long, long time ago.  Terry  nice Mack too!👍

It’s been long closed but we ate there after church on Sunday’s a lot

[mrsmackpaul]

Well, coolant the bumber or not, rigging correct or not, diff centers correct or not and on and on

 

It is still cooler than any truck I have owned 

 

So if you change your mind on this dream machine, sing out, would be far more fun to tour the U.S. in than any muscle car or square body Chev when I finally make it over there 😉🦘🦘

Seriously though, any truck thats even half this age that has done hard yacka will be so modified to suit what ever purpose it needs to fill it will only resemble what it's meant to when new

 

Paul

[h67st]

17 hours ago, reb87 said:

I highlighted the coolant line to the bumper with yellow and circled the device in question at the front right side of the engine

That's the oil filter. I pulled the cover off mine and it has a pleated paper element inside (Wix 51954). The cover gasket is like $50 so I just reused my old gasket.

[Joey Mack]

Ive looked at the pictures a dozen times. There is a lot going on with this truck. Lots of ad-ons and such.  Is it a common example of a truck built for what it does, or is there a lot of home made things on it?  Not picking on the truck, just curious.  I like the truck.

[reb87]

3 minutes ago, Joey Mack said:

Ive looked at the pictures a dozen times. There is a lot going on with this truck. Lots of ad-ons and such.  Is it a common example of a truck built for what it does, or is there a lot of home made things on it?  Not picking on the truck, just curious.  I like the truck.

I think it is typical of a truck that was used for several different jobs over the years in industries that had motivated people willing to innovate to get the job done.  It’s definitely been hot rodded trying to get more power and gears, air filter put outside the engine compartment in front away from heat, or lubrafiner out front to remove heat,  crazy coolant bumper, whatever it’s purpose it took some time and skill to create and at least dissipates heat.  If it was cracking they welded it, bolted it or wired it.  Safety and liability don’t seem to be at the forefront.  Weight didn’t seem to be a concern, only brute force.  Get the Job Done!

[Joey Mack]

I like it....

[Geoff Weeks]

1 hour ago, reb87 said:

I think it is typical of a truck that was used for several different jobs over the years in industries that had motivated people willing to innovate to get the job done.  It’s definitely been hot rodded trying to get more power and gears, air filter put outside the engine compartment in front away from heat, or lubrafiner out front to remove heat,  crazy coolant bumper, whatever it’s purpose it took some time and skill to create and at least dissipates heat.  If it was cracking they welded it, bolted it or wired it.  Safety and liability don’t seem to be at the forefront.  Weight didn’t seem to be a concern, only brute force.  Get the Job Done!

Very much like my Dart Oil Field truck

[mechohaulic]

am I allowed to be confused here :: topic is "

53 LJ  of which is red:: then pictures show military style truck??? who has the bumper cooler?? the milatary always have units built above and beyond needs. 

don't blame me blame yukon jack. 

[Joey Mack]

Yukon Jack... Its the red one..  no not that one,  the one in the middle..  🤭

[mechohaulic]

Yukon Jack FIRE !!100 proof.  grandfather homemade 140 proof.

[mechohaulic]

looks to be 1 in plates welded to underside frame for spring stoppers ??  what was done years back to make things work !!! what's a computer -- oh the thing they use in offices = not on trucks. the fun days.

[Joey Mack]

I was wondering Mech. I was looking for a data port on the frame so he could plug in and adjust the ride control. 

[Mark T]

6 hours ago, h67st said:

That's the oil filter. I pulled the cover off mine and it has a pleated paper element inside (Wix 51954). The cover gasket is like $50 so I just reused my old gasket.

Yikes, I'm way off on that one.

[1961H67]

My opinion on that truck is ,, it’s a piece of history, updated for the next task, several times over! 

[Geoff Weeks]

10 hours ago, h67st said:

That's the oil filter. I pulled the cover off mine and it has a pleated paper element inside (Wix 51954). The cover gasket is like $50 so I just reused my old gasket.

There were some that had a "high mount" oil cooler, but now that you mention it, I think those were horizontal, not vertical.

You nailed it I believe. I never had a Cummins that old.

Edited Wednesday at 03:12 AM by Geoff Weeks