Freightrain

Talking with my friend, he just told me the same scenario. He used to run to Chicago and if he lost a bolt on his Cummins, he tried to either switch it out in the parking lot. If not, drive it home and deal with it. He kept extra bolts in the toolbox. He also had T bars welded to pull his heads. I'm kinda torn to weather I want to just find a bolt and stick in it(if I can get to broke part and get it out) or pull the head anyway and replace the gasket and put new bolts in it. I wouldn't mind doing both head gaskets and all bolts just to save from having to do the other head some time in the near future? It is 50 yrs old now....LOL!! It's been down right dependable and I want to keep it that way.

Well, after 8 yrs of running her to death, looks like I hurt something. Had strange noise leaving Columbus tonight coming home from weekend at the races. Ran okay(temp and oil pressure). Had strange noise under hard pull, kinda like a metal squeaking(Not rod bearings). I made it home without fail(strange how it never leaves me stranded), but was burp'n antifreeze out the back when I parked in the driveway. Appears to be missing a nut on the drivers rear head stud. Not sure where it went, when it came off? I stopped half way home as friend wanted to pickup a sandwich. I poked under hood, but nothing seems awry, yet. Everything was dry. An hour later, at home it showed it's ugly head. What's it like pull the heads, nothing worse then I'm used to, just bigger? Should I have them checked for cracks. I know they need guides, but don't want to throw a bunch of money at a 50 yrs old engine. It ran great to this point. Just surface it and bolt it back together? Installing new engine isn't in the cards. Just looking for insight.

Well, my trip schedule may change. Might be coming out Friday afternoon and staying the night so that I don't have to get up at 4am. Doing so will give me time to swing by and say Howdy. We'll see how it goes.

I looked very hard at the axle and saw nothing after the "FA". My big thing is the bolt pattern holding the backing plate and will my steering arm bolt to it. Maybe I'll stop by again soon and take some sand paper and brake clean to inspect it better. It's cut off laying on the ground where I got the rear axle. He kept it just in case it might work for me to get budds on the front.

Happy B-day Paul!!!! Hope it's a good one.

When dealing with enclosed car trailers(like my Haulmark), they mandate 3 axles anything over 32ft. That way they don't have weight issues and tire failures. They offer 7K axles(for the big stacker trailers), but most commons are 3-5K axles(like mine). I get 6 yrs out of tires and never had serious scrub issues but I watch where I go and how I turn. I usually just loose tires due to age, not neglect. The single tire also gives more floor space with a box, unlike a large utility trailer that is tall enough to allow duals under the deck. BTW, my trailer is only 10K on the axles(rated 15K), so I think that is why I don't have the issues that some have. If I was loading very heavy, like others do, then I might have more problems.

Well, if Barry is going to be there, I might try to make a quick stop. Gunno have to get up at 4am anyway, as I'm planning 2 1/2-3hr drive and want to get there at a respectable time. Coming the long way....turnpike, as it's a longer travel time it's an easier drive then back roading it on Rt 30. Barry, did you get my email a few weeks back? I sent it through BMT but hadn't heard back. I have a question about an R model axle and how comparable it is to my B model. We're thinking as long as king pins are the same, we can swap spindles. Only problem is it's a cross steer axle and not sure how my pitman arm will work. If I can make it work, I'm converting to Budds when I put the air ride on the back. Only information on axle was 3915 P5 FA nothing after the FA like I thought it would. Make any sense?

Scary stuff!! Glad to hear you got it taken care of quickly. You are the first I've heard of directly that had a run in with one. Only heard tales before.

That's what they call it now Rob? LOL!!!!

Just think of all the exercise you'll get doing that? I can hear the pounds falling off here in Ohio. You can be the Biggest Loser and she'll be the Biggest Winner LMAO!!!

I have a race at Pittsburgh Raceway Park on Sept 18th and didn't realize til this afternoon that it's just down the road from Watts Mack. Unfortunately gates open at 8am and it will be a LONGGGG day so I won't be able to stop by and say Hey! Likely be going by before you guys even open so can't say you'll hear my horn?

I'll go look at see what I got laying in the garage. I know there is one complete one, maybe two? Don't know the origin, just got them with the truck. I don't have a stock bumper on mine, so have no use for them.

Where are you at? Pretty sure I have one or two guards laying around.

I used my local Mack dealer back when I had good connections in the afternoon shift parts counter. Luckily I've yet to need much lately. Most of the race car stuff I get at Summit racing(just up the road) and make it myself. Buy some bulk hose/ends and do your own?

Here ya go, Tiger bumper sticker......... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Give-Tiger-Break-Obama-screwing-country-decal-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem439fc20db6QQitemZ290443103670QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

And "Oh Shit" through your voice microphone brings the bright red flashing lights outta the little building on the side of the hanger..........LOL!! Extended stays in Ohio? Ya, 15 minutes, on the fly, gotta run, thanks, see ya................. So Mike, when ya coming up to CAK for a Sunday afternoon trip? Got enough luggage run in that 172 for a Mack rearend? LMAO!!!

I went to Syracuse with my Hist. plated truck pulling my comm. plated trailer. Not a problem, but lucky the scales were closed when we went through. Might want to set it up to avoid any possible confrontation. In Ohio, as long as you have a signed/notarized title you have like 3 days to drive/drag it around without a plate. Never really had to test that rule, but have heard it before.

Weak, real weak. I saw it years ago and can't say I want to watch it again LOL!!

That's just so right.........ah, um wrong in so many ways LMAO!!!

.................just needs a battery.....................and air in the RR tire. "Rare" woodgrain engine compartment LMAO!!!

It's been 9 yrs and the door still works perfect(for a 50 yr old truck). Since I don't use it everyday and surely don't hang on it the dodge? pins I used musta worked. I agree, they aren't the perfect solution, but a viable one for the do it yourselfer.

My drivers door was wasted when I bought the truck too. I went to Azone and found a bushing kit with a pin the size to match. Pulled one hinge off at a time, fixed the hinge and replaced it. Never had to take the whole door off. I also fixed the tension spring that holds the door open too. Won't call it perfectly new, but works great(don't get bashed in the back of the head getting in/out anymore). Rob, I have a small mill at home(let along BIG ones at work). I did mine by hand though, as it was before I had one at home.

Ya, we were head'n towards rt 77 north to 8 to 271 to 90. My two buddy's were behind me. Left the house about 10ish.

Oh...she threatens me to drive it but you'll never have to worry about hearing her shift 3 times going through an intersection. She don't want to really learn to drive a stick(I gave her a couple lessons), so she'd be in 1st Lo all the way home LOL!!!!