Firemack

Dieselman,

We have a Zenith updraft on our B75 464 engine, it had similar problems and was caused by a bad accelerator pump (ball). We used a rebuilder that could also bench test the carb to make sure everything worked properly. Cost was about $400. I got it back and the truck actually runs better than when it was new, according to members in the company when is was delivered in 1954. I used Mark Buber Carb rebuilders in AZ. There is a list of suppliers and rebuilders on this site (from the Mack Museum) and Bubers contact info is on the list.

I also changed the air filter to a K&N and works great. I called K&N and they recommended the filter based on dispacement, Horsepower and max rpm. I modified the original carb filter arrangement to use the K&N and kept the top of the Mack filter to looks like original.

Good Luck

Firemack

Phantom 309

Very Nice work, and your lettering guy does nice work also. Good luck with Mack and the Chevy this year.

Firemack

David,

You do not need to remove the fenders, just loosen the bolts where the fenders and headlight panels meet, the fenders actually have slots in them to allow them to slide out for the removal of the headlight panels and grill shell assembly at the same time. You will also need to remove the 4 machine screws on the top of the grill shell, 2 on the center hood hinge support and 2 near the back of the radiator where the grill support and fender meet, at that point you remove the entire assembly. On the attached picture the 4 bolts with large fender washers are slotted to slide and then will be removed as well as the 2 bolts (with regular washers)bolting the fender to the headlight panel.

Good Luck,

Firemack

Bullhusk,

Good suggestion, the distrubutor advance should be checked also, as the timing and backfiring usually go together.

Bruce, they should have checked this when they replaced the points, but it is always worthwhile to have them check it again, as it should not take long to pull the caps and check to see the advance is working, as I had that same problem on one of my distributors last year. Also make sure they check the fuel pump pressure as it could be running out of fuel, (or the carb float could be out of adjustment) and fuel pumps sometimes can be marginal and run on the level but not keep up with the fuel required to take it up a hill.

I travel to Chattanoga about once a month, maybe I can stop and see the truck when I am in town.

Firemack

Kentonis,

There was a 1948 Mack Firetruck across the street from my college and always wanted to get it for my fraternity, but the guy never wanted to sell it, so it sat there for years and never got used, so it is great to hear that you have the project of getting the CF back in shape and will be using it. Great rush tool, put signs on it and invite the freshman to the rush parties!

Matt gave you very good advice, either get the manuals from the original fire company or request them from the Mack Museum. Also don't forget to change the pump oil, as the drive train and transfer case is built into the pump. You should also change the fuel filters, if they have not been changed recently (make sure you fill them with fuel to not lose the prime), and will need to drain the air tanks and make sure there is not water in the tanks, so drain them regularly, you can change the drain to a quick drain with a pull cable for about $6, and then put the drain pull in a compartment where it is easy to reach and drain them often.

Please post pictures and let us know if you have any other questions, there is lots of Mack knowledge on the site that can help you out,

Firemack

EM6285,

Very Nice Trucks,

I like the RD Best!

Firemack

Bruce,

Your C model looks like it is in good condition. The 707 is a very basic engine and very reliable, who ever tuned it must not have completed the tuneup correctly, as once they replaced the ignition parts they should have set the timing on both distributors then set the carb, and given it a test ride (up hills). The fuel system could be causing the problem, and you could have problems with dirty fuel in the tank (from sitting), this will clog the filter, fuel pump and carburator. The engine has easy access, so that is not a problem.

You should see if the mechanic that did the tuneup did a compression test. If not that is the first step- to perform a compression test on the engine to make sure the basic engine is in good condition. Let it warm up and also check the oil pressure which should be at 15-20 pounds at idle hot, and 50-60 pounds at road speed hot. Then pull the plugs and check the compression, and should be at least 100 pounds per cylinder and within 20% of each other. Once you have confirmed that these are not a problem, and you have a solid engine, you can then move forward with diagnosing the problem climbing hills.

After sitting for several years you should change the fuel filter(s), check the fuel pump (to insure it is putting out enough pressure and fuel while going up a hill), and check that the filter on the carb is clean. The carb can be rebuilt, locally and will cost about $250, however there are carb shops that specialize in older carbs that can bench test the carb and rebuild it for about $400-450.

You might want to try another test, if you drive on level road, and try for maximum acceleration, does it backfire then? If so the backfire and smoke could be caused by the timing but more likely is a problem with the accelerator pump not adding fuel and causing the engine to run lean for a short time and cause the backfire.

The booster reels, windshield and marker lights are available, if you post a listing in the parts wanted area on this website you may find them here, or if not check on the SPAAMFAA website as there are other C models that have parted out and these should be available.

Good Luck,

Firemack

MB 400

Thanks for posting the pics at the Fire Museum, you should also check out the Black Diamond Spaamfaa Chapter Museum in Schuykill County, lots of great Mack fire apparatus.

Firemack

MB 400

I like the CF the best looks like a great combination. Was the CF at the 2007 State Convention?

Thanks for posting the pictures.

Firemack

The truck actually doesn't look that bad, a new coat of paint and tires would help it keep on going. The 707 C was a strong engine for the fire service. Most are still working as collector trucks today, and as long as the oil is changed and the engine is still governed- it should work fine. Most troubles I know are from guys wanting to go a little faster on the way to parades and musters and then blow the engine because they weren't watching the tach.

Keep us posted on prgoress if you buy the truck,

Firemack

Hey Morgan and Family,

Congrats, that makes it way easier to have a playmate for the older brother, and now they can play and soon work together on building hot rods and restoring old macks with their Dad and soon to be their OLD man!

Firemack

jgraham,

I had a similar problem with a 707 starter last year. I used a large drift pin and 2 pound sledge and hit the bolt on dead center to break the threads loose. It took a few minutes of hitting the bolt and trying the long breaker bar to finally get them loose. If you have 2 people then have one person put tension on the bolt with a wrench and the other hits the center of bolt head with the drift pin and hammer. Also try tightening direction first then backing them off. You can also try an impact tool with a hammer instead of just using the air gun.

I actually think some air gun jockey had torqued them up.

If that didn't work the next step was going to heat them with a torch, but then you need new bolts.

Good Luck,

Firemack

Pavrguy3

I bought 2 new caps and rotors for the 1960 B model 707 from Napa last summer, they are still available, and were good quaility with brass contacts not the cheap aluminum contacts.

Let me know if you need the Napa part numbers, I should be able to have my local Napa parts guy look them up if your local guy can't find them.

Firemack

E7

I had to replace the tie rod ends on our B75 Mack pumper, but the old style female tie rod ends are not available, so Barry at Watts Mack found that you can replace the entire tie rod with a light duty R model tie rod with the new style male tie rod ends. The total cost was about $350. I think if you speak to Barry he can check to see if the same parts will work on an E model.

I have occasionally seen the old style on Ebay but have never been able to win the auction as they have the auto bid option and just out bid me at the last minute.

So depends on how much time you can wait to replace them- if you have time keep an eye on ebay and you might just find a pair- if not you can go with the faster more expensive "new version" that I suggested.

You can also check with John Chalmers- he has a lot of old E,L and B model parts, or Matt Pfahl also has a good supply of used parts and may have a good set.

Good Luck

Firemack

Rob,

I looked into this and by 1954 Mack was not using any gasket only the gasket sealer, so I would use the Purolator UltraBlack sealant now.

Firemack

Rob/ Challenger RT

I looked closely at both the Gas and Diesel B models, as we have the B75 Fire Pumper, and I also work on a 1960 B95 Pumper, 1955 B85 Aerial and 1965 B95 Pumper. I compared all of these firewalls, to the B61 Diesel Tractor at the Mack Museum and took pictures of the B61 to use a reference for restoring our B75. I found that the cab firewall on all had the same access holes for the external air cleaner, and also had access for the heater. These are not used on the B75, B95 and B85 as they have the air cleaner mounted under the hood, but since the access is there could use the external air cleaner- in the later 1965 B model (Gas powered) B95 they did use the external mounted air cleaner.

It appears that the cabs are interchangable, and the only items that changed were the floor pan and brake mounting (for hydraulic or air).

Firemack

I think Watts Mack has done a great job of finding good parts guys that can find the old parts we need to keep the Old Macks on the road as well as looking for good replacement parts suppliers. I try Watts Mack before I try other sources. Just as an example I had to find the old aluminum wire ties, and they were able to find and get them- not a lot of money but made the truck like it was when it was new.

Firemack

Yuengling is the oldest brewery in America, and still putting out the best beer. And like our Mack's it's built right here in PA. The 2nd best beer is Sam Adams, then Miller Genuine Draft.

David,

Thanks for posting the Superliner, it is a rare piece, I don't ever remember seeing one built like that.Nice truck.

Firemack

Todd717,

The 1968 CF was very early in the CF run, and your truck appears to be in very good condition. It is great that you got the truck from a company you served with. I always like to see them returned back to the original look that they had when they served with the original company if possible and looks like you can do that with a little more work. There are lots of CF's on the site so if you need any help with CF parts or Fire equipment that can be saved for getting your truck to have all of the original equipt etc.

Firemack

After seeing the latest on hauling the 110,000 pound earth movers with the old 1975 DM897SX this one came in my email and got a laugh about this driver and his permit request!!

Three Questions For a Redneck Engineer..

3 Questions for a Redneck Engineer

Question # 1:

How much does a house weigh?

Question # 2:

How much weight can a rural two-lane bridge Hold???

And

Question # 3

WOULD THIS BE COVERED BY

HOME INSURANCE,

CAR INSURANCE,

OR, DOES

IT COME UNDER ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ???

Y' ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY NOW, YA' HEAR!!!!!

Hi NIck

I work on a 1960 B85 F 707C with a Zenith Downdraft. Do you still have the carb, if so it can be professionally rebuilt for about $250-400, If not. there are still New Old Stock (NOS) Zenith carbs available for around $900-$1000.

Let us know and we can get you the info on the right contacts.

Good Luck,

Firemack

HK

I remember driving a brand new 1986 Mack R Model Econdyne with a twin stick set up as a rolloff. I remember it having 5 speeds forward, and the other stick was a hi, lo and reverse, and I also remember upshifting in reverse. I was specing out 3 new rolloffs and the Mack sales guy brought me that twin stick demo model. I had seen the mack duplex etc. but never seen that trans before. I think it was considered a seven speed.

Also I work on a 1960 B85F Pumper that has a spicer trans- so even back in the day you could order a spicer if you wanted- it had full synchromesh in 1960, and the Mack 5 speed trans still needed to double clutch, so the fire company ordered a Spicer.

Firemack

STL Mack

Welcome to BMT, I also work on our 1954 B75F and we had a cracked exhuast manifold, and cracked head at the water manifold. I was able to find another 464 manifold and used the last section (to the header pipe) to repair mine, I still have the other 2 parts (mid section and front section) which part of your manifold is cracked?

Also check to airbox on the intake as they crack also.

How did your boys enjoy their christmas fire truck ride?

Firemack

shuvlhd69,

There was one N series aerial ladder truck that served in our area, and the truck is still around, however they refurbed the truck in the 70's and put on an international CO9070 cab. I may come up with a picture of the truck if you need to see the cab, the rest of the body was built as the aerial ladder body and was built by Mack in Allentown PA.

Firemack