Firemack

Hi Freightrain,

Nice Story! Great looking B, glad to see you got her and keep her looking good! Is your race car one of those rare Fairlanes that came from Ford race prepared?

Firemack

When I was a boy, I was always looking at the B Model Fire truck -named Wayne 2 at the Radnor Firehouse- they had 4 Macks then- 3 L models and 1 B model- I always liked the L models but just loved the B model- it was an open cab, and had no muffler-you could hear her start up and you knew where the fire was just by listening to Wayne 2.

Well the Macks got sold one by one and then one day in 1973 the old B Model was gone- it got sold- to another fire company in Rockingham Vermont.

I joined the fire company in 1980 and always loved riding on the back step- and then moved up to driving- back then we had Hahn 8v71-Detroits with Fuller roadrangers (without the top) so they were limited to 5 speeds, man could they roll! But I always wanted to track down old Wayne 2, but we had no place to keep it, so it was just another idea that maybe we could find it someday.

In 1997 we finally built a new firehouse- and it had an extra long bay for an extra truck- and then-we have another local fire company in Malvern PA that has a B model and they loaned it to us for our celebration parade for the new firehouse. By chance I was the lucky engineer that was selected to drive the B model in the parade- and that was it- we were HOOKED- we just had to find our old B Model!

I worked for a company that had office in New Hampshire- so I tracked down the chief of the Rockingham Fire Company in Vermont to see what had happened to our old B Model- and guess what? It was still in service as the first out pumper in 1997- at 43 years old! The only problem was they were still using it and did not want to sell her! I convinced them to let me see the old B model-so I drove from New Hampshire to visit old number 2- he took me for a ride at 15 degress in the open cab with no heater in Janaury and I took pictures- ow-wow-they had painted her school bus yellow!!

I checked back with them every year or so- and finally in 2002 they got 2 new pumpers and would be willing to sell the old B Model- for the right price- well turns out that we offered $5000 less $750 for pump repairs and got her for $4250.

I went to pick her up with a team of 4 drivers- 2 of the original engineers that drove her back in the day- my counterpart in the project Rick was one and was in the company when she first arrived! We started on the trip to drive her back to Pennsylvania on July 20, 2002, and she ran terrible- they had not drained any of the old fuel- the brakes were on the floor, but we got her onto Route 93 and started south- she was doing better 61-62-63-64 MPH but then she refused to go over 30 mph, we stopped to check it out and thought maybe we had a fuel problem- but never was able to get her over 30 mph the rest of the trip, and got back to Wayne around midnight- but had an adventure!

Took me a few days to diagnose the problem - the governor was stuck shut! then she ran pretty good- we took her to Lititz that year- and met up with Watts Mack and with Barry for the first time- and started to figure out how we could restore her back to they way she should be - painted RED!

It took us about 18 months with lots of help from the community to tear her down in the fire house and rebuild the engine,brakes and all other mechanicals and get her body repaired, painted and we reassembled her and then took Wayne 2 to the first parade on Memorial Day-May 31, 2005.

Since then Wayne 2 is the signature truck for the company, the B model gets invited to lots of events and parades- and was judged Best Appearing and Equipped Fire Company owned Antique in the 2006 Pennsylvania State Fire Convention- over 400 trucks were in the parade- and about 40 were antiques- so the B model was selected as the best of the best!

Now she sits proudly in the the Radnor Firehouse- and just like when I was a boy- I still love Wayne 2, the old B model- and she still has an open pipe-and she sounds great when we take her out!

WJ-

The pump panel should have a small aluminum plate with the pump info and truck serial number. If not check on the right side frame above the right front spring- it may be stamped on the frame- they did stamp the serial number info in the frame on the B Models- not sure if this is true on the earlier models. Also check for the engine serial number on the boss right beside the waterpump on the right front of the engine block- just near the timing gear cover. It should have a stamped number starting with ENF (f for fire truck). Once you have the engine identified then you should have most of the info you need. Good luck and also if you post a few pictures most of us can identify the model for you.

Firemack

Wow-

That is some Mack Power and durability! That Mack takes a beating and comes back ticking, incredible that much horsepower and torque and that Mack just lifts the wheels right off the ground! R models are incredible tough, no wonder we see so many in New York and Phildelphia getting the S**T beat out them on the road everyday and they keep going day in and day out!

Thanks for posting the videos!

Mack was always known for tough trucks and Mack over-built the components and offered a complete all MACK truck which was able to withstand the toughest on road- off road and overload conditions that are common in the construction and oil field industries. When the other manufacturers of over the road trucks offered cheaper component-built trucks- many companies and individuals bought them because they would work as over the road trucks. Mack did not really offer an over the road truck or compete in the over the road truck market until late in the R model series and then the CL model came out- and they finally offered a component built truck by offering non Mack components to be competitive in that market.

For Mack to continue to develop new technologies and stay in business they need to sell enough trucks to offset the cost of all the new engineering and manufacturing costs- if they can spread that cost over more trucks (with Volvo) then they should be competitive and sell more trucks- and take a bigger piece of the heavy (class 8) truck market. However the primary concern is that most traditional Mack customers still want a true Mack-All Mack truck- which Volvo corporate needs to understand and make available to those customers who want to order ALL MACK trucks- as well as offer the Mack trucks with Cummins- Detroit and other drivetrain components to stay price competitive in the over the road marketplace- that does not need or demand the Mack durability for off road-on road and construction/oil field type service.

So- Mack needs Volvo to help with the engineering and develoment costs to keep Mack competitive and Volvo needs Mack and the Mack nameplate and market share- and we all hope will keep offering an All Mack truck as well as price competitive Mack with other drive train components.

Let's hope Volvo listens to the Mack customers and understands that they need to keep both the Mack and Volvo trucks available. Barry thanks for keeping this site going so Volvo and Mack corporate can check in on what the customer's really need and want in a new MACK truck.

Hi Mc OZ

Great story we know about the heavy duty Mack's from down under- I visited numerous times and loved to see the AU Macks at work! How about posting some pic's of the old flintstone?

Firemack

B ner

I have heard various ideas on how to install a power steering unit on a Bmodel. Does it have air or hydraulic, if it has air there is air assist unit, if you have hydraulic, the you can add a hydraulic pump on the back of the generator and that then supplies the power assist mounted on the tie rod and frame.

I have heard there is a new hydraulic unit/power assist available but you would have to check on theis site's classified list, or maybe one of the other guys on this site can add to the post with the right contact to purchase the unit.

Good luck and have fun with the B!

Firemack

Hi Beachbud,

Very Nice B85 pumper, was it just painted? Where are you located, that would make a nice parade truck or muster truck, it has a lot of options that are unique for 1958, the rear fenders and compartments are different than most of the others from that timeframe, and the hose reels are mounted very high.

Thanks for posting the pictures, it is great to see another good looking B model firetruck!

Firemack

Hi Trashman,

Welcome to our world of Old Macks! You description of the old Mack DM was great, most of us like the smell, feel and the whole experience of the old Macks. Nothing wrong with a new work truck but it just isn't the same as DRIVING a real truck!

Welcome,again and good luck finding the R model.

Firemack

B61sleepercab,

Great story! sounds like you had a lot fun getting the old girls going. I love the naming conventions and fuzzy buzzard 's comments- sounds like you will have a lot more fun getting them road worthy. How about posting some pcitures..

Firemack

I have worked in the construction business my whole life, and am also a firefighter so have lots experience with Mack's. We have plenty of R and new Grainte and Vision models in PA, NJ and NY. I recently was on a construction site and they had both R models hauling asphalt and Granites hauling asphalt. I spoke to one of the drivers of one of the R models asked him if he had driven the new Granites, which were working side by side with the R's. He said he liked the R model but loved the new Granite, it had much better visibility and much better ride for the long days of hauling loads from the plant to the site and were holding up just like the R models but were a lot more driver friendly. I personally like the look of the R better, but just like when the B was phased out I liked the look of the B model better than the R model, and like the look of the R model better than the Granite, however after speaking to the guys driving them you have to give Mack some credit for improving the daily driving for the guy in the cab. Let's hope the Granite and Vision sales keep going so Mack keeps growing.

Firemack

Hi Andy

Check with Barry on this one but I think Gerhardts (where the annual Fall Mack show in Lititz Pa is held) has an E model in the yard ( I think it is a dump). I am sure Barry knows the Gerhardt guy and can maybe find out more about it.

That will make 2 dozen.

Firemack

Hi David,

Great Picture, that one really made me laugh!

Firemack

Jakebrake,

Could be the ignition switch, they have multiple contacts and might be the contacts to turn on the lights are OK , but the others are worn and not getting contact everytime. Other items: could be overheating from the battery cables and sometimes they have a thermal link which can shut down until it cools. Are all of the cables and terminals clean?

My B model has the old style ignition switch and I noticed that my truck will start and run but the fuel and temp gauges and some of the lights don't always works unless I reset the ingnition switch. Being a firetruck it doesn't have a key, but you could be having a simlar problem.

Firemack

73 R Model:

If you have the pump Arthur Gould will rebuild it. He does excellent work. (631) 269-0093 arthurgouldrebuilders.com

Firemack

Hi Mack Firetruck Fans,

Thought I would post this picture of B75F1023 which now has a new owner Rick Sladen in Vancouver BC Canada. This truck was originally from Harrison Township in Pennsylvania- not too far from Barry at Watts Mack. Now it has wandered a long way from it's original home to the new owner, Rick is working on the truck but has not conquered the computer yet and after he sent this picture (with the help of a friend) I told him would post it here. Interesting truck it is light blue!

We now know where 9 of the 54 B75's now reside. Rick also mentioned that 6 B75's were originally exported to Peru and Rick has a friend there that thinks 4 are still in service, I have asked him to send pics and the story on the trucks. Once we have details will send the info to Tom Gannaway to enter in the B model registry.

Firemack

Andy,

I think Mad Max in the thunderdome had a B model underground hooked up as a generator truck

BackDraft- I think used a CF Aerialscope or Ladder truck

FireMack

I think there were 8 Macks total- 4 classics and 4 CF's-at this muster, I don't see any close up shots of the CF's, but if you look at the aerial view you can see 2CF's- 1 yellow and 1 red, and there were 2 other red cf's in very nice condition, they looked like NYFD trucks with long cabs, 1 enclosed and 1 canopy. I think 1 was a refurb so hopefully will be in service for another 10 years or so.

I also attended the Harrisburg PA muster. that had about 100 trucks, however- one of the most interesting was 2 CF open cabs together- and there were only a total 10 CF open cabs ever built.

FireMack

Mack Firetruck Fans-

Another great showing of classic Mack's in the New Berlinville PA Muster last month. 2 B Model Open Cabs and 2 L Models- 1 open cab, 1 coupe cab as well as several very nice CF's, most still in service. Here are few pictures just the L and B models together and a link to the site for pictures of other makes Ford, GMC, Ward Lafrance etc. that attended.

http://www.libertyfire17.org/2006muster2.html

It was great to have 4 classic Macks together for the picture before it rained!

Firemack

For those of us who love Mack Fire Trucks-

We had our 100th Anniversary Parade and 6 B Models attended:

2 Open Cab Pumpers

1 Closed Cab Pumper

1 Ladder

1 Sedan Cab

1 Aerial Tractor

How many times do you see this many B model Fire trucks together?

We attended the Wilmington Fire Muster last weekend and there were 4 Mack's- 1 L model open cab, 1 L model Sedan Cab, and the 2 B75 open cabs. It was nice to have 2 of the 4 trucks still in service together for a picture.

The Wilmington Truck (on the right) was partially restored, the Radnor truck was restored. Both trucks won judges awards!

There were only 54 B75 firetrucks ever made-

4 are still owned by Fire Companies

B75F0001 In Malvern PA

B75F0002 in Wilmington Delaware

B75F0004 in Stony Hill NC

B75F0011 in Radnor PA

(Still in service as Parade Units)

I will post more of the various Mack's we met this year on the parade and muster circuit for the rest of the BigMackTrucks Fire truck fans after I get copies.

FireMack

Hi Brian,

If the pictures posted of the truck with Station 14 on the side are your truck it is a Mack C Model. Your truck has the same running gear as a B model but was Cab forward- B Models are standard cab.

FireMack

Guys,

While we are on the topic- you mentioned running up to 2100 on the governor- can you run on the governor and hold it without any damage to the engine? My B75 Gas firetruck has a 464 engine and has top speed of 64, I think at 2800 (no tach on the dash) can you run a gas engine on the governor like a diesel, or is that too much RPM to keep it at max?

Thanks,

Firemack

Mark,

Daivd is correct, The wood was Ash and was natural or coated in marine varnish, The interior color was red with red seats if an open or semi open cab, and left green with tan seats if a closed cab.

The Mack Pumper designation was not B61- they used a combination for engine and pump size:

B75 had a 464 or 510 with 750GPM pump

B85 had a 707 with 750 GPM pump

B95 had a 707 with a 1000 GPM pump

B125 had a 707 or Hall Scott engine with a 1250 GPM pump

There were a few other combinations which had special designations but these should cover most of the B model pumpers.

Good luck with the model and post pictures when you have it completed.

The Radnor Fire Company Parade was well attended, See the Update and pictures of many of the trucks under the Events section.

Final Update and Pictures

The Radnor Fire Company 100th Parade was well attended, with 150 pieces of Fire Apparatus and 25 antique units, including 6 B model Mack Fire trucks. Harvey Eckart judged the antiques and was happy to see many Macks and the 6 B model Macks all together at the end of the Parade. See attached pictures.