mattb73lt

It’s the Dreamride event in Farmington at the Polo Grounds. My employer’s huge annual fund raiser for the CT Special Olympics. The main Dreamride is on Saturday, but the whole thing runs Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Big car show on Sunday. I’m helping move some vintage State Police cruisers up there Friday. I’ll be driving a ‘41 Ford cruiser Saturday. The show Bob was speaking of is up in Lancaster, Ma. The Bay State Chapter’s 20th anniversary show, Saturday and Sunday.

Thanks, Dean. It’s been a pleasure working “with” you on our projects and I’m glad it’s been helpful on several levels. I’ve really enjoyed watching your progress, too!!

Thanks, Bob. The barn got a huge restoration in 2015 and the roof in 2002. I’m bummed I can’t make it up there this time. I just gave the B42 a day of love for this weekend. There’s still a slim chance I could make Sunday.

24 years ago this weekend I found this truck in Litchfield, CT. Dragged it home and dropped it in front of my barn at the house I bought about a year and a half beforehand. Lots of things have transpired since that time, but one of the good things is seeing this truck, nearing completion, sitting in the same exact spot.

TEST RUN! I borrowed one of my car phone mounts and used my iPhone as a Go Pro. A little test run video up the driveway without crashing. I think the sound is right on. Not full throttle, but probably half due to the length of the run. Everything is so tight with no play in the shift towers, yet. It all needs to get run in and adjusted. I'm happy with it so far. IMG_3928.m4v

Well, I kinda had to. It was either stop or crash through the barn, then plunge about 30 feet down into my neighbors back yard!!

I think so. You could always treat it with a preservative or some kind of waterproofing treatment. If you do that and it’s good quality plywood, I think you’ll be fine.

I finished up the accelerator installation on Saturday. After warming up the engine, I backed down to the street. This gives me almost a 100 yard run to the barn. In first, I walked the compound up, under, direct and over, before I had to get on the brakes. Well, the 220 and exhaust didn’t disappoint. It was LOUD and had quite the bark, much more so than just revving it up. I’m going to run it as is for now. Although I may need to rethink the noise level. It sounded incredible. I don’t have a Go Pro camera so no video of it.

Any thoughts on recessing the front corners of the sleeper for the stacks? It would take some work, but the results might be worth it if you don’t have to move the stacks and tanks.

Watt’s used to market a chrome, stock style, bumper. I haven’t seen anyone offering one in a while. Stainless versions have been available, but again not sure if they are anymore. There have been several attempts to make chrome shells available again, but that hasn’t happened. Your best bet there would be to find a really clean steel shell and have it chromed or one that needs re-chroming. Expect to pay around $1500 for good chrome plating.

Nice. So you channeled it to sit lower on the frame? That should look great when you get it all lined up.

Hemming's Motor News site, look under Services. Lots of rebuilders there offering all kinds of things. You may find a resource near you.

Classic can silk screen the gage faces, too. They could rebuild your originals to match those really nice NOS gauges you found. Also re-calibrate for accurate readings.

A thought would be to reach out to Matt Pfahl. He does a lot of vintage Macks and has a lot of resources to get things rebuilt to original. Classic Instruments is another resource that rebuilds old instruments and can also put modern innards into them for those that want the original look but modern operation, like 12 volts.

Yes, there are two patches of plywood, between the fixed floor and the removable panels that go up to the firewall. I used marine grade plywood and made some of the openings smaller. This was the piece before I cut it in two, like the original.

Moving right along!! Power steering is complete and works!! Mounted the steering cylinder and fabricated the last two lines I needed. No leaks and it's definitely a help over the manual box, but the Sheppard box in the other truck is a more powerful unit. But no complaints on this Garrison unit. Almost done modifying the floor pans, cutting a slot for the pedal arm to pass through and travel. Need to make some filler pieces to close up the old gaps, the rest and the steering column hole I'll cover with a 1/8" rubber sheet to seal the rest up. Pedal position is much more comfortable as my heel rests where the pedal base was and the ball of your foot easily presses the pedal. Also have to mount and rig the new accelerator pedal. That should be easy as it's a brand new kit From LOKAR. Pushing hard this week because next week will be busy with work through the weekend.

Not with the B73. I was hoping to come up Sunday with the B42, but it’s a very busy weekend with my employer having a huge Special Olympics fund raiser and the big Dreamride event on Saturday.

Not really. I only heard the center drop once when I bought the engine 20+ years ago. The backdrop sounds really throaty when you rev it up, with a good bark. The video I have of it revving up sounds really good with my headphones because of the bass. Hopefully, I'll be running it around soon so I'll have better sound with a load on it.

This is really going to look good when the fenders and hood go on!! Just went through the whole front end, double checking torques, cotter pins, front end toe-in and greasing everything. Finishing the power steering tomorrow and concentrating on the electrical on Friday. Still need to paint the hood, but the weather is getting better for that. Really making some good progress lately.

That's a nice view to see in the morning!! Thanks for all the comments, still stoked about moving it!

24 years in the making!!!! Moved the truck for the first time EVER under it's own power. Granted, it was only to turn it 180 degrees in the driveway, but it moved!!! I can't believe it.

That's a tough decision to make. I hate cutting stuff. But, cut carefully and save what you remove. You could graft it back in or the next owner might have that option.

This off duty commute is killing me, too many distractions. Weekends have been busy lately with work, but the last two days have given some awesome weather were I'm not melting trying to work outside. Spent yesterday and today engineering a new brake pedal mount to move the pedal and give me a more comfortable position. Never liked the original mount position and it really cramped your right leg, unless you had really short legs. Used a 2003 Vision hanging pedal mount, cut the pad off and re-welded it 180 degrees off. A single circuit valve bolts right to it and is relatively close the the original position. This is the last component of the air system the needed mounting. The connections should be real easy to finish and then I'll have some brakes!! I need about a day to finish that and another for electrical work that needs finishing. Getting real close to moving this thing for the first time!!

That’s awesome!! Having a helper that size is great, too!!

I'm hoping so. It would be nice to have this done and road proven by then to go. I've missed it every year so far.