mattb73lt

The jury is still out, but this isn't good. I only drained about 2 1/2 gallons of antifreeze from the radiator and about 15 gallons of grey soupy mess from the pan. I had a piece of o-ring come out while draining it. Eventually got the pan down and found a large quantity of sleeve pieces laying there. I think its at least two different sleeves judging from the color of the o-ring materiel. Still no idea how bad the crank is and now i'm worried about the block having some damage too. Tomorrow I'll continue to dig into it by removing the heads and hopefully the rods/pistons as well. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that both the crank and block will survive, but with these big pieces I'm very skeptical. And it still didn't seem to be skipping when I moved it yesterday. I only ran it long enough to get some air pressure to get the maxi's off and move it at an idle

Ok, thank you!! Hopefully tomorrow I can drain it down and drop the pan. I was going over in my head what happened and first I’m not thinking it wasn’t a head gasket. The dipstick is way over full and hasn’t settled out yet. It never overheated on the gauge and I’m leaning towards maybe a liner let go and put antifreeze into the pan. It wasn’t skipping and hit on all six. My big concern is the clattering in the engine and a sudden drop of about 10+ psi in oil pressure. I may have spun a bearing before I could get it stopped. I’m worried about damage to the crank, if that’s the case. And it was running so good. We’ll see what comes as I dig into it.

Yes, it’s another roll back. Headboard will remain and be repaired. That I’d the tilt device on the bed. It pins to the rear frame work.

I’m not sure. But, the B73 isn’t going, now. I’ve got an issue with the engine and I’m worried it is a big one. I haven’t had time to investigate, hopefully later this week. More to follow and an engine pull may be looming. CRAP!

Trying to make it up to a club seasonal party at Matt Pfahl's on 10/23 for it's public debut.

I couldn't hear any yet, it was too loud. I only had some towels covering the floor, carpet is coming.

I'm definitely going to made one up and post it once I get some more things worked out and finished.

Well, there it is, it's first registration since I believe 1987!!!! After a minor Cluster F*&ck with CT DMV and an unqualified clerk that caused a 24 hour delay, it's done. While CT DMV has made some decent changes and streamlined their procedures, they still lack qualified personnel. I could write several paragraphs on what went on in two short visits, but it's done. I did blow her up after she came back to the window with a set of Commercial plates when I told her and her supervisor three times I was putting Classic Vehicle plates on it. She stated that if I put those on it I couldn't use the flatbed. I stopped her right there and asked her to specifically state within the Motor Vehicle Statutes where it says that. Well, she couldn't. I called her supervisor back over and told her what I was just told and that they shouldn't be telling people what they can and can't do, when they can't reference any statute. This is what really pisses the public off when dealing with government organizations. I didn't throw out that I was a retired Trooper, just wasn't worth it. When I worked the road and was really learning to be a Trooper, I would ask my senior peers and supervisors tons of questions to gain as much motor vehicle enforcement knowledge as possible. I worked the scale houses with the commercial enforcement units to gain more knowledge in that area. My point there was that I wanted to know the law and the statutes I was enforcing. You can really mess with a business or person not fully knowing what you're doing. Okay, enough said there. After I ran home with my new plates and bolting the rear one on, off I went for it's first real test drive!! Damn, it sounds sooooo good. The exhaust sound is perfect, albeit LOUD! I did have a pedestrian who was on her phone cover her ears at about 100 yards as I started up from a stop and started shifting. Steering and tracking seemed good, no shimmies or wobbles as you come up to speed. Driveline vibrations are very minor. I did detect some transmission whine in 4th & 5th Hi-split at lower RPM's. I don't think that's anything to worry about yet. There's all new bearings in it and the pre-loads are all at factory specs. The ride sucks due to no weight on the rear axle, but the long wheelbase helps some. I made a couple of laps around town, shifting and stopping to work the transmission and brakes. I stopped after a while and felt all the components and axle hub temps with my hand. All the hubs remained pretty cool, the rear carrier was warming up but not hot. Engine temp was a steady 170 Degrees. Oil pressure, when hot, was 50 psi at upper RPM's and 20 psi at idle. After that, I was tempted to hit the highway and went out onto a couple of short stretches. It's a little faster than the green truck, mainly due to the taller tires. I was brave enough to get it up to speed slowly to a max of about 73 MPH, off my GPS app on my phone, while only turning about 1650 RPM. The speedo is off about 10 MPH fast, so I'll have to see if I have a better pencil gear in my collection. Post test ride inspection revealed no major leaks or seeps and nothing was spitting grease. The cab view is so much better than the standard B cab and the air ride seats help immensely with the ride. My custom brake and accelerator pedal set up is excellent and very easy to "heel and toe" it for downshifting and stopping. Overall a very good test drive and I'm still smiling a day later because I actually drove the truck that's been sitting around here for 24 years!!!

WOW, a whole fleet of trucks for $83K and change!! At least the 12T jack for the B83 was free, LOL. That's a really neat group of records. Do the other trucks still exist?

I was only thinking that amount because I’ve seen some costs of trucks back then and I equated it to buying a house back then. Think about it, you’re young and starting out. Buy a house or buy a truck? Hopefully, the truck would allow you to buy the house in short order. That was a huge amount of money back then.

The good word here is “compensation”. Sometimes, the less you say the better. I run into the same thing in some of the aviation circles I run in. Ramp fees, fuel, landing fees, if someone else pays for them it can put you in a whole lot different operating category, read FAA trouble. If you move anything it’s “yours” while it’s on your truck or trailer. Anything you receive can be construed as compensation, prize money, food, fuel, lodging. Just be careful and realistic with what you’re doing and you’ll be fine. The other issue that no one likes to talk about is insurance. I’ll say this, make sure what you’re doing is going to be covered if the worse case scenario happens. If a law suit ever comes your way, you don’t want to be left holding the bag.

It's a heavy spec truck, I was thinking about $25,000, with the engine and options you mentioned.

I agree with doubleclutchinweasel, it can get complicated. There is no requirement in CT to have that placarded on the truck anywhere, but i do have it on there. Mostly I do it to lesson the interest in what I'm doing. As a retired State Trooper, I saw lots of sketchy stuff on the highways and it always piqued my interest and may cause me to stop someone at least to inquire what they were up to. Vehicle condition is another red flag. Antique registrations, typically, let you bypass a lot of regulations/commercial requirements/CDL's. I have traveled far from home and never had any issues legal wise. I always stop at scale houses that are open and have always been waved through. If you do pass one thats open, you'll probably at least get chased down, because there is a fine for doing so. I have seen vehicles placarded as- NOT FOR HIRE, PRIVATE VEHICLE, RECREATIONAL USE ONLY, PRIVATE COACH, even though they have commercial, combination or passenger plates as that may be the only way to register it in that state.

Thanks, Doubleclutchinweasel. It’s been a lot of work to bring it back, for sure. I do love seeing it sitting there in the driveway. Especially since it sat in pieces for so long scattered about the barn. Tried to make it my best restoration yet, after practicing on my other vehicles. Now I can’t wait to get it done and put it to some use!!

I’m glad they helped, they look great!!! Cool looking fuse box. Any close ups of it?

Dropped the deck in the yard today and started to take a look at it. The plan was always to re-wood it, as it had some rot holes in it. Storage wasn't kind to it and the rest of the wood is gone, now. Picked away at it and I'll have to replace a bunch of the cross supports. I should have time this coming week to strip all the wood off to see what I'm facing. I have a charity convoy event to go to on Sunday, so I've been giving the other truck a little love. I have all the paper work squared away to get it registered and, hopefully, get some plates for it on 10/11. I did run it to a local garage to get the VIN verified (state requirement) and that was cool to hear it bark going to and from there. I've put about 4-5 miles on it from that and running it around the neighborhood. It really needs some weight on the rear axle, as it'll spin the tires with ease and the ride is like it doesn't have any springs in it. The ride between the two trucks is much different. The B42 is almost like a pickup truck, smooth, quiet and easy to drive. The B73 is pretty harsh, with a pretty stiff clutch. That should change with adding the body and making all my adjustments to just about everything as it becomes more roadworthy. The two trucks look good together, but the B73 is just so much taller, the view is better and I'm appreciating the bigger size of the L cab.

Yeah, smaller ones aren’t too bad to sand and buff, but larger ones can be a problem. Sometimes it’s better to just re-shoot. It looks great, though! Nice progress! I had to re-shoot my whole dashboard after getting a drip from my gun in the metallic paint. It was a really nice finish, but I couldn’t hide it. The finish on the second attempt was even better. So the mistake can sometimes help.

How bad is the run? If it’s not too bad, you could wet sand and buff it out versus a reshoot.

I’d love to, but I need to prove it out before launching so far from home, that’s a good four hours. Next year it’s on my list, finally!!!

Again, thank you all very much for the comments. Moving day, again. Dug the deck out of my friends yard, loaded it and brought it home. I think it's been stored there at least 7 years. Need to temporarily rob the tail lights off it to wire up on the truck. Monday or Tuesday I'm running the truck over to a local garage to do a VIN verification for DMV. On 10/11, I've got an appointment with them for registration and plates. Hopefully that goes without too much trouble. I'll start getting it more roadworthy with driving and adjusting things as I start to focus on the deck, hydraulics and some minor structural repair work. I'd like to get the bed mounted and working before the snow flies.

I know what you mean with their passing. I knew so many when I was younger. My Godfather was a Navy LST Captain in WWII in the Atlantic and Pacific Theatre. One of my neighbors was a 18 year old Marine on Iwo Jima, stayed in the Reserves after WWII and was called up for Korea and served in the Chosin Reservoir. Several members in the volunteer fire department I was in as a 16YO served in WWII, one in the Battle of the Bulge. I always knew I would join and to fly helicopters was my ultimate dream. Joining was a way to fulfill it. Becoming a Trooper was part of my sense of service. One career played well with the other, but caused a lot of personal sacrifice. I never imagined where those jobs would take me, but I always knew there was risk involved in both. That was really the first time I ever wrote anything about it down. They were my "jobs" and just what I "did" to make a living and secure my future. But, now, looking back, Holy Shit I can't believe I did that and experienced what I did. Somehow, to me, it pales in comparison to what the "Greatest Generation" did during WWII. Today, 9/21/2022, marks nine years since I returned from my last tour in Afghanistan.

Well, thank you all very much. I'm a little speechless from all the great comments. They are very much appreciated. This restoration has certainly been a true labor of love, as I've always wanted one of this model with this style cab. I'll have to say that all my previous projects have helped with this one and it has been my goal to try to make it my best one yet. Additionally, I don't think I'll do another vehicle this in depth. It's just very consuming and I want to get out and drive these things. A little about my background and where I think I got the skills. I was brought up around old cars and trucks. Learned a lot from my father at a young age, as he was always fixing other peoples cars and trucks on the side. I was always very mechanical and in technical high school I took four years in Machine, Tool & Die training. After graduation I went off to technical college and after two years, became an FAA certified Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic. That schooling, I feel, was one of the best courses I ever took. Teaching me so many levels of skills, from wood work, Dope and Fabric, sheetmetal, riveting and all manner of power plants from old radial engines to modern turbines , including all their subsystems. Hydraulics, pneumatics, avionics and all manner of aircraft systems. I went into the Army after that to become a helicopter pilot and start my flying career. That is a whole other chapter of my life, and what I truly love to do. It's also given me the means to have this hobby life which is my second love. All of this is second to my wife though, who has been very supportive of what I do and my hobbies. It's taken me so long to get to this truck due to my other careers. I found this way back in 1998 just before I was about to start the modification and restoration of my B42. I got that done in 2000. I was the Chief Pilot for the State Police, then, and was in the middle of purchasing their first new helicopter. We also had three Cessna 182's that we flew. All the while with the State Police I was serving in the National Guard and flying CH-47 Chinooks. In July, 2001 we picked up the brand new helicopter for the State Police. Two months later was... 9/11. That single event had ramifications for me that lasted for over 17 years. First it was endless overtime with the State Police. I worked 12 hour shifts, 7 days a week, from 9/11 to Thanksgiving Day without a day off. Right after 9/11, I was flying into Ground Zero with search and cadaver dog teams, along with supplies to sustain them. I walked the ground around the twin towers while they were still burning. The sights, sounds and smells have never left me. Two of my close Trooper friends and guys I worked the road with, have passed from cancers they picked up there. From there, it was more overtime and increased military training as my other career started to pick up. In February, 2003, I was called up and served my first tour overseas for 15 months. Came home, back to the state police and more overtime and military training. In 2009, called up for the second time and was away for a year. Came home in 2010 and had enough time with the State Police to retire in June with 21 good years. My military career was so busy at that point the next week I was full-time in the National Guard as an Instructor Pilot teaching new pilots how to fly Chinooks. Then, called up for the third time in 2012 and coming home in 2013. From 2003 to 2013, I was away from home for five years. Two tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. In 2018, I got word that I was facing a fourth tour in 2019. I couldn't put my wife through that, she went through two of my deployments, and I didn't want to myself. I put my paperwork in for retirement there and retired with 32 years of Active and Guard service. When I knew I was going to retire, I put my resume together and put some feelers out for jobs with friends in the civilian sector. A few months before I retired, I fell into a job with a trucking firm here in Connecticut, flying two of their three aircraft, a helicopter and a twin engine turboprop. The best part is, it's an on-call type job. No real schedule, except when the bosses need to fly. I usually know one to three days out for flights. But, pop-ups do happen when I'm in the barn. A quick cleanup and I'm at work in about 35 minutes. I joke with my friends that I'm getting paid to restore this truck. For my Australian Friends: When I was in Afghanistan in 2013 we were stationed in a place called Tarin Kowt. Once there, we were assigned to an Australian Special Forces Unit as direct support, along with a detachment of Apache attack helicopters and Blackhawks. After a few weeks of running re-supply and support missions, our Chinooks became their Go-To aircraft. First because of our lift capabilities, especially due to altitude and hot weather, and second due to our accuracy in timing and placement on the battlefield. A typical Australian mission would be to insert 40-60 troops (20-30 per Chinook) on an objective, depart to a safe area for 20 minutes and loiter, incase they needed immediate extraction. Then retire to Tarin Kowt for four hours and then go back out to extract them. On 22June2013, we had a mission into the Char Shenai(SP?) Valley, a chronic hot spot of enemy activity. I was Air Mission Commander for my element of Chinooks and the lead aircraft for the insertion. We make the insertion and go to our loiter point. As we arrive, we're re-tasked with going back to Tarin Kowt and bring out the Quick Reaction Force(QRF), another 40 troops, to the objective area as the radios blow up with activity with troops in contact. We do that as our QRF(2 additional Chinooks) are being loaded for resupply(ammo, water & food). We insert the QRF into the objective, then move some of the initial troops closer to the objective for security. In the midst of all this chaos, a call goes out for an urgent 9-LINE (a Medical Evacuation), somebody has been injured seriously. The Apache's are in action during all this, too, shuttling back and forth reloading and staying ready for action. An Apache escorted Medical Blackhawk comes out and does the evacuation right in the middle of this mess. We're out there hours longer than planned, never shutting down and hot re-fueling every time we land at Tarin Kowt. Well into the day, we finally get the order to extract everyone. One of my duties as Air Mission Commander is to contact every aircraft and get a head count. I tally that up and give it to the Ground Commander, who's on my aircraft and making sure everyone is accounted who was inserted. I get the numbers and I'm short. I do it again and make sure the crews are accurate. I'm still short. The Ground Commander is standing behind me, listening on a headset, when I hand him the count. The radios are silent on the way home, every aircraft has heard the count and tallied it up themselves and know we're short. That was the day the last Australian soldier was killed in action in Afghanistan. We lined the ramp at Tarin Kowt up to the ramp on the Australian Air Force C-17 that was sent to bring his remains home shortly after that day. I read much later when I was home that he earned the Victoria Cross for his actions that day, their highest award for valor. A very sad day we lived through with our Australian Brothers. Sorry for the endless post.

I thought that was belt driven. Hadn’t seen this angle before or that it was a direct drive. I did notice some subtle differences between our two 220’s, though.

Thanks! Is there more to it? As much as I've chatted with most of you, I've only met a few from here and FB.

Thanks for all the great comments. This has certainly been a long haul to bring this one back. I certainly can't compete with Matt Pfahl, volume wise. But he has seen some of my work and his comments and help are greatly appreciated, especially considering the quality of work he and his crew produce.