mattb73lt

Ok, let me get my stuff!!

Well, I guess I’ll have to scrap the whole project then? On to the next thing to screw up.

Because the engine is so big!!🤣🤣

Getting ready for Friday by prepositioning the engine to the next bay. Hoping the weather holds and help arrives as scheduled. Fingers crossed, it should be a good day!

About 20 hours. Wet sanded with 600 and 1000 grit to remove scratches, blems and corrosion spots. Then buffed with jeweler’s rouge, buffed again with aluminum polish. Used my 4” angle grinder with 4” wool buffing wheels. Lots of surface area. I left the backs alone, otherwise I’d still be at it.

Thanks. This is actually a new pair. The ones that were on it were really beat up and not usable without a huge amount of repair work. I stumbled on this pair a few years ago on FB marketplace of all places. The short one is a good original and the long one appears to be brand new.

We’ll, that sucked. What a messy, time consuming job. Lots of wet sanding and a whole bunch of buffing, but WOW the tanks came out nice and are ready to go when the time comes.

That was the look I was trying for and I was hoping to re-use those domed caps.

24.5" Stud Piloted, front and rear. Used, but re-polished with new sneakers.

It's starting to look like something!

I don't think this one ever had any and the back axle that I got with it didn't. I put them on the new back axle, but it didn't seem to have any provisions for them on the front.

There's a lot of variations. I realized that when I was hunting for a set. Most have a recessed hub with a small cap. Luckily, I found this set which is what I was looking for and I could use the caps that were sitting on a bookshelf since I had them chromed years ago.

The conversion to Budd hubs is complete. Brake pins showed up Thursday and today I had some time to get the hubs and wheels assembled. I really like the look of the new hubs, with the rims, paint and the old style hub caps I saved off a truck I parted out 20+ years ago. The frame now rests on its matched wheels for the first time since I’ve owned it. I’m thinking this coming year will be it for actually driving this truck. Lots of assembly to go and more paint coming in the next few weeks.

It really is a beautiful truck. I'd love to see it in person someday.

Last batch of brackets and straps. All thats left is the hood, fenders, fender extensions and headlight panels for paint. I was going to do some major assembly of the truck this fall, but the front brake parts are holding me up. The plan now is to wait until spring to do it as I don't want my cab sitting out under cover until then. Plenty to keep me busy over the Winter. I dragged the three piece drive shaft home to see if it was of use. I think by swapping the first two sections and then having the rear section shortened it is useable. I would then just need to fabricate the hanger bearing supports for it. That may save me a lot of time and money instead of having the whole thing fabricated.

Here’s an O&G B73, in their storage yard in Torrington, CT. I took these around 2000. Just a cab and chassis, I was told the plan for it was to restore it and add a service body to it and put it back to work. I don’t know if that ever happened. Last time I saw it working was early 90’s with a large compressor mounted to it. Set up with an NH220, Triplex, double frame and a heavy rear.

I've purchased rubber sheets of various thickness off eBay for similar purposes. The latest was for the fuel tank frame mounts on the back side of the tanks. Not expensive and easily trimmed for what you'd need to do.

Great find! What are your plans for it?

Thanks for he compliments. The NH220 should do fine, I don't carry anything too heavy, 6-7,000 lbs would be about the heaviest load. In my other truck I ran a END-673 for a long time with the same loads. It took a little bit to get it up to cruising speed, but nothing too bad. It was a much different truck when I put a 237 in it.

The rear now has a 4.62 in it. 24.5 rubber and should cruise nicely at 65+. It's almost the same set up as my other B, but that has a 237, single disc clutch and 22.5 rubber. Top end will be about 80 against the governor. For what I do it works great.

No. It's a double over Triplex, double disc clutch and clutch brake. It was in it when I bought it.

It’s good finally seeing the transmission sitting back where it belongs between the frame rails!! Removed it way back in 2004, then rebuilt it in 2005. It’s been stored since. Installed a brand new air shift PTO and hydraulic pump for the bed. Still waiting for my front brake parts, so no front wheels yet.

No, just a few pieces of heavy channel iron to keep it upright.

…and just unearthed these two pieces from their hiding places. Just a few things to do to them before they go back in. Very close to the big “stack” a truck together day!!!

The rear axle now rests on the ground for the first time, EVER!. Just waiting on a few parts for the front brakes to put those hubs together. Progress!!