mattb73lt

A few more pics after we moved it back into the yard today.

Hope all is well with everyone that's following this. Hasn't been since August since I last posted. The project was on hold and stored at Matt Pfahl's since then, while I waited for him to have some floor space for me, and I ran my own train off the tracks after picking up a '26 Ford Roadster. But, back on it today and completed the the frame stretch by joining both frames together. Long day, but it's done and straight. Went as planned and without a hitch. The bare frame looks looonnng with it joined up.

Yes, the Flatbed(B-42), progress has been slow over the summer on the B-73. It will pick up this fall, though.

I'll be there!!! One of the few shows that work out on my schedule.

Good for you!! Great to have a brand new place to work in.

Really nice job!!!! Such a clean and meticulous restoration. Certainly better than new. WOW!!

All primered up. 3/4 of a gallon to cover it. Just closed up the shop and time for bed.

I made some careful measurements yesterday and I'm going to forego the shims I was going to make. This is also a Ford donor and a very close slip fit, like about 1/16" difference.

Well, my text disappeared when I posted those pics. But, it's been two months since I touched this, didn't think I would be that busy. Finally got on it this weekend, finished all the welding and primed the frame. Got the donor frame to the sandblaster and into the shop for primer. The big score was finding a "Back-Drop" exhaust for the Cummins. It's super nice and once its painted and installed I'll post some pictures.

It's the original floor with 3/4" plywood layed over it as a work surface. I put it down when I did the other B. I'll probably replace it at some point.

Stripped the new rear axle housing completely. I had robbed the gear set out of it for the original axle, after a friend gave it to me years ago. I was going to scrap it until I found some cracks welded up on the axle under the frame now. Lucked out there. It all came apart with some effort, but nothing broke. Some corrosion found on some of the aluminum castings. If they're too far gone, I can rob the other axle.

Nothing super exciting to report. Donor frame is all stripped down, just need two cross members removed and then off to the sandblaster. But, the right frame member is done and primed. Tried to do both but there's only so much time, and I figured I concentrate on one and not rush. These posts help to give me something report to keep the momentum going. This is really hump work, but it's getting done.

That is really nice, very well done.

I've got a 4.62 rear and a double overdrive Triplex going in this one. Nearly the same as I set up in my other B, but with 24.5" rubber going on this one. Cruises nice at 65, with more top end. The Triplex gives good flexibility around town and highway.

It was a Ford L series with a Cat in it that was dead.

A couple of years ago I posted a question of the frame stretch, I think Freightrain responded with some pics of his stretch. That and a few other responses confirmed that it was pretty sound to go forward that way. Most of my measurements are close and just need to be tightened up a little. Right now I'm thinking that there's 1/4" difference from inner to outer spacing, that could be made up with two 1/8" shims down the overlap. I still need to finish cleaning both sets of rails and then finalize everything. My plan is to use the two Mack cross members where the original axle is, then staggered bolts in between. There'll be two more cross members where the donor axle is. The Mack axle will fit the springs that are in the donor frame. It has a Eaton twospeed under it now that'll be removed. The plus is the body is already mounted and will just need to be remounted. Looks like there'll be about 7' added to the wheelbase.

My original plan was to fabricate everything and then mount the body. As I looked at the donor frame, I found that it would slide over the original making the stretch and mounting much easier and quicker.

After positioning the donor frame in front of the barn, spent today assessing and stripping the frame back to where the overlap ends. I'll have just short of 8' of overlap on the frame. Found some scale and rot that'll have to be addressed. Good progress this weekend, next several weeks I'll have limited time so it'll be slow

WOW, that's a barn!! Really nice and good for you!!!

Busy day!! Went to my storage yard and brought home the back half of the project, separated it, and brought back the parts I don't need yet. Leaving just the frame at home to be stripped and prepped. Three round trips in the B-43 and all before the rain started, I'm beat!!

Thanks, I waited a long time to get to it. The thread keeps me motivated to get something done each week so even it's something minor. Your Tandem B is really nice though, I'll have to track you down at one of the shows to see it up close.

I had no idea that B was yours. I saw it last year, I think, at the Bolton show. WOW!

Fixed the frame where the previous owner notched it to get the front cross member out when he took the Cummins. Came out pretty good and looks like it was never done. Still filling holes as free time has been limited. But a little bit here and there is getting it done.