other dog

That's probably all true today about the chemicals and environment and expense,but 30 years ago when H.H.Moore put a new bumper on a truck he would buy a plain bumper,just primered,and take it to a place in Richmond and have it chromed-I took some down there myself,to a place on Hull Street. He said it was cheaper to do that than buy a chrome bumper in the first place.

I painted the cab marker lights on the mixer with chrome bumper paint,pretty expensive for a spray can but it looked pretty good...of course it's a mixer,not exactly a show truck.

beautiful truck,and an outstanding restoration job!

$3.95 yesterday on rt. 40 in Pa. somewhere between Uniontown and Md.

Black Smoke's not funny is right. Unless you're just having fun, and you don't mind paying for that fun!

I think that, today at least, the solution for fixing the expense of fuel is really pretty simple. A little less driving, a few more miles per gallon, and simply using your head would go a long way to cure our cost of fuel by reducing our dependancy on the Arab world. And that has to be the ultimate goal. We have got to use our own products.

Let them sell their oil to China, Japan and India for $150.00/barrel or more. Let China, Japan and India have some real fun figuring out how to deal with that. And maybe they could even have their own little Middle East wars! Or, at least, help us a little.

Highway vehicles are certainly one of the major users of oil - but not the only one. As a country, or as a group of countries, (USA, Canada and Mexico) we might be better served using alternative energy and alternative fuels in our power plants, rather than developing a new infrastructure and distribution system for highway use. And the plastics industry would do well to research and develop methods of producing materials from recycling and the use of vegetable (plant) based oils to a much a greater degree than currently being employed. The power plants and the industries that use petroleum to produce products are also major users of crude oil.

Coal and oil burning power plants probably have a greater tolerance for minor fuel inconsistancies than the relatively small and finicky automobile and truck engines. The fuel is not metered as precisely, and the power plants can, and do, use a less refined fuel than gasoline or diesel fuel as we know it.

And the cracking (refining) of coal for the production of multiple products is always a possibility, rather than simply burning the raw material to generate electricity.

This isn't rocket science. A few simple measures will fix the situation. And, believe it or not, the tree huggers have very little to do with the problem. For now. They have their own issues, which we can cure on another day.

Human nature and the need to make a profit won't allow us, or the corporate world, to change until it hurts in the wallet too much. Unless we all can get together and make it happen.

I'm starting to feel like a preacher!!

Paul Van Scott

$4.50/gallon for diesel is going to become normal very soon. And probably higher than that in the near future.

Gas will get to $4.00 very soon too. And $5.00/gallon soon after.

This isn't going to go away until we do something permanent. And it will affect every part of our lives with the increased cost.

Unfortunately for the truckers, you are going to get hit first and hard by working for the same pay, albeit at a

much higher operating cost. It might be cheaper to just park the truck, or let the bank figure how to operate it.

But that's probably not the answer. It just sounds good on paper.

Eventually, I think that the prices of goods will rise, and after that the money required to operate a truck will catch up

and become better than today.

And maybe - just maybe - when the country has finally had enough, we might do something about it!

That may be a long way off. Hopefully it will happen before it's too late.

Not a very pretty picture. And believe me, no politician, congressman or presidential candidate has a clue how to fix this.

Nor do they care, as long as we don't care.

This solution is up to each of one of us. Some small changes in our daily lives, and some creative thinking about alternative

energy sources can fix the problem rather painlessly, if we don't wait too long.

Paul Van Scott

Well, we're at $3.699 for diesel in Upstate NY. And it is going to get a lot worse.

This isn't going to go away.

Just like most low tech industries today, we are working for a lot less money today in the building industry than we were twenty years ago. Seems ridiculous.

The only fix is for each and every one of us to reduce our our dependency on imported oil.

And, at the same time, we need to stop buying imported junk! The fact that the WalMarts and K-Marts and Kohls and on and on can exist in this country by pushing Chinese inferior products on us is just plain criminal. And it's our own fault - we keep buying useless stuff, and lots of it. Just to feed our arrogant greed. It's very sad to look at what we are doing to ourselves.

Let's stop buying imported junk, and go back to making our own goods. That fixes a multitude of problems in our society. American pride goes way up, welfare goes down, and we can work on becoming a strong country again. Seems like a worthwhile goal.

To fix the oil problem permanently, we need a suitable alternative for about 50% of our current consumption.

Bio-diesel has some promise, as does hydrogen as an auto fuel, and ethanol as a general use fuel. Obviously as the price of crude oil rises, the alternative fuels become more feasable.

We probably will never be able to make public transportation a reasonable alternative in the US. We just plain like to drive too much. So public transportation is not a realistic part of the picture, at least not yet.

Less expensive and renewable electric power sources will also be a big part of the "oil hostage" solution in the future.

But the biggest and most powerful piece of the whole puzzle is you and I. All of us, every single one, has to make an effort to change. Period.

I believe very strongly that we have the best country in the world. A little crazy at times, perhaps, but the best country in the world. If we can't work to keep it great, then who will?

Sorry for the rambling, but I've had enough of hearing everyone try to blame someone else for these problems. These problems are our own fault, and we are the only ones who can fix them. Let's get busy.

Paul Van Scott

your right vanscott the problem is our own problem simply because we keep buying the fuel no matter what the pump says. Also all you hear now days is a more fuel efficient car or diesel engine. Someone tell me i am wrong but how is that gonna help the fuel problem, i mean really if we can get 60 miles to the gallon instead of 10 isn't that going to make us drive more ? more fuel effiecent is really just gonna make us depend on oil more in the long run. What needs to be cut out is the ppl thats out there on the road that really don't have to be there. There will be a time where we wished we would have saved a gallon of fuel or 2 for our trucks and equipment that really had to be out there to keep this country going. Just guessing i would say there is at least 20 to 30% of the traffic on the road.. you know the kind of traffic that causes us to smoke our fresh brake lining off cause they are sight seeing and have no productive reason to be on the highway at all. I don't know how everyone else is doing but the rising cost of fuel has almost costed me the farm and to put the trucks to pasture. As of right now it is taking 55% of my gross income just to pay the fuel bill. I am sure there is somewhere a struggling owner operator that has to file bankrupt and quit his trucking carreer everyday because of the fuel situation. It is mainly us truckers that the rising price of fuel is affecting the most and its the trucks that this country can't run one single day without.

Oh,I forgot-I fueled at the Kwik-Fill in Northeast,Pa.Thursday and fuel was $3.79 a gallon.I just filled one tank,enough to get back to the shop.

The price of diesel in Hartford, Ct. $3.59 Home heating oil is $3.19

Let me begin by saying I have family that work in the Oil buisness. One brother worked for ARCO on the North Slope an other brother retired from a National labrotory in Idaho.

THERE IS NO NATRUAL OIL SHORTAGE! There is more oil in the gound to keep us running at present levels plus an annual growth of 15% for more than 100 years and then some.

The problem is man made. Anwar north of the Artic Circle has a oil field as large as Texas or more. We can't drill because we will kill Polar bears. The Polar Bear population is 63% larger now then 50 years ago. From Norway Governement. An oil field off of Calf. is large enought to boost our production by 50%. Can't drill because of whales and seals. An Oil field in the Gulf of Mexico is larger than Sauda Arabia. Can't drill because we may pollute the gulf of Mexico. Oh, by the way, Chevz of Venazula is drilling like crazy and he fuel is cheap. Oh and by the way the Chinise will be drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico (if they aren't already thanks to our friendly Cubian Government.)

There is more oil to be found in the world other than the three I have mentioned. You better belive that others will be drilling like crazy for it.

Now, The Hartfore Courant in April of 2005 ran a story on the 23-24 page. In it stated that in 1980 there were 340 + oil refineries in the US. In 2005 there is less then 160 refineries. yet the demand has risen more the 30% over all. There have been no new refineries built in the last thirty years. Yet, in the last thirty years the simple forms of gasoline, cheap, medium and high test along with diesel (aka Home heating oil) and kerosine have moved from five grades to over fifty (50) different blends for 12 major markets in the US. Oh, don't forget lowest sulfur diesel (don't even think of using home heating oil (#2) in your new truck!) We have gone from simple to super complex with a smaller number of 30 year old refineries. (Thank You D.E.P.) We are at the point of importing gasoline and diesel fuel already refined from forigen nations. What happed to "We can do it!"

You talk about 50 MPG cars. Well, lets look at those, Hybrids. More Money!!! (see a connection here?) The battery for the hibrids hides behind the back seat. weights 3-400 lbs and is made of a crud load of 1 1/2 volt cells with exotic metals. BIG MONEY. Oh and how do you dispose of one of those! Don't ask the dealer he doesn't know. Think of the niCd batteris and thier heavy metals which you must not throw in the trash but recycle. Any one know where? Don't crash those new cars. The shut off switch for the 600 volt battery is on top of it and the wire runs under the car to the motor in front. Any one want to arc weld!

Ok lets talk electricty. Oil fired and natrual Gas yes, Nuclear NO! (huh?) No new nuclear generators have been built or even planned in the last thirty years. Yet there is no "carbon" foot print (God! ya gotta love that Al Gore term, ever see his fleet of SUV's?) Ok there is a problem with spent fuel but is there a National repositroy in Nevada? Ok here is my ACE. My Brother, (remebrer I had one in the National Research Lab in Idaho?) had told me we were about 10 years away from a Fusion reactor (Not fission. That is what we now have). A fusion reactor will create heat by combing material, rather then spliting it. Guess What? No nuclear waste! The stuff is inert. No glow!!!! Oh that program was shut down by "Billy Boy" from Ark. along with 3 other National Lab working on the same problm.

It is not that we are creedy and suffering from gluttney on oil. It is that "we" are our worst enimies. We listen to phoney experts that are in the business of scareing us for their profit and power.

Use the internet and find the answers for your self. There is talk of closing down the free internet and controling the information. Gee, I wonder why?

Thank you for putting up with my rant. This proably is not the place for it, but I had to say it.

Jim

Yes congratulations and good luck with your project. It's good to hear that you saved a fine old classic from probably being cut up for scrap metal.

G'day mate (that's Australian) and Like to see some pictures of the White,sounds like a nice restoration.

Here are a couple pics of 2 of the 5 U Models that we had back when... One is still around, and if I had any money I would buy it. 237/5 speeds if I remember right.

T.

A.K.A. sidewinders

Given the Watt's blood that flows through your veins, Barry, I wouldn't have been surprised if you said you were the kid in the photo! I'm with Speed, a similar pic would be awesome.

ugliest truck ever? this gets my vote...

The gold Bulldogs first appeared in 1966 on all Maxidyne powered trucks.Maxidyne engines were painted gold.In '79 EPA issues forced Mack to quit using the gold paint.The Bulldogs remained gold until early '81,when they returned to chrome.About the same time,the ears and tail were bobbed because someone caught their ring on the dogs ear tilting a hood,resulting in a lawsuit.

The gold Bulldog returned on the CL Elite in '93 or so,and then in '95 they started putting the gold dog on all purebred Macks.

hmmm...my hood don't tilt,but I could claim I was drunk and high on crack and tripped and when I tried to break my fall I grabbed for the hood of the mixer and caught my ring on the dog's ears and pulled my finger off,and sue the ring maker, the liquor distiller, the crack dealer,and bulldogs with ears that are too long.

Gold dogs meant you had a Maxidyne engine under the hood during the late 60's/70's and early 80,s. Nowadays its the symbol of an all Mack drive line with no third party components.

Hey barry, I just found out that Google maps street view vehicle passed by Watts! I enterd "8059 Route 22, New Alexandria, PA 15670" into Google Maps and clicked "Street View". Drag the little figure of a person around and a baloon will pop up with the street view. You can pan around and move along the highway and see close to the same angle thats in the picture.

wow,neat-I didn't know you could do that!

Yes that was the same seller I was thinking about.Maybe Barry could help you out with that.

...but first just make sure the valves are open-turned fully counterclockwise-they shut off the water to the heater core,so it'll be cooler in the summer but no water circulating through the heater core for heat in winter.

Hey Guys

I finally aquired a bulldog with an E9. Im gonna use it for extra cariculare activity(mostly abuse). How many Rpm's will this thing turn with a stock set of heads? How often should i chek those buttress screws (bolts in the lower side of the block to hold the mains)? Ill post some pics when I get it home Saturday! thanks ~Joe

I love questions that I can answer,and there's not that many of them. Much like the old question of '' what's the maximum torque for this application?"-stop tightening half a turn before you wring it off-the answer in your case is "a hundred rpms before it comes undone". Even 1 rpm before it blows up is OK,but 100 gives you some room to play with.Again,just happy to be able to help.

OK folks...we have the field secured and most of the details worked out!

Here is the link to the BMT Information Page...http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/index.php?aut...o=show&id=2

If you are going to bring your truck(s) to display in the show, click the link on that page and fill out the online registration form. Registration is FREE but we need to have a good idea of how many trucks to expect...

Thanks again guys...We are planning on making this a huge event and we really hope you can attend! If you can't bring a show truck, bring the family to see our newly remodeled facility and the show! We promise fun for everyone!

I doesn't appear that they are pulling from the booms, looks like from the frames to me.

Pretty impressive, though.

I feel your pain...many times over the years i've taken a truck back to the dealership (usually Truck Enterprises,Roanoke,Va.) knowing something wasn't right only to be told "there's nothing wrong with it-it's supposed to be like that". Many times.

Did Mack use a "puff limiter" on this engine? The engine runs very well with the pump governor (idle speed) recalibrated, but really smokes a lot when into the throttle. I've seen no air line as in an inline engine to the intake manifold.

I keep the truck inside of my heated building and before starting the engine, use shop air to charge the tanks. That way I can start the engine as the overhead door is raising, and get outside before someone cannot breath. When the engine is warmed up at idle, a slight "blip" of the throttle sends a thick smoke cloud out of the exhaust. When accelerating, a thick, dual path of smoke remains behind me. There is a buildup of carbon soot in the stacks also.

Do keep in mind the engine has not been "worked" in many years and has a lot of idle time on it.

Thanks,

Rob

sounds like everything is just like it oughta be...or like it used to be anyway.I used to like to look in my mirror and see a big cloud of smoke every time I changed gears in that 5 speed.