Dale Hamilton

Joe- I don't think there is a pressing urgency- Truck is very happy now in her custom built gararge. Call Dave Brown at 410-546-2041- I don't know any details about compensation.

Thanks Paul- I'll miss her but must concentrate on boat building. SDince I last talked to you Mercury has sent me one of their new hot Vazar 4 cylinder sterndrive units- which I will probably use for all subsequent runabouts. New prototype stretched 11 inches going together now- it may have a second cockpit. Call Dave brown directly at 410-546-2041. Believe me you will love driving this truck. Red wine helping although move to single malt later in the evening

Well she's gone guys- Hi Yo Silver is sold to a chap up in Maryland. Only delivery needs to be arranged from just outside Nashville Tennessee to somewhere up in Maryland. I understand the buyer will pay time and expenses and fly driver home. Contact Dave Brown: d.brown@pascoelectric.com Dale

errr, I plumbed the slippery road switch- although I don't remember the plumbing details. When I flipped it off however, the wheel turned freely. I'll leave the damn thing alone anyway.[ quote name=Rob' date='Sep 17 2007, 06:26 PM' post='14032] That would be a new one on me since that switch reduces or limits air pressure application to the front steer axle brakes when in the slippery selection. When in the dry selection, full reservoir air pressure application is available. I don't really see how that switch could be the root of your described problem unless someone has possibly plumbed the system incorrectly. If you are absolutely positive that switch is the culprit, I would take it back to the mechanic you paid to install it for repair. Rob

Damn! It was the slippery/dry road switch somebody had inadvertantly thrown. I drove it at interstate speed for a few miles with it on. Thats what caused the problem. Descovered that just before taking the wheel off, Ok when everything cooled off.

Today after a short run home from the shop I see alot of smoke pouring out of left front brake drum. I haven't got into it yet, but assume brake shoe(s) did not full release, perhaps a return spring broken or air cylindar stuck. Anyway, it it generally ok to rough up the shoes and reuse them or having been heated to smoking- they have to be replaced? Assume replace the faulty cylinder .Any help appreciated many thanks.

www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid69/p6926119af72baee0dfa76c92eaff448c/fbac876c.jpg Maybe like this guys?

wow- Thanks Midnight- just waht I needed.

Those 8 or 10 inch stainless valve extnsions to use on an inner tandem wheel. Neeo one. I saw them at carquest- buy they wanted $42.00. Anybody got an extra? dale.hamilton@med.va.gov

an AIR RAID SIREN? damn, glad I don't live next door to you.

B61fan- As far as changing out the old Dayton wheels, I found the best (and cheapest) solution was to use Eagle Flight Simulators over the Daytons. You might want to change out the old split rims- as very few shops will mess with them. The simulators look just like buds but are very easy to clean and will never dull. The wiring harness being toast is a blessing. You dont want it anyway. Start with a "Painless" or an "Enos" breakerbox already pre-wired with the correct sized labeled wires for everything you might add on to the system. Therse are really beautiful simple ways to re-wire and you will get rid of electrical gremblins forever. Dale

Barry- sending floppy today

on a floppy disc- excellent quality. Trouble is, I can't open it up any more. I keep getting "needs to be formated". Whats this all about? Can you handle it if I send the floppy> Dale

What a pleasure to dial up the site and see your B model staring back at you. Appreciate all the fine compliments and had a good time at the Cookville show- in spite of the rain. We were up in the RV, genset going, watching Humphrey Bogart in African Queen. Not bad. Wife announced she wanted to bake a chicken- and asked if the oven worked. Well sure I says- when actually I never had it turned on. Anyway did just fine. Always good to talk to the old time truckers you meet at these kind of shows- truely the last American cowboys.

Did both. Wrapped about 12' of header tape around the turbo connector, and then because the whole assembly was less than 1 inch from the steel floorboard, I bonded a 12x12 ceramic tile to the steel floorboard. What the heck- this is how they do it on the space shuttle. Use plenty of epoxy glue, make sure your surfaces are very clean, and clamp 24 hrs. Then I bonded anout 200 pounds of marine lead foam to all interior cab surfaces. Pretty quiet, pretty cool.

Here is the story in which I introduce one of the original owners to his freshly restored ride Dale Hamilton & Tom Bianconi DALE: In the course of fitting out my boat building shop in anticipation of retirement, I came to the realization that I needed a big truck. Naturally the sensible thing to do would have been to go out and buy a used Freightliner- but that wouldn’t have been the cowboy way. So, I eventually tracked down and purchased a Mack B-67 live axle tandem tractor with the 673 turbo charged motor. If any antique truck could be regarded as truly an icon of the American highway- this was it. For 2 years it sat behind the shop intimidating me- as I had never tackled anything on this scale. Finally increasing pressure from my buddies caused me to roll it into the shop and start on a full-scale restoration/improvement project-which would allow upgrades to modern day technology and creature comforts. This was not to be just another restored dinosaur. A 673 Mack Thermodyne had replaced the original 711 sometime in its life, and as it had excellent compression- I decided I would not need to open the engine. The old duplex transmission- truly an iron- clad coelacanth- had to go. It was swapped for a 15 speed triplex which gave me an honest 70 mph road speed at 2100 rpm. . The tin work however was another story. I could handle the front end sheet metal, the fenders and doors- but the cab would have to go to Terry Stegal- the Doctor of Sheet-metal Science, the Wizard of Welding- who eventually would have to fabricate 40% of the cab from new steel. The day came when a back hoe showed up at the shop door with some half dozen usual suspects who would help lift off the cab. Just 4 bolts plus 2 more at the radiator hold down this bubble cab to doughnut-sized rubber pads on the frame. We passed a chain through the door openings and around the bucket and started the lift. This process was gut-wrenching to witness, Years of accumulated rust, corruption and various detritus fell from the cab as it pulled away. Among that- a small slip of yellowed paper fluttered to the shop floor. It turned out to be a 1974 registration slip- bearing the name Tom Bianconi, Stateline Transit, Nashville, Tennessee. Hmmmm… TOM: I received a phone call from a rather articulate sounding fellow who claimed to have just purchased my old B Model. I had called it The Ugly Puppy when I drove it, ugly because it was painted orange and white and puppy because it was a Mack. A good name for an odd truck. It seemed reasonable to be leery of some stranger who calls out of the blue and tells you that they are happy to have purchased a 40 year old truck and are going to refurbish it. Sounded like a guy that needs a job! However Dale was very polite and again impressed me with his easy style and common sense approach to the task at hand. I was glad that my old truck was out of the weeds and at least in a dry shop. Ugly was a tried and true friend, a real honest hard working companion of countless hours in pitch dark night. He was my tether line to the world. He never let me down. He deserved a better place for his final days. Months passed and not a work from this guy in Murfreesboro. Then one day the phone rings and it is Dale again. He now tells me that he is near completion and would like for me to see the “new” old truck. I was almost speechless as he tells me of the many things he has changed. I know now that I must go see my old friend, ugly and meet his guy Dale. DALE: With the engine fully exposed, I undertook the grafting on of modern technology. The old luber finer was scrapped in favor of spin-on filters. The fuel filters were also discarded, replaced by spin-on’s mounted outboard of the frame rail just in front of and behind the right side wheel. I fabricated a multi-purpose bracket from 3/8ths steel reaching from the timing case cover to the valve cover in front of the engine. This would hold the AC compressor, the power steering pump, and the alternator replacing the generator. A new starter was also added. The old injectors were literally pried from the head and along with the turbocharger-sent to the diesel shop for rebuild. Eventually I would take the completed truck to this same shop so the fuel pump could be built. Curiously, the diesel guy found his original seals and cartouche still in place from 25 years ago. The old Mack’s ride was improved by the addition of air bags from Load Air supporting the front axle springs. A Garrison power steering system was added at this time. The original square steel fuel tanks were scrapped- replaced with round polished aluminum tanks. All fuel lines were replaced as well. In stripping out the fuel system, I noticed the original steel fuel pedal was worn nearly in half- in fact, someone along the way had riveted a piece of plywood to the pedal to keep this from happening. This had to be a high miles truck. The chassis was cleaned and painted and all new symtex air lines replaced the original copper. New brake drums, slack adjusters, maxi chambers and all inline valves and connectors were replaced as well. The original split ring wheels were replaced, new rubber and polished stainless Eagle Flight wheel simulators completed the road wheels. A quantum leap in rideability was achieved by cutting down the rear spring stacks. Mack used 3 full-length leaf springs and 6 steel stiffeners on each rear tandem. I cut the ends of all 6 stiffeners leaving only their middles pinned under the U bolts- so the chassis height would not be altered. This modification- while limiting the absolute tongue weights- allowed the 3 remaining springs to actually work and deliver a very comfortable ride. TOM: I bought Ugly from West Tennessee Motor Express in the mid 70’s while I was still in school at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. I leased it to an intrastate trucking company, Robertson Motor Line whose home office was also in Knoxville. My run was to leave Knoxville every evening around 7pm and go to Chattanooga then Nashville before returning to Knoxville. The turn took most of the night and it was not unusual to show up late for my 1st class arriving in Ugly and smelling of diesel fuel. This run was especially frightening for a young trucker because it meant that I had to cross Monteagle Mountain every night. This mountain had taken many a trucker to their final resting place and the CB stories made me a believer. But Ugly, my old buddy, taught the kid how to do it right. B-Models were work horses in every sense of the term. They could out pull and out last any other truck on the road. …“Tough as they come”. But, they were not built for the comfort of the driver. The floor had holes in it where the clutch and throttle linkage went to the engine. This would let in more cold air than you can imagine. If you stuffed enough rags in the hole to stop the air you couldn’t push in the clutch. Boy we were cold in the winter. The summer was not any better because part of the engine compartment was in the cab with you. The “ dog house” was not insulated and all of the heat was within inches of your right foot and shifting hand. I soon learned why someone had mounted a little fan on the dash. Ugly and I delivered LTL freight for some time and then after my academic career was over, followed me to my own trucking company. Although I did not regularly drive him sometimes he and I would sneak off by ourselves and spend some quality time. DALE: By the time the cab was returned I was ready to paint. Everything was given a good layer of high-build primer and finished with base-coat/clear coat in astral silver pearl. But before reassembly, I insulated the whole truck with marine-grade lead foam from Soundown Inc. The firewall received 1 ½” outboard and 1” inboard. The rest of the cab, floors, doors, roof received 1” material. This is a layer of 2 lb lead sheet, surrounded by acoustic foam and topped by silver mylar. The idea is for the lead to absorb and deaden the sound vibrations and reflect the heat. I gave special attention to the cab floor just over the 6” exhaust- which was bound to get real hot. Here I bonded ceramic floor tile to the sheet metal- if they use ceramic tile on the space shuttle to shield from heat- why not here too? The cab was reunited to the frame, new smoked glass was installed all around, and a complete new wiring system added. This last was based on a Painless breaker box with integral firewall interlock and pre-wired with the labeled, correctly sized wires. New SW Wings series gauges were added to an engine-turned dash panel insert. Engine turned stainless also highlighted other parts of the cab. Power windows were installed, and a beautiful rosewood and stainless steering wheel added. The entire cab was upholstered in gray tweed, as were the GM Astrovan seats mounted on Bostrom seat bases. Finally- the most fulfilling stage arrived; bolting on the shiny stuff. A new chrome Texas-style bumper, a train horn for the roof, chrome Vortox, two 6” monster stacks, light bars for the rear, and some Billit items for the cab. The mud flap weights proclaimed “HI YO SILVER… TOM: Dale and I agreed to meet on a Saturday for the “showing “ of the new and revitalized Ugly. I was actually a little nervous. After all it had been almost ten years since I last seen Ugly. Would he remember me? Would he feel the same? Had all the character been taken from him by this guy named Dale? I arrived at Dale’s shop fully expecting to find some toothless redneck with grease in places we can’t discuss and a truck with maybe new paint and some rust covered up. Boy was I ever in for a surprise. Dale met me in front of the shop clean neat and well groomed. He did not smell of old brake fluid or reak of body odor. A gentleman of knowledge worthy to be with Ugly I thought. We talked for some time and I began to feel more at ease. Dale then asked me to stand in a very specific place in front of the double doors of his shop while he went inside. What on earth for I thought, but I complied. I then heard the Music! Dawn from Thus Spoke Zarathustra, I had goose bumps. The doors slowly opened and before me was my Ugly. Smiling and proud as any good friend could ever be. He was not just clean and fresh, he was modern. The latest in electronics, the most up to date brakes, power steering, air conditioning, power windows, and state of the art insulation for the cab, my friend was now young again. I walked around him with awe and amazement as Dale told me of all the things that had been done. I could not believe my eyes. Then it happened. Dale asked me if I wanted to drive him. What an honor. I had never driven a” New” Ugly. We got in and I started the engine. It sounded just as I remembered but not as noisy. Much tighter and quieter that insulation really makes a difference I thought. I put it in first gear and eased out of the shop. I could feel Ugly getting excited like a race horse ready for the run. My shifting was rusty but Ugly is forgiving and by fourth gear we were doing fine. What a wonderful truck. Ugly was smooth, quiet, powerful, and best of all back in service. Friendships like this never die they just grab another gear and keep going. As I was getting ready to leave Dale said he had something for me. I wondered what. He then presented me with Ugly’s old fuel pedal mounted on a plaque inscribed with Unit 40 and my name. I almost cried. The pedal is now proudly displayed in my office. A wonderful conversation piece for those kids that have not yet found their “Ugly”. Thank you Dale for making my friend new again. I know he will serve you well. HI YO SILVER – Away… the end

well you're also pretty gullible Superdog. and around here, Bubba is a good ole boy.

Don't miss the pork chops up in this part of the country- Jeez, they must come from 800 pound porkers. And the bubba's up here eat 2 or 3 of them. Will be a good show.

If I get my ac problems solved I'll be leaving Nashville Tennessee on the 11th, overnight somewhere in St Louis, and head up thru Peoria next day and so to Walcott. Looking at staying at the West Lake Park RV park just 4 miles outta Walcott.

Guys- The condensor does lie flat between the frame rails. And the compressor is probably 25" above the condensor mounting. I have seen condensors mounted this way, infact they sell whats known as a remote condensor- the only difference I ca see is the shrouding. Are you saying that a condensor can't be mounted flat> Have not thought of t ing the second underdash evaporator with the new one. This sounds like problems however

Rob- don't know evaporator, condensor is 16x24x1 sized to fit evaporator. Don't know pressures- I have to take the truck in to the shop to get it gassed up. I pur condensor the only place I could- between frame rails. No muffin fan ducting- they are zip tied to the condensor - two fans biggest I could find- bigger than the condensor in fact. Don't know expansion device- it comes with the evaporator. Yes have dryer- biggest one I could find. I want it cold. SWMBO can bundle up.

This is my 3rd AC installation in my B67. This is going to be right- or else! Cab is very tight, heavilly insulated with marine lead foam, all firewall openings sealed or grometted and dark tinted glass. SO, air conditioning should be a piece of cake. Let me relate my experience. During the initial build I installed one of those slick little combination heat/cool units from Old Air Products. These are designed for limited space, as in street rods, and I installed it behind dash, drivers side, replacing the original heater. It fit fine and it worked- sorta. It would blow 50 degree air, but it just didn't have the capacity to deal with a 95 degree day here in the south. These units are "compromise affairs" too small to really cool or really heat. So, I disconnected it, leaving it in place to function on heat only. Next I bought a big underdash unit, cool only. from Vintage Air Products. There is no space under the dash on a B67 of course, but there is space on the floor betwen the two air seat bases, and thats where I mounted it. This was a big improvement, and it could handle 90 degree days just fine. But, it gets hotter than than here, and it was running full blast to keep you marginally cool. Not good enough either. About now I discover that there is a difference in condensors- round tube type for R12 and flat squart tube types for R134. I had the round type. And moreover, mine could not be mounted forward of the radiator- I had to mount it between the frame rails, horizontally just ahead of the 5th wheel- two mushroom fans forcing air through it. This week I swapped it out and installed the flat square tube type. Also broke all the hose fittings apart, cleaned them and installed new O rings- the green ones by the way- not black ones that are only good for freon. Then I buy the biggest cool only under dash evaporator- this from Wheels of Time in Philadelphia. I saw this unit in a buddy's car and it will blow your hat off- really moves alot of air and it has alot of cooling coils. It will go on the floor between the seats. Hopefully I'll get it today and install it this weekend. Will report my further experience. Maybe you chaps can benefit by knowing what does not work.

So, Saturday morning I hitched the B67 up to its 5th wheel RV, loaded with food, beer and other adult beverages, and off we went to the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg Tennessee. It seems that Lem Motlow left in his will, the provision that once a year the distillery would host a big picnic for all the old car buffs, and that the only requirement was that you drove an old car- or truck. We went down in convoy with several other old vehicles- held down to some 45 mph cruise, but made it easily in a couple hours. I had wisely booked an overnight camping space in the local RV park, so we went on and dropped the trailer and then returned to the car show. A B67 stands out- stands WAY in an old car show, and we soon had a crowd of admirers. The picic was held next door which happens to be in a "wet" county, so the Jack Daniels flowed free. BBQ, catfist and all the trimings completed the meal. I did my best to uphold expectations, and show my thanks to our whiskey-making hosts, but it was soon time to return, move the truck to the RV grounds and await the talkers and lookers who invariable are attracted to the big tractor crouching in the bushes. All this led to several more drinks of course. I understand I went to bed real early. But the drive home Sunday morning was really special- blasting along those country roads with the turbo whining. We had a pickup pass us, slow down, and a head and shoulders emerge from the rear window to take a few snapshots of us. That does not happen in a modern vehicle. Much fun.

Superdog- why would you want to use air to raise windows- and electric is so simple and always available. I'd hate to have to air up to get the window open. I added electric windows to my B67- its a piece of cake. Can use any number of kits for the prupose- all work abouut the same. You have gobs of space available. Check the streetrod guys. They have this figgered out