1958 F.W.D.

I don't know why but it won't let me load any more pics. I guess Other Dog melted the server with all his Girls In Car pixtures.

So a while back I posted pics of the beginning of our new firetruck, being built by HME/Ahrens Fox out in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Yes- Hendrickson who still builds crane and heavy application chassis but their main bread and butter these days is firetrucks. I meant to post pix of it as it went through construction but forgot to keep up I mean got really busy with work and family obligations. So here are a few selections for your approval. I mean, it would be nice if you approved but just in case you don't approve I will not lose sleep because I approve. First up is the chassis. The frame, all crossmembers and the torque box and outriggers for the aerial ladder are all galvanized. The engine is a Cummins X15 set at 600 with a Jake. (We spec'd a 565 but the offered a 600 at no cost so who were we to say no?) Transmission is an Allison Worldseries (I think an AVS4000) 6 speed. Rear suspension is a Raydan air-bag assist walking beam and Meritor axles and disc brakes all the way around. Here is the rear suspension- the Raydan air bag walking beam and the disc brakes. Here is Jessica. The body is bolted, modular stainless steel. Here is the right side.

Are you sure?

Is that the year that Doug shaved his 'stache and looked like an axe murderer?

So we kind of did something.....we pick him up tomorrow........

Trucktoberfest was last held in 2019, and at that time was only to be every two years. 21 was canceled due to the bat lung aids.

Not true....The rig was a front line, in-service piece in the town of Woodsboro, Maryland about 60 miles to the north of the Pentagon. Folklore has it that an Arlington County career firefighter who lived in Woodsboro and knew about the small B-Model and suspected it could navigate the tunnels, and special called for them to respond.

Wife and I went on our weekend honeymoon to Atlantic City NJ. We were pleasantly surprised when we won enough to pay off most of the wedding debt and some other bills.

Any more updates?? The Ambosch and BobBobsch thing goes back a ways. My father's Hayward F-Model (300 Maxidyne) had a BobBosch. His Allentown F-Model (300 Plus) had an Ambosch.

For those of you who may not know- The oldest boy Cody (AKA "Large") is now a Senior in High School (will be 18 on Dec. 19) and in his third year of Welding at the Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School. Recently with him getting his driver's license and his own wheels, he became eligible for a Co-Op job through BAVTS. Beginning this Wednesday December 8, Cody starts his first welding job for a pretty big construction contractor in Quakertown Pa. He will be working in their shop pre-fabricating welded steel wall panels which then get shipped to the construction site and assembled together. So in the mornings he will go to regular school, then in the afternoons, instead of going to BAVTS, he goes to the job and works from 1 to 430pm. The coordinator at the school already told him that if he keeps his nose clean they usually offer full-time employment to their student workers when they graduate. He's not sure if he would want to stay because he has his heart set on enlisting in the US Navy where he wants to go to the Atomic Tea Kettle School and learn stainless steel atomic welding so that when he gets out he can go work for PECO or PSE& G at any of their Atomic Tea Kettles and get briefcases full of money as his paychecks. For you Swabbies that rate would be MMN. If he doesn't do MMN he'd like to do Hull Technician and learn welding that way and also be a shipboard Firefighter. (HT) He is also interested in welding in a shipyard like Electric Boat up in Groton Ct or maybe Newport News Shipbuilding. And I have to brag about Shane, too. (AKA "Medium) is a Junior (will be 17 in February) and is also attending BAVTS for their Health Careers program. He is making noise like he wants to be a Physicians Assistant or a Nurse Practitioner. He also got his license and wheels but isn't eligible for Co-Op until March where he will work at the same hospital where Momma is a Nurse. He is also going to do some ride-alongs with the local Ambulance to see what street medicine is all about. I let my EMT License lapse about 10 years ago but I told him if he wants to take EMT I may be forced to do it with him.....Crap I hope he doesn't wanna do it......LOL On top of doing the BAVTS thing, he is in two Honors classes in regular school which are basically college level classes. This isn't my kid. (just kidding.) Thanks for letting me brag! Some of you on here know both boys (especially Cody) and are probably just as proud as I am!!!

The New Hope and Ivyland Railroad over here in Bucks County Pa. runs a short freight line between Ivyland (Warminster) and New Hope Pa. They also have a steam excursion line that runs through New Hope and the surrounding countryside in Bucks County. The freight is pulled by older ex-Conrail oil burners but occasionally when they need a backup, they can and do use the tea kettle to pull revenue freight!

Dad and I enjoyed watching Gambit at Gerhards while you and your daughter were walking around. He is a good boy and low maintenance!!!

What about the F-Model?

That girl with the cucumber.....Bring her to me..........oooops I mean the single screw Allentown F-Model......Or maybe I mean both?

Paging Doug Maney to the white courtesy phone...............

Whoever runs the BMT Bookface Group (Barry?) you need to change it from Public to Private or else Bookface will allow anyone to join with no notice.

Yep....I have been trying to track down Paul for quite a while now. Seems he has fallen off the planet. I hope he is OK.

You are welcome. I didn't want people to be confused.

I have been researching the snot out of these 3.0 Duramax engines the last few nights. Seems that the 2020 version has a rear main seal issue. The 2021's have a crank-no start issue (will start second time) that may or may not be related to a software issue and/or a crank sensor issue. But overall most people are very pleased with them. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) I could not shake the money tree hard enough to be able to swing a deal to purchase the one sitting on the Dodge lot- and because of the fact that you can't negotiate with dealers right now due to low stock. Pickups are crazy insane money right now. The plus side to that is they paid me handsomely for my 2013 Ram 1500 Tradesman- the differential started making noises at 125,000 miles and since I am driving a bit more now for work, I wanted to upgrade to something more comfortable and drove away in a 2016 Ram 1500 Big Horn Laramie with all the bells and whistles and my is it comfortable!! "Small" approves and has nicknamed the new rig "The Pickle." I will miss the cap on the Silver Ghost but the new ride has one of those rigid folding covers. Not sure how crazy I am about it. Oh- and Small is wearing Large's shirt because Large is now too large to fit into the large shirt that is small.

No that's that ahole truck driver that never stopped to help ladies broken down in and around Winfall

Why not. Either way it's gonna cost you.

WTH? That's it? No girls in cars? No pictures of beavers, or trash cans, or telephone poles? What a rip off. I want my money back!

I did drive it- my god it is an automotive work of art. Nicest driving and handling pickup ever. I am regretting test driving it because I cannot afford it. No way. I had to settle for another Hemi Ram. Oh well. It is what it is. Here is the truck: https://www.sandschryslerjeepdodge.net/inventory/display/used/2020/GMC/Sierra-All-New-1500/1GTV9CET4LZ191566#!2020 GMC Sierra All New 1500 Elevation_Satin Steel Metallic

Does anyone here have a GMC or Chevy with the new 3.0 inline 6 Duramax? Looking for opinions. And please, no Ford/Chevy/Ram pissing contests. There is a level of Suck no matter WHAT brand you are loyal to. EDIT: Did some research. Seems the oil pump is wet-belt driven. You have to drop the transmission to inspect/change the belt. Confirmed by multiple sources. Certainly a downer but not an ultimate deal breaker if the MPG is as good as they claim it to be. https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2020/08/chevy-3-0l-duramax-diesel-design-flaw/?fbclid=IwAR2GRj5oq46y95GnOJYR2BOs970Eb6glxPD5zkj500aBKD7AJTIm15bVzyA

Really? That's funny......The thread is over a year old, and most (if not all) truck shows in the USA went on this summer without a hitch. Are you possibly a troll or scammer?