1958 F.W.D.

Welcome from Hellertown, just up above Quakertown and right below Bethlehem. I grew up in the right-hand seat of two F-Model Mack cabovers. Best years of my life.

I have a 15" single plate wedge-type Lipe-Brown (I think thats what you meant to say??) clutch in my 1958 FWD Firetruck (mated to a 140GZ/F554G Waukesha gas.) Have you considered pulling one set of the wedges?

This past Saturday I was a bachelor, didn't have anything going on so I took the 1958 FWD Firetruck to a local Mustang Club's car show, which was a charity event. It was open to all makes/brands so I figured what the hell, it's for charity. So I tooled on over. It was mostly Mustangs of course (including a gorgeous, rare 1969 429 Boss, thats when I got out my blue oval prayer rug and prayed in the direction of Detroit....) Another rare one was a 1968 EXP500 Shelby......Lots of other great Mustangs and other makes/models too. Parked next to a lovely 1960 Buick Invicta Convertible. Good people, good day for a good cause. Weather was a bit hot but no liquid fell from the sky.

Many trophies for different classes of Mustangs and some others as well. I wasnt out for a trophy, but imagine my surprise when at the end of the trophies, they announced the "big one"- the Club's trophy, which usually goes to a Mustang of some sort.........Well you could have smacked me with a ball-peen hammer and called me silly when they announced my truck!!!

(ok brag time over.) lol......

I have been with Condon and Skelly (Maple Shade, NJ) since I bought my truck in 2002. They have provided me exceptional coverage through Met Life at a really decent rate of $67.00 a year. Yesterday I received my renewal notice in the mail, showing that my rates have jumped to $95.00 per year without an explanation. I know it's only $28 bucks, and it was probably a cost-of-business increase (I can't ever remember an increase since 2002) but the principle of the change with no explanation made me call them to find out what happened.

Seems that Condon and Skelly has switched providers to Ironshore Idemnity, Inc. They do not give a street address, just a PO Box in NY, NY. I have never heard of these guys, and don't know how comfy I am switching to a company that does not have a street address. I know that Condon and Skelly have been around for a while, and probably would have not switched to some fly-by-night outfit, but for some reason this is just triggering "that feeling" in my gut.

QUESTIONS:

-Has anyone heard of these guys, or are you currently insured by them, or have you ever filed a claim? (how were they to deal with if you did???)

-I know a lot of folks on here use JC Taylor. How are they to deal with, and who do they use as their carrier?

-Does anyone have full towing coverage?

Any information is greatly appreciated.

Dammit, I completely and totally forgot about the photo op at high noon......And I even said to myself around 10:00am "dont forget to go over to Watt's tent at 12!!!!" DOH!!!!

But plenty of you found me at my rig and introduced yourselves. Was nice to meet everyone!

The rig in photo #43 looks vaguely familiar to me.....

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1000475895001/antique-truck-show?playlist_id=87491

Nice news story about Macungie. Be sure to watch the video and the cute reporter handling an old White dump truck.

I'll prob. be there, but I have a question?? have any of you guys brought trucks? if so how do you go about doing so? I have one of my Brockways in PA not to far from the show.

thanks Ernie DS

Bulklhusk, many of the folks here, myself included, bring trucks. It's always best to pre-register ahead of time, to save yourself the wait in line if you arrive on Saturday morning, which sometimes can be a half-hour or more if you did not pre-register. However I believe the pre-registration period is over, so you really have no choice. Here is a link to the registration paperwork (highly recommend you fill it out ahead of time and bring it with you to save time) and the show grounds rules/regulations and maps. Just show up with your Brockway during the regulation times, pull in the driveway off of Route 100 (there will be people directing traffic and showing you where to go) and follwo the directions for NON pre-registered. You'll pay $15 and then go where they tell you to go.

http://www.antiquetruckclubofamerica.org/docs/macungie2011.pdf

My Type 75A fire truck is equipped with a disc type of parking brake. The pads are "chattering" against the disc when I let off of the power. My Mack manual does not cover this type of brake so I was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to adjust the brake to take the play out of the pad assemblies.

I have the same type of set up on my F.W.D. pumper. I'll have to crawl under there and study it for a while, maybe I can lend some advice. (oh that is scary.....)

I'll see everyone over at the Watts tent at high noon on Saturday. But if anyone happens to be wandering over by the firetrucks, you can't miss me, I am the only F.W.D. firetruck (and the usually the only F.W.D. at the show for that matter) stop by and ask for me, my name is Randy.

I'll be there with the F.W.D. Firetruck. Only about 20 miles from the house, kinda hard for me NOT to go..!!!!!!

And as for SWMBO (she who must be obeyed) there are two shows a year that she knows not to screw with me over- Macungie, and the Pennsylvania Pump Primer's Muster in Harrisburg the second Saturdays in July.

All the other local car/truck shows I go to I "let her think" she is in control.

I do want to use it for personal hauling so that appears to be out of the question. I will look up my options to see if there is an alternative, if not I might start out with historic plates and if they don't like what I am doing, then I change it if I have to.

What exactly are you going to haul, and how often are you going to do it? Remember, the minute you accept any money for hauling anything, you have broken a money law, and they frown on breaking money laws.

Again, I don't know the laws of the state of New York, but if they are the same or similar to Pennsylvania, they might be able to legally define (for regulatory purposes) what you can and cannot do under a historic tag, however proving what you are and are not doing are two different things entirely.

First of all, it would take a Cop with a pool cue shoved halfway up his ass to hassle you to begin with. I have never been pulled over (maybe being in a firetruck might have something to do with that, who knows) but even if you are pulled over, what are they going to say to you: "I dont like these boxes in here?" Keep your nose clean, your equipment in good order, and all of your documents handy and in good order, and you will be fine. I have all of my documents (registration, insurance, CAT weight receipt and even a letter from the Commissioner of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Driver Licensing) all in clear sheet protectors in a 3-ring binder behing the seat. That way if I ever DO get pulled over, first thing Mister Smokey (or local yokel) hopefully sees is that I am professional all the way.

I do not have a CDL, which is NOT required in the State of Pa for a privately-owned antique that is not within commerce. My trucks chassis GVWR is 29,000lbs however on a good day when fully loaded she does not exceed 19,000. So I also keep the letter from the State in the binder, along with the CAT ticket, just in case some over-zealous member of the law enforcement community decides on his own that I need a CDL.

My insurance (and antique tags for that matter) basically says that I can only use my truck for parades, shows, and "leisure" drives. What is the definition of a "leisure" drive? Does this mean I cannot take it to my kid's kindergarten class if the teacher calls me and asks????? Can I not use it in a Firefighter's funeral? First of all, what cop is going to ticket me for a non-regulated use that is not clearly defined under Pa statuates, and secondly, how is he going to prove that me going to my kid's kindergarten class is a non-regulated use????

The CLAFAA (Cradle of Liberty Antique Fire Apparatus Association) Chapter of SPAAMFAA will be hosting our annual muster on July 24 on the grounds of the Delaware County Community College:

July 24, Media, PA, CLAFAA MUSTER at Delaware Co. Comm. College, 901 Media Line Rd, 10AM to 3PM. (This location is less than 3 miles north of last year's Rose Tree Park location.) Delaware Valley Fire Muster run by the Cradle of Liberty Antique Fire Apparatus Association. This year's muster will honor 100 years of Motorized MACK Fire Apparatus. For more info visit clafaa.org.

Dont know the laws in NYS, but here in Pa. an antique gets antique tags for a one-time fee with a permanent registration. Why on earth would you want to tag it commercially? Thats going to cost you boo-koo bucks. As for occasionally hauling around stuff, thats your business, no one can stop you from hauling stuff as long as you are not doing it for hire/within the definition of commerce.

As for insurance for my 1958 Firetruck, I have Condon & Skelly (Maple Shade, NJ.) Costs me about $70.00 (seventy) bucks a year for above-minimum coverage. I cannot exceed 2500 miles in one year (if I do 500 that was a busy year) and I cannot drive it between dusk and dawn.

I have heard good things about JC Taylor Insurance also.

One thing you DO NOT want to do is go through your own auto insurance carrier (unless they KNOW antique/classic coverage.) Go to the specialists like Condon & Skelly or JC Taylor- they know how to get you the best rates.

Doug, or anyone else "in the know"......

I went to the ATCA Website tonight to find the pre-registration form, it says right at the lower left of the main page to click on "Forms" for Macungie Registrations, but when you do, and then click on "Macungie Registration" on the drop-down menu, it says it's the form for 2009. Will they be posting one for 2011, or should I just use the 2009 form?????

A-men brothers. I feel that way about my life but I have a few young liberals at work that just don't want to hear facts in an argument.

And that my friend is the one single common trait among each and every communist.....errr ahhh I mean Liberal in this country- They hate it when you torpedo the argument with FACT and LOGIC.

A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so

many others her age, she considered herself to be a very Liberal

Democrat, and among other liberal ideals, was very much in favor of

higher taxes to support more government programs, in other words,

redistribution of wealth.

She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch

conservative, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the lectures that

she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor, she

felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to

keep what he thought should be his.

One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to higher

taxes on the rich and the need for more government programs. The

self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to be the

truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded by asking how

she was doing in school.

Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and

let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that she was

taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which

left her no time to go out and party like other people she knew. She

didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many

college friends, because she spent all her time studying.

Her father listened and then asked , 'How is your friend Audrey

doing?' She replied, ' Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are

easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She Is

so popular on campus; college for her is a blast. She's always invited

to all the parties and lots of times she doesn't even show up for

classes because she's too hung over.'

Her wise father asked his daughter, 'Why don't you go to the Dean's

office and ask him to deduct 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your

friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA, and

certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA.' The

daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired

back, 'That's a crazy idea, how would that be fair! I've worked really

hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard

work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played

while I worked my tail off!'

The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, 'Welcome to The

conservative party.' If anyone has a better explanation of the difference between conservative and Liberal I'm all ears.

If you ever wondered what side of the fence you sit on,

this is a great test!

If a conservative doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.

If a liberal doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.

If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat..

If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for

everyone.

If a conservative is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.

If a liberal is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.

If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.

A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.

If a conservative doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.

Liberals demand that those they don't like be shut down.

If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.

A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced.

(Unless it's a foreign religion, of course!)

If a conservative reads this, he'll forward it so his friends can have

a good laugh.

A liberal will delete it because he's "offended

The Spring Thaw just isn't what it used to be 10 years ago. Back then, by 0900, the line to get in the door would stretch all the way back and up into the upper level parking lot, and if you were at the end of the line, it was 30-45 minutes to get in the door. Then, when you did get inside, it was shoulder to shoulder people. You could find almost anything antique- truck parts, old gear, equipment, books, magazines, etc.

Nowadays it's just getting to be another high-priced tshirt and blue light show. The economy is taking it's toll, as not as many people are showing up, and everything is high-priced- I assume because sellers are not moving as much as they used to, they have to make thier money somehow. Also I have heard that eBay is killing a lot of the "little" sellers.

Anymore, I just go to say hello to old friends that I always see there.

For you new timers, make sure you have lunch at the RITZ diner, right on the other side of the main parking lot- best Pennsylvania Dutch pulled pork sandwiches and milkshakes ever.

Awesome! Wonder what the freight cost on that load?

If you have to ask, you can't afford it......LOL

1979, 300+, 10 speed R-R, Tube Alums in and out, spring ride, power steering, a/c. It drove great, rode nice, pulled the trailer without concern. The drives are weather checked and would need replaced. The truck was a local truck most of its life.

Nice Doug!!!!

When my Dad worked for Charles E. Danbury many moons ago pulling new trailers (mostly out of the Trailmobile Plant in Lansdale Pa.) he had a single screw Hayward F-Model with a 300/5 speed and a 2-speed rear. Great truck for pulling trailers only. Then later on when he went to freight he bought an Allentown twin screw, I think it was a 300/10 speed. Nice looking truck, will you have it at Macungie????

I called a friend who is a "Mack Oracle" and he had no answeres either.

The one and only "Mack Oracle" you need to concern yourself with and ask about the filters is Harvey Eckert, who is always at Allentown selling books. I know I have pointed people to him before with parts inquiries.

Get a sample of your crankcase oil analyzed. Dont know where you are located, but check around various truck dealers to see who they use to do analysis. If this does not pan out, call Giles and Ransome (CAT Dealer) in Bensalem, Pa. They will do analysis of anything. You call them, give them your credit card number, and for (if I remember correctly) it's like 28 bucks, they will send you the kit which has:

-long thin plastic line (but sturdy!) to snake into your dipstick tube about 4' long

-a sample bottle

-an overpack bottle

-a pre-paid tyvek mailing envelope.

All you do is fill out the paperwork they give you as detailed as you can (oil make, type, number of hours or miles, engine make/model/serial etc etc etc.) Get it good and hot, drop the plastic tube down in there with the other end down on the floor, draw a suction on it, let it flow into and fill the bottle, drop that bottle into the overpack bottle, send it off to G & R, and in 5-8 days you will be emailed a complete report with recommendations as to what to do. They might even call you if the situation warrants. I have used them before and they are good people to work with. Had to talk to the girl in the lab on the phone (she had questions for me, I had a sample of my 1958 Waukesha gas engine analyzed and it threw her for a loop at first...hahaha) she really knew her shit and knew engines.

Here is a similar FWD for sale.

http://www.desertclassics.com/FWD504x4.html

Might also be an F.W.D.- they used these cabs on a utility truck chassis they marketed for a while.

Will fuel at $4 / gallon crimp anyones plans?

My 1958 F.W.D. firetruck (F554 Waukesha Gas) gets about 3MPG on a good day going downhill, so my show activities will probably slow down this summer, same as the summer of Katrina......However Macungie is only about 20 miles from the house, so that's one of the shows I WILL make it to.