1958 F.W.D.

Woo Hoo! 2 weeks to Macungie! If anyone sees the 1958 FWD Firetruck, look for me and say hello! My name is Randy!

A few weeks ago, Jevic announced they were closing 4 terminals: Cincy, Atlanta, Concord NC and New England. Today, word came out that the entire company was closing the doors. I worked for Jevic from 90 to 94, first as a freight thumper, then in the fuel dept. (scraping fuel decals & sticking new ones before the IFTA decal!) and finally in the Willingboro Fleep Maintenance Dept. My dad retired 3 years ago after 21 years. From the company website:

Category: General

Date: 01:27:43 PM, EDT, 05/19/08

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NJ Based Motor Carrier Discontinues Operations

Jevic Transportation Inc Cites Economic Conditions as Final Straw

Delanco, NJ…. Effective Monday May 19th 2008 Jevic Transportation, Inc, a less-than-truckload transportation services provider, is discontinuing operations. They are headquartered in Delanco, NJ.

Although the company will not be making pick-ups, a company spokesperson has said they are running a delivery operation until all freight “in our system is delivered”.

“We owe that to the many loyal customers who have been the backbone of Jevic over the last 27 years,” says Pete Robinson, director of marketing and corporate communications. “Our customers were what drove us and made Jevic the market innovator in freight transportation.”

Since going private two years ago, the company worked diligently to bring the company back to strong profitability.

In April, Jevic aggressively realigned the organization to improve costs and improve efficiencies. The realignment was going as planned and freight delivery costs were improving.

“Sadly, escalating fuel costs, higher insurance costs, a slowing economy and, ultimately a tightening of the credit market were to much for us to overcome, “ Robinson says. “It’s a sad day for everyone here in Delanco and around the country.”

With this action approximately 1,500 employees are no longer employed

The company was founded in 1981 and grew rapidly during the eighties and early 90’s. At one time it had facilities in Delanco NJ; Chicago IL; New England, New York NY; Charlotte NC; Atlanta GA; Houston TX; Cleveland and Cincinnati OH; and Los Angeles CA.

The company was know for its unique operating model which handled freight less than conventional carriers, lowering lost and damaged shipments dramatically, while still delivering to the entire 48 states. This “Breakbulk-Free” model, as it came to be known, was the platform for the myriad innovations, which solidified the carrier’s reputation for customer service.

Jevic was the first nation-wide LTL carrier to offer what has become a standard offering in the industry - time-definite and day definite services, branded “100% Guaranteed”, which provided expedited delivery. They also offered the Jevic “Heat Fleet”, the largest fleet of heated trailers in the United States, used to protect freezable freight en route to destination in cold winter months.

““We are certainly grateful for the emails and calls we are receiving from our customers wishing everyone well.” states Robinson. “Jevic” is more than trucks - it was the people, that’s for sure.”

Quick Fact Sheet

Incorporated May 18 1981 - Opens in Delran and Willingboro NJ

1989 - Chicago, IL Opened - Breakbulk-Free operation begins

1991 - Delran Operation moved to Delanco, NJ

1992 - Charlotte Opened

1993 - Atlanta Opened

1995 - New England Opens

Charlotte moves to larger facility

1997 - Houston

1999 - Cleveland and Cincinnati

1st nationwide carrier to use a satellite system for nationwide communication beginning in 1991.

Lowest Claims ratio @ 1/2 of 1% for over 25 years.

Employees – 1500+

Former federal employee myself (DoD Civilian Firefighter) I have heard a LOT of Gov't employee jokes but that one is the BEST!

One of my favorite lines is 'Close enough for Government work!"

This is for theakerstwo:

-When I was 20, I got hired as a mechanic apprentice/shop sphincter boy, at a big, blue trucking company that is currently headquartered out of Delanco, NJ. I worked out of the Willingboro Fleet Maintenance Shop, which contained the trailer shop, tire shop, body shop, and component rebuilding shop (on top of general repairs and maintenance.)

There was this one kid who worked in the tire shop, I am guessing he was about 22 or 23 at the time. He was a tiny little thing, about 5', he couldnt have weighed more than a buck-oh-five soaking wet. But to hear him talk, he was the biggest, baddest, meanest and toughest thing that the nudie bars of South Jersey ever knew. Monday mornings he came in and flapped his jaw about how he "kicked this ass, and kicked that ass, and kicked the asses of these three buddies who ganged up on him" and then how he went home with two of the strippers. Each and every weekend. Yet, he never, ever came in with one scratch on him. Not a black eye, no bruised or sore or bloody knuckles, no cuts on his face....Nothing, nadda, zip.

He and I never saw eye-to-eye. I was 5'11" and weighed about 215, maybe he saw me as a big ox who would have made an easy target, I really dont know. We would exchange verbal gunfire back and forth on occasion, and he would tell me about how I had better watch out "or he would kick my ass, too." It was always in front of other mechanics and drivers, and I would always hold my hand out, palm down, which was as still as rock, and I would say "Know what THIS is? It's controlled fear!" One time at lunch, in front of about 15 other mechanics and drivers, he started spouting off at me.....I shot him one famous movie line "There are only 2 things keeping you from kicking my ass- FEAR and COMMON SENSE."

All the other drivers and mechanics just started laughing as I stood there, expecting him to leap up from the picnic table. He stayed put, and you could see his face turn 4 dark shades of red. He was so flabbergasted he absolutely did not know what to do. One mechanic who was his buddy says "Well, you gonna go handle him or what?" So he says "No I am feeling generous today, I'll allow him to live." I just went "pshhhhh" and tossed my trash in the can and walked out.

Later that afternoon, which was a cold day, I had to get the forklift and a skid so I could drive around the lot and empty the trashcans. I went in the shop, and got the forklift, and went about my trash can duties. When finished, I drove up to the tire shop's door, and honked.....The door (they were chain-by-hand powered) went up, with guess who at the chain. I pulled in, parked the forklift, and walked out the still-open door. The doors were all quite worn, and if you yanked the chain hard enough and spun the sprocket hard enough, the door would come flying down with amazing speed. Well Moron brings that door down right on top of my head- hard. I hit the ground, and was stunned for a few minutes. Some of the other guys came running over, and were helping me out while idiot blabbers away "it just dropped! I dont know what happened!" Well, since he was up the tire shop foreman's ass, he got off with one day without pay, the reason being was no one could prove it was malicious, but it was a preventable time-loss injury. I went to the hospital for x-rays and a real bad headache, which I had for about 2 days (with no work!)

So on my first day back from that little incident, we were all at lunch, and idiot had just received the letter advising him he was off the next day, not by his choice. He starts spouting off at the mouth how he's gonna kick my ass, and do this to me, and do that to me.....and this and this and this......I couldnt take it anymore. Remember, he was all about having an audience to perform for. So in front of his audience of about 10 mechanics and drivers, I threw down my sandwich, got up, and said "Ok tough guy, lets go! Right now!" He gets visibly nervous, and says "After work out on the street, you can bet I'll be waiting!"

"No. Here. Now. Right here, right now. C'mon there king kong, kick my ass!"

He just continues to cry about after work out on the street.

Now I screamed at him. "NO! NOW CHICKEN SHIT! RIGHT F*CKING NOW YOU P*SSY! C'MON! SHOW EVERYONE HOW TOUGH YOU ARE! NOW ASSHOLE! RIGHT F*CKING NOW!

He knew I had him by his ball sack. By this time the shop foreman had come running into the lunchroom, along with some of the office staff, and other mechanics and drivers who heard me screaming. Idiot was led away by tire shop foreman, and I was led to my supervisor's office. He was actually compassionate with me, he even said "I'm surprised you lasted as long as you did. I figured after what he did to you the other day that you would blow this week." Well, nevertheless I received 1 day off without pay.

Idiot on the other hand was so embarassed in front of his audience, that he left early, when no one was looking. Later I heard that his daddy, the tire shop foreman had made up a story about how idiot had an emergency at home. Idiot came in that night, at around 7pm, during second shift's lunch (when convienently, no one was in the shop) and took his tool boxes home. He ran out his sick time and was never heard from again.

That was the best day off I ever had!

I am looking for the sliding side windows as well as the sliding door windows for a 1979 Mack CF600 pumper. The door windows are 22w X 16h and the side are slightly slanted and are 35 1/2w X 15 1/2h overall they are 38" wide with the slant. I need both sides. Any leads or resources would be great. e-mail: wojcicki@verizon.net

Thanks

Chris

Try Interstate Mack (used to be Hagerstown Mack) in Hagerstown, Md. They specialize in rebuilding CF cabs, and even had a bunch of new cabs in stock a few years ago.

I'm not that hard to miss- I have been the ONLY F.W.D. truck at Macungie the last several years.....LOL

[i have to agree with you there, I wouldn't miss Macungie even though I have to drive from Willow Grove, PA. which will probably be the only truck or car show outside of Bucks or Montgomery Counties for me, especially with these high gas prices. Out of curiosity, where is that parade you are referring to on May 31?. I also have gone to some of them and remember seeing the 1958 FWD before. /quote]

Bryn Athyn Fire Company will be having a housing parade for their new 2007 Spartan/Toyne Pumper on May 31. Lineup is at the Bryn Athyn Elementary School on Tomlinson Road. Parade steps off at 12 Noon. You may have seen the truck in the Cheltenham Car Show, or perhaps the Pa. State Firemans Assoc. Parade in Conshohocken 2 years ago???? I have also had it in the Bucks County Firemans Assoc Parade in Quakertown. I have a list of local car/truck shows if you are interested, PM me your email address.

Whereabouts in Willow Grove are ya from? I was born & raised in Bethayres. If you have been around long enough you may remember my father parking his F-Model tractor at Chucks Gulf at Huntingdon Pike & (lower) Welsh Rd.

Oh dont get me wrong.....Macungie is too close to me, and too good NOT to go to. But there are other shows, such as firetruck musters that I will have to say no to. The fire company that originally owned my piece is having a parade on May 31 and they asked me to attend, hard to say no to, but it's about 45 miles one-way, and I'll have to feed it. I wanted to take in the annual show at Sayre's International in Conshohoken, Pa. but thats one I'll fuggeddabout in lieu of Macungie.

There are lots of local car shows that I always go to, less than 20 miles away. But of course I always like the big truck shows and fire musters.

I am part of a group of fire buffs trying to assist the City of Philadelphia Fire Dept. with their 1950 Autocar pumper. We are in need of engine information- we are not 100% sure which engine is in this truck. Numbers are as follows:

-Truck Model is FP5075-180

The engine is a straight 6, with dual heads. We are pretty sure it is either a Continental or a White engine. The plate on the engine has the numbers 60-12126.

Can anyone offer any insight? It would be greatly appreciated.

I am part of a group of fire buffs trying to assist the City of Philadelphia Fire Dept. with their 1950 Autocar pumper. We are in need of engine information- we are not 100% sure which engine is in this truck. Numbers are as follows:

-Truck Model is FP5075-180

The engine is a straight 6, with dual heads. We are pretty sure it is either a Continental or a White engine. The plate on the engine has the numbers 60-12126.

Can anyone offer any insight? It would be greatly appreciated.

Just out of curiosity, is anyone NOT planning on attending Macungie this year due to high fuel prices?? Are you clamping down on any of your other antique show attendance???? The 140GZ Waukesha in my FWD firetruck is thirsty, and the kids need to eat......So the firetruck is going to be sitting a lot this summer.......

Gentlemen- located the proper size (cut off from a same model tranny) tool from an old-school Wauky man. Thanks for the suggestions!

Some of you may remember me asking a few months ago about getting the Lipe Clutch in my 1958 FWD firetruck rebuilt. I took someone's advice on here (Thank you whoever you were, I can not recall at this time your name!) and sent the clutch to D & W Rebuilders in Baltimore, Md. The clutch itself was all the way down to the rivets and then some!!!! Wendell at D & W rebuilt it for me, even with a complete set of shims, which had all been removed and lost over the years. It is a 5 speed Clark trans, with a 15" Lipe single disc clutch.

Now that I have it back I am ready to re-assemble everything, but I need the alignment tool. All my possible sources all said they dont have that "oddball" one. I need a 1.5" shaft, that has 10 teeth which are .25 in width. I can't locate a new one to buy on the internet without paying an arm and a leg (for something I will only use once....hopefully...) Anyone out there have any suggestions?????????

Tower Ladder- I just saw this thread, are you still in need of pictures? I see that the back of your cab is the straight/flat style which only FDNY purchased- I have some 1/25th scale FDNY decal sets- numbers, letters, door decals, etc. if you are interested in them.

How about it? Any Waukesha fans here? Nothing like the low, bassy rumble coming from an 817G Wauky doing low RPM's with the tranny in a medium-range gear!!!

Thanks for the tip Paul, I am looking into them.

There is a guy around here that has a Chevy dump with a 2 stroke in it.He had never delt with a Detroit or drove one.I told him that before you get in,slam your hand in the door ,that puts you in the right mood to keep your foot nailed to the throttle hoping to blow that thing up! Those Detroits love the high revs! When I was on the Fire Dept. we had a pumper/tanker with an 8V92 backed by an Allison 5 speed.To pull out we would put her in drive, idle out the door till you felt the rear tandems come off the concrete and onto the apron,look both ways,then mash the pedal down and don't let up till your at speed.

That reminds me of when I got hired as a proby (civilian) firefighter at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard- If you have never been in the Philly Yard, parts of it are a "city within a city" having tall buildings from block to block....The (main) firehouse was in the center of a long block, with 10 story buildings on either side of it, on both sides of the street.....We had this 1976 Maxim ladder truck, with an 8V-71 natural.......The officer had to scream at the driver to tell him where to go, and the poor guys riding in the back jumpseats had to wear hearing protection..........And when you pulled out of the firehouse into the street, and mashed down on that throttle, the resulting sound that echoed off the buildings would make you think armageddon was coming.

When I was growing up, I spent a lotta miles in the right-hand seats of my father's two "F" Models. First one was a 1974 single screw, 300 with a 5 speed. The other one was a 350 with a 10. Oh how I loved to listen to the whistle of those Air Research Turbos when going up through the gears, or when you hit a hill.

I also miss climbing back in the bunk, and falling asleep with the movement of the truck, the road vibrating, those Mack engines screaming, the sound of the turbo, the squeak of Dad's air-ride seat going up and down......An occasional bump in the road......

I miss coming into a new city that I had never seen before, at dawn.....Looking around and seeing it waking up, being on an interstate, and watching the locals doing their morning rush to work, holding cups of coffee.....Seeing the sun breaking through the tall buildings of a city center......

......In the middle of the night, cruising along an interstate, seeing an occasional truck in the opposite lanes, hearing an occasional squak of "Hey Westbound, you got it on?" on the CB......Everything is quiet, peaceful, except for the hum of the driveline......The only light in the cab is the backlights of the gauges....I can see the reflections of the gauges as I peer out the passenger window into the dark night.

These were my weekends and summers from the time I was about 3-4-5 years old (short trips) to the time I was 12 or 13 when Dad went into the office of the company permanently. The summer that the boss finally bought his tractor I was so depressed........Once in a while after that Dad would get a tractor and make a weekend run, OHHHHHH THAT REMINDS ME!!!!!

Wow!!! Typing this brought back a huge memory! Not too long after Dad made the transition into the office (the boss brought him into the office of his then-growing very fast company, Dad had experience setting up ICC authorities) the boss would send Dad out occasionally when he ran short of drivers. I remember one time Dad telling me "C'mon, mom packed you a bag, we're going to Chicago!" We got in the car and went to the yard.....Imagine the look on my face when we pulled up to a brand-spanking new ULTRALINER (a demonstrator suppled by now long-gone Philadelphia Mack)!!!!!!!! I just got off the phone with dad as I am typing this, he thinks he remembers it had a 350 and a 10 speed.....Twin Screw.....All leather interior......Freaking Gorgeous! I remember the CB ringing off the hook with drivers asking "What the hell izzat?" because the Ultraliners had JUST come out and weren't really popular yet.....I also remember guys coming over to look at her in truckstops and rest areas........Dad thinks he remembers we were pretty close to 80,000 and that truck went up the "hills" in western Pa (going across the turnpike) like they werent even there. This was 1982 or 1983.

Wow....This is one of the times I wish I could re-live my childhood!

Ye ask and shall receive...... The second pic (above, in the previous posting) is circa 1960 or so. The third pic in this posting is circa 1976 give or take a year. As you can see the truck was painted a deeper "maroon" red by the company that bought it from it's original owners (My fire company.)

I will post the story in the story thread, it's a good one! Moral of the story is, is that I now own the first firetruck I ever rode on when I was three and a half!

-Randy Yardumian

Terry, thank you for that reply. Sounds like they are a good vendor to go with. But like RC51 said- sounds like $250 bucks may be low......I need to send them an email and interrogate them about what I get for that price.

Randy Yardumian

Al: The clutch is indeed an "ML" series, the model number is 150-1-466, and the SN is A926162. Would your supplier happen to have two of these rebuild kits in stock, and what would it cost to ship them to Hellertown, Pa (ZIP 18055?) Or if you could give me a name and a phone number I could call myself. Would be nice to have one for the current rebuild, and one to have in stock. Do the kits come with the shims? I sincerely hope so, or I am screwed, because the original shims are long gone.

Also I am going to send an email to Ft Wayne Clutches, and interrogate them about this $250 fee- Now I am a little skeptical and am wondering exactly what will I get for that?????

Again, thanks for the help!

And if anyone reading this has had experience with Ft Wayne Clutch, good or bad, please let me know!

-RANDY

Is it a Lipe-Rollway ML type clutch with the big single coil sping under the collar.That's usually what's on a Waukesha,at least in a Walter.I have access to a company that has what few kits that are left for them.I do them here in the shop,when the parts are used up,there will never be more,the tooling has been destroyed when Lipe was sold.

RC51 you are %100 Correct! I forgot to insert into my posting that it is indeed an "ML" Lipe-Rollway clutch. I have the exact model number written down but of course I cant find it right now. I can get it to you however. What would it cost me to get a hold of one of these kits, and what does the kit include? Does it have replacement wedges (I hope!!!???) Thanks for the fast reply!

Hello everyone, new member here. First I apologize, I attempted a search on this topic but could not come up with any results. From lurking around for a while, you folks really seem to have your stuff together, and in my opinion, this forum appears to be the absolute best one out there for antique trucks. Though I dont own a Mack, I did grow up in the right hand seat of two F-Models that my father owned as an owner-operator, I have a deep appreciation of all things Bulldog, especially firetrucks!

I own a 1958 F.W.D. model F-725, 750GPM firetruck, with a 140GZ Waukesha (THUNDER PUMPKIN!) gasoline engine, mated to a 5 speed Clark transmission through a 15" Lipe-Brown Clutch. The clutch has grown quite tired, and is in need of rebuilding. All of the wedges have been removed. If you are on even the slightest incline, and start out in second, she slips big time. Or upon reaching a steep grade without a good running start (read: momentum!) she slips (Taking her to Macungie in 2005, E/B on I-78, at the junction for Rt.309 where the steep grade is, I had to drop her to second and was doing 20mph on the shoulder! Not Good!) The time has come to rebuild the clutch.

Myself and my Father will remove/install. Problem is, that I can not find a vendor in/around the Lehigh Valley or Philadelphia Metropolitan area that wont rebuild it for less than $500 bucks (I have been quoted anywhere from $500 to as high as $800) Now understand that I am not a tightwad, but I do have two anklebiters and a mortgage payment (blah blah blah) I dont have a money tree outback. In doing research, I found Fort Wayne Clutches, Inc. (www.fortwayneclutch.com) in Hemmings Motor News. On a whim, I called them, and the guy I talked to really seemed to know his stuff, and gave me a price of $250, not including shipping. Has anyone out there ever dealt with this company and can you tell me about your experience with them??? Good? Bad??

Second Question is, Are there any vendors in the Lehigh Valley, Metro Philly or even New York City area that could rebuild this clutch for a reasonable amount? What would you consider a reasonable amount to do this work????

Any advice anyone is willing to lend is greatly appreciated! Thank You in advance!

-Randy

Hello everyone, My name is Randy, I live in Hellertown, Pennsylvania, a short distance from Allentown, Pa. I have a true fondness and love for all things Mack, as I grew up in the right-hand seat of two F-Models that my father owned when he was an owner-operator. His first F-Model was a single-screw 1974 I believe, with a 300 and a 5-speed, all he did was haul new Trailmobile Trailers out of the factory in Lansdale, Pa. leased on to Charles Danbury, Inc. Later on he graduated to a twin-screw 1980, with a 350/10-speed when he leased on with Southwest Freightlines, Inc. with another gentleman who then went on to form what is now an extremely large 48-state LTL carrier.

My primary love, however is firetrucks, especially Mack "B", "C", "L" "R" and "CF" Firetrucks. Dad and I are both volunteers in Montgomery County, Pa.

I currently own and operate a 1958 F.W.D. Model F-725, 750GPM pumper, which is the first firetruck I ever rode on. It originally belonged to our volunteer department, and Dad took me to a parade in Bridgeport, Pa. in 1976, when I was three and a half. The truck was sold to a company in Gloucester County, NJ in 1978. I purchased it from them in 2002. It is powered by a 140GZ Waukesha (THUNDER PUMPKIN!) mated to a Clark 5-speed trans, with a Lipe-Brown 15" clutch. F.W.D.'s are pretty rare these days, and firetrucks especially so. Not only do I own a rare truck, but a sentimentally valuable one as well- my two sons went to their first parades on board this truck as well! (With Grandpa in attendance!) I had the truck at Macungie 2005 and 2006, but due to the clutch getting weak, I had to forgo this year.

Someday I hope to own a Mack pumper, ladder truck, or even a tractor of some sort to park next to the F.W.D.!