vanscottbuilders

I'm thinking that what we need to do is organize a Mack and cook-out event.

Maybe at Watts Mack's anniversary show in September.

I think it would be blast.

Paul VS

Absolutely! I'm not much in the kitchen,but when it's outdoors it's a different story-i've got 4 grills,all charcoal,in various sizes,the smoker stove,and the stew pot. My good friend "Big Jim" lives in Reynoldsville,Pa. and he's a master griller-and just happens to have a big brand new gas grill.He would be a member here,but his PC has been down for a long time.He took it in to be checked out and found there's nothing wrong with the computer,but his phone line was messed up,so he just uses his cell phone.If Barry think's it's a good idea to cook out too,i'm gonna volunteer Big Jim to bring his grill. I'll tell Jim he's been volunteered too-he'll think he's back in the Marines.

Can we convert the mixer to a rotisserie?

Could get interesting.

Paul VS

I'm thinking that what we need to do is organize a Mack and cook-out event.

Maybe at Watts Mack's anniversary show in September.

I think it would be blast.

Paul VS

That turkey looks fantastic!

How long did it take to smoke?

I'm hoping to try sweet potato pies next weekend.

Paul VS

We're about in the same boat - I'm 5'11 and 225#, up from about 185# not too long ago.

The doctor says I need to go back there. or look at blood pressure and cholesterol medicine.

And I don't want to do the medicine.

Just the same - I'd like to know more about the sweet potato pie.

Thanks,

Paul VS

Tom,

I'll take a look - Thanks!

Paul VS

Got the word this week from Kevin All that the H-63 has a spun rod bearing. Too bad.

I am lucky enough to have a good 673 diesel to replace it. Just wish I didn't have to.

On a more positive note - he thinks he has found a new cab jack for the truck.

The intent with the cab-over is to keep it in very original spec. A nine speed overdrive transmission

should give it enough road speed so as not to be too conspicuous. It's a ten speed direct drive now.

Radials and maybe some little cab air bags might help the ride enough to avoid an air suspension.

Especially with a trailer behind it.

We've been studying the internet looking at every H-63 picture we can find.

Also looking for factory service and parts manuals, or reprints, if anyone has any.

PVS

Sounds like you've been busy, and getting ready for Turkey day. I dread it we gotta do our thanksgiving shopping on monday. I'm just glad I don't have to work this year.

Yeah it kind of snuck up on me, I didn't realize Thanksgiving was next week,thought I had another week to go for some reason.I just bought a turkey so I could smoke it,haven't done that since last year,and they're really good smoked.My Dad brought me a box of sweet potatos that he grew when he came up to the stew last weekend.I'll get some Captain Morgan's for flavoring and make some sweet potato pies.

You guys are bad for my weight !

Sounds like work has picked up pretty well for you. That's good.

Paul VS

If you think time is flying now - just wait a short while. It gets worse!!

I'm not sure how time can be any different today than it was for me fifty years ago, but it sure does seem to go faster and faster.

We're all pulling for you and your new family. Best Wishes, and Keep us posted.

Thanks,

Paul Van Scott

Oh well,I thought I didn't stick or burn anything because I knew what I was doing,but after I read all that info I found out it's because the pot is designed to be pretty much idiot-proof,just what I need! I think it was money well spent,good for large gatherings.I've made at least one stew in it every year since i've had it,usually more.That's all i've ever cooked in it except one year I made chili.

I think I'd better get one.

Thanks,

Paul VS

That looks like a really good iron stew pot. And I re-season my cast iron frying pans each time I use them, too.

I am curious, How do you keep the fire slow and low enough to let the pot simmer while the stew cooks?

I normally cook my stews and soups on the stove in the kitchen, but this looks like a great idea, if the fire can be controlled.

Paul VS

Hi Paul,was your H-model's picture on oldmacks.com ? they had one listed for sale a while back,but I see it's not on there anymore.Just wondering.Never drove an H-model,but they had right many of them at the antique truck show I went to in Troutman,N.C. in July.There was a trucking company that still ran a lot of H-models up until the early 80's at least,I used to see them all the time,but I can't remember the name.Seems to me it was either Harrisonburg Motor Express or Spotswood Trail Express.

I don't think our H-63 was on Dennis Meahan's OldMacks site. I could be wrong though.

There is a guy in North Carolina who has several H-61 and H-63 tractors. Brad Wike is his name. He has a good website, although it takes some time to download. (Lots of photos) www.bradsclassictrucks.com I think.

The early Mack cabovers, other than the W series, seem to be concentrated on the East coast, and specifically in the Southeast.

From what I see, there are not too many of these H-63's around. Appears to be more H-67 cabovers.

We are pretty excited about this newest find.

The trouble with getting another project truck is that I want to start that project, and I am not even close to finishing the one in the shop.

Probably just like everybody else - what I really need is a lot of money, a huge shop and a very understanding wife.

My shop is pretty good, and my wife is pretty understanding - I just don't have any money.

Ah Well.

How's your work doing - any busier?

If I knew it would make it alright I would send you some poke salad. The mail people would probably think I was sending you the green leaves you smoke. They are calling for frost here also so I think fall is here to stay now, but who knows It'll probably be 80 degrees on christmas and a blizzard on thanksgiving.

Strange weather indeed. Our fall temperature is way above normal.

We just got our 1st frost here last night. Normal date is mid-September.

In fact, we've quite often gotten snow in October before.

Sounds like you guys are getting the frost at the same time.

I think both of you are probably a month behind us normally.

We have gotten quite a bit of rain through September and October.

Too late for the farmers, but it sure helped the lakes and water supply.

Paul Van Scott

The march 2005 truck of the month featured Joe Mustang's H model. There is a good story about the truck, and there was a good photo of the truck. I just tried to look at it again, and found the story but no photo. You might ask Barry what happened to it. James

Thanks James,

I found that story again the other night, myself.

That was a nice truck - I hope that truck is in good hands.

Joe might have had more power than we have! If memory serves me correct -

he used a 1693 Caterpillar. Ours has the Mack 673. Big difference!

I've got to try and get a hold of Fred Beauchamp in Vermont. He had a really nice

H-63, that I understand he has sold. The interior in his was perfect, and he might know

where to find some of the materials and sources for parts.

I like the hunt as much as the finished project.

Paul VS

Some things never change:

One step forward - Two steps back!

When I took my B67 apart, the only two things that broke were the swivel fittings on the air lines where they come thru the frame at the front axle

Do you still have the copper air lines in your B?

Is it unusually slow? Or is it pretty normal for this time of year?

The E-bay experience has been good - even though I still own the truck!

There have been several people from as far as 6 or 7 hours away who have

driven here to see and drive the old Willys, so that's encouraging.

On another note - it looks like I am going to update and renovate my R-600 and the lowboy trailer

that came with it. The plan is to license them in our building business and use the unit to move

small and light loads like ATM machines or Davenport milling machines for local companies.

I'm pretty excited about developing business for this single axle tractor. I think the demand could be fairly high

for a reasonably priced small load truck service.

I like my new Watts Mack hat and shirt!

Paul VS

Sounds like you stay pretty active - are you driving your own truck & flat trailer?

Paul Van Scott

nobody's ventured A guess yet either.

I'd take a stab at Smith Mfg. for a guess. The company I worked for years ago had all Smith Mfg. and Rex Mfg.

mixer bodies, and both makes look very similar to what you have. It does seem, though, that both of those

builders had their name someplace on the body in cast lettering. Usually up high on the back.

It probably doesn't really matter, as you can have any of the parts duplicated pretty easy, I would imagine.

The critical pieces might be the hydraulic pump, the gearbox and the drum drive assembly.

Drum skins, mixing fins, drum rollers and chutes are all fabricated pretty routinely. If the drum bearing ring

at the back of the body is worn - it can probably be hardplated and remachined in place by a good welder.

It would be nice to have it usable, even if you just delivered clean stone and topsoil etc. - no more concrete,

unless you enjoy climbing inside and jackhammering it out to clean the drum. Been there - done that - no need to repeat it.

Sorry Paul,you didn't hear? They gave that out yesterday.(yuk-yuk ...kidding of course!)

Hey- how did you make out with identifying your mixer body?

Paul VS

Paul:

I also like the idea of having the complete history of a truck. Once the history with photos are put together into a kind of storyboard along with some aspect of the restoration, it gives the vehicle a life of its own and it's something that makes quite an impact on those folks who grew up seeing and listening to those trucks and drivers. Best of luck!

John

John,

Thanks for the insight - I have an R600 that I also know the history of from new. I have had it for sale, but got to feeling guilty about seeing it leave the area, so I've decided to pull it out of the ads and see if I can drum up enough work for it to stay busy enough to justify keeping.

Paul VS

I'm is,i'm reading it! I also have a question-since you drove B-model mixers,can you tell what kind of mixer is on my truck by looking at it? I don't see a name on it anywhere.I'm a truck driver,but know nothing about mixers,and was just wondering out of curiosity.There's several pictures of it in my gallery.Thanks,Tom

Tom,

I cannot tell just by looking - but it may be a Smith or a Rex - I think both had the round water tanks.

Good Luck!

Paul VS