vanscottbuilders

We've been wondering where you went Joe.

Hard to blame for not posting here though -

what with the quality of the comments and all!!

PVS

WOW!!

Mrs. Duncan must be a very understanding woman.

Happy Mother's Day to her from all of us!

PVS

Based on the size of em,

I'd be concerned about the bugs eating all

the cabbage.

Then flying around farting in the house.

Whoo-ee could get ugly.

You might better cook em.

Huh -

I didn't think of Rob doing it.

Of course, he has a very busy social schedule

travelling around the country visiting his fans.

May be tough to get him to do a small job.

PVS

I like the tin foil idea. A lot of people pre-cook the

ribs a little in the oven before they put them out on

the fire - but I think that method loses some flavor.

Does the sauce carmelize in the tin foil?

And- how many grasshoppers does it take to get a good

meal for two? Northern grasshoppers tend to be skinnier

than Virginia Mega-Hoppers.

PVS

Those cabbages look pretty good! The rabbit fence must be working.

Got my tomato plants today. I'll try to plant them tomorrow.

Before I go up to the neighbors carrying some "secret" meat rub

and Virginia BBQ sauce to show him how ribs really should be done!!

Can you get away for Macungie or Huntsville?

I think I remember three blimp barns in Akron. I have seen them

several times from the air when I was flying my old Piper PA-12 out

that way years ago. Memory is not too good - but I remember them

being really big, and I think you are right - they held (or might still hold)

some record for clear span structures.

I was always in trouble out that way - it's a really narrow VFR "passage" between

controlled airspaces and they just plain don't like Cub pilots, especially the ones

like me, who are down really low and slow and looking at all the sights.

I never paid too much attention to the radio, and the poor controllers would go into

mild panic trying to contact me before I realized that they were even trying to talk to me!

How about Air Force One doing a low fly-by in New York Harbor, breaking almost every rule

along the way, and, by the way, spending almost $400,000.00 to do it!!

Where the hell do we think we're going?? This outlook looks more foolish every day.

But we keep on paying for the entertainment our government sends us.

Well - interesting stuff to say the least!

The B-67 is sold, and I have the money (so I know it's sold!!).

It's sold as a completed truck to be delivered in ninety days.

Going with original colors red w/ black fenders and running gear.

Using one of my 711's and a TRD-720 - 9 speed OD duplex with

the original 4.53 rear end ratio.

The same way I was doing it for myself. Full rear fenders and the air ride too.

So, it's going to be a busy time around the shop. And we are going

to welcome another new member to our BMT site - with a pretty nice B-67!

About the same age as Other Dog and I. Another old bast--d.

So - I'm scouting around for the next project for myself.

Got a couple of choices. There is a mid-60's Peterbilt 351 tandem day cab tractor that

Jimmy would part with in our yard; or a tandem B-61 I know of that needs a good home;

or I might just look around for a while. There is a nice rust-free B-73 with the L cab available

close by that has had some recent updating. That's a possibility too.

And there's a little single axle B-61 tractor that I've known since I was a little boy.

Who knows - it's a big world out there.

It's occurred to me recently, as I looked longingly at the Kenworth W900A in our shop

with the big Cummins KTA engine, that a truck can really get too big to be a useable toy.

The KW really appeals to me, but the little Mack is so comfortable to drive around just about

anywhere, and it's funky enough to draw attention from all sorts of people. Everybody likes

the B Macks. Great for getting girls too - if only I wasn't so old, bald, fat, married and --- oh well forget it.

I guess it's probably going to be another old Mack! Just for other reasons than the girl story.

One of the good things about this deal is that, whether or not it even happens,

I'm making record time on the project. Maybe a little kick in the a-- isn't too bad!

The cab and all of the sheet metal is ready to head out to the paint shop.

The frame and axles are ready for painting and plumbing.

The engine is ready for detailing.

Then it's on with assembly.

This truck might even turn wheels under its' own power this year!

Whoa - then what??

Too scary to even think about.

Really makes you wonder - just where are we going?

And why are we letting it happen, if we don't want to go?

It's way past time to stand up and say "ENOUGH".

"This is our country and we have rules and beliefs.

If you don't agree - go find your own country."

One of the little things I've noticed about these new liberals is

that everything is absolutely beautiful, until you disagree

with them. Then you are automatically a no good bigot SOB.

Same when they get caught with their greedy little hands

in the cookie jar. Or when they "forget" to pay their taxes.

OOOOh -Not their fault. Not ever.

Something's gotta give. And Soon!

This new attitude of laziness and greed is causing the government

to grow out of control, costing us a great many liberties and putting

control in the hands of extremely greedy businesses and politicians.

It's BAD. REALLY BAD!!

Looks to me like Other Dog and I have our first customer when we get the mixer

set up as a rolling slow BBQ cooker.

Paul VS

Glad you liked it!

I only make the pesto when the basil is fresh, and I keep it

in the refrigerator for months.

Haven't gotten sick once!! (It'll probably keep us both alive)

Actually I think the secret is to cover the top of the pesto with olive oil

to seal out the air before you close up the jar. That's what the old Italian

cooks do. It keeps the stuff from turning black and losing the flavor.

Here's a little discovery -

Mix up equal parts of tomato catsup, Heinz Chili Sauce and your

BBQ sauce for a tremendous quick sauce to put on top of any roast or

meatloaf. Really nice peppery, but not hot, after taste.

Have you got any suggestions for slow cooked Pork shoulder roasts?

I've been thinking about some for the last couple of days.

Probably this weekend's project.

The hood looks real good.

And the fence should do the trick as long as you don't

stumble into in the middle of the night in a drunken stupor.

Just put some of your bbq sauce on a meatloaf. Fixed the

old meatloaf right up!

PVS

HOW??

How could you possibly eat that thing?

It looks like three or four double cheeseburgers all piled on top of each other.

Nice to hear about a good old fashioned truck stop. The big chain restaurants

just aren't that good.

Paul VS

It's good to know that you are keeping your eyes open and seeing a lot of things.

Now - about stealing my titles---- That's just not gonna work.

And don't forget that I specialize in Italian food for a reason.

You might want to take that camera to bed with you, and sleep with one eye open!

PVS

STILL SNOWING HERE!!

MAYBE "SNOW PEAS" WERE INVENTED HERE.

PVS

Pretty interesting list of really good characteristics.

Those same qualities should apply to each one of us as American workers, too.

Mack factory workers would be pretty proud if they could read your list!

Paul Van Scott

You just keep getting handier with that camera.

Good pictures!

I hate losing stuff out of a toolbox, or whatever,

like that. Probably not worth much to anybody who

doesn't know what it is. But it takes a long time to

gather up the stuff like that, that you need every day

to make your living. And it very well could have been

someone nosing into the box. You might want to keep

a family of skunks in there for a while. Or a nice big

rattlesnake or something along that line!

Ah well - send in your request for some bailout money.

The check should follow soon.

PVS

I don't live in Florida for three reasons:

Gators, Snakes and Sharks!

Nice weather though.

If you don't mind being lunch for some critter.

Looks like we've all been slacking off on the blogs a little.

Must not be anything too awfully interesting going on.

It's good that you are keeping at least somewhat busy.

We're still struggling a little, although it does look somewhat

promising for some future work.

Other than the fact that they are tough to back up - if not impossible,

why don't we see more long straight trucks with full trailers in the East?

Is it a throw-back to the old East coast length laws?

I used to get myself all crossed up trying to back up hay wagons as a kid.

And I never did figure it out.

Imagine what I could do with one of those truck and trailer combos!!

Why I bet I could close down entire neighborhoods.

PVS

Willy,

Nice looking dump truck.

The simplest way to get to power steering and Budd wheels

is to look for an axle from a newer truck.

I know that Jaime Samuell did his a few years ago and used an

axle from a mid-duty Freightliner. It worked out real well.

Obviously the spring perches have to measure fairly close,

and the overall hub to hub width has to be fairly close or the tires

will end up directly under the wheelwells, and will rub when turning

or under heavy load. So some careful measuring is in order.

The Macks were a little narrower than most of today's trucks, so look carefully.

Another consideration - the 673 doesn't have any provision to drive

a hydraulic power steering pump. The pump can be driven by a connector

that runs off the back of the generator. (See Watt's Mack - they have them)

If you want to keep the Daytons, guys like Matt Pfahl at Pfahl Mack Restorations

have some access to original Ross or Shepherd power steering units. These units

retro-fit directly onto your original axle.

Keep us posted.

Paul Van Scott

You might be better served to post this on the Engine forum, and maybe on the Modern Truck forum in our site.

I think you will get a better respondse to your questions.

Paul Van Scott

It's good to be busy.

Everything I read says we aren't near out

of trouble yet.

Paul VS

We're all into old trucks.

And we think they're great fun to drive.

Of course we don't go anywhere.

Just think what your big trip would have been like

say, in 1958 or so.

Two lane roads, an old B model, maybe 180 whopping horses,

and a nice hard spring suspension with bias ply rubber on a good

set of wobbly Daytons.

No bunk, unless you were really high class, and no air seat.

Man - those guys really earned their money!

Imagine doing that day after day.

No wonder they were all skinny. The fat just shook off.

I might be onto something -- All you fat ladies listen up --

Lose the weight and get paid too.

I think it could be a new use for my fleet!!

In my mind - the best trucking is still a long haul.

Especially to places you haven't seen before.

But as I've gotten older - the work has to be on my terms

or I don't want to do it.

The equipment has to be really good.

If the weather's bad - I'd like the option of parking the truck

for a little while.

If I feel like a motel room once in a while - I'm doing it.

If there's something wrong with the truck - I want it fixed,

right now.

That might be asking too much, but still would be really good.

I guess it's easy to see why nobody wants me as a truck driver.

The changes over the years in "workable hours" probably have had

a good effect on the morale of the drivers. I haven't tried it in a long time.

When I did the long hauls - it was just a day after day test of a driver's

endurance. Usually done with underpowered and poorly maintained

equipment. (The fuel crisis of the mid-70's was the root of the small

engine syndrome for many freight companies)

Dispatchers, some of whom weren't really sure what a truck actually

looked like, would give you orders that were literally impossible.

But, being young and naive, you were always willing to try.

When you couldn't make it - it was always your fault.

And you were dead tired, usually sick, dirty, scared and broke to boot,

just because you tried to keep the schedule.

When you did finally arrive - some simpleton on the loading dock

wanted you to bribe him so your trailer could get unloaded - and

you could leave to pick up your next load with an impossible schedule.

Looking back - I guess that job really sucked!

But - I'd do it all again - and for the same reasons.

It's good to see the country and visit with people from everywhere.

And travelling in a truck just seemed to make it better.

I was even friendly with the DOT and scale house cops!

Other driver's would actually get mad at me for that - but

they were just doing their jobs. And I very rarely had any real

trouble with anybody like that.

Anyway - that's enough preaching for one Sunday morning.

PVS

I think more than one person here would agree

that you are really lucky not to have seen any

nasty weather around the mountains!

Sounds like a great trip though.

It's fun to go off like that now and again.

And - it's fun to come home.