vanscottbuilders

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

Just going over to the yard to give the old R-600 some exercise. I just cannot get over how well this old girl runs. And the more I use it, the better it goes. I've got two friends that would like to get their Commercial Driver's licenses, and I think this might be the perfect vehicle. It's a simple 711 diesel with a direct drive duplex transmission. Big windows and no bunk make for a great view, and the lowboy trailer is easy to see over during a road test. We are about to flip the trailer over, sandblast and paint the underside. Then we will do the topside and install new White Oak deck boards. I've already got the deck material. I guess I will replace the Bandag recaps with new radials. The recaps have never been on the road, but they appear to be dry rotted from sitting. I'd like to hear from anyone who knows where 17.5" tubeless radials and rims might be purchased reasonably. The brakes and drums are brand new, and the air lines have all been replaced with new plastic lines. The tractor will probably wait until mid-Fall before coming in the shop for a refurbishment. When my B67 is ready - I will probably sell the R model and keep the trailer. For now it is too much fun to have one of these old trucks that is actually usable.

Been a few days since I was here last - Funny how time goes by and so much happens that we take for granted. I'm another year older. My puppy became a national champion last week. And last, but not least, I got my new gearset from "Thermodyne diesel" in Minnesota. That's got me very interested. The rest of the stuff is just stuff - it happens all the time, then you die. It's a bit unknown to me how the engine/transmission combination will react to the new ratio. Going from a 5.46 gear to 4.28. Wondering what will happen to my pulling power with the 673P diesel. The direct drive duplex transmission has been replaced with a .86 overgear triplex, which should help with the bottom end, and help with road speed at normal cruise. Very few people understand - but this has been a very entertaining project.

Amen Brother, Amen - I sure would like the answer to this question too!! Thanks, Paul Van Scott

Morgan, Both of my B model steering wheels have been pretty easy to get off. I removed the nut, obviously, and the flat washer/retainer - then "helped" the wheel up a little with a softwood block and a small hammer. They came off with little or no resistance. No puller necessary. Have Fun, Paul VS

Mark, Call Jim Schreiner at (315) 986-7935 and explain your situation. If Jim has anything going from here (Upstate NY) to Ohio or Michigan, Illinois or Indiana, I'm sure he would quote you a price to get your truck home. And - get the actual height of the unit please. Paul Van Scott

I like the harness approach. It is not that expensive (+/- 1,000.) and will have all of the correct connectors, wiring diagram and wire sizes included. A lot of people will disagree - but I really don't like electrical fires, and I hate it when the lights go out at night in the middle of nowhere. I'm sure there are others, but the guys at "Top of Hill" Mack restorations produce a really nice harness set-up that consists of all three harnesses involved in the B series cab. You can also buy only the harness that you need for less money. And they will wire it for your battery configuration, with or without the series parallel switch. You'll find their ad in ATHS Wheels of Time magazine. And they might have a website - I'm not sure. In any case - have fun, Paul Van Scott

It sounds like a real nice tractor. The miles sure are right. I think it is too new and unusual to get information from us. Most of us on this forum are really amateurs and hobbyists, and our information is sometimes opinionated and quite often it is dated. You might consider paying for a real appraisal from a professional or getting prices from a couple of dealers, especially a Mack dealer who encourages used truck sales. A least then you have an educated guess of where you should be priced. Also look at websites like "TruckPaper", or "TruckTrader" to see what other people are asking. And when all the talking is over - it has to make you happy also. Best of Luck, Paul Van Scott

I have just contracted with Yellow Freight to bring a 450# pallet from Minnesota to Upstate New York. The overall cost is $237.00. I can't drive to Minnesota one way for $237.00! As hobbists, I guess my point is that we should not overlook the obvious way to get our parts around the country. Common carriers are everywhere. Faced with driving out to Minnesota, I probably could not have justified the purchase, even though I really need the parts.

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.

So it has occurred to me that the R-Mack has not been as collectible as some others. It seems, I believe because it looked essentially the same from the mid-60's up into the 80's, the truck lacks a desireability that might exist with a B model or an L model Mack. Perhaps in the next generation, when these trucks actually are considered "old", they will become more attractive to the collectors. I wonder which of the power trains will be most sought after? The R Mack as a work truck, however, is a very different story. The truck has a lot of good features, and a simplicity that lends itself to being a really dependable, tough work vehicle. The cab has great visibility out of the windows, plenty of room for us "size challenged" operators and good heat and venting. The engines were all rock solid - especially the early Maxidyne series (237, 285 etc). The Maxidyne lent a new dimension to operating a Mack, with the extremely wide torque band. I'm wondering about a new business that specializes in reconditioned and guaranteed R model Macks for sale as reliable work trucks. Seems like it might work. Especially if I can guarantee the performance. I am looking for info on persistant problems, if any. And what to look for in the cabs as far as rust damage goes.

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

Just wondering how I'm doing for the t-shirt prize? I'm so easy.

Well I have just had another good experience with a BMT member - I purchased a used gearset from out of state. This is a really nice forum for the sharing of information and the exchange of parts and vehicles.

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

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

I would have thought that there may have been more interest in the R600 and lowboy trailer that I listed for sale in BMT. Seems there were a couple of people looking for "cosmetic restoration projects" on the forums within the past few months. My new plan is to keep the trailer, and put the rocker panels in the tractor, paint them both and use them myself. The trailer will make a real nice recovery trailer for picking up old stuff. I will put a heavy electric winch on the tongue deck and add some "D" rings for additional tie-down spots. And I think I will cover the rear tires with a structural deck plate, to keep the road spray down. I'll keep the tractor for sale, albeit at a higher price after the painting is done. The B67 will work well at the front of this trailer also. The announcement will be official this week - and I will remove the truck from the "for sale" forum. This will be a fun truck to use in the Northeast moving old stuff around. And I can use it to move an occasional load of lumber for the business.

So - I just need to wake up and read things more carefully. I see you already are planning to remove the driveshaft at the rear end - it's a better plan. I've removed them at the emergency brake drum before and it works - but probably not as safely as disconnecting at the rear yoke. Don't mind me. Paul VS

The driveshaft disconnect is the best choice Rob, as everyone says. Just be careful how you tie it up - the shaft will be turning and wearing on whatever you use to hold it up. And you don't want it to fall down while moving - it can be a big mess. See - I told you that you needed my R600 and trailer. Paul Van Scott

Red Horse, I have an original B67, which should be the same as what you have now, with the addition of the diesel. I've learned a lot about the truck from these forums. If I can help out - feel free to ask by Personal Message or here on the forums. Paul Van Scott

Looks like I am going to be able to acquire a B61 diesel tractor to add to the fleet soon. This truck is interesting to me in that, like my R600, I know the entire history of the truck from new. The unit belonged to Louis Johnson Trucking based nearby in East Palmyra, NY. It spent its life in service to New York City and Milton, Pa. I'm kind of excited about this one as the Louis Johnson B-Macks were my 1st exposure to big trucks as a kid. I've also found a fifties vintage Fruehauf tandem axle stainless round nose trailer to put behind the new B61, or my B67. Things are looking up!

Rob, After all this work - you might even be tempted to leave the Detroit by the curb where it belongs. --- just kidding, of course. Paul Van Scott

It would be good to know if anyone is reading this.

This is really an experiment for me. I know absolutely nothing about blogging or the theory behind it - but that devious Barry put up some pretty desirable merchandise as prizes for the top Blog. I like that idea. So I am hoping this is a successful experiment. By way of intro - I am in Upstate New York - the Finger Lakes area. I've been interested in all things mechanical for most of my life. I spent a couple of years right out of college driving cross-country tractor trailers for a company now based in Brandenton, Florida. Mostly time sensitive deliveries from York, Pa. to Dallas, Los Angeles or Tampa. The trucks were typically GMC Astros or IH Transtar II Eagle cabovers with high cube van trailers. Also spent time driving cement mixers and dump trailers for a local concrete company. First in B model Macks and then in DM's on heavy camelbacks. Today, almost thirty five years later, I have a small collection of old vehicles that includes two Mack single axle diesel tractors. Most people would refer to my collection as "junk" - what could they possibly know? Anyway, it is all stored inside a heated shop space or at a remote quarry yard close to home. I have run my family's building business for the past twenty two years. We are primarily a management firm, and we do not own any equipment or large trucks. We do, however, have a second family owned company run by one of my uncles that provides heavy and specialized hauling nationwide. So my connection to trucking is able to continue. Jimmy owns several heavy three and four axle tractors and numerous trailers of various specification. He also brokers quite a few heavy loads to some dependable Owner/Operators leased to his business. All in all - I have really enjoyed my connection to BMT and my business with Watt's Mack. I'm looking forward to the day when my B67 parts all touch each other again, and I can drive it to the shows. Looking forward to a free T-shirt and hat. Paul Van Scott

How do you like the Factory Five Cobra? I've been interested in one of those for some time. Welcome aboard. Paul Van Scott