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vanscottbuilders

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Blog Entries posted by vanscottbuilders

  1. vanscottbuilders
    After a few months af indecision, we got word today that we will indeed
    have to relocate our truck shop. And real soon. The expanding neighbor wants our
    space by September 01.
    We have decided to take one of two spaces offered to us by our current landlord.
    One is almost ideal, except pretty expensive. It's got a 24' ceiling, two large
    overhead doors, fully insulated and really well lit with four floor drains, water
    and 3 phase power. The space is about 48' x 72'. Its all painted up nice and is
    surrounded on three sides by heated space. Our bridge crane will fit easily,
    and there is plenty of room for benches and the fabricating equipment. There
    is no room for outside parking of trailers, which are currently offsite anyway.
    The second option is a stand alone building which needs a lot of cosmetic and
    electric and heating work. But - it has a nine acre fenced outside area for trailers.
    It's a total area of about 38' x 70', with one big overhead door and no floor drains.
    The big deal is the ceiling height. Only about 14' at the outside walls and slopes
    up to 20' in the center. The crane needs at least 19'6 height in a 28 x 38 area.
    So it doesn't fit in this particular space, and shortening it isn't a great option.
    This is just a hobby for both Jim and I, so the thought of a $1,500. rent bill
    each month plus the heat bills is a little cause for reflection.
    Our thought is that with either space, there is room for a couple of paying
    storage customers. We have a commitment from one local company to store
    their AC Mack with us. Perhaps two more will make it all work out OK.
    I guess we got pretty spoiled by our current deal. $500. a month including
    all of the utilities. But - we were told right up front that it was temporary,
    so this isn't any real surprise.
    Should give me a chance to sort out, re-evaluate and organize all of my stuff.
  2. vanscottbuilders
    Another Monday morning.
    It's pretty nice in Upstate NY this time of year - if you only look at the weather and the scenery.
    When you live here - you become expert in shutting out the thoughts of state taxes, hidden taxes and fees and the extremely expensive and ineffective state government. The weather and the scenery have to keep you happy, and right now they can.
    Anyway - I am still contemplating the used truck business, and thinking of specializing in one or two manufacturers.
    The R model Mack is still at the top of the list for its durability, simplicity and usefulness.
    This is probably a pretty good business to investigate, as I do not believe there is anyone in this area selling these trucks in a reconditioned state with warranties.
    There is a local collector looking at my R-600 and trailer today. Guess we'll wait and see......
  3. vanscottbuilders

    Ramblings

    By vanscottbuilders,

    We got a new forklift in the truck shop today - I think it's a sign of old age. It was a nice surprise, though.
    I share this shop space with my uncle, and it is strictly hobby space. So the lifting equipment is really a luxury.
    We had a large (24' x 40' x 20' high) bridge crane installed with a 6000# hoist a while ago so heavy parts could be moved about the shop easily.
    But it wasn't good enough. The forklift is to move those parts not located under the crane area.
    Like I said - I think it's old age. We don't lift anything ourselves anymore.
    Anyway - I am in the process of disassembling my original 5.46 single axle rear end to rebuild it with the new 4.28 gears and carrier I got a couple of weeks back. The springs needed to come off anyway, as ithe axle will be rehung on the truck with an air ride suspension.
    The suspension will require some serious thinking and some fabrication before its done.
    I've also decided to put the B67 back together with the original Dayton hub front axle. The axle has brakes and, although I will rebuild it, it seems to be in excellent condition. I like the look of the Daytons too.
    The B67 is really a test bed for my B61, which will follow later. I am keeping my best parts for that truck - like my Jake brake, the fresh 711, the Budd hub front axle and some other little treasures that I have saved.
    Getting to this point in the restoration has been a lot of fun. Now I'm ready to start seeing some of the pile of parts fit back together.
  4. vanscottbuilders
    A while back I stumbled on a 1953 Ford Golden Jubilee tractor for sale by the side of the road.
    You can guess what happened next ....
    Anyway - the tractor turns out to have a Sherman three speed auxiliary transmission, which was a dealer installed
    aftermarket option. Pretty handy.
    My brother has my grandfather's original Jubilee. It has been used and abused by all of us for most of our lives.
    As kids we all learned to drive on it. Some of us did our level headed best to make it go much faster than it was ever meant to go.
    Now it's getting tired. So, we have decided to bring the tractor into the shop over the winter for a major restoration.
    The plan is to split the tractor, rebuild the engine, put in a new clutch, pressure plate & throw-out bearing, radiator, belts and hoses.
    The tires are pretty new, but the brakes need help. And there is a lot of other work to do.
    When it's all ready, we will prep it and paint it in original colors.
    Using these two tractors, and an Oliver HG42 crawler that I have, in the woods for firewood has been a blast.
    These are a real tribute to American ingenuity and engineering. The amount of work these little tractors will do is fantastic.
    With the rebuild complete, the Jubilee should last for the rest of our lives.
    Pretty amazing in a throw away world.
  5. vanscottbuilders
    Nice day here in Upstate NY. This is a good time of year for us.
    Just got the news that one of the tracks on a rented Fiat Allis dozer just beat the tractor to the dirt pile. That's not usually too good. Apparently the chain broke. Turns out the owner knew it was worn badly - and just hoped it might work for another day. Cheap So and So.
    So, before I go out to the job and lose my cool - I thought I would relax and post another blog entry.
    It's hard to get too mad at my operator. Fred is a retired union operator with more experience than I can even imagine. And he is as trustworthy as the day is long.
    The machine, on the other hand, probably shouldn't have been rented at all. And I can't say anything too nice about the owner right now.
    I've leased a new tractor for Tuesday, and life goes on.
  8. vanscottbuilders
    It seems hard to believe that one little single axle B-67 is going to fill
    a 50' drop deck trailer.
    This will require pictures for anybody to believe.
    I tell people all the time that I have the biggest truck in the place because
    it goes from one end of the building to the other. Now I can prove it!
    I've got all my parts for just this one truck all strapped on pallets
    for the big move. (from the front of the building to the back of the building -
    maybe a 400' drive)
    And I've got eight pallets of stuff plus the cab, and the axles, and the frame all
    as separate pieces.
    It's going to take the whole trailer.
    Had a great day today just organizing and sorting my parts.
    All by myself in the shop just monkeying around all day.
    Loved it. Reminded myself why I do this stuff.
    The move is going well.
    And, yes, for those who have asked, we are definitely going to
    advertise and sell the Kenworth W-900A. After talking to a number of guys
    who own these big KT series Cummins engines, we are pretty sure that we have
    it priced right at $25,000.00 And it is a pretty nice truck "as is". It would be really,
    really nice with some restoration work.
  9. vanscottbuilders
    Pictures to follow - I promise. I'm just not too sure how to get from the camera to the web page.
    Finally got all my parts for the B-67 loaded on a trailer yesterday.
    Other than two spare engines and transmissions, the entire 53' high flat is
    completely covered with one B-67. And that's with no wheels or tires!
    (As soon as I got it loaded - it started to pour! It didn't look good for all of
    my bare metal pieces. But it only rained for a short time, then hot & dry again,
    so no real damage done)
    Anyway we backed the trailer into the new shop for temporary storage.
    We can pull it out while the crane is being assembled in that space.
    Also got the W-900 out of the shop and I got some pictures of it too. It shouldn't
    be too long before Jimmy has it back in running order. I love that truck. Of course I've only
    driven it when it wasn't running - but one can always imagine.
    Moved the H-63 into its' new home inside the new space. It looks good there.
    That's a funny old truck. I never get tired of looking at it. And everyone who sees it likes it.
    All in all - a pretty productive weekend.
    Took about half of the crane down and moved it. I have a nephew who works for the crane
    manufacturer setting up automated warehouses and large industrial cranes around the country.
    He made it possible for us to get this equipment in the first place, and was nice enough to
    offer to reassemble it for us in the new shop. Working with him has been very interesting.
    Rigging and lowering the 40' steel beams from 20' in the air is really an art, and it has been
    a lot of fun learning some new tricks.
    We have one 40' rail beam, two header beams and the four posts to come down yet. We were
    able to move the bridge beam with the crane hoists in place. Saved a lot of time. The rails are
    coming down with the trolley assemblies and motors in place too. Should go back together pretty well.
    Next I hope to fire up the R-600 and actually drive it around town a bit before putting it inside.
    I want to put some heat thru the exhaust of the old girl to see what I will actually have to do
    to use the truck in regular light duty service.
    Anyway - the building business really stinks for us this year, so I need to have the relief I get from
    my old trucks. If we can hold on until better times, I think we may sell the construction business, or
    possibly just close it. But that's a story for another day.
    Everybody have a good week.
  10. vanscottbuilders
    Several years ago, when I bought my R Mack and lowboy from a retired excavating contractor,
    I found a really nice B-61 single axle tractor behind his barn.
    I asked about it, and was told he wasn't quite ready to part with the old girl. Although
    he said he had never used the truck, he always wanted to restore it. Just never got to it.
    After a little homework, I found that the tractor has had only one owner in
    its' working life, and then into this fellow's hands for an easy retirement.
    It belonged to Louis Johnson Trucking of Port Gibson, NY, and probably spent
    its' life running from Upstate NY (the good part of the State) to the city, or down
    to the Johnson terminal in Pennsylvania.
    Anyway, the cab looked near perfect (at least by my memory), and I'm told it would run
    without much trouble. (This fellow does take good care of his stuff)
    So I kept my ears and eyes open over in that part of the world.
    And, it paid off.
    I got a phone call today. Seems that he is now ready to sell it. If I don't take it,
    he thinks he will scrap it.
    Didn't take me long to make that decision.
    Even though I don't need it, I can't let a real nice old B model Mack go to the wrecker.
    I'll probably post the truck for sale, after the dust settles, and I figure out what I have.
    It would be best, I think, if I got it running and driving, shook out the bees and put some heat in
    the exhaust. Then I can give somebody a pretty accurate report.
    Stay Tuned!
  11. vanscottbuilders

    Cecil, Pa.

    By vanscottbuilders,

    There is a dealer in Cecil, Pa. who has several R Macks for sale on E-Bay.
    These trucks look to be fairly priced and pretty decent for anyone who might be interested.
    I still think that there is a fair business to be had for someone who specializes in reconditioning
    and guaranteeing these vehicles on the used truck market.
    We have some inquiries for trucking loads to various parts of the country - so I will post truck
    availability for moving antiques or parts as we get confirmations.
  12. vanscottbuilders

    Texas Damage

    By vanscottbuilders,

    Well, I'm back home for a few days.
    Going back to Beaumont, Tx. on October 19 for another stint.
    This trip I stayed in Houston and looked at damaged property in
    Conroe, Cleveland, Silsbee, Port Arthur and Beaumont, Tx.
    Not too much damage around Houston and north around Cleveland/Conroe.
    East and Southeast, however, it's a different story.
    All around Galveston Bay is pretty much demolished. I don't think any one
    building escaped damage. And a fair number of buildings need to come down,
    if they haven't already.
    Going to take awhile, maybe a year or more, before full services are restored
    to the area.
    For those of us who live in the North and Northeast - this is one of the big reasons
    that we stay there.
    If you haven't seen the actual storm aftermath, you really can't comprehend it.
    The damage is everywhere.
    Makes our cold winters look pretty good.
    And - don't even get me started on the snakes and alligators!!
    Man, I hate being lunch for some critter.
  13. vanscottbuilders

    Early Fall

    By vanscottbuilders,

    Well it's another very nice day here in Upstate New York. This is a great time of year for us, as I have said before.
    My experience with E-Bay so far has been excellent. Several people from further away than I would have imagined
    have been here to see and drive the old Willys. And a lot of people have asked good questions on E-Bay about the truck.
    The auction ends tomorrow about noon EST, and I am getting anxious. This money will fund the completion of my B67 and the
    lowboy trailer I intend to use behind it.
    Speaking of the B67 - I have started re-assembly, finally. If I can figure out how to post pictures, I will.
    The frame and all attached parts are sandblasted and primed with epoxy. The cab has new floors and door sills.
    The rear axle was delivered to a friend's shop for conversion to a 4.28 final ratio and a general re-build and check-up.
    I am going with all new shoes and drums, and all new studs in the wheels. New tubeless rims and radials will complete the rolling picture.
    The plan has been to convert to an air suspension, but now, at the eleventh hour, I am thinking of taking out some of the rear leafs
    and staying with springs. It's a whole lot easier than fabricating up new saddles and hanging new, non-stock, brackets and plumbing
    for the air. Reality is setting in - just how much do I really think this is going to be used, anyway?
    The next big purchase will be a wiring harness from Top-O-Hill.
    It's getting exciting.
  14. vanscottbuilders

    Willys Sale

    By vanscottbuilders,

    It appears that my old Willys pickup sold on E-Bay today.
    And I think it brought fair money.
    After a couple of weeks of people coming to look and drive, and people calling and e-mailing
    for information, I think the truck sold for what it is worth.
    Nice process and nice experience so far.
  15. vanscottbuilders

    Old Mack Country

    By vanscottbuilders,

    Just got home from a week of work in Wayne County, Pa. (Northeast Pa.along the Delaware River)
    It's a pretty rural area, and still enjoys a lot of small logging companies, excavating contractors
    and dump truck operators.
    Guess what they use?
    I saw more active older B & R model Macks being used every day than I have seen in years.
    There was a beauty of a single axle R600 going by our jobsite several times each day loaded right to the boards with
    topsoil. You couild hear it coming from miles away as it growled up the hills and around the curves. Very cool!
    At another time, I saw a pretty battered B model single wrecker with a very new and disabled import car in tow.
    Seemed like a little sweet justice!
    Several loggers in the area are still using old R models every day - and the old dogs are still earning their keep.
    A pretty enjoyable week!
    And I delivered my old Willys to its' new master last weekend. I hope they enjoy it as much as I did.
  16. vanscottbuilders

    Quality Built

    By vanscottbuilders,

    I had some time this week to completely disassemble the front axle of my B-67.
    It's actually fun to take this truck apart.
    Everything just cracks loose with a wrench, then unscrews by hand!
    It looks terrible. All rusted up and nasty looking.
    But you just snap it loose and twist off the nut. That simple.
    I am really interested in the simplicity of the design and
    the quality of the machining and the castings. But what really
    has me impressed is the assembly. Everything is fine machine threads,
    and tapered where necessary to draw tight, and hold tight forever.
    Even the frame bolts with exactly the right length of threads,
    and just the right amount of thread on each bolt to get exactly a full nut of coverage.
    Really nice stuff. And probably not duplicated anywhere today, even in the high tech stuff.
    And these were "just trucks". No wonder they work forever with proper care.
    On another note -
    I took my older (1966) R-600 out for a ride down the road today.
    No plates - so I took it nice and easy. This truck really runs like a
    sewing machine. Pretty neat old unit.
    Every light works, the heater and defroster work, door latches work great,
    windows work great. No smoke, no bad smells or noises.
    Stops good and drives straight.
    The tires are square!! Really square!! But even they smoothed up after a bit.
    Pretty lumpy there for a while though. (Old bias ply, heavy duty rubber)
    I'm ready to sell this one, and just wanted to be sure everything was OK.
    Great Fun!
  17. vanscottbuilders
    The new kingpins are finally installed and
    the bushings reamed to size on the B-67.
    It's the 1st time I've ever actually seen it done.
    And, I think we got a really good result.
    A long-time friend of mine has a tremendous
    amount of experience with heavy front axles,
    and he sure did make it look easy.
    I replaced all four of the bearings and races (cones),
    after finding that three of the four had problems.
    The backing plates and brake shoes are all painted and
    ready to be remounted, and I have most of the parts new.
    The tie rod ends are apart, and I have gotten the pressure
    springs from Mack. They were both broken.
    The socket pieces look perfect.
    Got two new return springs for the original, small front brake cans.
    They look better to me than the new style larger cans.
    I'm using the original dash mounted front brake limiter switch.
    It's good to be making progress.
    On another note - the building business is showing a tiny bit
    of optimism. Not too much, mind you, but a little at least.
    We now have six to eight weeks of work in front of us.
    Nothing of substance, but enough to get us to Spring.
    I should be able to put together a couple of deals between now
    and then to keep the wolves from the door.
    So, we're feeling better.
  18. vanscottbuilders
    Had my old R-600 out for a ride yesterday.
    Nice old truck and runs so sweet.
    I just went to the gravel quarry where I keep the old girl to check the anti-freeze
    and I ended up starting and running the truck up to temperature, then driving it around for a while,
    then looking it all over for the hundredth time. Before I knew it, the afternoon was gone.
    Not a bad way to spend a day.
    My old lowboy trailer is loaded full with parts from the shop that I don't need right away, things like old wheels & tires,
    rear end and front axle, air suspension with frame cut-off etc.
    So I couldn't hook it up to take the tour around the pit. Too bad - it would have liked the ride too.
    On another note - I set the B-67 cab on the frame to check for fit, and to make me feel better about a little progress.
    Looks really nice sitting up there!
    Just ordered air line material and brake valves for it, and need to order a wiring harness ASAP.
    The rear end rebuild and ratio change is underway and all the springs are going to a spring shop for repairs
    and modifications. Real glad I cut the rear U-bolts - I found one stack almost completely broken. No sign of any
    damage while the stack was all together. Front springs look brand new. And the front spring rubbers - which look impossible
    to find, and expensive, just happen to look brand new too.
    Sheet metal work should be complete in the next couple of weeks and reassembly is in full swing.
    I have Picasa from Google on my computers for photo management. Does anyone know how to get the photos from there to BMT?
    I, being a computer illiterate person, have not been able to figure it out.
    Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me out.
  19. vanscottbuilders
    Taught myself some new swear words trying to disassemble and reassemble my B-67 tie rod ends.
    They are the adjustable and rebuildable type. But getting the nut out from inside the tube on each one
    after fifty years is a lot easier said than done!
    Used a four foot pipe on a long breaker bar with a 3/4 drive straight head socket and still had a lot of trouble.
    About a quart of penetrating oil and two cans of WD-40 later, I finally had them apart. But I had broken the
    socket in the process.
    I gathered all brand new replacement parts from Beam Mack and a friend of mine who had NOS rebuild kits.
    Now having a tool custom for the job after breaking another socket trying to reassemble the ends.
    The rest of the front axle has come together pretty nicely.
    New bearings, special sleeved seals, new kingpins, a little remedial machine work, and it's all reassembled.
    (Except for the g---***--ed tie rod!!) I'm actually excited about driving it. Should be pretty nice.
    Although the B model trucks were the first heavy duty trucks I drove, by the time I was driving them it was early
    in the 70's, the trucks were all pretty much used up. Most of them were in pretty rough shape, so I never drove a good one.
    Some advice for anyone wanting to rebuild those old adjustable tie-rod ends: Don't bother. Just change to the new replaceable
    style unit. You will be much happier in the long run.
  20. vanscottbuilders
    Not to sound greedy or anything - but I picked up all of my seals and bushings, and my brake shoes with new linings on Friday.
    Before I did any Christmas shopping for anyone else. My own Christmas gift to myself. Pretty nice.
    If Kathy knew.... Oh boy I don't even want to think about that.
    Hopefully the rear axle will be ready to install by the end of the week.
    I do have to take two brake shoes back in for relining - they had several small cracks in the new linings.
    It shouldn't be any real issue. I just hope the mice haven't corroded the two shoes so badly that they can't be relined.
    Now I'm glad I didn't do them myself.
    Dennis, my friend and partner in the H-63 has been cleaning and rubbing the old cabover - it looks 100% better.
    He painted the front bumper, too. The thinking was too see what the old girl looked like under all of the mold and
    dirt. We're real happy.
    It will be a while before we bring that truck into the restoration shop - so we have it in Dennis' barn. While we are waiting for
    my B-67 to roll out, we can get a good idea of what parts we might need for the H-63, and work on finding them.
    The cab parts are what concern me. Not too many old H cabs to get parts from. Fortunately, this one is very complete.
    My New Year's goal is to get my B-67 done, and the H-63 rolling so it can go on a trailer and get them both to Watts Mack's event
    in September. Might even bring the old R-600, too.
    Actually I have been thinking seriously about putting the R model to work with a short drop deck flat trailer, and perhaps a 28' pup trailer.
    It runs like a sewing machine with only 196,000 original miles. With paint and some body work, it would look real nice.
    There appears to be a ready market for a cheap, small, local carrier in our area. Everyone seems to have forgotten single axle
    equipment. One less set of four tires, one less set of brakes, plus the efficiency of the old Mack diesel. Not to mention the maneuverability.
    And I have two more unfair advantages:
    #1) Retired truck drivers. We have numerous friends who drove for a living, and now want to work for fun. These guys are careful,
    professional and personable. And Cheap! And their wives want them out from under their feet. It should work well.
    #2) No truck payments. It's hard to beat no payment book!
    The business is probably in moving ATM machines for the banks, moving equipment for machine shops (lathes and milling machines etc.),
    perhaps moving tractors and small equipment for the dealers and rental companies, and moving cabinets and lumber for our own building business.
    There are numerous manufacturers and machine shops in our area, as well as shops that recondition milling equipment.
    I think it's worth a try.
    Even if the old girl could make enough to cover her costs, so that I had a free haul truck for my own stuff, it would be worth it to me.
    Anyway, enough rambling for one night.
    Merry Christmas everyone!
    Paul VS
  21. vanscottbuilders
    Well, Huntsville is over, and I'm low on excuses for not working.
    Jimmy has the B-67 frame coming along nicely, and the air suspension is fitted
    and ready for me to pre-paint before final assembly. The clutch linkage is all rebuilt and
    re-bushed and new bearings installed. (Like the rest of the truck - it's way overbuilt and
    almost indestructable, if cared for properly. But, you do have to take care of it!)
    The body work is progressing nicely. A lot more welding and straightening than I thought,
    but still coming along really well.
    Got a nice idea for an A/C condenser mounting from a really nice B-53 in Huntsville.
    And learned a new trick involving heat resistant expanding foam insulation for the cab.
    If all goes fairly well, we should be putting the cab back on the frame in early July.
    I'm sandblasting and painting a lot of parts this week. (The steering box, column and linkage,
    the clutch linkage pieces, radiator frame and support etc., etc.)
    And taking the 711 engine out of the old R-600 as the donor. It will get cleaned up and painted,
    then it gets new hoses, filters etc. for service in the B-67.
    Moving along good.
    Indidentally - I do have a lot of early R model parts that I would sell, if someone needed.
    All of the hardware, instruments, glass, doors, seats, duplex TRD-72 transmission, rear-end and
    front axle, etc. This was a very complete and good running truck.
    The cab and the double frame are pretty badly rusted, but if someone needed, they are available too.
  22. vanscottbuilders

    Update

    By vanscottbuilders,

    It's Tuesday night, snowy, cold and starting to look like winter - again.
    At least it feels right.
    We (my uncle & I) have been cooperating on trying to sell a late model (2000) Peterbilt 379EXHD
    tractor that the company owns. It's a big power tractor (C-16 Cat 600 hp) that Jim bought from one of the
    Owner/Operators with three trailers that he needed.
    So we have been listed on E-bay and now in the TruckPaper Online. It's amazing to me how many flakes
    there are out there. The number of calls we have gotten from people who claim to be sending a deposit, or
    "coming to New York to see the truck" is phenomenal. This truck was supposedly sold before I listed it on E-bay.
    That fell through for lack of financing. Then there was a bid on E-bay that we would have taken, and the buyer simply
    vanished! And the guy from Virginia, and the guy from Iowa, and the guy from New Jersey and on and on.....
    I guess that the world is really full of dreamers.
    So the decision was made to keep the truck - at least for now. It's a pretty nice one. And we know the entire history,
    it's a low mileage tractor and has a factory warranty on the engine. How bad can it be?
    Jim is pretty much retired, and has decided to offer his specialized heavy haul spec'd four axle Freightliner up for sale
    with a large (100t) jeep trailer and stinger assembly. That might seperate the real buyers from the wannabees.
    The people in that really specialized heavy haul business are a pretty small group, and they all know each other.
    Just figuring out how to put the whole thing together takes a pretty fair amount of experience. And maybe we won't show
    any photos of the whole rig hooked up. We'll just leave it decked up on the trailer in a pile. If you know what you're
    looking for, it won't be a problem for you to figure it out. If you don't - don't bother calling!
    Ah, I love winter - I get real sarcastic after being shut-in for a couple of days.
    Good Night All!
    Paul Van Scott
  23. vanscottbuilders
    Moving right along, and spending right along too!!
    Anyway - Got the 711 engine out of the old R-600,
    and did the transfer of those "few" items that need changing
    to fit in the short hood of the B-67. Basically, everything on
    the outside of the engine except the exhaust manifold and
    the rear section of the air intake has to change.
    The engine was steam cleaned and degreased. It got two good
    coats of hi-temp enamel tonite, and looks great! I took off all
    of the aluminum water manifold and air intake pieces so I could
    polish them up.
    Bought all new Aeroquip engine hoses and re-useable ends.
    They don't give that stuff away!!
    Also got new upper and lower engine gasket sets, crank seals,
    clutch disc, throw-out bearing and pilot bearing on the way.
    Expensive week for the old wallet.
    I'm having the flywheel resurfaced, and will see if anyone will tackle re-
    surfacing the pressure plate. It looks pretty good, and I'll use it as is,
    if they aren't re-surfaceable.
    Time to get the radiator checked out and get the transmission covers off
    to see if everything's happy inside it.
    Moving right along >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
  24. vanscottbuilders

    More Parts

    By vanscottbuilders,

    Got a call from Yellow Freight today.
    My air ride crossmember is here from A.C.E. in California.
    Now I'm really getting excited.
    I got the springs back last week. The rear end is still waiting for one pair of relined brake shoes, then it's done.
    The frame, front axle, radiator supports, transmission and mounts, and fuel tanks, brackets and hangers are all sandblasted and epoxy primed.
    Still need to blast and prime the rear end.
    I'll reassemble, plumb and wire, and re-fit and align everything, then disassemble it all for final painting.
    When the frame is done and the engine and transmission are in place, I will start on the final cab work.
    Got a few ideas for noise and sound attenuation. Like spray-on ceramic insulation. (LizardSkin) Got the idea from the experimental airplane people.
    With the engine half in the cab - this B-67 needs all the help with noise and heat it can get.
    The bank account is getting worked over pretty good. So I've got to quit spending money and go to work on the old girl.
    So far I'm real happy with all of the parts and services I've gotten.
    (Except maybe that pair of brake shoes, which are on their third attempt at relining).
    Time to get Dirty!
  25. vanscottbuilders
    Well, the B-67 cab is back in one piece. Or at least as close as
    it was from the factory.
    It was called the Million Mile Cab -
    If you really take apart a B cab - you realize that it is made of
    a lot of little pieces. A lot of little pieces!!
    Should have been called the Million Piece Cab.
    No wonder they are noisy and drafty and rust easily.
    There are lots of joints, holes, seams, welds and places for
    moisture and dirt to hide. Most of these tight spots were unprotected
    from the factory. You have to prime each sub-assembly prior to completing
    the refitting. After you get it together, there is no way to seal up some of the bare metal.
    Still I guess they were really considered state-of-the-art for their time.
    And I think we have done a pretty good job of reassembling, sealing and
    priming the old girl. Should add a few years to her life.
    Now I'm thinking about applying "LizardSkin" ceramic sound and heat
    insulation to the underside, the firewall, and the entire interior before painting.

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