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Why not point the swivel section up? I'm sure you know this, but being able to quickly dump to the side really speeds up the whole operation and keeps the fold-a-tank out of the traffic pattern better. Is the dump valve air operated?

You can always rent it out to the highway department to use as a traffic blocker! Is the rear dump going to have a swivel so you don't have to back up to the fold-a-tank? Or does it have side dumps as well?

Change the Port Norris sign to North Jersey Mosquito Control Inc. and put her to work. It'll help pay for the rehab.

We had a good turn out on what turned out to be a pretty cold day. Berryville VA Ender's Fire Company brought their absolutely beautiful B Model and Chris Oliphant had his open cab CF600, ex-Cumberland, MD there as well. The open cab CF is pretty rare as Mack only made 14 CF600s and one CF700.

Have you tried checking Hemmings for water pump rebuilders? There are several listed there that might be able to help you out.

It has been listed on EBay before. Apparently the price is a little too rich.

This is a great parade/show for those folks who have an interest in all antique fire apparatus. The rigs will be on display at Millbrook HS on Rte. 7 from 0900 to around 3:00 PM. The units are than lined up downtown for a couple of hours before the parade starts. We have over forty antique rigs registered. There will also be modern apparatus in the parade. Here is a link to the event's website:Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival

Call the Georgia State Patrol or the DMV and ask them. In VA if it has historical tage it doesn't have to be inspected. Each state is going to differ. The real question is: Is it more important to you to have the rig put back exactly as it was delivered or do want to update it to make it safer to drive? One of my trucks does not have turn signals and it can be quite an adventure to drive in the age of tweeting, cell phones, and texting by other drivers.

As Kermit said "It ain't easy being green" On a more serious note, I'm really glad you are doing it right by getting the proper engineering for the body and weight. Tankers are easily the most dangerous fire service vehicles to drive, especially those home made jobs that use old oil tanks that are not designed to carry water. If you look at the numbers more members get killed in tanker roll-overs than any other vehicle incidents.

If you have not done so yet purchase a copy of Harvey Eckart's book "Mack Fire Trucks 1911 - 2005". Your truck is featured in the color photo section on page 82. It is the rig Cal Little restored.

A friend tells me that your rig was restored by Cal Little. He is listed on the Mack Museum web site, so you may want to contact him about the history of the truck and it's restoration.

I attended the show this week end and for those folks who have never attended this event, or events like them, it is time well spent if you are looking for parts for your truck. For example I found a pair of rear spot lights with the mounts and the Mack tag still in place on them for $15.00 each. They aren't perfect, but they are far better than the after market lights that are on it now. It was also a pleasure to meet so many other collectors and old truck buffs.

I'm looking forward to seeing you. I'll bring the rail. A friend, Tom Herman, and I are coming up on Saturday so we can get to the meet first thing. He is an old hand at these events, so it should be interesting. I asked the Mack Museum for a shop drawing of the soft sleeve holder I need to build. Along with the drawing they sent me a list of the tools and appliances that were shipped with the truck so now I have a "shopping" list as well. It came with some items I never would have expected such as a Detroit Door Opener and a "10 ft. 2 piece aluminum ext. ladder". Kind of makes me wonder if they used the old trick of bundling equipment with a new truck to equip an existing ladder truck so they wouldn't have to get it through the budget wonks.

Who's planning on going to the Annual Spring Melt Fire Memorabilia & Market place in Allentown this weekend? I'm going for the first time and I'm really looking forward to attending.

Thanks again for the help. Went back to the jobber for one more try. My local jobber has really gone out of his way to help me out, but I really don't want to be to big of a PIA to him, so I think this will be the last shot. It seems to be pretty close, so I'm going to try it on the back step area that was pretty beat up when I bought the rig to see how it matches. We'll see how it goes.

Mark, Thanks for the reply. Yes it was helpful. I already went that route. I took a panel to the local DuPont jobber to try to match it. He was very helpful, but just couldn't get the color quite right. As I said we tried scanning, chips, and at least five or six four ounce samples, all to no avail. That's why I'm casting about for other ideas.

Did anyone happen to catch the History Channels show Modern Marvels - American Truckers that was aired last night? The show was about the contributions of trucks and truckers to the economy as well as segments on various types of specialty rigs such as tow trucks. One major segment was about Mack and included a visit to a collection in NJ that featured quite a few Bull Dogs as well as other newer models. I cannot recall the name or exact location of the collection, but I'm sure someone here will know. The show was very complimentary to Mack.

I am trying to match the red paint on the '52 so I can get the hood re-painted and re-lettered. The truck was re-painted sometime in the last ten years or so and the paint color is unknown. It was painted directly over the factory red. I have been to the local paint stores where we tried to match it with the chip book and the counter guy even tried scanning the existing color to match it. In each case the actual color that was mixed does not come close to the existing color. The counter guy claims this is caused by asking for enamel when the chips are all set up for the newer paints. I am not a painter, among the many things I am not, so I have no idea where to go next. Is there any kind of a kit out there that allows you to create your own color? The existing color is a darker red. Will the primer color effect the final color?

I saw this ad in the latest Vintage Truck magazine. Mack Auction The auction is in Lewisville, NC on May 21, 2011. The pictures look like the '52 A20U has been customized into a pick up along with a '69 R Model made into a pick up. The '57 H63 looks to be restored, but the listing doesn't say that.

Not at the price they charge for a load of gravel around here!

I hope you have been watching "America's Next Great Restaurant" on Sunday nights. Like most of these "reality" shows there is a lot of made up drama, but there is also a lot of valid information for anyone who is thinking about opening a restaurant. There is a road side barbecue vendor around here that uses the same plan you are thinking about for the truck and trailer. The reefer unit is on the truck and the cook shack is in the trailer. I never asked him, but I assume it's set up that way so he can fetch supplies with the truck. It seems to work for him. (Even though the truck is a Freightliner.) When I was working in Kodiak, AK there was a Mexican food truck that made the same route every day and even had a listing in the local yellow pages. She had a pretty big following and seemed to stay pretty busy, so it may be worth while to just get on a regular route and forget the fair/event circuit.

What a beautiful rig! Tell us about it. Where did it come from, how much work did you put into it to get it looking that good, etc.?

Go to a couple of fairs or places you think you might want to set up and talk to the vendors that are operating there. Ask them about permits, insurance, bonds, required training to handle food, etc. Everyone started out new once in their career, so most folks are willing to talk to a newbee even of it adds a competitor. Make a business plan and stick to it. Most small business's fail because of under capitalization. Do you have enough money to advertise and/or run a web page? Lastly, look around where you think you might want to operate and decide if your "dream rig" will physically fit into the space. Most fairs around here are pretty tight on parking space. One other operating area to consider is a local farmers market if they allow prepared food sales. Good luck! Go answer the American dream.

A very unique 1963 C85F rescue squad from Croton, NY has also been added to the ODHFS classifieds. Pricey at 35K, but worth a look if you are into Mack apparatus.

If it works I want to hire you as a consultant to come convince my DW that I NEED at least two more trucks and a new building to store them in. On a more serious note: Has anyone purchased filters from the vendor I listed here, Filter Mart? They list filters for my ENF510A as well as the numbers for other Macks. Supposedly they manufacture the filters.