Job41

Very cool Truck! Also noticed​ the wood blocks on the brake and throttle peddles. I guess the regular driver had very short legs. Although in that truck he probably felt like a giant. A big Mack truck will do that!!!!!!

I love the B81 series. I see that he is asking $1500 more in the starting bid for the B81x than the tandem B813. I assume it is because there are a lot fewer single axle B81's. I looked in the Wiki section of BMT and found it doesn't separate the single axle from the tandem axle production numbers. One can wind up with a lot of money tied up in restoring that single axle. But it would be an awesome unit! But, the 813 would be an easier restoration. Oh well, funds are just in too short a supply. ​

Found a couple of B81's No association. I thought a BMT member ought to snatch these up. This is my first time trying to post a link. I hope it works.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1964-MACK-B813-TURBO-TRI-AXLE-5-X-4-QUAD-BOX-NO-RUST-24-RUBBER-/301769247401?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4642d94aa9:g:hb8AAOSwU~FWDEZv&item=301769247401

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1958-MACK-B81X-SINGLE-AXLE-COMPLETE-ORIGINAL-UNRESTORED-/301769247404?forcerrptr=true&hash=item4642d94aac:g:7xoAAOSwsB9WDEhP&item=301769247404

Keep in mind they were still cutting down the trees and bucking them up using hand held cross cut saws. In 1928 there were not many chainsaws were being used in that day. You kept your cross cut saw tuned right up and sharp as a razor. A dull saw really makes for a hard day. Anyway, a question for you expert Mack historians, I probably could google the question, but it's more fun to ask you guys. When did Mack start putting on Pneumatic tires?

Brocky,

That would be cool to see. I went to college at North Carolina State University in Raliegh. And yes, the southerners are not adept at handling snow. They don't know what a northern snow plow rig looks like. The single axle versions are falling by the way side and now the municipalities are purchasing tandem axle rigs. By the way, I did put my truck on Craig's list a year ago, as funds have been in very short supply. All I got were low ball offers. One guy offered me a Chinese made 4 wheeler in trade. The only cash offer I got was 1800.00, so I figured for that kind of money I would keep the old girl. If it were a Mack I would be offered three times as much. There is still more to add to the story, but that will have to be a later post. Regards - Job41

Brocky,

It was actually belonged to the town of Maine ( ten miles from Binghamton). It was never set up for plowing, it was their asphalt hauler and load chaser when all the other trucks were mounted up with the plow equipment. As a result it has relatively low amount of rust. Although it is rusting in some funny places, like behind the drivers head and undernieth the passengers windshield. The picture I put up is probably 5 years old, now she is starting to look a little shabbier. I just don't have the funds to throw at it that she deserves. I remember when I was 14 years old, the town of Maine replaced the old Brockways with a new set of Autocars. I thought they were the coolest trucks around, at least until I discovered the infamous B model Mack! I told myself someday I would own one of those trucks. Little did I know that twenty years later the opportunity would present itself. I have had to do a few things to it over the years. When I first purchased the truck I put in a new floor in the box, replace the rear springs, and installed a new compressor. In 2006 I had to put in a steering box as the original one simply locked up while I was working on our church. Fortunately that happened there in the church parking lot and not going down the road at 50 mph. Recently, I had to put in a rebuilt PT series injection pump. I talked to a local diesel rebuilder and they told me it was going to cost me 800.00 to rebuild my old pump. They said that my old pump was probably suffering from sitting too much. Anyway, I could not find an exact match to the CPL (Cummins parts list) However, I went to Johns Garage in Bainbridge and they had rebuilt pumps sitting on the shelf. One was set up almost identical to mine. I installed it and the truck has completely changed character. She was always kind of lazy, but with the new pump she snaps to attention at just a tickle of the throttle. It turns out the pump is calibrated for 350 horsepower. I know some people will tell me that I am going to burn a hole in a piston, but I don't run her in long up hill pulls enough to over heat the pistons. The engine does have oil squirters for the pistons. When you stab the throttle she doesn't blow an excessive amount of black smoke either. And now the old Autocar is actually fun to drive. If I get the time and money I will incorporate the other parts and tuning to match the 350 pump, but for now I will just have run the old girl. On the issue of the rear axle, I am going on what someone, who owns one of her sisters, tells me. I should verify it. I apologize for writing a book, and boring people. Regards, Job41

I attached this file to this post as I am trying to learn how to upload pics to this site.

Now I have to figure out how to move it into my gallery.

Job41

Nothing against Reo. But shouln't this be posted under the forum heading "Other Truck Makes?"

How are the floors? Are they rust free? Which transmission does she have? Looks like a good project. Enjoy

How old does a truck have to be to register it with historic plates in NY? Also, if I did put a flatbed on such a truck I would make it easily removable by simply unbolting, so if someone wanted to reinstall the fifth-wheel unit then it would be no big deal.

If she is a Christ-follower, then she has herself in a position of being faced with two conflicting rules. Scripture tells of obeying government rule but also tells of homosexuality being a sinful act. She should take the route that other clerks who are believers have taken, and that is to resign from the job. I realize she wants to make a statement, but there are other ways of doing so.

I would call Barry of Watts Mack (the folks who set up this site) and ask what a rebuild kit would cost. Of course you may have to contact a local engine machine shop and get a few prices on some of the typical machine work. That is all assuming you or the Boss man want to do the rebuild yourselves.

The pictures don't give any real close up detail to give a good indication of rust. But, from what one can see, it looks like a really solid cab. She would make a good restoration project. I would put a little flat bed on the back and pull around a tag-along or a goose neck trailer. Tractors are expensive to license in New York State. Although some people tell me the plates for antique class aren't so expensive, but then you are restricted as to what you can drive it for. Anyway, they should knock 3500.00 off for BMT members.

MACKMB212,

Any progress on that big bad B81? We would like to see the pics of the latest and greatest developments. _ JOB41

Now that is a cool little Mack Truck. In one of the other forums, they were talking about the Cat C15 and what were the most reliable engines. But of all the Mack 300 owners I have encountered, I have never heard one complain about reliability. Isn't the Mack 300 in the group of most reliable truck engines built? Also, specific to this truck: May I ask how many miles are on it. Lastly, what would the axle ratio be? --

The good thing about Hillary getting the nomination is that she is very easily beaten. But then given the last few presidential elections it does not surprise people to see Republicans snatch defeat from the jaws of victory! Job 41

Thanks Maddog, you have a wealth of knowledge on the older Mack models, That is much appreciated.

I like the one in the south Jersey Craig's list posting. Any idea what the transmission would be? It's a shame that I have too many projects at home now.

Another weakness for fallen man, we want things that we neither have time nor money for.

Too bad that it has the typical upstate New York Cancer. Ever since Carrie was governor in the 70's and established the clear roads policy, we dump huge amounts of salt on the roads when temperatures drop below freezing. Then it rots out our bridges and our vehicles. Now the public will call the highway departments if they aren't salting the living day lights out of the roads at the first sign of a snow flake. Anyway that would be a cool truck if she were all fixed up. That would take someone with an awful lot of ambition. The price seems reasonable in consideration of the given pics.

I say save the B81's. Not one should go to the crusher!

It would make a good little parts chaser. When my wife says she needs a gallon of milk, I could jump in Autocar DC-200 and run down to the store. It ought to get about 2.5 miles per gallon. Oh well..... I think I'll have to pass on that one. Nice truck though!

I currently don't have a Mack, but years ago my brother and I had a Mack B42 with the Magnadyne EN401 and a duplex transmission. On the back sat a 7 cubic yard dump box. I was in my early 20's and it helped pay a few bills while I was going to College. We had a whopping $550.00 investment in the thing We sold quite a few loads of shale and hauled them slowly over the hills with that old Mack. It certainly could have used a few more ponies under the hood. I will say one thing, it rarely ever gave us any trouble. It was just another testimony to the Mack "B" model's reliability. It is where I fell in love with the Mack B models. _Job41