1961H67

RW

Back to the RE 753 Axle project, I found a 18,000 out of a 89 Superliner, dual steering like my 14,000 axle. It’s got hub pilots in it ,just what I wanted, One glitch, The steering arms are upside down from mine, ( opposite taper ) . So the drag link joint will have to go down, Anyone see this, the truck it came from already had the springs removed, it was probably a big stack since it had the big axle.

Thank You it’s a fairly sound truck except for the frame, It’s got good A/C , there’s a few of the gauges that doesn’t work . As for the Aluminum frame,, it’s trash, that’s why the previous owners actually had a frame made and put it on the outside, very time consuming, every bolt and bracket was redrilled .Its not going to fail,,, but I just know all that corroded Aluminum is under there, and it looks terrible. The aluminum slides inside the steel frame about 16 in , behind the engine/ transmission mounts , with 4 bolts each side. It really won’t be that bad of a job, take a steel frame and slide it in and bolt it, I could have changed it quicker than removing everything and repairing it the way they did. I’ll keep my eye out for a good air ride cut off, I’ll take some pictures. It’s not noticeable just walking around the truck,,, But I know it’s there.

I try to keep him interested in these Trucks,, I’ll need to hurry because I’m getting older and in a few years the Girls will get his attention!

Yes, he has done some interesting research on them. This maybe an interesting story about a Freedom if anyone has a clue. Back around 1988-1990 , a friend of mine that I worked with at Ryder went to visit some family in West Virginia, he knew I had a LJ , he stopped and took a picture of a LJ , I think it was a Burns Motor Freight in Marlinton WV , He also took a picture of a New Mack , I taped the pictures to my toolbox and never realized the “ New “ Mack until years later was a Freedom,, I wonder where it is now?.

Thank you for the information, Unfortunately as for the interior of the Freedom is the best part of it , The worst part is the frame, it’s aluminum, the guys we bought it from installed a plate on the outside, and did a good job, but it’s corroded at every cross member, my thought would be unbolt it under the cab , only 4 bolts on each side attach it to the big steel frame , find a air ride cut off and start changing all the brackets, but I’ve been using it this way so that’s later down the road. I may replace the hood, my number one goal is to paint it back the original grey and red stripes, it’s still the original color on the fire wall . The E6 350 runs great, 10 speed trans . It has some slack in the front spring shackles but overall it’s still pretty sound .I saw a old post were one was hit in the front but I don’t think this is the same truck, I guess it was repainted when the hood was replaced, I bought this one in Gallipolis OH . I’ve had my Helper working on it some today.

I would like to thank everyone for the support and comments during the restoration of my Coca Cola LJ , it’s pretty much done except for maybe some rear fenders,, My goal at 66; years old was to relax for a bit, finish repairs on my shop from the flood damage and enjoy some truck and car shows. But with the encouragement of my 10 year old Grandson ( And some friends that know what a Freedom Mack is) I’m going to try to restore Our 87 Freedom. Probably not to the extent that I did the LJ , but hopefully it will make a nice truck to pull a lowboy if I want to haul the LJ ,LTH or C Model to a show. I actually bought this truck about 10 years ago to use, not really knowing what a Freedom was. And I have used it, I’ve had it to every Dam in Western North Carolina on the TVA system, I bought it because I needed a day cab for the rough places. I have talked to a couple people who have Freedoms , I have read some old posts on here about them, If anyone has any information I would appreciate it, I would love to know how many are left. This truck has had the hood replaced with a aftermarket hood and repainted a lighter grey ,my goal is to get it back to the original color and decals. thanks again for all the support.

Yes,, then Matt will have to hire my Grandson to narrate those 1000 pictures ,, he’s got the album down pretty good , That’s his job at the shows .

Brocky , you have been reading my mind, I have a Holmes 5th wheel lift, I don’t use it anymore and I was thinking about putting it on . It would actually help it to ride a little better also , It needs painting, I’m going to do some measuring.

Yes Great journey! And you brought me motivation along the way, I had so much motivation built up it even got me through the 1000 year flood! Thanks for sharing your journey and helping some of us continue ours !

I remember following this thread for a few years when people asked if the B73 was going to be ready for Macungie,,,,, You Made it ! It was all worth the effort! Great job.

I knew it existed, I just didn’t know where it was, I wonder if it’s on display somewhere? I would love to see it in person. I have had this picture on my phone for a long time!

I had always seen pictures of that truck,, and loved it. I’m so glad it’s restored. Great Work! Beautiful!

Y’all have fun, post some pictures, I’m looking forward to making it back to Macungie, my last time was with My Dad & Son in 2000 for the 100th anniversary.Hopefully I can get My Son and my Grandson ( My Sidekick) To make the trip in the next few years, As for now this time of year he’s right in the middle of All-Star Baseball.

Yep I may have bitten off more than I can chew right now, I do want to start restoring the Freedom Superliner when I get the shop back in order, I recently purchased the Black RW 753 from my Son , it has the worn axle, I’ve got to get it fixed before I start on another project,, Thanks for all the Birthday wishes! It’s been a fun day!

Yes I think a lot of people called them Liberty’s, all the Mack documents I have seen said Freedom, The Mack Museum sent me a letter confirming my truck was a Freedom, and some original sales brochures, I can’t remember seeing Any Liberty Name in them , But I could have overlooked something.

Thank Y’all ! Yes I’ve got plenty Summer projects.

Today was my Grandson,s last day of school for the summer, he wanted me to take him in something special,,,, Well I didn’t see any Soccer Moms driving a LJ Mack!

Yes MH Cabovers , I think most were RW Superliners but I’m not a expert on them, I actually didn’t know anything about them until I bought mine because they were not any around Western North Carolina, Mine came from Charleston WV , about 8 years ago. The one in the picture was in Morgantown WV ( your location) I’ve. Often wondered if it was the same truck, the original company might have the Vin number, Mine has been hit in the front and the hood replaced, and repainted a lighter color.

Same

I would love to see some of those restored, I have one that I would love to find time to restore, actually the interior (Red ) is in pretty good shape, Red carpet and all. I would be curious to know how many Freedoms survived? Also if Mack has information on the original decals. I used mine every day until a few months ago. The last picture is one that a guy I worked with took while visiting relatives in West Virginia back in the late 80s . He gave me the photo and it stayed on my toolbox for years the truck was only a few years old at the time,,, anyone recognize it?

Vald , Very good explanation! I could probably change the rear compound for a closer ratio, I think I have one in the parts H Model I bought for the door parts , but I’ll probably leave it alone. Yes back in early 80s I worked with a couple guys that taught me how to press the gears off of a Fuller 13 speed and make a Double Over, It was a good bit of finger mashing and a good press, I did a couple for some friends, it makes 3 &4 beside each other and 5th to the dash. They were pretty noisy also . Eaton came out with the X cap ( RTX I think) and it did what you were talking about putting the shift pattern back to normal.

Mark , I can’t find Revenuer , I was going to ask about a bumper, any suggestions? Thanks

Heinz , I ran across that picture looking at some old Hennis Freight Lines photos. If you look closely in the lower RH corner you can see it says DigitalForsyth , Where Hennis was from in Winston Salem. Crouch Brothers was a Construction Co and House Movers, they had a location in Asheville and Charlotte ( That LJ was used in Charlotte and sent up here , they were going to restore it because there Grandfather bought it new, but never did anything with it so the Grandson gave it to me, they said he ordered it for a dump truck but put a 5th wheel on it to move houses, it’s double framed with the biggest stack of springs I ever saw on a 1950 truck) , Anyway that Locomotive must have been moved down towards Winston Salem, Probably in the 60s , I can’t read the name, you might look at some Winston Salem historical pictures and find something.

I cleaned up the other side of my original axle, It looks like FAW538 ,, maybe someone can tell me what rating it is , thanks