B61 Bill

Just to answer your question maybe a little clearer, yes you can shift with just one hand if you choose to. I've never read a drivers manual, but I bet they would recommend just one hand. But when shifting that way there will be times you will need to bring the revs back up to get it in gear.

Great clip! I like collecting clips like that as well as sounds. I've got an address for Detroit sounds if anyone is interested. I also know of a site for bus sounds but everytime I use it, my computer gets meesed up so I quit going there. The other Detroit site works great tho. Rick, To add a little more on missing a gear, we had a guy that used to drive a 10-Speed Road Ranger and everytime he missed a gear, he would have to pull over and start over again. Once I started driving that truck I learned that all I had to do is let the clutch out, bring the revs up to where they needed to be and put it back in gear.

I agree.

Nice looking truck. Real clean with a clean engine to boot. I used to ride in a '70 R-700 with an 8V-71 and a quad box trans. We were talking about Detroits in Macks and other trucks a little while back. It's probably on page 4 or 5 now.

Interesting. Here in VA about half the trucks have lift axels. I guess each way has it's pros and cons. But anyway, I saw a dump truck this summer and I had to take a double take. It had 5 axels. It was a tandem with 3 lift axels. The axels were almost to the cab. The front 2, if not all 3 were steering axels, of course.

In GA, I'm wondering if that also includes any lift axels.

Concerning rules and regualtions, if CT now is anything like MA and RI was back in the 70's and 80's you should be able to do a lot more with your truck down in GA. Maybe someone from GA will jump in, but here in VA a truck owner can operate a truck for profit with no problem. You should be able to haul independantly if you choose or haul for another outfit using your truck. Probably the only negative around here is that if a truck is old and rough looking, it would be more apt to get stopped on a road check. But if a person has a good looking truck in real good mechanical shape there's usually no problem. If no one does jump in, I would call GA DMV for any needed info. But I'm a little puzzled on why you would need to take off your 3rd axel.

If your truck didn't have large mufflers on it, that 'ol Detroit was probably playing some good music for you on those hills. A friend of mine drove an '70 R-700 with a 318 and a quad box. I would ride with him at times. That truck had short mufflers on it. We really didn't need a radio. We were talking about Detroits in Macks and other trucks a short while back on here. I believe it is on page 4 now for some more interesting reading on them.

I remember seeing many Brockways on the road back in the 70's and 80's. An interesting feature on them was the 3-piece windshield. And like mentioned above many of them had 318 Detroit engines.

I too remember B Models running a lot longer than many other brand trucks. It wasn't that long ago that I remember an L Model running daily. Around here the B is basically retired, but about once ot twice a month I will see one running the road. About half the time as a work truck and half the time as an enthusiast's truck. I've got to say tho that for some reason, I see more B Models still in operation in the Northeast where you live, more than anywhere else I travel. Probably because of the big time construction companies there that usually favor Macks. Also like mentioned above, the R should follow suit in popularity and longevity.

I feel your pain and you have got some good advice above. I hope you can find some better answers and/or have your price adjusted. What I'm about to say is kind of like locking the barn after the horse was stolen, but in situations like you were in, where they give you an estimate, in your case $1500, and say it might be higher, I have learned to tell them "If it's going to go over $1500 would you give me a call first"? Since the time I once got burnt, I have found this to work. Keep us posted.

Just curious on what year your GMC is?

It is a nice looking truck for it's age. Yeah, the bed is too long or to put it in a better way, the CA (Cab to Axel) is too short, like you have mentioned. I agree with Andy that it mostly likely was a tractor and someone stuck a bed on it. I would at least try to salvage the engine before considering a change. Keep us posted.

Sounds like a right good find with a great price to boot.

Interesting pictures. Wouldn't mind stopping by sometime. Love old junk yards!

In my experiences, the U should go for less money. I have seen single axel U's go for as low as $3800. I'm not an expert at the differences between the two, but the way I understand it, it allowed a shorter wheel base.

Tim, Believe it was on the east coast somewhere. It was a while back and I might even have seen it in a truck for sale ad.

Someone on here might be able to produce some production numbers, but since they were new, in what I believe was '67, I have seen a good amount of them. The 5-Speed should have been the most common trans in those trucks. Have you tried looking in Truckpaper?

If the V-8 is real important to you, that may be one thing, but otherwise it sounds a little high to me.

Interesting stories and pictures. Appreciate all the replies. Any others out there? Mack or non-Mack?

Interesting little thing about the Mack V-8 and the Detroit V-8, when Mack had their own engine in there, they put a V-8 emblem on the hood, but when ordered with a Detroit, no emblem.

The 6-73 is my favorite Mack engine, but I'm also a big Detroit fan from way back. I used to ride with a friend of mine that had a '70 R-700 that had an 8-71 (318) with a "Quad Box". That truck had twin stacks with little short mufflers and sure sounded sweet. I remember only knowing of 1 B-Model with a Detroit. It had a 6-71, but believe it was put in and not original, as I don't believe any B's had Detroits from the factory. For the farm tractor fans out there, I have a John Deere with a 2-53 Detroit. Would be interested in hearing from other Detroit owners.

Hey Y'all, I'm Bill Thomsen from Moneta, VA. I'm from the old board, and decided it was time to register on the new board. I like all Mack conventionals, but like B's, R's and Superliners the best. New board looks great!