CaptainCrutch

I’m sure everyone gets one of these calls at some point, a call from the IRS stating you owe them or you’ll be arrested, a call saying you’ve won a grant just for being a good citizen, or even informing you that your extended warranty on your vehicle has expired. Now even though this is a normal activity I seem to have gotten more than normal as of late. So I’ve done what any sane person would do, and I began actually answering the phone, might as well give them the benefit of the doubt. Well lately it’s always been about my car insurance expiring or my last chance for an extended warranty going away if I don’t answer the phone. So when I answer and get asked to confirm the year of my vehicle, I of course say “1953”. *click* Well darn, I really wanted to get that extended warranty. The next day the same call but this time telling me I have one last chance to pay for my insurances or it goes away, this time they ask for my zip code, I list the Frederick code, seeing as that’s where it’s from and right after I get again another nice *click*. Well not sure what that was about but alright. Now last night was the best one so far. I answer the phone and get a prerecorded message telling me that I haven’t responded to their mail telling me my chance to apply for extended warranty is about to go away, and to press 3 if my phone has less than 150,000 miles or to press 4 to be added to the do not call list. Now last time I checked the odometer it had much less than 150,000 miles, so naturally I press 3. “Your call is very important to us, please stay on the line.” Subtle jazz began playing for just a few seconds before a man with a very slight Indian accent responded. “Hello, can you confirm that you are interested in an extended warranty on your vehicle?” “Yes” “Ok sir, can you please provide the year, make and model of your vehicle to confirm the warranty.” “Well yeah, it’s a 1953 Mack LS85.” “Ok sir...” “Wait I’m sorry, it’s and LS95.” (I had been trying to find a good picture of the sister to my L and had 85 in my mind) “So do have this correct that it is a 1953 Mack LS95?” “Yes.” “Now is that the only vehicle you own?” “Well yes.” (I could’ve provided details about our CF too but it slipped my mind in the moment) “Ok sir, I’m afraid we are unable to extend the warranty on this vehicle.” “Oh, really? It’s got less then 150,000 miles.” “Yes sir, I’m very sorry.” *click* Now what have I gotten out of this experience? The satisfaction that if even for those few moments I was able to stop these people from using those moments to scam someone else who may own a newer Toyota RAV4 or a Ford Focus. I know for a fact had I given them such a thing they would’ve asked for a $500 iTunes gift card or something of the sort, and a surprising amount of people will do it, thinking they’re going to be able to continue their warranty for many more miles. Next time you get a phone call from a number you don’t recognize, and you have the time, make sure to answer it, and waste as much time as possible. It’s more fun than it seems.

I’m guilty of seeing a Superliner and having to get a picture. It’s more of a wow factor because it’s such a beautiful thing and it’s not as common as say a KW W900 or something of the sort. Besides how can someone not love the look of a Superliner, even Pixar chose a Superliner over any other truck to be a certain character. So please, do post pictures of what I can imagine is a beautiful rig.

What also doesn’t help is when schools have begun replacing classes like wood shop with classes like requiring a 4th year of math by which point everyone is now learning how to graph 3 dimensionally, something that will never be used in and career any of them will ever pick other than being a public school teacher. At a local public school they’ve even replaced gym with dance class (mostly because it’s an art school where they don’t have enough money to have a building with a gym and instead have to use the floor designated for the dancers to fulfill their physical education) and have to rent out space in 4 other buildings within 2 blocks just to have space for normal classes and even so they can have a cafeteria for students to eat. Everyone makes it work but it’s still unfortunate that these talented kids who had to earn their place at this school must walk outside in the snow so they can get to their lunch while at school. But I will say at this school students must try out and prove themselves to get in and all their grades must be C or above, with all honors or AP classes, otherwise they’re removed. Atleast there’s some hope there.

I know that many school systems have begun using symbols like check marks and plus signs instead of actual letter grades, but so far it’s most been only in Elementary schools. It’s still ridiculous either way.

I’d just give whatever you feel is right. They run off donations so if you’re going to use their services and can you should. Think about all the time spent looking through 100+ years of information on every truck ever built. They go so in depth that they found sales record from 1984 when my L was up for sale. If they have a record of what you have they will find it, and it’s all volunteer work. But i will say, if you’re really scrapping money together to get your project done, or the money could be better spent, it is not required, wed just like to see this reasource which benefits so many people stay around for as long as possible, and the only way to do that is for them to receive donations. It really is up to you how much and even if you donate.

The key word with this project seems to be ‘should’. The guides for the heads were supposed to come in at the beginning of last week but they came in Yesterday. At this point we’re praying we can get it back by the end of the week but with an upcoming snowstorm on the way it’s not looking good, and we definitely won’t risk taking it home with slick roads. ‘Should’ be sometime next week at the latest but who knows at this point. It ‘should’ have been done before the end of last month, but good things come to those who wait, so patient we must stay.

If you want the maintenance manuals I’d submit the VIN# to the Mack Museum, they’ll give you all the information they have on the truck. That info has certainly helped us as we finish up our 707 motor, it had to be torn down to the block with many parts being rebuilt or replaced.

From what I can see the cab sits up higher which makes the fenders more flat, and it looks like the front axel is different. Other than that it does look just like and L.

I was just at the mechanic today, the guy rebuilding the heads has been sick and now that he’s finally better he realized that some code on it doesn’t match up right so he has to rebuild them based on measurements. Should have it back on Friday. We’re so close.

Citizens of Salem Massachusetts: We got ourselves a new Courthouse! High time we had a hanging!

I will say, most of the time when a child is separated from its parents during deportation is when there is suspicion of whether or not they are actually traveling with a parent. It’s the idea of stopping human trafficking which is surprisingly common based on what I’ve read, not necessarily them catching human traffickers in this fashion but human trafficking in general. They have apparently caught a few human traffickers thanks to this though, and the way I look at it, if just one more human life is saved then I don’t care about the resources being used.

It’s possible that her first few years of service used a 5-speed manual. If it’s not crossed off the list (like power steering on the build sheet for my L) I’d assume that’s how it was delivered. It’s possible that an automatic Allison wasn’t even available at the time because the 4 speed automatic wasn’t made until 1970 and the actual truck automatics weren’t made until 1973 according to what I’ve read. I’d say it’s safe to assume was installed later on by FDNY.

I wonder if it’s the same as that on an L. That picture looks like the one off an L, but the one for a B looks different, having the top bars curved up so they rest higher. If you do need the L bell I’ll be able to get you pics Monday. L Model B Model