Pacifica Pete

I hope this isn't a stupid question but.... I can't seem to find any marks on the crank pulley/front cover that would allow me to check or set the ignition timing. Is there nothing to aim a timing light at? Am I missing something here? And a followup question - what should it be set to? I'm planning to freshen up the ignition system including a swap to pertronix electronic "points" but I want to make sure i know how to get it set up right before i take it all apart. -pete

So far no luck on my search to find the VIN plate. I guess when it was removed for paint years ago it was "lost" forever. I have the number written down on old paperwork, so I may seek to recreate it at some point. My father and I had to do this a couple years ago as part of a '36 dodge restoration project. It was accomplished by acid etching on a zinc plate after masking it off with a transfer of laser-printer toner. with that eventual project in mind, I have a couple of questions: Would the plate on our Type-45 definitely look the same as the E-model tag pictured above? would the model stamp read "type-45" or something else? On the front of the seat bolster, passenger side I see the hole pattern approximately matching the dimensions given by J Hancock but there is a second set of holes next to it that I'm wondering if may have been the mounting point for an additional plate of some kind, perhaps fire engine specific? any info or pics of plates on type-45's greatly appreciated.

We do plenty of high rescue work on ropes here on the coastal cliffs of CA, doesn't bother me but we have good equipment and lots of trained folks. I actually really enjoy technical rope work. I believe what that brave soul is using is called a bosun's chair and I thought it was illegal through OSHA but maybe that's just a CA thing... be careful out there.

Wish that I could say ours was well done.. it's basically a big red orange peel. and they painted over a lot of things that shouldn't have been painted, while simultaneously loosing/failing to reinstall a bunch of fasteners. Additionally, the nice gold striping was never re applied. This all occurred way before I inherited the project but the legacy lives on.... but hey it could be way worse, and it still looks cool rolling by in a parade so what the heck. -Pete

Nice work, what a cool rig!

thanks for the lead, ill look into that!

Its a cast piece, about 9.5" long, and in my case painted prison-paint-shop-red like everything else on the rig ha ha.

found my answer on Ebay - I found a pic of a lens assembly for sale and indeed it has a clip ring. I also learned that the same lamps were used on Willys jeeps so reproductions are available but mainly with a black housing. Now to find an extra Mack tailight bracket so I can add a right side lamp....

This is the light i have. It certainly is old because both the main lens and the license plate light lens are glass. The back of the bulb socket is obviously missing, and the red glass lens just falls back into the housing. I'm guessing it may have had a clip ring or some other method of securing it into the trim bezel?

Hello all. The tail light i have for my 1949 Type 45 is falling apart and seems to be missing a part. I have no idea if it is the original or not. Can anyone out there with a type 45 post a few pics of their tail light so I can compare? Also, my rig has only 1 tail light (left of course). Does anyone know if any of these trucks were supplied with Left and Right? Pete

Thanks for the info J Hancock! I see a set of holes on the front of the seat bolster (passenger side) which are very close to the dimensions you gave above. I can't see any stamped marks on the frame rail though. I did find a registration slip from 1962 in a stack of old paperwork I received which has an ID number listed although it does not match the letter/number format in the example tag above. I also just learned this morning of an alleged "box of chrome parts" located at our other fire station which I'm hoping may contain the missing tags... we shall see.

I'm trying to locate my 1949 Type-45's VIN, but i'm not finding any number plate. I fear it may have been removed at some point. Can someone tell me where it is supposed to be? Thanks! Pete

Hi all, just thought I'd share a horn button repair I made to our Type 45 using some 3D printed parts. As you can see in the photo, one of the rubber blocks that retains the horn button had broken. I'm not really sure if these parts are available, but making one essentially for free is always better than buying if you're like me - more budget constrained than bound to strict originality. I drilled out the rivets holding the original rubbers, and had a friend of mine print up some replacements which are designed to accept a small flat head screw in place of the rivet. Blue would not have been my first choice but its what he had in a semi-flexible materials on hand and it doesn't show when the button is installed.

I've been reading in several places/posts about contacting the Mack museum for information. Folks seem to say that one should make a donation along with the information request which seems like a reasonable expectation, but i have not seen what size of donation is expected. Thoughts?

True, I shouldn't get too far ahead of myself. A good cleaning will be the first step. It would definitely be nice it it were the pan gasket as opposed to the main seal.

Bob, that's great news. I even have the rubber gasket from the one that got broken. I'll email you and we can chat more.

Cant find any on the housing but i think they were re-plated at some point so who knows what may have been sanded off or covered up. The molded rubber base has some markings but they are nearly impossible to read. Photos attached (not that thy are much good.)

As promised, pictures of the fire engine. I got it outside the station today. I aired up the tires and checked the charging system which seems to be working fine.

no numbers I can find. I looked both inside/outside the housing and also on the good glass itself and found nothing. There did appear to be the remnants of some marks on the rubber base that caps the bottom of the glass but I could not read it. I'll double check again though.

Hi all, I'm fixing up a 1949 type 45 fire engine for my fire department. in general it runs OK, but it is needing some tune-up type work and some love in general. It is equipped with an ENF-330 engine (according to the original sales literature which I have ). It has what I believe to be a moderate front main seal leak judging from the the area of the oil leak, and the mountain of silicone applied to the area by a previous caretaker. I have no experience working on this motor specifically, but I do have a fair amount of automotive and engine work experience in general. Does anyone know how difficult a job replacing the seal is, and can it be done in the truck? Where can I find good documentation on maintenance procedures for this motor? I do understand that the condition of the crankshaft comes into play here, I'm just toying with the idea of tearing into it and would love to hear about other folks' experience.

I'm on a search for a single headlight mounted marker light lens for my agency's 1949 Type 45. The old one was broken at some point. Any and all offers or leads are appreciated! Pictures of the intact one are attached.

Hello Big Mack Trucks! New member here, Pacifica Pete. I’m one of the custodians of a type 45 Fire Engine belonging to the city of Pacifica fire department. The truck was originally purchased in 1949 for the Sharp Park volunteer station, which was eventually absorbed into the larger Pacifica department. Our Type 45 is in decent shape. It runs fairly smooth, goes and stops. It was re-wired in 2011. It does need a variety of tune-up and tinkering type work which is currently in my court. The truck is used on a limited basis for parades etc. im joining to forum to seek some occasional advise and assistance with parts sourcing. Cheers Pacifica Pete (pic coming soon)