Andy Wright

Packer

Well said. If there's one thing to be said about the ATHS' current problems (and it's all been said before) it's that someone forgot about the old trucks and the camaraderie that comes with them. That's why we're all here and members of various organisations, we love old trucks and old truck people, young, old, healthy, sick, male, female, black, white, red, yellow or blue!

Cheers and beers

Andy

Speaking of ranges, do you guys have Mack Footwear up there? Everything from sandals/reefs to office shoes and hiking boots to full on steel capped work boots. I own 6 pairs (sandals, office/dress shoes, hiking boots, 2 x slip on steel caps 1 x pair lace up steel caps for when I was driving the off highway Cat stuff).

The most comfortable footwear I have ever owned!

Cheers

Andy

Guys

Mack has a factory in Brisbane and has been building trucks here for over 20 years to my knowledge. The Mack Titan is a very popular choice for road train work and heavy haulage. Both the Titan and the new Superliner are based on the US designs of course.

Trucks can be specced for city work, double and triple road train work and heavy haulage. Something like the Superliner can be specced for all 3 as you know, but would more likely be used for the long distance road train work.

Don't think pollution laws are less than the US, pretty much the same I reckon, we're conforming to Euro standards (as I type this there's an old Volvo F12 out my window with tri-axle flatbed trailer!)

Don't really know how to explain the range, it's always been like that! While we have the same dealers here as the US (except Peterbilt), we also have Scania, MAN and Mercedes so competition here might be a bit harder especially since the European trucks are also specced to Aussie conditions. KW always outsells everyone with Mack or Volvo running 2nd and 3rd.

Cheers

Andy

Hi mate

You could probably post all of your pics in your gallery. Every member of BMT has one.

Great pics, all fire trucks are great but Mack apparatus just have that something extra. Will have to get that new Mack fire truck book by Iconografix.

I may have some pics of a Type 75 that lives here in Western Australia. Saved a town called Dwellingup back in the '60s so much loved by that town which still looks after it. Her sister now exists as a rolling chassis with good condition engine (no body or tin work) about 3.5 hours south of here in a small town where I used to work. I offered to work on it and hunt down parts but was never taken up on it. Drop me an email to remind me to send you the pics.

Cheers

Andy

I bought one of these for my B about 18 months ago. Have not mounted it to the truck yet as that'll be one of the last things I do. However, it is a good piece of metal, well made and solid. Glad an Australian part can help you guys out, especially after all the help we get from up there!

Cheers

Andy

General rule was that odd numbers were diesel, even numbers had gas engines. The fire trucks were a different set of rules though!

Cheers

Andy

Barry

Wonderful shirt mate, will go nicely with my favourite shirt, the hot rod B model! Which reminds me, my hot rod shirt's getting a little thin!

Cheers

Andy

In its present colours it even matches the Cats! LOL! Once fixed up, that'd look mighty fine towing a lowboy loaded with vintage equipment, be like going back in time! Let us all know how you go, mate.

Cheers

Andy

Thanks Nigel, appreciate it. Hope to have another go this weekend.

Cheers

Andy

Guys

As we were driving to York to do a little work on my B (see Air systems and brakes), my lovely fiance said that when we get back, why don't we have a look at seeing if the truck will fit up the side of our house between the fence and the garage? Wow!!!! She knows that I've been stressing a little having the Mack's rear end out in the weather.

So, when we got to our friends' farm, we measure the width of Jess, the B. She'll just fit but we'll probably have to remove the mirrors. I'm willing to put up with that if it means having the truck at home. Jodi even said we could look at building a car port or shed down the side to store the Mack! I guess the next hurdle is seeing what the local council building laws will let us get away with!

Will be so much easier to work on the truck if it's at home.

I'm a lucky boy!

Had to share!

Cheers

Andy

Guys

Okay, this'll sound really dumb, I'm sure! On Saturday, I replaced an air line that had blown at a joiner. No probs there. However, when I went to start her, she did not seem to have enough air to turn the engine over enough. Admittedly, she has been sitting for 3 months, however she's never had a problem with the air start tank draining, I've always managed to get 3-4 shots out of it if she hasn't started straight away.

Has she leaked her air out of the open air line between my removing part of it and then replacing it? Is the air start on the same air "circuit" as the brakes?

Hoping this is why she wouldn't start! Did consider fuel draining out of the pump, but that seems to be fine and the air just didn't sound "right"!

Btw, have loosely tarped her rear end up to protect the parts of her that aren't under cover. She now looks like she's got a skirt on!

Cheers

Andy

Sounds like you handled that well, mate, understanding their connection to the truck and not pushing the issue

Cheers

Andy

Nicely done John, how'd she sound?

Cheers

Andy

Hi mate

Here's the address for the guys at the Mack Museum to find out a bit more about that very sweet L!

The Mack Trucks Historical Museum

Don Schumaker and Snowy Doe, Co-Curators

997 Postal Road

Allentown, PA 18103

Telephone: 610-266-6767

Fax: 610-266-6823

LFSW? Nice!

Cheers

Andy

Hi guys

If anyone lives up there or has family/friends there, I hope you all made it through okay.

Cheers

Andy

Thaddeus

Any of the 673s or earlier would be fine for her, I reckon, although wouldn't know if a 673 would fit, I guess it would (never seen an L in the flesh!). I can't remember what the Ls usually had (am I right in thinking some had Lanovas) but one of the guys here will tell you (and me!).

Btw, once you find out the chassis number, send it off to the Mack Museum and they will tell you when she was originally built and what she originally had in her. They are brilliant and do the work for free so be sure to give them a donation for their excellent efforts!

Cheers

Andy

Trent

That's pure art mate, nicely done!

Cheers

Andy

Ron

Wow, and I thought you'd finished her! Mine's a bit scruffier than that, currently looks good from about 50 metres away, get closer and you see all of the dings in the paint, the worn areas, spot rust etc! Ah well, makes it interesting and fun! She'll be black and yellow one day and I won't notice her!

Hood scoops? Really?! In that case, I guess the twin air filters on the Mad Max Coolpower might have been an "Australianism", depending on how age of the engine.

Thanks again Ron!

Cheers

Andy

Ahhhh, as in tip turbine fan! Onya Ron! Btw, that's a sweet B you got there too!

Cheers

Andy

John

Good thing you bought a fire truck!

Cheers

Andy

Trent

Yep, the Mack in Mad Max was a Coolpower. My impression of the Coolpower (and I've never had it explained well to me!) was that it was an Econodyne with a few mods for use in Australian conditions. From what little I know, the head had an aftercooler attached to its side. They also added a fan to increase airflow over the aftercooler which I'm guessing is a standard practice. The cooler air would have increased power and, given the distances trucks travel as a norm in Australia, improved fuel efficiency. I think they were also characterised with 2 air cleaners but in Oz, this is common for most long haul trucks, plus the high rise attachment of course!

I was under the impression that it was a standard Mack engine designation or nickname. Would love to know more as it is a popular option in Bs and Rs down here.

Cheers

Andy

Crikey that's a good looking fire truck, John! What a find!

Cheers

Andy

ThaddeusW

Again, far more knowledgable guys will anwser but, yes, Macks engines were essentially Scania-Vabis engines. I know this was true from the early 50s but I seem to remember that it was also the case well before that.

Hope someone can fill in the large gaps!

Cheers

Andy

Hi mate

There'll be other guys on here that'll answer your request more precisely as they know a heck of a lot more than me.

My 2 cents though is that she almost looks like a tractor that has had the dump body tacked on later. That's probably a pretty obvious answer that you've no doubt worked out for yourself.

With regards to putting more modern engines in to a Mack like that (I reckon she's an LJ of some sort, late 40s, early 50s), ultimately, I don't think anyone would begrudge you for getting another old Mack back on the road. It sure would be a lovely thing to see barrelling down the highway! It will depend on your budget and your skills. Sure, it'd be great to keep the original engine and trans but if they prove uneconomical to repair....there are plenty of B Models getting around with 300 Coolpowers and more modern engines (and you should be able to find exact replacements for whatever it's got in there, if that's what you want to do). The cool thing about trucks, Macks in particular, is that they just keep working so they are bound to wear out engines. I've come across hardly any unrestored old Macks that are still 100% original but it is always a pleasure to see an old Mack, modified/updated or whatever.

All the best with trying to buy her. She looks a cracker. Btw, I'm 28 and there are a few guys on here in their 20s so don't worry about being a "youngster"! It's never too early to own an old Mack!

Cheers and good luck!

Andy

Guys

Just noted that the new BMT has gone over the 1000 post mark! Way to go and thanks as always to Barry for all the behind the scenes stuff that you do! If there was a Chrome Bulldog Award, Barry, you'd be receiving it!

Cheers

Andy