SkippyMack

Yes!

Yes! Makes a HUGE difference! Mine are 24.5

Friends, We rolled Skippy out the shop this week! We converted all the old tires and split wheels (which nearly put my husband over the edge as we really don't have proper equipment to break them down efficiently). There was a lot of cursing and ultimately torch cutting and then a lot more cursing getting the "new" (used) tires on the "new" (used) wheels. Still a few details to attend to and lots more that could be done, but we may have finally reached the "let's just drive her for a while" stage of the project. Spring may finally be here in northern Vermont, at least the sun is shining today, so we took her for a good long drive. I put in about 90 minutes behind the wheel on the back roads, getting comfortable driving the old girl. I feel much better about getting her started and shifting up through the gears. I've got some work to do with timing my down shifting. It's giving my brain a good work out! My husband is a saint and a patient teacher–and he just left to go fishing (he may or may not come back 🤣) Skippy got a lot of attention going down the road today - I think she looks pretty sharp!

Hey there, So sorry for your loss. If you decide to keep that beauty of a truck, don't second guess yourself. "Just a girl" - HA! Gender's got nothing to do with it. If you really want to learn how to drive that truck, you can! Just came back from a couple of hours in mine, getting used to it and learning. It's totally doable if you put your mind to it! Your Dad's truck is really incredible! I've got a bazillion hours in mine (thousands) and agree with the seasoned crew here, they don't end up being "worth" what you have in them from a market perspective. Best wishes with whatever you decide and take good care! -SJ

Another night of "I am a fabricator" in the books. Shifting lever trim piece done and ready for install! https://sjcreativevt.pixieset.com/skippymack/

Front end done! I intended to paint the expanded metal flat black, but decided to go for an aluminum finish at the last minute...and I LOVE it! She desperately needs to get out the shop and have a bath - getting there! Bringing home wheels and tires this week. Painting hood latches black and a few little details and she'll be ready to roll!

Been on a roll up here, friends! Bed is done, complete with functioning running lights! I think I fixed "the mouse" by changing some hardware in the passenger seat and reinstalling - we'll see when we drive her next. I installed lap belts donated from an airplane and speedo is now lit up thanks to aviation gauge lights (it pays to be married to an A&P mechanic!) Said husband built me a custom grill that's ready now for hardware after I install the expanded metal which will cover the radiator. I played fabricator and built a custom "trim cap" for that middle section above the windshield that had some rot. Riveted that in tonight. Just need to wrap wires tomorrow. Did put the tool box on the bed and I really like it, so my custom Mack vinyl is coming off and I replaced it with a smaller version on the rear window. Home stretch!! Photos updated: https://sjcreativevt.pixieset.com/skippymack/

Bob, Tonight I looked at it long and hard...she'll be a flatbed for now...always the option to add the rails at any point in time. Subzero again tonight! Grateful for winter to get projects done, but getting ready for spring!

I may have to redo that anyway--because I have a tool box to add!

I got the decking all polyurethaned and the missing piece in today. I will get the end plates installed tomorrow. Picked up reflectors and reflective tape for the bed today. She's looking pretty darn good. Can't wait for a warm day to pull her out and get her washed up. Below zero here tonight! Brrhhhh! 🥶

I'm planning an 18" stake body, simple. I know a guy. 😆 😉

It's good to be back! Got my decking stained last night. It's just on to "test the look" right now. Need to pick up one more length of wood to replace one that was just too warped. Progress! I like it!

Bob, You and I both! Upright and above ground is good!! 😁

Paul, We were so surprised how quiet it is (especially now with doors!) and how smooth she rides. If I can take care of that squeaky seat, we'll be golden!

Since I'm the camera person, no one got a video of my first drive, but it happened right after this one! I need to take the passenger seat out and reinstall with some rubber or nylon on the back to eliminate the squeaking. 😁 FYI: This was back in November. We've since installed the doors! https://drive.google.com/file/d/13wqIeXRIuBSVX4_xMgvtGSrBEoe24R1M/view?usp=sharing

Friends! I made it through the holidays and and a brutal case of COVID and am finally "upright" again. Since November by husband has put together three classic motorcycles and brought a Lund fishing boat back to life! Now the word is "we gotta get this truck finished!" I'm tickled to tell you we're really close. My Christmas present was a load of steel 😆💋–which is now a custom flat bed with stake pockets. I finished painting it last night and decking goes on this week. The bed really changed the stance of the truck in a good way. This will put me down to a few little cosmetic details and wheels/tires (which we have in stock). Happy to keep you more regularly updated from here on out. Hope you all are well. Pictures are updated (most recent load first): https://sjcreativevt.pixieset.com/skippymack/ Starting to feel real!!

Friends, Today was a big day! I drove the truck!! This girl sat behind the wheel and took a big breath and double-clutched through the gears - not so gracefully, but no grinding! I have a good teacher in my husband who was extra patient. So, let me rewind... In the past week we narrowed down final running issues to the ignition system. With the correct cap, rotor and related parts she's running like a charm. Takes quite a lot of time to get her up to temperature here in the cold north country. Because the pneumatic louvers were trashed when we got her, we've covered the radiator with cardboard and experimented with cutting holes in that until she holds appropriate temp. Might not be an issue in the warmer months when I plan to drive her anyway. We suspect our custom exhaust header also contributes to it taking longer to heat up. All the folks I've watched on YouTube complaining about their kidneys when driving these old Macks have never driven or been a passenger in a '74 International 4300 Transtar bobtail! 😆 That is my point of reference for how any old truck rides. So, in comparison, we all feel the Mack rides like a dream. Really, no where close to what I expected--in all good ways! Ya'll were right in terms of just being patient shifting. Can't be in a hurry. But no real issues getting through the gears. She seems to like starting in 2 low and going up through 5 low then shifting to 5 high on the paved roads (happy at 35-45 MPH). 4 high is a great back road top gear. It was a humbling experience to drive her. As a teen and young adult I thought I was a real "hot shot" for driving a standard. Well, that skill is helpful, but as you know it doesn't all transfer over. My husband kept reminding me, "This is not like driving a one ton truck–this is a tractor." I guess I should have volunteered to work more summers on my grandparent's farm growing up! (I had brothers for that). Anyway, I think I'll get the hang of it with practice. You might remember we took the governor off last year because it was broken. Any ideas about what this engine was governed at originally? We're going to install a tachometer. Want to make sure I'm not exceeding the RPM range this engine needs to stay in. I'm assuming it's quite low. I think she'll be super happy with a little weight on the back–we'll work on a bed over the winter and my husband wants to put his portable welder in the back. Snagged 6 wheels and tires this week and will be working on getting those on this week, that will help, too. The tires she came with are mismatched and shot. I guess I'll have to upload my videos somewhere else and link them as they are too big to attach here.

I know I promised pictures and videos...and they are coming! It's been one helluva of a week getting ready for winter (we had our first snow today). Turns out the truck ran terribly last week after I last updated. Idles like a kitten, ran under power like shit...and we had a few depressing days, BUT tonight we made big gains and I think we're down to some ignition work and we just might have something truly drivable! Scored some wheels and tires this week, too!! I'm nursing an exhaust fume headache-so I'm calling it a night-but do stay tuned for those pictures and videos. I promise! 😁

On this night exactly one year ago, I was draining the nasty, rusted-out fuel tank. Tonight....WAIT FOR IT... WE DROVE THE TRUCK!!! We put the old wheels and tires on her for the first time since October 2020 and drove her out of the shop and around the block a couple of times--My husband did the inaugural driving to test everything out. He says it shifts beautifully. She definitely wants to run more and needs some tuning, but we got her through all low and high gears. I can't wait to get behind the wheel. All of the lights and gauges worked, brakes worked, air horn is the loudest ever--sounds like a freight train! We may have pissed off the neighbors 😏 She looks completely different with her wheel and tires on, definitely gave her a bit more attitude! Now to find some better (used) wheels and tires. I will update pictures and video tomorrow. Super exciting!!!

Photo gallery is updated! I reinstalled the exterior handles and headlight trim rings last night and got hardware to install the running lights on the roof. Progress! Photos load newest to oldest (we've come a long way, baby!) https://sjcreativevt.pixieset.com/skippymack/

Initial wiring is done--I even did some of it myself! We have lights, gauges, warning lights and alarms, and everything works!! (So much for my manicure. 😆 And if you think I actually had a manicure you might not know me very well. 😆)

It's truck night...stay tuned for a progress report!

Our fab job was exhaust manifold!

So thankful for my resourceful "crew" - I keep them fed and do what I can at this point - and they do some pretty heavy problem-solving and fabrication work. Last night my buddy Dru came up with some custom tabs to secure the bottom of the nose to the radiator frame which really stiffened up the front panels. I don't know what might have been there originally for brackets or bracing, but it was a "floppy chicken" and we just couldn't justify doing nothing and have it vibrate and rattle down the road. She's not going to be a museum or show piece, but the old girl is going to look good from a few feet and go down the road! I suspect she'll draw some attention. 😉

And...we're back!! The old girl has both fenders, an installed driver's seat, and working headlights as of tonight! Feels good to back at it! Optimistically, two more Wednesday shop nights and she's going down the road (for at least her first test drive). Please note I still have a husband and a crew 😆