wyodog

Really trying to dig up the cash for the 1980 one.... 80 http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/hvo/4717264014.html 78 http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/hvo/4717264468.html

Thanks all the suggestions. I lucked out. I was able to get ahold of Chuck at http://www.kingofsalvage.com. He is setting me up with lights and switches. Nasty51ford - Great minds think alike! Looking good!

Thanks, I have had three B's and all have the map/dome light removed. I have found a couple of lights that look like license plate lights that almost fit, but just look a bit too out of place for what what I am trying to do. Watt's suggested I visit a boat shop, they might have lights that would maybe be a better match.

I haven't posted a update on my B in quite awhile. I am in the home strech of getting her completed. At this point she is road legal, and have taken her on a couple round the block trips to shake things out. I just got the flatbed mounted on the truck. I still need to paint it, and I have new tool boxes I am going to install. Thought I would post a couple of pics. I do have a question for everyone. Like most people I am looking for a set of interior dome/map lights. Has anyone found a good replacement for the lights? I've called around and just haven't found a good replacement for these lights. Thanks! Josh

Thanks, FWD. I actually did call them a while back ago. While nice to work with, and they did some digging for me, we found out that they had nothing in the archives on my gear box. The did tell me the box they made to replace my box was end of lifed almost 23 years ago... theakerstwo - Will double check the lines, they are all brand new as I am going a full resto on this B, but doesn't mean something didn't find it's way into the system. Thanks for the help so far.

I have a old Sheppard 49AD2 on my B55. I keep blowing input shaft seals and I think the regulator might not be working right. Was going to test it, but I can't find for the life of me what the inlet pressure should be. Any help would be appreciated!

Hello! On my B55 I have a old Sheppard Model 49AD2 power steering gear box. Thing works great except seals have gone bad at the input shaft. I contacted Sheppard directly and they told me, my unit is just too old and they don't have any parts in stock. Thought I would reach out to the community and see if anyone happens to have a seal kit for this old unit, or if you happen to have one of these old units and your input shaft / cap is in good shape we could strike a deal. Thanks, Josh

Awesome. Thank you for the feedback. I think I am off on the right track. I would like to try and find another truck, and re-paint it to match what my grandfathers truck used to be.

Hey guys -- This picture is of my grandfathers truck. I never knew my grandfather, and this is the only surviving picture of his truck. I was hoping you guys might be able to help me figure out what make / model it is. It looks like it's a international but I am not sure. Would appreciate any help... Thanks! Josh

I am getting to the point with my B where it's almost time to go under the spray gun. From the very start I wanted to paint this truck in a cream color. I found that Mack had a manila cream, don't think they ever used it on any of the B's but used it on some R and more modern trucks. The PPG paint code is 27581. I can't find a good color sample and was wondering if anyone had any pictures of any truck/panel/anything painted with this color? Any help would be appreciated. --Josh

Hello everyone! I have finally gotten around to getting some of the pictures organized. The Mack is coming along pretty well. I am in the middle of doing the front axle swap, and I am waiting on U-Bolts... I have update my B-53 page with all the newer pictures. http://www.oldmacktruck.com/index.php?page=38003

The PS pump is on the other side and driven off a belt. Here is a good shot:

Wow, I am glad I asked! I have no clue on the starter location. The Trans is a quadraplex... Thanks for all the information!

I have a couple of questions on my END673. I am in the middle of this restore on my B53 and I plan to keep the END673. It runs strong, doesn't miss and would like to keep the power plant Mack. I apologize in advance, This is my first Mack project, and well my real first "big truck" project. Currently on my END673 the oil filter is a canister like system: I see where most people change over the filters to this style: To change this over, what needs to be done? Also, besides changing oil, hoses, basic engine maintenance, is there anything else I should know or do? I appreciate all the help, I have searching the threads and have found a ton of useful information, such as what type of oil I should use, and other items. Thanks! Josh

I got the new drive shaft back this week... Man, I have more money into this then I have into the entire truck so far....

Today was a busy dirty day. I spent 3 hours blasting 40+ years of grim off the engine and trans of the B-53. I have a friend that loaned me his hotzy which helped make good work of the backed on grim. We are soaking the engine in degreaser right now trying to get through the last few layers. I took some random pictures... http://oldmacktruck.com/updates/092610/ If anyone has any good tips on trying to get the engine as clean as possible without taking it out of the rails would be much appreciated!!! --Josh

Thanks! It's coming along. I have more pictures, but I am waiting on the drive shaft. It's being balanced right now. Once I get that back and installed I will post some more.

Hey guys. It's been almost a year since my last update around my Mack project. I wanted to post a few misc pics around what I have been doing. Just go give a little back ground... I had two Macks a B42S and a B53S. The B42 had a great cab and body work, but the frame had been hacked and the rears were in bade shape. The B53 I bought from the local ready mix company here in Loveland. They were still using it as a yard dog but the rear suspension had two massive cracks. We did the body work on the B42 cab and that is pretty much done and in storage. The B53 is under the knife. I like long trucks. I know a lot of people like to shorten their trucks, but I like them long. So I extended the frame on the B53 by 9 feet giving me a total length of 31 feet end to end. The plan is, I will have a 5 foot sleeper, and then be able to put on a 15 foot flat bed on the back. The pictures show the sleeper sitting on the truck. To this point I had been dealing with just Mack trucks, but my friend had a 72 GMC that he let me cut up for the rear sections. The rear axle now has 4.11 gears, and along with the quadruplex I will have enough gearing to do everything I am looking for. We were able to slide the GMC frame inside the Mack frame. The GMC frame goes just over 5 feet into the Mack frame. After bolting and welding I am very happy with how this came together. The pictures are just some misc pictures I took here and there. They aren't in any real order... Sorry... But I hope to have more soon. Let me know what you guys think! http://www.oldmacktruck.com/updates/083110/ Josh

Hey Gents, I am at a cross roads and could use some advise. My B-42 restore project has hit a snag. My tandems (camel backs suspension) have a 8.15 gears and for I am looking to do with this truck I am going to need a much lower gear ratio such as 4.11-ish. I would like to be able to run highway speeds (65+ MPH). For the types of rear ends I have it looks like the lowest gear ratio they offered was in the 6's. I would also like to upgrade the brakes and get away from the cans... So the more I think about it, the more I think it will be more cost effective to go ahead and swap out the rears for either a different set of rears or change to a single axle, and so swap out the front axle. With that being said what are the better options with regards to newer axles. For example, when I rebuilt my 60s ford pickup it was common knowledge that you can take the suspension off a 70s ford and it would bolt right up and you get the benefits of disc brakes and newer parts, etc... Does this sort of thing exist for the B-model macks? Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated.

Got the cab into primer last weekend! Starting now on the fenders. Here are the pics from last weekend. http://www.oldmacktruck.com/images/B42CabBodyWork/

cfesting - The yellow truck in the background is a 60's pete. For the most part it's complete, but very rough. The guy I bought my Mack from is also looking to sell the pete as well. Let me know if you would like me to get some more info on it for you. phantom309 - Thanks! We are getting the cab in primer today, and have lot's more cab body work pics coming soon. HK Trucking - I know... I didn't notice it at first. I am still confused as to how I goofed it up as badly as I did. I will tell you that I work on trucks better then I can spell!!! :-) Steve - I don't know. I am going to check that out when I go back out to the yard today. Thanks for the tip! Thanks for the input!

Hey guys -- I put together a site to document the process on my B-Model project. And really wanted to share it with you all and get some feedback. www.oldmacktruck.com I will be putting more pictures up soon. This weekend we are getting the cab into primer, and I have more body work pictures as well. But will get them up there after this weekend. Please let me know what you think about the site! --Josh

Hey Packer -- Yeah, this has been the true definition of "It's a small world". I have to admit it took me off guard at first... Next time you are in the area we need to see about meeting up. -------------------- With regards to the carriers, that does sound like the best option, and the most obvious. And that was the way I was leaning, but I just wanted to be 100% sure and ask someone who know this stuff better then I do. In the past it's always the things that seem obvious to me that end up getting me into trouble. Thanks!

Thank you all whom have shared your advice. With regards to all of this, I fell into a spot of luck. About half a mile away from our shop is Loveland ReadyMix concrete. They used to operate 16 B model Macks back in the day. They still have this B-53 that is all original, and they have been using around the yard as a dump truck. I bought that truck from them today. The body and sheet metal is much better from my B-42, but this truck has a diesel (not sure what engine yet), quadruplex. The rear axles seem to have the better air bakes, and lower gear ratio then the ones I have now. I do have a question, and I should move this question into the suspension part of the forum, but... On my B-42 I have the Camelback suspension, on the B-53 it's the beam style. I would like to use the B-42 frame as it appears to be in better shape, but the B-53 has the better axles. If I wanted to move the axles from the 53 to the 42 what options if any do I have? A. Will the axles move over and bolt into place with a little amount of fab work. B. Would it be better to take the entire tandem setup and move it over suspension and all? C. Swap out the inners of the axle housing and do it that way? D. ???? Thanks! Josh