Terry T

Funny that this topic would come up today. Just this morning a Mack B61 sign truck caught my eye. It was installing a new sign in a more affluent part of Ft Wayne. First I thought, that is really cool to see an old B working, then I thought, that is really, really cool to see it working here! with all the beamers, and benz' and Caddy's going by it with the drivers on cell's looking over and thinking God only knows what! Neither of mine will work again, they will be registered with Historic Plates. The F might get a chance once in a while, but only if one of the D.O.T. officers that I know request me to use it to clear a semi trailer from an accident scene. I will never offer it, but if it is ordered by an officer that is a different story. Terry

Well I don't own a diesel pick-up but if I did it would be a Duramax. I have driven several wreckers with the various Powerstrokes. You know the ones.... You can't hear yourself think over the rattle of the engine. The Dodge/Cummins combo is awsome, but until this year you couldn't get a true crewcab so you were limited there. The neatest thing I read about the Duramax was from Car and Driver when they had one in a prototype GMC in which they had put the 6.6 in the 88-99 C/K series truck. On an uphill pull it out pulled the 'stroke and cummins but seemed sluggish at the top. Turned out the make-shift air intake was sucking the rain in and the airfilter was completely saturated with water and the air cleaner housing had water standing in it. When I borrowed the one that is in the attached pic I was beyond impressed. ran 70-75mph without a problem, when I discovered I was in a lane about to end, I left a stoplight hit the pedal and actually got the jump on an old IROC-Z to the point that he lifted and let me in (Fuel mileage suffered at this point!). All in all however I got 11 mpg with the truck on and 19 mpg coming home with the mostly empty trailer. Everyone will have their preferance and everyone will have a "horror story" about something, but this is just what I know personally. I also have a friend that works at the only "real" machine shop in town and he has seen everything thru their shop, except Duramax's. Now the next guy might say that a Duramax is little more than a boat anchor, but we all know that real boat anchors are "YELLOW"! T.

My 1st thought was that it would be great, but then rational set in. Farming out? one word there...... Midliner. And actually it would not be a Mack even if it was built in Allentown anymore. By the time it could be ready there would be so much Volvo influence that it might as well have an angled line thru the grille. Now onto the CXT and like. The only people who can afford these are those with more money than sense. Jay Leno said it best in regard to the one he purchased (and I like Jay as a collector and car/truck guy). On a rainy day I hit the brakes and did a 360, but still stopped at the light without going thru the intersection, it was real scary, but kinda cool. Think about the people who are buying these things, driving a 15,999# vehicle that is just daily transportation to them while talking on their cell phones and yelling at the kids in the back seat, etc. Now, restore a '67-72 Chevy/GMC, stretch the doghouse a little, raise the body/bed on a body lift kit, drop in an E6 300 with a 5 speed manual on a custom suspension and one ton front hubs and rearend and you have a way to tow your jonboat down to the river and sound cool while you do it, then when you catch your limit and you head home you can get your foot in it and make a little smoke! T.

White Road "commode"? Air starter, and JIF lock. Sounds like a former Roadway unit or some other freight hauler. Roadway loved those air starters. When I was at Parrish Leasing/Brothers Express and both companies were experiencing growing pains, we aquired various odd trucks and partial fleets to keep everyone going. One kinda odd (too us anyways) was an IHC 4200 Transtar with a 6V DD and an aluminum frame. Another was a S/A IHC S model, model unknown, but it had the IHC "Fleet" design paint scheme, but had been hit front and the hood replaced with the incorrect model S model hood. The hood was more than an inch wider on either side than the cab! An over site as it rolled thru the auction line with the hood tilted forward (suppose the owner was the one who tilted the hood and stayed near?). We had some tandem GMC Brig's talk about sitting on the floor. I think I know where Pete owners buy their seats. We did end up with one "special" truck during a growing period. Parrish bought a Freedom Edition MH which was sold only a few years ago to a company in Lima, OH who is in the process of running it into the ground. Terry

Might take a new cab Barry! By just looking at the pictures, I would say that the truck was already on it's side or most of the way to being on it's side when it impacted the pole and snapped it off. Looks like the steer axle is moved back on the right side as well, probably got caught on a culvert or something on it's way to the pole. I seen the remains of a Ford Aeromax that was behind an oversize load that was too tall for an overpass, knocked off a piece that then came back and cut the cab open at the base of the "a" pillars and just destroyed the cab, the driver was still seatbelted in, and in his seat, but was sitting left of an invisible line from the outside of the left steer tire, to the outside of the left drive tires. Ron had a very severe arm injury, but other than that some bumps and bruises and no memory of the accident except for the ISP and newspaper pictures, was fine. Oh and not a scratch on the hood, but it did take a cab and sleeper. Terry

Tough call Mike. You know I would love to have that B and do you remember what you said when I offered to load it on my trailer and take it back to Indiana for safe keeping? I would have to say that if it is going to a good home and will be respected and taken care of and you really want the LT.... Make the trade, You have the pics and memories of the B plus the fact that you have several more and you could create a "clone" of that unit if you so desire. If I was in the position that you are in, although it would be tough, I think I would make the trade T.

A year and a half ago I bought the very B61 that my father had driven and my father-in-law had driven and I had driven when I was your age, I would lot drive it using it to spot trailers in the wash bay as I washed trucks for the company that My dad and father-in-law worked for. If you have a way to afford the truck, a place to keep the truck and enjoy working on the truck then by all means buy the truck. I am with John however, I believe that $500.00 to $1,000.00 would be the better cost. Mine has ment so much to me as I have done almost all the dis-assembly myself to this point. I will be continuing to be hands on on this project as well as the Mack F model that is setting in the driveway right now waiting for the time and money. The only way to truly appreciate what you have is to bust a few knuckles on it. Buying an already restored truck or paying someone to do ALL the work and then driving it with a big smile on your face and a "special" coke in your hand is no way to go. And since you want to keep the appearance somewhat "as it" then you have a head start. Good luck to you young man, you are miles ahead of many of us already! Terry

Another option for you is Hoosier Bumper in Ft Wayne, IN 800-732-4766 or 260-456-4000. Ask for Carl (Shaw). He is a personal friend of mine and had all of the chrome work done for my B Model to this point which includes the dash, glovebox door, ashtray panel, door panels, among other items. The enclosed pic does not do justice to the work he had done. Terry

Well Barry, I remember when I came out to pick up the cab and wandered around in that yard for a little bit. Hasn't changed much since then, weeds are a little taller! You really need to talk the boss into getting a crew out there to "tend" to those trucks before Mother Nature takes them to the point of no return. OR just build a really big building over everything! T.

Is this the R that you have in mind? This was the 1st of 3 sets delivered to Wabash Fibre Box in Ft Wayne, IN. These pic's show 5 of the orginal 7 that we leased to WFB when we won the lease from another leasing company. They replaced 7 IHC Fleetstars with DD and 10 speeds. These were 300's with 5 speeds, as were the two sets thats later replaced these units. The very last of all of these trucks were sold off about two years ago. I also have two of the air deflectors that you mentioned. I may have access to a third air deflector as well which came off of a Sodrel Mack R with a 300 5 speed and tag axle that sold at auction earlier this year. T.

I myself wear a long sleeve shirt year round with orange reflective material. This picture was taken more than an hour after the crash. The crash occured just before a large thunderstorm moved thru the area so (considering I wasn't there, I am just guessing) I would bet that this is probably the third time they have changed over clothes. I.E. vests or turnout gear, rain gear and now have just shed rain gear and have not put the vest etc back on. Although they should be, the dayglow or reflective material is not mandated yet. T.

I don't mean to preach, but for the 2nd time in less than two years this kind of thing has "HIT" too close to home. The first time the end result was the death of a fellow tow operator. Several states have a "MOVE OVER LAW" that requires motorists to move over or slow down for emergency, safety, and work vehicles on the side of the road. It is sad to think that a law has to be enacted where common sense should dictate. The Trooper was in his vehicle writing the driver of the van a ticket when the Buick struck him from behind at "highway speed". The Trooper and both occupants of the Buick went to the hospital. It is not always possible to move over because of traffic, but when encountering vehicles on the side of the road please try to move over or slow down. Please also pass my request on to the other driving members of your family. Many lives, including mine, depend on the driving public being safe and considerate. Terry.

Hey Sidewinder, It sounds to me like you have a '72 Mack! What you have described is rather common to a Mack, how does your oil look? Oil pressure? Fuel Mileage? I am not a mechanic, but my '95 with an E7 does the same thing every morning. T.

Trent, Just to clarify, You could not get the E9 in a CH, only in a CL. As far as Chrome Valve covers, I don't know, never seen chrome valve covers offered from the factory and I was selling Macks in the late '90's during the demise of the E9 (sad days). I think it would have to have been done on an individual basis. T.