rsmartyn

Hi Mike, Beautiful Jimmy (back before Volvo ruined and then eliminated them). I'd like to see you do that with a B or R model. Like your fire truck's hood ornament too. Mine's not a bulldog, she's a boxer but they look alike. Bob

Best bet is to talk to Mack parts and service people who have been around for awhile. The engine model & serial number should be on the right front of the block by the timing cover. Is it the original oil pan? No dipstick? Could be some trial and error too to see what'll fit inside the frame and steering gear. PS-Watch Ebay for older Motor's Truck Repair manuals. They go cheap and give a lot of info.

Wait a minute, hold the phone! Hey Thad, I saw your post in "Pin Striping" and finally figured out (thanks to you) how to resize pictures. Who says you can't teach an old dog a new trick. Thanks, Bob

Hi Thad, Thanks for the advice but after playing with the pictures I was unable to figure out how to resize them. If you want to catch a fish or run heavy equipment or drive a truck I'm your guy but give me a computer and look out! I usually screw somethin' up and have to get me wife to fix it. The DM pix are in my photo album anyway. Bob

I was kidding.

Wait a minute, I thought the clutch on a 2 stick 6 speed (mud stick) was just for red lights or reverse or puttin' in the PTO. You mean I was supposed to be using it to shift that DM686SX all this time?

Hi Doug, Thought I'd include a picture of my "new" truck working too. It's a 1979 DM686SX which does most of the heavy lifting now but here in little NJ sometimes theres just not enough room for it to fit so the B steps in. Looks like we basically do the same thing with our trucks and our Macks are just as happy in the mud & dirt as they are on the road. Bob For some reason this reply won't allow a picture of the DM to be attached saying that there's not enough filespace. The DM ain't that big! I'll try it again later

On the B's, if it has an even number then the engine was gas. Odd number it's diesel. And the number originally designated the gross weight. A B42 was a 40,000lb gas powered truck or a B61 was supposed to be a 60,000 lb diesel powered truck. There are a lot of guys on this site who know Mack gas engines much better than I do and may have swaped gas with a diesel. Maybe they can tell you.

At first when I saw your question I thought what the hell is this. But when I saw your age I said okay, a new generation that loves Macks and B's in particular so here's your answer. In heavier trucks without sycronized transmissions internal gear rpm's have to match the driveshaft rpm's when you shift. To up shift sometimes you have to let out on the clutch while in neutral between gears to slow down internal gears to accomplish the shift (usually when your clutch brake ain't workin'). Most of the time though it's when you're down shifting. In that case while shifting from the higher gear to the lower one you have to let out on the clutch and speed up the engine (while in neutral) to match internal trans rpm's so you don't grind the gears off. It's kinda funny tryin' to put in words something you do all the time without thinking. Anyway, when you get on the road you'll learn fast (hopefully not at the expense of a trans, rear or driveshaft).

As long as it's makin' you money and lookin' good like that is all that matters. Bob

Don't know about David but I'd say you hit the nail right on the head with that reply. Bob

Hi Trent, Sweet looking striping, would the guy who did it want to come to NJ? Hard to find someone to do that kind of work anymore, everything's done on computer now which does open new possibilities but I haven't seen one do a custom stripe job like that. Bob

Hi Mark, You've got some great trucks to work with, welcome aboard. Bob Martyn

Hey Thad, The more room you got , the more crap you accumulate to the point that you can't find anything, can't move around, and the wife and neighbors complain. Count your blessings, you got it made. Bob

What year is a 60ish B model?

Hi Mike, An educated guess would be not more than 12,000lbs since that truck is made out of steel and not plastic. Don't know the engine, trans or rear but there's got to be a scale near you somewhere. Don't know the route up north but from exit 7A on the NJ Pike to 195E to 537W to 539 So. to the GS Parkway onto AC via 30, 40, or the AC Expressway there's no scales. On the GS Parkway there's a weigh station just south of exit 98 so taking the GSP from 539 will keep you out of trouble. Bob

Hi Joe, Went to pick up the machine with "Baby Skiddle" after I tore down a house by the bay. Brought in fill dirt with the DM tandem but needed more so the B was happy to do it.

Hi Joe, Some pictures from today, screwed up this reply so look at the next one.