rsmartyn

Hi Maddog, Interesting truck you've got there. Check out the topic "When Mack Owned Brockway" for a good web site of Brockway buffs. There's also a topic going about Detroits in Macks. Check em out, join in and welcome. rsmartyn

You own 3 great trucks Pete. Interesting thought about the Superliners, haven't heard about that before.

Good advice Pete, I couldn't agree more with you. That's the main reason why I continue to work my B & DM, cause they make money.

Hi Thad, Glad too to see the Bulldog working the world over! That way maybe our beloved dogs won't go the way of White & GMC after Volvo took them over. I'm sure that Sisu is one tough modern efficient truck but it sure is ugly compared to our beloved dogs . I dunno, maybe I'm just old fashioned. The cab looks like it might have just a little more room in it than a "B" though.

Was she blonde?

Hi Guys, I stumbled across a web site full of dedicated Brockway owners with a little Mack history which caught my eye. The site is www.brockwaytrucks.org/museum/history.html Brocks were a great tough truck too and there's some great photos and history there plus some Mack info back in the "B" days when the bulldogs first bought out the huskies.

Hi Guy, I did it years ago on my B61 single axle but I had it easy. The trucks got a big (40,000 lbs.) Eaton 2 speed rear so the spring set air release chambers fit no problem. I pulled the originals that I used off an old Great Dane trailer. With Mack rears it's trickier to see what chambers will fit. Installing a valve in the dash is easy, just find a good spot, run a supply line to it and then lines back to the release ports on the chambers. The service side of the chambers remains the same but finding one that'll fit your rear (or rears) might be tricky.

Hi Barry, I know I'm late to the party but my caps aren't what they once were. At that price why rechrome? I'm gonna call tomorrow

Hi Guys, I'm late to the party but that's the name of my photo album. As long as I can get parts (which I rarely need) my single axle B dump truck (former tractor) is staying on the road. It's so reliable, good on fuel and does it's job so well, why not. I'm not an over the road guy, it's used to move equipment on a 20 ton tag and material in the dump body. It'll still slog through a muddy site with soft ground loaded as good as it did 23 years ago when I bought it and then 'll roll down the highway at 60MPH as good or better than anything new. And no payments. It's a real head turner too. I've gotten a lot of calls from customers telling me they had seen that old truck and wrote down my number wanting work to be done. When you work with a classic like a "B", it speaks of the pride that you take in your work too. You'll see in the photo album that "Baby Skiddle" isn't a retired museum piece yet and probably won't be until I am too.

Hi Wax, Single axle tractors to dumps are common and work great, my B's been doin it for 23 years but tandems are different because of the greatly increased weight. Most tractor frames aren't doubled let alone tripled so the twisting torture of being driven loaded off road could take it's toll. You've gotten good advice on trannys and rears. My DM has a 6 speed low hole 21,000 front and 58,000 rears which is standard for tandem dumps around here in NJ and can really take it. In PA I think the max gross is 56,000 on a tandem and a truck with those specs would be to heavy to carry anything but feathers. The price was right on your truck and if you're driving and loading it yourself with it's limitations in mind you'll be alright. Don't know if I'd waste my money on a Mack wannabe truck with the same situation.

Glad to hear that Macks are the same the world over, making their owners money. Had a friend from NZ who used to import race horses to the US. He used to say that you can't go any further that NZ because if you do, you start coming back.

This is the outfit that I contacted by phone who were very helpful: Mack Trucks Historical Museum 997 Postal Rd. Allentown, PA 18103 610-266-6767, Fax 610-266-6823 Also older Motors Truck Manuals will give you some info and can be found inexpensively on Ebay. I tried clicking on your web site JD, but it didn't come up. I'm always open to new sources of parts and info.

Couldn't agree with you more Dick, but it would have been nice for us Mack guys to see one of those ugly older Volvos blown up instead.

Hi Guys. Detroits are a reliable tough engine but all I remember about those Acars, Diamond Reos and Fords powered by them was having a sore right arm and left leg from shifting all day. Real snappy empty but with a load .... maybe I'm just getting old and lazy. Ever see one run backwards? When I was younger and dumber I'd stall a crane powered by a 671 and it would run backwards. I don't think my boss would have liked that. How about a runaway Detroit? We had dewatering pumps with 4-71's or 53's that ran full throttle all the time. When they'd occasionally run out of fuel the rack would stick wide open and after priming and restarting look out! All you could do was pull the emergency stop and run! Never did see one come apart though.

Beautiful project! Here in New Egypt NJ a good friend of mine had a 1964 B61 tandem with I think a 711 at first hooked up to a quad box, then a 237 and finally a 300 (289) still hooked up to the 18 speed quad box. He ran mostly asphalt (grossing at 70,000) and usually didn't let his other drivers use it, just him. Never had any trouble with the trans probably because he drove it himself. I always wondered how that little radiator could keep that big hot engine cool but it did. LOL on that beautiful truck!

Hi JD, You got some good advice from these guys, maybe I can add a little. Old wiring and electrical components are always a problem so watch for a short that could burn your truck! Most components can be modernized and new wiring harnesses are available (that's next for mine). Another problem I experienced is the bell housing bolts (to the engine block) behind the flywheel loosening up and elongating the dowel holes in the bell. Happened to me (costly but worth it) and I heard it's common on diesel B's. I thought the starter was loose but the whole bell was wigglin' one way and the engine another. A lot of kingpins and tie rod ends are adjustable which could save you a few bucks. Wedge brakes are a pain but can be upgraded to "s" cam type. The good news is with a "B" you've got something really solid to work with. Good Luck!

Hi Guy, The biggest problem through the years with my B has been the wiring. The clicking noise under the seat is either the series paralell switch or the solenoid. Better get a wiring schematic to make sure everything is connected right and then check out the wiring itself for shorts. Next is the paralell switch itself which could have an internal short. Some parts for the switch are no longer available and if that's your case a newer style switch can be wired in or change the whole thing over to 12 volt starting. That's what I'm about ready to do. The B's are a great truck but the electrical system is their weak spot. Good luck!

Hi Guys, My 1961 B61 Mack is the best thing I've ever owned but not for the nostalgia (I was 9 in 1961) or how it performed 23 years ago when I bought it but because it serves my needs today. If somebody would build something as tough and reliable as that old truck I'd buy it (new is nice) but I haven't seen anything out there that does the job any better. I'm not an over the road long haul guy but instead do excavating and the B model and 27 year old DM make me money. It's discouraging to see todays disposable throwaway trucks and equipment full of electronics that screw up and leave you stranded with BIG repair bills. As long as I can still get parts and keep them going, I plan on using the B and DM and make money. Isn't that why we all do this anyway? RS Martyn

No offense Roaduser but they needed something real simple for the rest of the world to use, that's why they came up with the metric system. Here in the states we're smart enough to work with what we've got and build some of the best trucks the rest of the world has ever seen like B model Macks.

Robert! Remember, If it ain't Mack, then take it back! RS Martyn

Hi Joe, I can't help but wonder whether it's a lack of mechanics or the economics or whether the new stuff just isn't worth rebuilding. RS Martyn

Hi JD, I read on another topic Timothy Maikshilo giving advice to contact the Mack trucks Historical Museum at 610-266-6767. When I called, the lady was very helpful and is going to send me the kind of information you're looking for. In turn I'm sending them a donation to keep their operation going. Also, you could keep an eye on Ebay. RSMartyn

Hi Bill, Boy do I miss my '71 Chevy C10 step side! Drove it for 19 years, and well over 200,000 miles. Second best thing to my B model. Bob martyn

Looks like you've got something really nice to work with, good luck. AAA trucking? Looks like their colors and specked out like the tractors they had. They used to rebuild their B models over and over at their yard near Trenton NJ.

Hi Shamrock, I'm not sure if this is any help to you or not but here's my experience. My '61 B61 was a tractor that I turned into a single axle dump. All it had was a drum parking brake on the drive shaft and single acting air chambers on the rear brakes. One day while loading it on a hill, off it went without me behind the wheel. I picked up a pair of spring set air release chambers which fit without any modification. Then I put a parking brake valve in the dash and ran the plumbing to the chambers to release the springs and a supply line to the valve. The service line remained unchanged. This truck has lever type actuating cams and not the wedge style. If this is any help to you let me know, I've got a digital camera and can go into more detail. Bob Martyn