Bmoto1

The Garrison G21 power steering on my B61 seems fine turning left, not so helpful turning right. worked well both ways until recently. Did without if for years, so I'm 50% better off than before but it is hard to plan left turn only trips. Fluid is only 2 years old but pretty dark- would changing it help, or just delay me from replacing seals somewhere? I don't see any leaks and the reservoir is within one inch of the top.

fontanaB61.BMP

I'm looking in to buying a old B-61 mack. Its been sitting in a field for atleast 6 years it hasn't been run for 6 years and some kids have got up on the drivers side of the cab and jumped on it denting it in pretty deep. It has no main drive shaft, moderate to heavey rust, missing chrome. Big story behind this truck to me another guy has it and i've asked him to sell it to me i've got a week to find out if he wants to sell it. Today is the 29th of july if someone please could tell me what something like this is worth money wise before i jump on it.

you have noticed no one rushed in with an opinion. you've got to decide this on your own. My Mack was in much better shape when I bought it and I still spent 10s of thousands before it was show worthy- or even usable. Not a cheap hobby, even if you do your own work- I don't so I probably over spend. figure on getting 1/2 back if you are lucky, so don't kid youself that it is an investment. Do it for the joy, fun and love of old iron. A mack that has not run for six years will probably run again without much, hence the term Mack tough, but running is just smoke in the yard if you don't get the rest done

Maybe try an epoxy that wont be affected by gas/diesel and just pour it in.

Thanks. great idea. I could even find some slightly > 9/16 plastic rod, and screw it in with an epoxy on the thread. It should behave like the solder, and blow out if necessary.

Sent my tanks for powder coating, look nice. Fuel caps had solder plugs in them- probably a saftey thing for over pressure. Naturally solder melted out during powder coating. Can I put bolts in the holes? Tank is vented anyway. I don't know how to re-solder the holes without ruining the new finish.

I recently refurbished the 40 gal square tanks on my B-61lt. Trying to find tank straps for them. The Mack straps I recently picked up from the Mack shop were wider at 2 inches and the t bolt was also larger. I would have had to drill out the mounting brackets and I didnt want to do that if I didn't have to. I believe the straps were 43 inches from t bolt to t bolt and 1 1/2 inch wide. Does anyone know of any place to purchase the correct straps. Thanks.

Just did the exact same job, tanks are at the powder coater now. Had the straps chromed- pricey at $200 but I was getting the bumper and breast plate done too so I was reckless. I could measure the straps so you could have them made. I intend to put a sealant in the tanks when they get done baking at the powder coater's place. They were beginning to rust through under the I.D. plates and I was afraid the new ULSD fuel would break up 45 years of sludge and send it to my injectors

So, Saturday morning I hitched the B67 up to its 5th wheel RV, loaded with food, beer and other adult beverages, and off we went to the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg Tennessee. It seems that Lem Motlow left in his will, the provision that once a year the distillery would host a big picnic for all the old car buffs, and that the only requirement was that you drove an old car- or truck. We went down in convoy with several other old vehicles- held down to some 45 mph cruise, but made it easily in a couple hours. I had wisely booked an overnight camping space in the local RV park, so we went on and dropped the trailer and then returned to the car show. A B67 stands out- stands WAY in an old car show, and we soon had a crowd of admirers. The picic was held next door which happens to be in a "wet" county, so the Jack Daniels flowed free. BBQ, catfist and all the trimings completed the meal. I did my best to uphold expectations, and show my thanks to our whiskey-making hosts, but it was soon time to return, move the truck to the RV grounds and await the talkers and lookers who invariable are attracted to the big tractor crouching in the bushes. All this led to several more drinks of course. I understand I went to bed real early. But the drive home Sunday morning was really special- blasting along those country roads with the turbo whining. We had a pickup pass us, slow down, and a head and shoulders emerge from the rear window to take a few snapshots of us. That does not happen in a modern vehicle. Much fun.

Thanks for the report Dale, sounds like a good use of your beautiful truck- I have kept the pictures and story about you and it from ?? WOT?? Maybe even truck of the month from this site. I'd have to look- keeping it and knowing where to find it quickly are different things. My B had to sit out this years show in Baltimore, tanks started to rust through, so it has been in the shop for a month

I'm not sure I remember all the numbers right, but my B 61 had a 6:52 rear which limited to gear speed and to to compound the problem I put small tires on it so I would up with a non acceptable 54. I probably should have replaced the smail tires but I repace the rear with 5:72? and got a gear speed of 68 at 2150 so I usually run the interstates at 65 @ 2100-

Thanks for the info. I'll definetly powder coat the tanks, and probable the front bumper too- all that black should look fine, maybe I'll add the piece of bar stock that goes in front of shutters on bars from bumper- don't know what it is called, but I'm tired of moving it around the garage

Moisture built up behind the placcards on my B-61 model tanks, had to cut out the rusted area. figure there is rust and weld metal in the tanks. got a radiator shop willing to re-furb and powder coat them. Any thing I should be aware of? They said powder coat and chrome were close in price. never saw chromed tanks, must be a reason- powder coat more durable? these are rectangular 40 gal tanks. figure it is worth the $ to keep junk out of fuel filters.

anybody know off hand what the paint code is for the basic dark green used on the B models. I'd like to repaint my 1961 B61, the AZ sun has not been kind to it. The interior green code too? Kind of a money green

I rigged up a set of Bose noise canceling ear phones, probably not legal, but work fine- never got hassled but i take them off when I'm being passed by john law

I bought a power steering unit from Dennis at www.oldmacks.com. The first Mack shop put it in wrong, 2nd shop got it right and now it is like driving a buick- one finger. My truck is a '61 B61 flatbed - now-( it was a tractor in an earlier life). Good luck and welcome

I bought a breast plate assembly, like the thing in front of the radiator on this months truck. A plate that comes up from bumper. It is in primer. I was going to have it chromed or painted and add it to my B61 but a mechanic here in AZ says it may limit/ disrupt air flow and cause overheating. The B is perfect now, runs trouble free, gets at least 8,000 miles a yr, sometimes in 100F weather, so I hesitate to mess with it. Thoughts?