Help! Need To Know What Type Of Mack Truck (30's-40's) We Have!

[calfabz]

No numbers on the frame - looks like they may have welded it there at some point. No tag on the seat riser - but there is a tag we found bolted to the front of the cab, thinking they may have moved it to there for some reason? THAT makes it an EH I think - the number is 15EH1196. Perhaps the mystery is solved!

The seller called us with the paperwork he found that he says is the original - the connection was bad but it sounded like 1933 DES9TA - he's calling us later from a landline to re-read it. The problem is that DE was not made till '39, so either his year is wrong or the model he read us is wrong. And of course if it IS actually EH the year is also wrong. So part of the mystery continues :-) I did send the info we found to the Mack Museum, Don there is helping us to figure it all out. Thanks again to everyone!!!!

[calfabz]

The cab is for sure an EH model. We are still searching the frame for any numbers that might help with the final truck ID. Thank you again to all for your help!

[Speed]

Though I'm far from being an expert,I have to think it's an EH,probably made between 1940 and 1945,due to the painted grille and hubcaps. I'm sure the long-timers here will steer you right on this. I have a 1945 EH and it looks a LOT like yours,only mine was complete,minus the bulldog. Did you get any parts with it? (headlights,etc.)

I was glad to hear the engine is a runner,and that you're keeping the EN354 in it. These engines seem to be pretty tough-mine was stored for several years when I got it,and outside of some fuel problems at the beginning,it also has been a very good runner. I drove it 300 miles home,towing my Chevy one ton,without a serious problem.

Excellent save! As was mentioned,the Mack truck Museum can give you a lot of good info,and be sure to send a donation to them.

Speed

[calfabz]

Just out of curiosity - what is a fair price to pay for an EH in the condition ours is in?

[Speed]

Just out of curiosity - what is a fair price to pay for an EH in the condition ours is in?

That's a tough question to answer;this sounds like a cop out,but it really is true. The truck is worth exactly what you're willing to pay for it. In the case of my EH,I did a bunch of saving and sold another truck,paid a $500.00 deposit to hold it,and when I could arrange the trip I took the remaining $1,000.00 to Carson City to buy it. Once I got there the seller tried to squeeze another $300.00 out of me,but I finally did get it for $1,500.00,which I felt,and still do,was a steal for a runner. I'd be inclined to say a similar price is pretty fair for yours-it looks like the main differences is yours has some glass and misc. small stuff either removed or missing completely,but that doesn't seem like it'd affect the value to a large degree.

As always,if I'm wrong on this,I'm sure the members who are more learned on this subject will set the records straight.

Speed

[calfabz]

So it sounds like it was a pretty fair deal. We so can't wait to really start on the restoration. The cab and interior we want to restore to original - we're going to make the back a flat bed car hauler for our business.

Edited December 17, 2009 by CalFabz

[Speed]

You sure didn't get hurt on that deal. I thought for quite a while about putting a flatbed on mine,but as it turns out,the 5th wheel plate it came with has been pretty useful,so I plan to build a light weight 5th wheel flatbed trailer,about 30-35 foot long,with a dovetail and slide out ramps,for it. I'm currently working on a deal to end up with a 15,000# PTO winch right behind the cab for loading and retrieving vehicles or whatever. I have a lot of other big ideas I'd like to incorporate,but I think I'm going to follow the advice of all my friends and KISS,for now (Keep It Simple,Stupid!) or at least until I have a complete,working,legal truck/trailer.

BTW--what's your drivetrain set up like? Mine came to me with a 5 speed w/direct high and a 3 speed Brown-Lipe with an overdrive high,single speed rear end with a 6.86 ratio.

Speed

Edited December 17, 2009 by Speed