B-73 Restoration

[mowerman]

I don’t think I would be too afraid to tackle that two piece deal as long as you have a wire feed … go for it… Seems at this point you probably don’t have too many choices and if you finally locate one pretty clean they’re probably want a fortune 4 it plus shipping then I’m sure it’s still not going to be perfect .. good luck and yes I was starting to think the H model it was an old post ha ha.. bob

Edited April 7, 2022 by mowerman
mispelled

[mattb73lt]

All primered out and fitted together. Heading off to a friends shop this week to rivet it back together and reawakening some dormant A&P skills I haven’t used in forever!

[mowerman]

 Wow from the photograph it looks perfect… bob

[1961H67]

Your rolling along now ,, and just in time for some good spring weather to set your cab on and install all the painted parts! 

[mattb73lt]

13 hours ago, 1961H67 said:

Your rolling along now ,, and just in time for some good spring weather to set your cab on and install all the painted parts! 

Yup, just a few more things to do and then back on the frame to finish up several items. Then it should start looking like a truck again. The shelves are full of parts ready to go!

[mattb73lt]

Another mock-up day. Getting the frame spacing set for all the items I need to mount. New battery boxes, stack support and put the tanks on for measurements and spacing. Still need a new hydraulic tank for the body and a pair of equipment boxes, but plenty of space as you move aft. I'm really loving the mix of paint, aluminum and stainless.

[1961H67]

Looking Great, I like your stack mount! What sort of strapping are you using to set the cab,, I ran straps through the windows when I set mine to check the backdrop clearance,, Now we will have to go under with a spreader bar of some sort,, and a lot more TLC ! 

[mattb73lt]

I was going to do it with the doors open and run a stacked pair of 2X10”’s through the cab. Pad the wood with some high density foam and have two heavy eyelets at each end. Suspend that with a chain and use the same 5,000# lift with the jib boom to raise it into place. Praying like Hell the whole time that disaster doesn’t strike!

[Mike]

Looks SUPER! does it get an air starter and does the B-73 have a larger doghouse than the B-61, thus the Cat engine?  

[mattb73lt]

Going to run a 12V starter on the Cummins NH220. This has the L cab on it, so it’s completely different than a B-61 with the doghouse and firewall.

[Mike]

8 minutes ago, mattb73lt said:

Going to run a 12V starter on the Cummins NH220. This has the L cab on it, so it’s completely different than a B-61 with the doghouse and firewall.

Sorry Matt, wasn't used to seeing a yellow Cummins. Our Cummins at work are Beige in color and is a 1984. Looks dang good.

[1961H67]

The “ Old Cummins Gold “ is close to Cat Yellow, My 220 has a tag where it was a recon engine by Cummins Atlantic 12/1963 , and it was painted Cummins Gold ( Basically Yellow) . My guess is the Beige came in the mid 60s with the 855 blocks.  

[mattb73lt]

The color always brings up discussion. There are at least four colors Cummins used, an early grey, "Cummins Old Gold", Cummins gold and the later beige. When I bought this engine it was rust and grease covered. As I was cleaning it I uncovered several areas with paint remaining. It had been rebuilt at least once in it's life and repainted. From what remained I found that Eastwood had a color, "Equipment Yellow" that was a really good match from what was on it, plus it was formulated as a two part epoxy, high temperature enamel of aircraft grade. When I've taken pictures of it the digital phone camera can tint it differently. From a bright yellow inside the shop to a darker yellow with a little orange tint outside. But, I think it is a pretty good match for the "Old Gold" color, plus it's very durable. which was the main reason for using it.

[Nor'Easter]

Would you mind sharing the PN for the starter you used?  Want to convert my 220 as well.

[doubleclutchinweasel]

4 hours ago, mattb73lt said:

The color always brings up discussion. There are at least four colors Cummins used, an early grey, "Cummins Old Gold", Cummins gold and the later beige. When I bought this engine it was rust and grease covered. As I was cleaning it I uncovered several areas with paint remaining. It had been rebuilt at least once in it's life and repainted. From what remained I found that Eastwood had a color, "Equipment Yellow" that was a really good match from what was on it, plus it was formulated as a two part epoxy, high temperature enamel of aircraft grade. When I've taken pictures of it the digital phone camera can tint it differently. From a bright yellow inside the shop to a darker yellow with a little orange tint outside. But, I think it is a pretty good match for the "Old Gold" color, plus it's very durable. which was the main reason for using it.

Well, it looks gorgeous, whatever the case!

[mattb73lt]

6 hours ago, Nor'Easter said:

Would you mind sharing the PN for the starter you used?  Want to convert my 220 as well.

I just checked it, but can’t find a tag on it. It came with the engine. It appears to be a common Delco 42MT

[mowerman]

haha i would have guessed cat myself,,but i was already asking matt about it a while back...bob

[mowerman]

i love that little bit of red you got between the hub cap and rim..bob

[1961H67]

Your Paint will probably hold up much better then the rattle can factory Cummins Old Gold I used ,, I can’t tell any difference in color . My LJ /220 had a 24volt starter, I put a 12v 42 MT , just check the drive size and some use a spacer , I flipped mine over to keep the wiring under out of the way. That B73 is showing progress every day! 

 

 

 

[Mike]

On 3/8/2022 at 8:16 PM, Onyx610 said:

You need to make a YouTube channel and make videos of the progress 

Not to steal the thread but, maybe a couple of the Windfall Girls would fit just right, along with the video.

[mattb73lt]

Drove about 70+ rivets back into the hood halves at my friend's shop today. It may not pass an airworthiness inspection, but I haven't forgotten how to drive rivets from my schooling 40 years ago. Interesting coincidence, the plane I was flying when I found the truck was in the shop for it's annual inspection and was right next to where I was working.

[doubleclutchinweasel]

That's cool, Matt!

[VALS327]

Looks good, I always hated seeing the bottom of that plane while I was cruising down the road. It looks much nicer in the shop. 
😂😂😂

[mattb73lt]

Doesn’t really get used much, now. It’s heyday was late 80’s-mid 90’s and used mostly for enforcement on passenger vehicles. Never really did much commercial enforcement with it. 

 

[VALS327]

Yeah unfortunately the staffing levels are very low and the state doesn’t realize that taking away benefits is going to cause more of an issue for them. My department’s numbers are way lower then they should be. Sadly, like most departments finding recruits is difficult. Our last test only 500 applied, 300 showed up to take the test and 15 were just hired.