B-73 Restoration

[mattb73lt 473]

Been sitting on this since I found it back in Aug '98. It was missing the engine, the owner took it out and put it in a B-81. It was rough but all there, including the radiator and hood. It has a double-over Triplex in it with a clutch brake. The cab was the worst part with the typical L Model issues and rust, but fixable. It was converted to a tandem with a set of R Model axles. The owner kept the original axle though and it came with the truck. This was always my favorite B Model set up, cab, radiator and fuel tanks. Just loved the lines and stumbled upon this one only by luck. I had nowhere to store it as a complete truck, so I disassembled it and stored it around the inside of my barn since then to preserve it until I got to it. Collected up what was missing, to include a pretty fresh NH-220 to replace the missing one. Found a roll-back equipment body/deck for it to haul my toys around. Been picking away at various parts of it when time permits and finally getting to it. It's going to get a frame stretch for the roll-back, Budd hubs for polished ALCOA rims, polished tanks and radiator and original red paint. With luck and perserverance it should'nt take as long as I've had it stored.

[j hancock 12,162]

Looks like an excellent project! Is this the one found from the air?

[mattb73lt 473]

Yeah, Damn near killed myself spotting it. The give away was the windshield frames and headlight panels. Didn't have the hood or radiator on it, so the form was hard to recognize.

[Bobby j 198]

Nice find.........Bobby j.

[41chevy 9,885]

Going to be a really nice unit all done up. I like those cabs better than the B cab Course my size probably has a bit to do with it. . .

[Dirtymilkman 1,167]

I love the L cab B

[HarryS 408]

That is going to make a really nice rollback.

[AdirondakMack 66]

Nice! Have fun!

[carlotpilot 1,360]

I can picture that with a 60 in. sleeper 24 ft alum bed rollback- alum budd whls- 3rd lift axle a 3406 cat shoe horned in front 13 spdov. fuller with 3.36gears in back painted gold powder black alum all polished- on full air ride -with a rolling conestoga cover hauling a 1934-5 rolls around the country to the shows

[j hancock 12,162]

You dream in technicolor!

[carlotpilot 1,360]

You dream in technicolor!

[seyser 148]

Found from the air? Tell us the story!!

[mattb73lt 473]

OK, so the find story. Back then I was a Trooper assigned to the Aviation Unit, I've retired since. We had three Cessna 182's we did various things with, including marijuana eradication. Our Narcotics Unit had found a grow in the Northwestern part of the state and set up on to try an catch the guy growing it as it was on public land. Days go by and they catch the guy tending his grow on a Sunday.. I got called out to pick up another Trooper as a spotter that afternoon because they want to make sure they cut it all down and there aren't anymore hidden grows. We get there and the ground guys are nowhere near ready to go in the woods to start. We have some time to kill so we do some sight seeing around a local lake. On the far side of it I spot a junkyard. I was always on the hunt for rusty metal back then and knew just about where every derelict truck was due to the job. we head over there and make a pass. I was disappointed because it was all modern cars and of no value to me.

As we pull off, I turn left and see a contractor's yard with some trucks. As we pass over I spot on the edge of the woods a bunch of dead trucks. One of which gets my interest but I can't make it out because it has no hood or radiator. I come around again dropping some flaps to slow down and decending for a better look. After a few passes I'm pretty sure I struck gold and have some find of a B-70 series with an L cab.

The guys were ready now to do the eradication, so we go back there. I made a note of what town it was in and how to get there. Monday I go to work and I'm trying to find out who's yard it was and how do I contact the owner. A friend of mine was the Resident Trooper in that town so I call him up. One of his Officers knows the owner, gives me his name, number and says he's a real nice guy and to just call him. I do and arrange to meet with him the next weekend. I do and he says a guy was out last year and wanted the tanks off it, but told him the whole thing goes as he didn't want to break it up. He never came back. So now I know he'll part with it, I just don't know what he'll take for it. So I ask him, bottom line what'll you take for it( I hate negotiating). He say's, same as the last guy.....$1800. I almost fainted, here was the B Model I was always hunting for and minus the engine was complete and unmolested. I couldn't get the word sold out of my mouth fast enough.

That's how I came to own this B-73. As a side note- I researched the truck and got the build records from the Mack Museum. In there was the original owners name and the town he lived in. Around 2004 I searched the phone book and came across the same name, slightly different address. Out of the blue I call the number and a gentleman answers. I explain who I am and the truck I have and that I was looking for it's original owner. He says hold on and hands the phone to his father and says you need to talk to this guy. It's the original owner, 46 years later!!! He gets all excited that the truck is still around. I make arrangements for him to come see it at my house. He was about 83 or so and had a HUGE smile on his face the whole time. He gave me a few pictures of the truck when he owned it and had it all pinstriped up. As he was leaving he turns to and says, " Thank you so much, you made an old man's day" .

[1957B61Vt 91]

Nice!

Good story .

Have fun with it

Steve

[ws721 344]

Before you put a 3406 in it stay with a Cummins and go with a N14 mechanical. That kicks a 3406 a$$ any day and better millage. Nice find. Hats off to you for taking the time to hunt down the original owner. That's what this hobby is all about!!

[Dirtymilkman 1,167]

Do we get to see the original pictures?

[mattb73lt 473]

I'll try to scan them. It's an old Polaroid that's kinda fuzzy/faded.

[seyser 148]

Great story! Thanks for sharing.

[b615rich 75]

Thanks for sharing a great story (two great stories actually!). Good luck, hope to see it someday! Yeah, I learned on an R and love me' but I had to get a B with the big radiator and an L cab too (Mack museum calls it the "California cab").

[mattb73lt 473]

Current pics of it in storage. The cab is going to be the hardest part as it has the most issues. Engine is ready for paint. Transmission is rebuilt. Now just to get started.

[41chevy 9,885]

Great story! Nice work on the chassis and engine. Oh and nice "Henry" too. 1926 or 27 ? Paul

[mattb73lt 473]

'27 Fordor

[HarryS 408]

I was too busy admiring the engine and missed the "Henry". Nice on both counts.

[Gmerrill0516 372]

Really great stories. I'd love to find out anything about my truck but the trail from Mack is as dry as it gets. I can't locate any reference to the original company that ordered it or the company that bought it as the original order was cancelled. Anyway, it's a good find and a great story. Do yourself a favor and print out all the information and make sure it stays with the truck. Did you get a picture with the guy I hope? Well document what you have anyway as stuff has a way of fading into the past and getting lost forever.

Thanks for the story and the pictures. Looks like a bunch of good times.

[AdirondakMack 66]

Great story!