B-73 Restoration

[AZB755V8]

13 hours ago, yarnall said:

Just make that hood red and put the damn thing back together. You’ve dragged this out long enough!!!!  Macungie is only 2 months away. 

Boy Oh Boy, Todays youth are so inpatient! Maybe Old men I don't know your age, for sure an incredible undertaking. Think Matt has been working on this for 4 years?? Oh crap it is looking like 7 years maybe actual time start to finish, wow time flies.

Took me 1995-2013 to get mine done, that is only 18 years, You can't rush Perfection, Matt is doing Fine 👍

I want to see it completed before... you know I die as well... but it will be the best NEW, OLD, B Model in the country if not the World!!!!

Love Macungie, Don't think I will make it this year with Biden... I mean fuel prices... It would be over $5,000 round trip in the Superliner with trailer and other two on deck. All in about $7,500 for the trip, LOL.

[Mark T]

I'm like'n this truck too. Not many guys can do so many different things and turn out as well.  It's a given it's gonna be exceptional when it's done. I also like watching as he post progress. Personally, I find it inspirational .  Guy knows what he's doing and it's gonna take as long as it will take . 

[yarnall]

18 hours ago, mattb73lt said:

Ok, I’ll run to the hardware store to see if I can find some rattle can paint to match, clarinet reeds and scotch tape and strap this whole thing back together to see if I can make it!,😂😂

Tractor supply has farmall red. Just get it done. We’re getting bored with this.   Next project:  paint the Caddy John Deere green. 

Edited April 3, 2022 by yarnall

[mattb73lt]

11 hours ago, Mark T said:

I'm like'n this truck too. Not many guys can do so many different things and turn out as well.  It's a given it's gonna be exceptional when it's done. I also like watching as he post progress. Personally, I find it inspirational .  Guy knows what he's doing and it's gonna take as long as it will take . 

Thanks for the comments. I never thought this would be this nice, considering what I started with. I had a vision of what I wanted to make it into when I found it all those years ago, but never it being this nice or taking so long. In a way, I’m glad it did because my skills have improved and I have the means and time now to do it right. And that damn cab! It almost made me question starting it because it was so bad. But finding several things for it and a friend that gave me the fire truck cab for the roof made me think I could do it. Plus, chatting with everyone has been a blast. Never imagined chatting with people from Australia or Russia about it. So I thank everyone for adding to the conversation, it all helps on this long journey!!

Matt

[mowerman]

I think some of us are getting anxious to see some of that gorgeous sheet metal bolted together,,,,,,, it would not surprise me if you did not complete it this year …. Possibly if your completely retired… bob

[mattb73lt]

55 minutes ago, mowerman said:

I think some of us are getting anxious to see some of that gorgeous sheet metal bolted together,,,,,,, it would not surprise me if you did not complete it this year …. Possibly if your completely retired… bob

No, I’m dying to see it together too and a little anxious about putting the cab on without dropping it! Also, not fully retired yet, but my new career gives me a lot of time to do things in the winter months and things will really pick up in May for the summer. So, I’m pushing to get as much done now.

[mechohaulic]

as it has been said;"Rome wasn't built in a day". the truck sure looks a lot better then Rome .

[1961H67]

Just wanted to say Thank You Matt ! , For the L Cab parts, the weekly updates and pictures, the tips on body work, And MOSTLY on the encouragement on my LJ that I used when I got out of High School in the late 70s ( picture) , I put off working on it till 1995 , Then took it apart when my son was 6 ( picture) , and parked it in a shed for 20 years! I got it out about 2 years ago and am rolling along pretty good with the Motivation of You & ALL the folks that commit and share ideas on Your work, which is perfect! I can’t wait to see The B73 in person!     Dean 

[mattb73lt]

1961H67 awesome pictures!! I’m so glad all those parts were so helpful. This little blog has been so helpful to me in keeping me focused and on track and I’m even happier that it has helped you in your efforts, along with others who maybe are just here to read through it. It has been quite the journey thus far!!

[Brocky]

Matt and H67, I want to thank you both for posting progress pictures of your restorations.. I am simply amazed at the skill level in both of your restorations.. 

[mattb73lt]

4 minutes ago, Brocky said:

Matt and H67, I want to thank you both for posting progress pictures of your restorations.. I am simply amazed at the skill level in both of your restorations.. 

Thank you!

[Mark T]

20 minutes ago, Brocky said:

Matt and H67, I want to thank you both for posting progress pictures of your restorations.. I am simply amazed at the skill level in both of your restorations.. 

Remind you of anyone who restored a couple Brockways  🤔

[mechohaulic]

1 hour ago, mattb73lt said:

1961H67 awesome pictures!! I’m so glad all those parts were so helpful. This little blog has been so helpful to me in keeping me focused and on track and I’m even happier that it has helped you in your efforts, along with others who maybe are just here to read through it. It has been quite the journey thus far!!

can look at it this way;; "has been quite the journey thus far". astronauts go for a journey - all they do is ride around the earth a few times, come back and are forgotten, your journey not only has given you a project of pride but has been an inspiration to many: myself included.  you step out the door and still see your journey sitting in the driveway or even better at a truck show with so many people in awe staring at it. tried to up load my B73/75 L cab (1/25th scale) ; won't work. 

[Brocky]

1 hour ago, Mark T said:

Remind you of anyone who restored a couple Brockways  🤔

The Millard Family!!!  Tom posted some pictures on Farcebook with pictures of a Chevy pickup he is restoring with his brother..

[mechohaulic]

863 replies to this post !! that in its self  is something to have pride in.

[Mark T]

6 hours ago, Brocky said:

The Millard Family!!!  Tom posted some pictures on Farcebook with pictures of a Chevy pickup he is restoring with his brother..

Exactly who I was thinking.  

[VALS327]

Hello Matt, I think we are almost as excited as you are to see it completed. You are doing an exceptional job with the restoration. 

[mattb73lt]

Mock up Monday. Tested out my new bumper to check the alignment of the brackets that were mangled when I got it. This truck came with a flush bumper with no grill guard, which I always liked with this style radiator. When I found it it had a bumper off a DM grafted to it. Those brackets were welded to these. Lots of heat and hammering to get them back in shape. This should make the front end look really good.

[1961H67]

That’s going to look Great,, That Radiator is the Eye Catcher on the B73s , even in old pictures they pop out ,,, And that will be magnified by all the beauty around it on yours !   I got my fenders back yesterday, just hung them on to get a idea on cutting the back off another set,,, This is probably going to be the most challenging job yet ( Still hoping a set will pop up,, But LJs are hard to find parts for) Cab is ready for primer , We are going forward! 

[mattb73lt]

Excellent! They look straight, but yeah they’ll need some work. Splicing two together will be a challenge. It’s really starting to look good. I think your idea about the original paint scheme will certainly make it stand out for sure. Great to see it coming along.

[mowerman]

Wow matt all I see is lots of brand new stuff they’re excellent …  also am I screwy or is this other fellow building two trucks with the same time …bob 

[mattb73lt]

6 minutes ago, mowerman said:

Wow matt all I see is lots of brand new stuff they’re excellent …  also am I screwy or is this other fellow building two trucks with the same time …bob 

No, two different trucks. The one with the fender is 1961H67's, he's working on an LJ. We've been comparing notes and helping each other out.

[mowerman]

I get that……. But isn’t he building an H model at the same time?????? Also I did not know LJ fenders were so hard to find frankly I think it’s just a matter of people that have them are not presenting them in any way shape or form they’re mainly just sitting behind peoples businesses farms junkyards so on so forth I’m sure that’s what everybody’s main problem is they dont know where to look … bob

[1961H67]

Bob  I’m sure your exactly correct on LJs setting around in hidden places, I’ve asked all the people I know who have restored LJs and have come up short on a good set of fenders, I have 2 parts LJs and the fenders are pretty bad, the cab parts I got from Matt helped me a bunch. I would love to find good set before I start making a set, if anyone has any leads I would appreciate it.   Dean 

[doubleclutchinweasel]

Used to be a guy named Bob Anders in Waynesville, NC, who had a show-winning LJ.  I think he sold it.  Not sure if Bob is still around or not.  But, he had contacts.