74 Mack Rmodel Project

[blackdog2]

  On 12/31/2023 at 4:28 AM, mattb73lt said:

Berlin Steel Construction. They were still big when I moved to town, 30 years ago. They’re still in business, but seemed to downsize the yard here.

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They belong to a Bigger Corp along the East coast out of Virginia .....They called Me for a Price to haul Steel for State project's .....needing a SBE ....

 

[JBushneck]

Since someone asked. A little more on the truck. It has a ENDT675 Mack engine with a Mack 5speed. Rear ratio is 4.25 and has a wheel base of 147”. Great set up for pulling my 20’ car trailer. 

[JBushneck]

Going completely through the cab. 

[mowerman]

  On 12/31/2023 at 4:34 AM, mattb73lt said:

Wow, you really tore into that quickly!! If you’re that deep into it now, may is a very strong possibility.

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I was thinking the same thing holy cow. This guy is not wasting any time. I didn’t realize it was gonna go about extreme.

[mowerman]

Take me over a month just of doing oil change and filter ha ha nice work bud let’s keep it going. You’re certainly off to a good start…. Bob

[mowerman]

Not sure if I read it right he was looking for more room but already has the +3

[JoeH]

  On 12/31/2023 at 7:06 PM, mowerman said:

Take me over a month just of doing oil change and filter ha ha nice work bud let’s keep it going. You’re certainly off to a good start…. Bob

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When you're working 14 hour days it barely leaves you the steam to take your boots off...

[mowerman]

  On 12/30/2023 at 11:19 PM, mechohaulic said:

I didn't notice that point till you wrote;;  it IS a centered cab . NOT  a DM steel nose.  Still it's a Mack worth maintaining (they all are ),

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I also thought it was a DM at first Glance Probably because steel nose is usually offset… bob

[mowerman]

  On 12/31/2023 at 7:13 PM, JoeH said:

When you're working 14 hour days it barely leaves you the steam to take your boots off...

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Yes, I probably mentioned that. I usually don’t have time to do anything at all during the week. I’m sure I’m not alone in this.

[Vladislav]

  On 12/30/2023 at 7:49 PM, Brocky said:

Vlad, There are not many"Flintstone's" up here in the States.. I vote to keep it as an original hardnose!!!

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Brocky, you didn't note my post was a quote to Bob Moverman's post.

Sure steel nose is much rarer in your neck of the woods and being also a single axle the truck represens unusual configuration. So worth to keep it that way on my mind.

[Vladislav]

  On 12/30/2023 at 11:49 PM, mrsmackpaul said:

I dont think that can happen, the cowls are different shaped, the Flinstone look becomes quite appealing the longer your with them

Fiberglass is just same same after awhile 

 

Paul 

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Paul, as you can see on the cab pics posted later the cowl is similar and swapping soft nose wouldn't be a trouble. But personally I mind keeping the Flintstone look better in this particular cace. My original post had another meaning being addressed to Bob's comment of no need to do any jobs to the truck.

[mowerman]

Yes, from what I saw it looked like all it needed was a fresh coat of paint. Basically just scratch it up and shoot it and start pulling the camper.

[skydawg]

Could someone explain the "Flintstone"moniker?

[terry]

  On 1/1/2024 at 3:33 PM, skydawg said:

Could someone explain the "Flintstone"moniker?

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Believe it's a Australian term for the hard nosed macks    terry  

[Brocky]

  On 1/1/2024 at 4:24 PM, terry said:

Believe it's a Australian term for the hard nosed macks    terry  

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Terry is Correct!!!!!! Especially the R models.. I am not sure about B models???

[mrsmackpaul]

Just the R model with the steel front

Legend has that when the fiberglass bonnet was available Mack Australia couldn't sell them, not tough enough is what Australians thought 

Well one thing lead to another and the once famous road train operator Noel Buntine was waiting on a new truck but no bonnets or mud guards were in Australia 

Cyril Anderson tried to talk him into a fiberglass bonnet and Noel was sceptical to take one

Apparently Noel was given axe handle and told to see just how tough fiberglass was

Turned out fiberglass was really tough and the bonnet lasted, when other Australian operators saw that Buntines that did a huge amount of off road work were buying these fangled fiberglass bonnets then others started buying them

I dunno when the last Flinstone was sold to a owner operator but Im guessing in the 70s

They look like they are from the stone age compared to the fiberglass bonnet 

As a complete side note, Australia had complete fiberglass cabs for the R and the F model for a short time as well because they couldn't get cabs out here quick enough so made the locally 

The extra 3 inches in a R model was first added to fiberglass cabs to give a smooth interior and exterior

 

Paul

[Rich Reinhart]

Good luck and I'm looking forward to taking some pics of it in May. I assume the ATHS York show?

[Jeff M]

  On 12/31/2023 at 7:08 PM, mowerman said:

Not sure if I read it right he was looking for more room but already has the +3

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I was thinking the same thing.  

[JBushneck]

Have made progress with the cab. New wiring harness installed and dash is going back together. Got a little carried away and stripped the frame all the way down. Waiting for some warm weather to paint and start putting back together.

 

[mowerman]

Excellent thanks for letting us know. Yes we all have the weather issue or at least most of us. I’m gonna try to go out and do a little work on mine this Saturday. Let’s see what happens… bob

[JBushneck]

Warmed up the garage this weekend and made some more progress. Was going to paint the cab off of the frame but didn’t want to take the chance of scratching while putting it on so set the cab on the chassis. Still have to move it forward but have a few things to do first.

[mowerman]

Holy shit,,,,, a little carried away???????? Wow  excellent… bob

[mrsmackpaul]

This is some serious action going on

A big job but should be worth it

 

Paul 

[mowerman]

Oh no doubt takes  most of us 10 years or longer to get to that point is that a brand new dashboard and steering wheel or is it just in really good shape?… bob

[JBushneck]

Dash was in decent shape just needed a good cleaning and some paint refreshing. Have not found a decent original steering wheel yet so I painted one of the modern black ones. I’m sure the paint will wear off but works for now.