FREEDOM SUPERLINER

[1961H67]

I would like to thank everyone for the support and comments during the restoration of my Coca Cola LJ , it’s pretty much done except for maybe some rear fenders,, My goal at 66; years old was to relax for a bit, finish repairs on my shop from the flood damage and enjoy some truck and car shows. But with the encouragement of my 10 year old Grandson ( And some friends that know what a Freedom Mack is) I’m going to try to restore Our 87 Freedom. Probably not to the extent that I did the LJ , but hopefully it will make a nice truck to pull a lowboy if I want to haul the LJ ,LTH or C Model to a show. I actually bought this truck about 10 years ago to use, not really knowing what a Freedom was. And I have used it, I’ve had it to every Dam in Western North Carolina on the TVA system, I bought it because I needed a day cab for the rough places. I have talked to a couple people who have Freedoms , I have read some old posts on here about them, If anyone has any information I would appreciate it, I would love to know how many are left. This truck has had the hood replaced with a aftermarket hood and repainted a lighter grey ,my goal is to get it back to the original color and decals. thanks again for all the support. 

 

[mowerman]

hell it doesnt even look like it needs anything,,,your interior is immaculate,,,bob

[mowerman]

love that silver dashboard

[phildirt]

Wheels of Time, May/June 2014 Vol 35, No. 3 (article titled Big Guns & Liberty) has the definitive information on the Freedom series trucks. 

ATHS has the issue in their members area archives.

The Freedom edition was to be limited to 200 trucks. I was only able to identify 151 chassis records at the Mack Trucks Historical Musuem.

22 of the 151 trucks were the MH 613 cabover. I was able to identify 129 SuperLiner II trucks.

[skydawg]

I agree with Bob,it looks like it`s already been restored.

[tjc transport]

1 hour ago, skydawg said:

I agree with Bob,it looks like it`s already been restored.

i  disagree. i think it is so ugly, you should sent it to me immediately to put away inside the big truck shop because the trucks ugly is ALMOST as bad as my ugly.

[1961H67]

Thank you for the information, Unfortunately as for the interior of the Freedom is the best part of it , The worst part is the frame, it’s aluminum, the guys we bought it from installed a plate on the outside, and did a good job, but it’s corroded at every cross member, my thought would be unbolt it under the cab , only 4 bolts on each side attach it to the big steel  frame , find a air ride cut off and start changing all the brackets, but I’ve been using it this way so that’s later down the road. I may replace the hood, my number one goal is to paint it back the original grey and red stripes, it’s still the original color on the fire wall . The E6 350 runs great, 10 speed trans . It has some slack in the front spring shackles but overall it’s still pretty sound .I saw a old post were one was hit in the front but I don’t think this is the same truck, I guess it was repainted when the hood was replaced, I bought this one in Gallipolis OH . I’ve had my Helper working on it some today. 

[Truckcrazy]

Phildirt is the expert on Magnums and Freedom. 

[1961H67]

Yes, he has done some interesting research on them. This maybe an interesting story about a Freedom if anyone has a clue. Back around 1988-1990 , a friend of mine that I worked with at Ryder went to visit some family in West Virginia, he knew I had a LJ , he stopped and took a picture of a LJ , I think it was a Burns Motor Freight in Marlinton WV , He also took a picture of a New Mack , I taped the pictures to my toolbox and never realized the “ New “ Mack until years later was a Freedom,, I wonder where it is now?. 

[mowerman]

excellent,,,,,i was looking at one at a dealership when it was brand new dont remember where i was,,which dealer,,bob,,,

[james j neiweem]

Way to keep that lad busy!

[mowerman]

For sure, I could use him  around here

[1961H67]

I try to keep him interested in these Trucks,, I’ll need to hurry because I’m getting older and in a few years the Girls will get his attention! 

[mowerman]

Ha ha ha yes and there’s that I think that’s how we lost  Vinny 

[mattb73lt]

Looks like a good candidate for restoration. That aluminum from looks like a big concern. Would it be possible to new steel rails into it? I know that would mean a major disassembly of the whole truck, unless there's only a few bad areas that need to be repaired.

[1961H67]

Thank You it’s a fairly sound truck except for the frame, It’s got good A/C , there’s a few of the gauges that doesn’t work . As for the Aluminum frame,, it’s trash, that’s why the previous owners  actually had a frame made and put it on the outside, very time consuming, every bolt and bracket was redrilled .Its not going to fail,,, but I just know all that corroded Aluminum is under there, and it looks terrible. The aluminum slides inside the steel frame about 16 in ,  behind the engine/ transmission mounts , with 4 bolts each side. It really won’t be that bad of a job, take a steel frame and slide it in and bolt it, I could have changed it quicker than removing everything and repairing it the way they did. I’ll keep my eye out for a good air ride cut off, I’ll take some pictures. It’s not noticeable just walking around the truck,,, But I know it’s there. 

[mowerman]

That’s exactly what I was thinking brilliant!! Take your time and one side at a time… sound like you will never be happy patching up good luck 

[mowerman]

Somebody on here was recently. Selling a complete frame heavy duty. I don’t know what model it was. Wanted three grand for it. You might want to poke around parts for sale.i think it was a double frame 

[Vladislav]

On 6/26/2025 at 1:25 AM, 1961H67 said:

Thank you for the information, Unfortunately as for the interior of the Freedom is the best part of it , The worst part is the frame, it’s aluminum, the guys we bought it from installed a plate on the outside, and did a good job, but it’s corroded at every cross member, my thought would be unbolt it under the cab , only 4 bolts on each side attach it to the big steel  frame , find a air ride cut off and start changing all the brackets, but I’ve been using it this way so that’s later down the road. I may replace the hood, my number one goal is to paint it back the original grey and red stripes, it’s still the original color on the fire wall . The E6 350 runs great, 10 speed trans . It has some slack in the front spring shackles but overall it’s still pretty sound .I saw a old post were one was hit in the front but I don’t think this is the same truck, I guess it was repainted when the hood was replaced, I bought this one in Gallipolis OH . I’ve had my Helper working on it some today. 

I think all Macks of that year had firewall and door openings (the whole cab inside) painted graphite metallic. So that's not a Freedom feature.

For the frame my way would be ordering a pair of new straight steel rails from PG Adams or so of similar section as the alu ones are, slide them in place of the bad ones and reattach all the chassis parts back on. Probably a big job but you get very close to original config in the end. The rails may be ordered pre-drilled for a few more coins (about 70% extra to the cost though) but that is notably time consuming along the job.

I like the look of the truck in this current color very much. But no doubt bringing its appearance back to that limited series butch is a must to do along a possible resto deal. 

And if I'm not wrong Rene, the Nederland guy had a few sets of Freedom decals fabricated in the past. He used to be a member on here (Mack boy?) so checking out may be an efforts saving point too.

[1961H67]

Thanks Vlad , You’re probably correct on that firewall paint, there is places pealing of the visor much darker under the light grey. I’m not sure what I’ll do about the frame right now. Hopefully by the time I get it painted I’ll find something out about the Decal . 

[The Heinz]

Can you post/send me the VIN for that Freedom edition? I'd love to see if frame rails were available from Mack still for giggles at least lol. 

I was just up your way yesterday, I came back from a trip to Knoxville through the Gorge just so I could go back through the area after Helene. Wanted to do that ever since Helene destroyed everything and halted my last vacation... Saw plenty of old Macks out there, a DM800, beautiful white R model in Clinton, TN, several 90's RD's, and even a Superliner still in service pulling machinery to rebuild I40. 

[1961H67]

Yes that would be great, I’ll get it for you after while I don’t have it with me, Also I’ll get you the Vin from my RW 753 Superliner and the parts truck I got the 18,000 steering axle from, I’m wondering the difference in the draglunk joint that connects the steering lever . Yes i see a Couple Superliner dumps working on I40 in the gorge, also my Son uses a Whte one with a green strip on I40 also ,, Thank you, I’ll get those VINs