Bradf Posted August 6 Share Posted August 6 My family is wanting to restoring our 1956 Mack Semi Truck. It has been stored in a cold storage building since the late 70s. The interior is shot, lots of rodent damage. Is there restoration shops that specialize in Mack’s, or do we look for general truck restoration shops? We are in Iowa, but I could haul it to the right place thanks Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/75830-where-to-start-restoration/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
67RModel Posted August 6 Share Posted August 6 I would say probably the best known Mack restoration shop / specialist is Matt Pfahl in Connecticut. The other one I know of is Mickey's Macks, owner Mickey Delia in Jersey. I have zero experience with either of them, however, their names have come up often over the years when discussing Mack restorations and from what I have heard are they both highly regarded. 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/75830-where-to-start-restoration/#findComment-580296 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post 1961H67 Posted August 6 Popular Post Share Posted August 6 That all depends on how much money they want to spend, and how “ Nice “ they want the end result. It’s very labor intensive and a lot different restoring a 56 Mack vs a 56 Chevy. But it can be done, and there are shops out there that can provide that service. 3 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/75830-where-to-start-restoration/#findComment-580297 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post 70mackMB Posted August 6 Popular Post Share Posted August 6 Bradf, Welcome to BMT! l don't know of Mickey's but l have seen Matt's work and it looks better than new. .....Hippy 2 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/75830-where-to-start-restoration/#findComment-580300 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Brocky Posted August 6 Popular Post Share Posted August 6 As Dean said above, ANY restoration is very labor intensive!!!! With restoration shops getting big buck$ per hour!! How much of the work can you / your family do yourselves????? What are your mechanical and/or body skills???? Do you have a facility to work in??? Does your family want a showroom perfect restoration or just a very showable truck??? Take a bunch of pictures (post them here!) and visit the Iowa 80 museum in Walcott IA and ask a bunch of questions.. They will also know of vendors in your general area to do individual parts of the restoration: Engine, Brakes, interior, and paint.. IF you can do a lot of the work, there is a LOT of help and information on this forum. With no pictures it is hard to guesstimate how much it would cost, BUT for a top showroom restoration, entirely by an outside shop, I am guessing off the top of my head, the price would be well in excess of $100K!!! The bottom line is your ability's and checkbook VS your family's wants!!!!!!!!! 5 Quote Brocky Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/75830-where-to-start-restoration/#findComment-580301 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post h67st Posted August 6 Popular Post Share Posted August 6 2 hours ago, Brocky said: As Dean said above, ANY restoration is very labor intensive!!!! With restoration shops getting big buck$ per hour!! How much of the work can you / your family do yourselves????? What are your mechanical and/or body skills???? Do you have a facility to work in??? Does your family want a showroom perfect restoration or just a very showable truck??? Take a bunch of pictures (post them here!) and visit the Iowa 80 museum in Walcott IA and ask a bunch of questions.. They will also know of vendors in your general area to do individual parts of the restoration: Engine, Brakes, interior, and paint.. IF you can do a lot of the work, there is a LOT of help and information on this forum. With no pictures it is hard to guesstimate how much it would cost, BUT for a top showroom restoration, entirely by an outside shop, I am guessing off the top of my head, the price would be well in excess of $100K!!! The bottom line is your ability's and checkbook VS your family's wants!!!!!!!!! Plus one on Brocky's comments, I spent $62k on mine and that was with me doing quite a bit of the work. 1 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/75830-where-to-start-restoration/#findComment-580307 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brocky Posted August 6 Share Posted August 6 My 1949 Diamond T model 201 one ton pick up was done entirely by a restorer and it cost me about $65K.. Plus the original price of the truck and transportation to and from the shop in Amarillo TX.. 2 Quote Brocky Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/75830-where-to-start-restoration/#findComment-580317 Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseliner64 Posted August 7 Share Posted August 7 Welcom to BMT Bradf.Yes restoration is a very expensive game.It really does depend on how far you want to go with it.Put up some pictures and some of the guys on here could guide you.Best of luck with your truck.It sounds like a very interesting piece of Mack history... Paul 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/75830-where-to-start-restoration/#findComment-580320 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post mattb73lt Posted August 7 Popular Post Share Posted August 7 Welcome to the forum first off!! There's a lot of knowledgable people here to help and point you in the right direction. All of the above comments are from people that have considerable knowledge and who are well versed with trucks and I would seriously consider the advice that's been offered. It takes a lot to restore a truck. Money, space, skill, resources and above all, motivation!! If you're looking for a shop to carry out the whole restoration, due diligence in researching the shop is a requirement. It costs a lot to restore a truck and the wrong shop can cost you dearly in money and time. History, reputation, honesty, location, recommendations from previous customers all can play into finding the right shop. Be prepared to pay if a shop handles the restoration. Shop costs, man hours, parts can add up very quickly. I've known Matt Pfahl personally for over 30 years. His shop in Connecticut has grown from a single bay in his parent's backyard to a massive six bay shop with about nine people working for him. Professional, nut and bolt restorations take two to three years and can cost well over six figures. Do it yourself restorations are a whole other affair. Shop space, personal skill, tools, specialized equipment, resources all factor into completing a restoration. Many restorations start off with a lot of motivation, but peter out and stall as money, parts and expenses, problems mount up. Pictures of the truck you're considering restoring would help. Evaluating what you have is important. It may need minor work and cosmetics to make roadworthy of be a money pit that's to far gone to consider restoring. But, could offer parts to restore a truck to it's likeness with some original parts. 5 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/75830-where-to-start-restoration/#findComment-580321 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hicrop10 Posted August 7 Popular Post Share Posted August 7 First welcome to BMT.Now on to your questions.I’m in the middle of restoring my 1964 B873SX tractor,some quick history it has been in the family since new.Pictures are below..I have all the original paperwork.Dad paid $27,300 for it.Now onto your questions.First get all the paperwork from the Mack museum.Evaluate the truck,does it run,stop,steer and preform like it should.Before you go into the bodywork and paint have the truck mechanical sound.Then onto brakes and tires.If you don’t call it quits by now your into it for the whole deal.I had a running truck when I started(save a shit load of money).Thebody is not bad at all it was garaged most of it life.I’m having Mickey from Mickey’s Mack do the cab,fenders,hood and all the paint.The chassis I sandblasted myself and had a local towing company paint it,they had a big enough paint booth,did a great job as you can see from picture's. There are plenty of great,knowledgeable guys here that are more then willing to help and there’s no dumb questions.They have all been asked and answered.Take multiple pictures of everything you take off,and bag and tag everything.You can call me would love to talk with you.215-669-1252,Mike Durkin. 1 3 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/75830-where-to-start-restoration/#findComment-580326 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted August 7 Share Posted August 7 agree with all the above. restoration is time/money. heading states '56 Mack semi. possibly a B model ? which would be a more common Mack . reproduction parts might be easier to acquire VS a G / H cab. one of Matts pristine works was on display at the local CT truck show recently; a B-61 dump. I know the owners and remember this truck as a daily driver (i'm old too). work so well done ; I wouldn't want to drive it. better then day it was build. I've know Matt for many yrs. post some pictures as many do on BMT so we all can watch start to finish. 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/75830-where-to-start-restoration/#findComment-580327 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hicrop10 Posted August 7 Popular Post Share Posted August 7 Here’s somemore pictures. 2 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/75830-where-to-start-restoration/#findComment-580328 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post 67RModel Posted August 7 Popular Post Share Posted August 7 1 hour ago, hicrop10 said: First welcome to BMT.Now on to your questions.I’m in the middle of restoring my 1964 B873SX tractor,some quick history it has been in the family since new.Pictures are below..I have all the original paperwork.Dad paid $27,300 for it.Now onto your questions.First get all the paperwork from the Mack museum.Evaluate the truck,does it run,stop,steer and preform like it should.Before you go into the bodywork and paint have the truck mechanical sound.Then onto brakes and tires.If you don’t call it quits by now your into it for the whole deal.I had a running truck when I started(save a shit load of money).Thebody is not bad at all it was garaged most of it life.I’m having Mickey from Mickey’s Mack do the cab,fenders,hood and all the paint.The chassis I sandblasted myself and had a local towing company paint it,they had a big enough paint booth,did a great job as you can see from picture's. There are plenty of great,knowledgeable guys here that are more then willing to help and there’s no dumb questions.They have all been asked and answered.Take multiple pictures of everything you take off,and bag and tag everything.You can call me would love to talk with you.215-669-1252,Mike Durkin. Not to derail this gentleman's thread but I was browsing Flickr the other day and saw this picture. Looks like it was one of your rigs back in the day. The picture is owned by a fellow on there named Dick Copello with the user name PAcarhauler. He has hundreds if not thousands of vintage and antique truck pictures mostly from PA. I think he ended up with all or some of Ron Adam's photo collection. The photo info for this one says it was taken by Ron Adams but no year or location was given. Dick Copello’s albums | Flickr 6 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/75830-where-to-start-restoration/#findComment-580330 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hicrop10 Posted August 7 Popular Post Share Posted August 7 67rmodel,yes that was one of our trucks.It’s a 1984 DM800 with a cat under the hood.Dad ordered it,with 65000 rears.I remember it pulled a big press that we tipped the scale at around 250,000-300,000 lbs.All I remember is that when we lifted the gooseneck up off the ground the rear tandem tires went just about flat.Had to inflate them to 15-175 lbs.Truck never looked back. 3 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/75830-where-to-start-restoration/#findComment-580335 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bradf Posted Friday at 02:15 AM Author Popular Post Share Posted Friday at 02:15 AM Here are a few pics 4 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/75830-where-to-start-restoration/#findComment-584053 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post 1961H67 Posted Friday at 10:06 AM Popular Post Share Posted Friday at 10:06 AM A lot of us would have loved to have our families old truck in that condition,, especially being kept dry for 50 years! I would start by pressure washing everything, they’re is not that much to the interior that’s probably damaged, headliner and seats are easy to fix . Put some batteries in and see if the engine will turn over, ( can’t tell if it’s air start , it does have a big tank ) might pull it and see . If it does, drain the old fuel, check the tanks for rust. You might be surprised it might not be to bad of a project. 3 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/75830-where-to-start-restoration/#findComment-584058 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freightrain Posted Friday at 11:01 AM Share Posted Friday at 11:01 AM Agree, only three things in a B model that mice can hurt: seat, headliner and wiring. All easily replaced. Get it washed up and take a good look at it. Quote Larry 1959 B61 Liv'n Large...................... Charter member of the "MACK PACK" Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/75830-where-to-start-restoration/#findComment-584059 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted Friday at 02:00 PM Share Posted Friday at 02:00 PM Didn’t see much of a post on this thing I can’t find anywhere where it says anything about it is this something this guy just bought it looks to be pretty clean as far as sheet metal goes…bob Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/75830-where-to-start-restoration/#findComment-584067 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradf Posted Saturday at 12:31 PM Author Share Posted Saturday at 12:31 PM Mowerman, it was my grandfathers truck. It has been in a shed since about 1975. Its time someone in the family did something with it 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/75830-where-to-start-restoration/#findComment-584119 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brocky Posted Saturday at 01:02 PM Share Posted Saturday at 01:02 PM Brad, Welcome back!!! All of the above comments from August are applicable.. Give it a good bath and then take a LOT of pictures: fenders, cab corners, engine (looking for obvious leaks), frame (single or double?), interior, ETC. and post them here for comments. Since you are in Iowa make an appointment with the Iowa 80 restoration shop, behind the museum, or Lee Snyder northwest of Des Moines (if he is still alive?) and ask them to give you some advise and some rough ball park pricing of having it restored VS a Do It Yourself job. I do not know what Mike Harbison Jr is doing with his fathers collection of about 200 Macks in Rising Sun?? I would put a bar on the engine to see if it turns over rather than try to start it first. 1 Quote Brocky Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/75830-where-to-start-restoration/#findComment-584122 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowerman Posted 3 hours ago Share Posted 3 hours ago On 10/11/2025 at 5:31 AM, Bradf said: Mowerman, it was my grandfathers truck. It has been in a shed since about 1975. Its time someone in the family did something with it Gotcha thanks looks like you’re gots lotsa good looking clean sheet metal which is a huge plus you have got a big head start right there bud thanks for the updates .. bob Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/75830-where-to-start-restoration/#findComment-584171 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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