I have recently acquired a 58 or 59 model Mack b61 truck. It was used locally when it was bout new in my area as some sort of trailer wrecker setup. "Slim's wrecker service" was the only tow truck for about a 120 mile stretch back then. I personally know Slim and his wife and kids and grandkids. He is a cool older man with all sorts of whitty stories about things that he had seen and those that had happened to him. He tells them all with a very unique persona and that all so evident "old guy" voice and swag.
I acquired the truck from another gentlemen that owed me a bit and had begged the old truck off of Slim for nothing. It is pretty awful shape and will require an almost complete rebuild. It is single cab and single axle. Perched up on it's back is fifth wheel hitch and right in front of that rests a very hefty overbuilt winch tower. Winch is pto driven and slim had to knock the back window out to reach the gear handle to run it. slim claims it ran fine when he parked it there years ago. He. Can't remember what exacty was wrong with it but he thinks it was several small things and he also seems to remember not being able to get repair parts because of wartime. At any rate, this will be my first restoration ever and quite possibly my last but I have found a good source for parts that's not to awful priced and a lot of good info on the thermodyne power plant and parts sourcing for that as well.
I have some questions and some of you might know. Maybe not either but I appreciate the interest in advance. #1 how many lbs can this thing handle with the one axle? The fifth wheel measures to be the same heights a regular truck so it should couple up to any drop deck or lowboy but really how much could it tow behind it. I own a construction company and have a small cat 215 excavator that I am hoping it could pull around locally. Al though I'm not sure of the weight on the 215 I expect it to be around 30,000 lbs or so. Either way what are my limitations?
#2. What is the general consensus on re powering it with the original thermodyne or going with something more current? I am a business owner but that also means mechanic and electrician, so on and so forth so I am perfectly capable in mind and facility as well. Not looking for what would be cheaper but more popular reliable? Ther are many other bouncing around in my head but let's start here and see if anyone has anything for me. Like I said, interest is appreciated in advance.
I acquired the truck from another gentlemen that owed me a bit and had begged the old truck off of Slim for nothing. It is pretty awful shape and will require an almost complete rebuild. It is single cab and single axle. Perched up on it's back is fifth wheel hitch and right in front of that rests a very hefty overbuilt winch tower. Winch is pto driven and slim had to knock the back window out to reach the gear handle to run it. slim claims it ran fine when he parked it there years ago. He. Can't remember what exacty was wrong with it but he thinks it was several small things and he also seems to remember not being able to get repair parts because of wartime. At any rate, this will be my first restoration ever and quite possibly my last but I have found a good source for parts that's not to awful priced and a lot of good info on the thermodyne power plant and parts sourcing for that as well.
I have some questions and some of you might know. Maybe not either but I appreciate the interest in advance. #1 how many lbs can this thing handle with the one axle? The fifth wheel measures to be the same heights a regular truck so it should couple up to any drop deck or lowboy but really how much could it tow behind it. I own a construction company and have a small cat 215 excavator that I am hoping it could pull around locally. Al though I'm not sure of the weight on the 215 I expect it to be around 30,000 lbs or so. Either way what are my limitations?
#2. What is the general consensus on re powering it with the original thermodyne or going with something more current? I am a business owner but that also means mechanic and electrician, so on and so forth so I am perfectly capable in mind and facility as well. Not looking for what would be cheaper but more popular reliable? Ther are many other bouncing around in my head but let's start here and see if anyone has anything for me. Like I said, interest is appreciated in advance.