My Dad taught me how to drive a truck in his B-model Mack when I was twelve years old. That was in 1974. That 5X4 transmission you talked about was called the Quadraplex. I spent many wonderful hours with my Dad and that tractor. I'm a retired third generation truck driver with 45 years under my butt. Rest in peace Dad. I miss you.
Hello Fred Simmons, here's to Your Dad, a member of America's Truck Driving Force who help keep our lives supplied with just about everything! Hats off to Your Dad and to you for following in his "tire tracks" as a truck driver yourself. I am 57 today but remember watching the TV show "Movin' On" about Sonny Pruitt's Kenworth back in the mid-1970's. I wanted to be a truck driver SO BAD. In fact, the two battered 1/25 scale truck model frames I used to demo the Mack rear suspension were built by me waaaay back around 1976. Somehow I still have a big box of busted up models from childhood. Finally, I also have a small stack of "Overdrive" magazines from 1972 - 1980 with GREAT truck ads for the newest Peterbilts, Mack R-models, GMC Generals, Chevy Astro cab overs and even Dodge's very briefly built Big Horn 10 wheeler series. Anyhoo, long live big rigs and THANKS for writing! -Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante happy birthday sir ive enjoyed your knowledge for many years i was a car craft subscriber for many years and hot rod.... Always enjoyed the back pages of car craft thanks for your dedication to our hobby.
I'm seeing this two years later...and i'm raising a glass to all the fine fellows who navigated the roads with these machines, including (especially!) my own father. Here's to YOU, all of you. I hope you're getting to drive a B-model in Heaven, because I know how much you enjoyed it.
We have an antique B Series (a 1959 B-20) at my job, and as per Mack's Functional Museum in PA, it is a 1 of 1 truck. When I sent in the information on it for research, they were very intrigued about it. Yes, Mack was in Allentown and the door data plates in the past said, "Mack Trucks, Allentown, PA. Truck Capital of the World". Ours was sitting for a while and after filing the points, checking the fluids and adding fresh fuel the truck fired right up and ran like new. Mack Trucks were like the "Chevy 350" or the "Slant 6" of the truck world. They ran, ran, ran, ran, ran, ran, ran and ran some more. Even today, I'll bet with fresh fuel and some TLC, that old bulldog will fire up. The B Series Macks are highly collectable and sought after. They are striking and classic in their style. Mack has always had the "canine" theme in their trucks. Their engine brake is called a "Power Leash", their engine protection system is called "Guard Dog", some interior options are called "Pedigree" and some floor mats have dog prints on them. They also had another motto, "No Mack Truck is an Orphan" because they always had parts support for their products. Even today, you could send the VIN of this truck to the Mack Museum and they will send you a full history report and build record for the truck free of charge. They will basically send you the "Pontiac Historical Services" version of the data on the truck, a valued piece. Mack was also big into fire apparatus for years and their fire apparatus are well known to be extremely reliable and simple. That division was at one time headquartered on Sexauer Street in Long Island City, Queens. This was before NYC started using numbers for the various streets in boroughs like Queens. I am pretty sure I know exactly which building it was (it's now a warehouse). The name "Bulldog Mack" comes from World War I when the British government ordered Mack AC trucks and were impressed with their performance and found them akin to their national mascot, the English Bulldog. Even today, the Mack magazine is called "Bulldog" and features at times owners and you guessed it, their English Bulldogs. The bulldog mascot was carved by Albert F. Masury, who was an employee on medical leave. In 1979, Mack the Bulldog got his tail and ears trimmed as owners and technicians complained of getting their clothing and jewelry caught on the ornament at times. Today that hood ornament is valued. A gold bulldog denotes the truck has a Mack sourced engine, transmission, and axles. A silver bulldog means it has components from other sources. Of course, Mack is part of Volvo AB now, but for a time, Renault had their hands in Mack, around 1979 or so. That is incorrect---the Jacobs Brake (or Jake Brake which was invented by Clessie Cummins) was introduced in 1961.
If I remember correctly Mack had a partnership with Scania. Starting way back in the 40s. And supposedly the Mack thermodyne and maxidyne engines were a joint design between Mack and scania
@@matthewjames4334 I think that was later on in the 70’s when they had Renault involved possibly. First diesel wasn’t actually “thermodyne” it was called “Lanova” in the 40’a similar design to the 673-711 engines and if I’m right sharing some idea with older 200-220 Cummins engines too back in the day.
@@davidbowser2395 1950 was the start of the Mack-Scania partnership but it was mostly for Europe. There were however Scania engines installed in some Mack trucks from 1962 to 1975.
WOW! I just learned more in 6 min. About Mack than I have in my entire life! I didn't know they had their own diesel engine. Amazing. Thanks Steve. Keep it up. Many out there that values the information you provide us.
My dad retired from Mack trucks. He worked as a mechanic out of the dealership in Ft. Worth Texas. He worked there in the 60s, 70s and retired in the early 80s. He would go nuts when he saw a B model. He was considered top mechanic for years, spok e broken english but somehow he was able to read spec books. A man very dedicated to his job. His check would come all the way from Allentown, PA. Taught me a lot. He's been gone over 20 years and I still miss him every day. He kept waiting on a Ford pick up with Mack features so that he can buy one. Sort of like the Ford-Harley version. It never came.😒
I was thinking the same thing.. But I bet that it would still run and drive as it is with a little work. Those diesels never die,,people just moved on.
That auxiliary tank is probably a hydraulic oil tank Steve,used in the wet line system to run normally run a dump trailer,a hydraulic detachable low boy or the snow plow you mentioned.
Im retired with 40 yrs on the road an i remember sitting in my Dads lap driving a B model Mack hauling wood chips to the paper mill. I later owned a 55 B 73 Dump truck. The old saying goes, when the dog leaves the hood its time to sell the truck. Lol. Love the old Macks
Nothing better looking in the truck world than B-Model late fifties / early sixties Fire Truck with that massive chrome grill. Thanks for posting Steve.
Hiya Steve, Jim from Allentown, PA here ..... I'm thinking that the truck actually started life as a municipal plow truck with a dump body then was converted to a "yard truck" type configuration after. Here is what I'm seeing: The covered headlights I believe were done by the plow truck builder after the factory (the lights would be repositioned to the top of the plow frame or even on top of the cab), the extra tank on the driver side I believe is for hydraulic (you can see the 2 levers in the cab.....1 for PTO engage, 1 for dump body lift (gravity down), the single short exhaust stack to clear the dump body cab overhang, the 5th wheel sits really high which was often done in yard trucks to lift the trailer for moving without the need to crank the landing gear (today its all hydraulics), the large approx 2" pipe behind the cab that is capped off was probably the hydraulic feed for the dump body, heavy camelback suspensions were usually used on heavy dump/concrete trucks but not as much on road tractors, missing brake drums (it looked like the other side was missing too) was often done on yard trucks because they didn't need all the braking effort so save on maintenance costs. Gotta love those B's!! Still some of the best looking trucks out there in my opinion. Love the videos!!
Hello Jiggy Jim, THANK YOU for the expert analysis. I wish I had you on-site to serve as "detective" when I was making that video. I do what I can and often can only surmise as best I can - especially with subjects like Mach trucks - which are far left of my "smart spot" which is Mopars. I thank you particularly for the insight into the elevated fifth wheel and its helpfulness in eliminating the need to get out and crank. I do "file away" helpful comments like yours and hope I have the "presence of mind" to recall your input the next time I do a Big Truck. THANKS again, Steve Magnante
I grew up when steel was big in the US. Both parents were from Europe. Dad came here in '61. Met Mom and he saved and borrowed enough to buy a used '59 B series Mack. Then came the flatbed. As a kid, I remember that truck. The other Mack's that followed too. There was such a source of pride riding in the seat next to him. Since I was 11, he took me every weekend to preform maintenance and thats how I became a "gearhead".
Cool to see an old road warrior and to here the story on it. Mack trucks is one of the oldest truck manufacturers if not the oldest still in business today.
Great job on the old “B” Mack . Drive a lot of them back in the day. They where definitely hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Thanks again !!! Jim
As always, thanks. I drove the big city buses for 24 years and dealt with air over hydraulic brakes and varying weather conditions, and people of different kinds of civility.
A local engineering/dirt moving/concrete placing/trucking company owns a fleet of Mack rigs. The owner decided way back when that Mack was IT, and has stuck with them. He has them all the way from the 1910's to the present.
Steve, once again your classroom has a very broad spectrum! Not just Chevy, Ford, or Mopar automobiles but, trucks, busses, military vehicles, etc! This particular truck was probably my all time favorite. I learned alot about it in this episode! Keep em coming!! Thanks!
When I was a kid, I remember my dad taking me to work one day when he was a mechanic at a Mack truck dealership. He took down the road on a test drive a B-61 Thermodyne. I remember he couldn't quite get the rhythm of the twin sticks on the short drive.
Nice seeing the old Mack. In the early sixties when I used to go for trips with my dad, I always notice a lever on the dash that indicated "Wet - Dry". My dad said it was to shut the air to the front brakes. When it rained, he would put it on "Wet". If it was left on "Dry" the front wheels could lock up on the wet pavement, in a hard stop, and could cause loss of control of the truck. He drove mostly Whites and Internationals. I always enjoy watching your videos. Best Regards - Mike
My father drove one of those most of his career and I got to drive one a few times at the beginning of mine. Those things are classics. They're becoming collectors items and restored ones will bring a handsome price. A bit of trivia - if you see a Mack truck with a brass bulldog on the front, it's a truck with exclusively Mack built components. If it has a chrome bulldog, it doesn't.
I grew up around Mack Trucks, before dynamometers, my father would road test new Mack's before shipping to customers. My father probably did a final inspection of that truck. He was the head final inspector at Mack Trucks in Allentown and retired in 1973. He started working at Mack Trucks in 1938.
Hi Ron Kipp, WOW, I love it when people - or kids of people - who were THERE speak out! I'm hoping your Dad kept a diary about his experiences at Mack? Wrote a book? But as is often the case, folks who had these jobs loved what they did but saw it as "just another day at the mill". If you read Hemmings Classic car, they have a recurring column titled "I Was There" that is written by guest authors who were in the auto industry - or related fields. It's my favorite part of the Mighty Hemmings Classic Car magazine every month. If your Dad is still alive and well (here's hoping...) maybe he should write about his experiences? I'd buy a book on his life! Thanks for writing, Steve Magnante
What I can tell by the center bushings of that Mack B, is that was intended for over the road use because of seeing the nut, thread end, and a very large flat washer, that indicate it doesn’t have grease left trunnion centers. The threaded stud is at the end of what is known as a trunnion shaft for which the suspension articulated in the center. When looking at the Mack model truck and the B, you can tell it has the heavier duty end caps with the visible vertical mounting bolts. The end caps captured the ends of the camelback spring inside by locators on the lower cushion pad and and upper rebound pad for each corner, and safeguarded by tee spring leaf ends protruding. Mack at some point developed a lighter version rear suspension that used springs that are like an inverted spring with eyes at each end with a bolt for the bushing at each eye to attach to the brackets under each rear axle corner. The arm rotating the camshafts to spread the brake shoes, via input from the air brake chamber, is called a slack adjuster because it can be adjusted for brake shoe and drum wear. I have reissues of both model trucks to build. I had built the KW W925 and had the lowboy trailer, along with the Cat dozer as one rig, plus a few back then, and some still now, with plenty more to build and kitbash. My career has big truck intermixed with hot rods and a variety of specialty equipment, and I have my specialties amongst them.
Sweeeeet. If I had millions I would use that truck body and make a hot rod. Sweet truck. Love the style the curves and the bold strong look to that truck body. Thanks for sharing.
i used a b series to move trailers in the yard when i was a diesel mechanic. it had a hydraulic 5th wheel so i could hook up and go without messing with trailer legs. rig had super singles on the singe drive axle it also had an air starter. man that truck was fun, not road worthy but lots of fun
That is what you call a truck. Note the complete absence of plastic, aside from signal lenses. I’m quite sure that the S can bushings are bronze, not plastic like the little toys with automatic transmissions they glue together today! Mack banjos, quad box transmissions or a straight 5 speed with a mud stick. Remember pneumatic starters??? What a great piece of history Steve! Thanks again!
I saw a beautiful B series Mack that has been restored and working hauling fuel for a large Construction company just this week. As a truck driver i loved seeing working and not just a trailer queen.
The last B model built still exists today. It was built with 3 axle drive in the rear with single tires. Cement mixer chassis. Today it is restored with a dump box on it. It still hauls sometimes. The owner also uses a 64 Peterbuilt to pull his lowboy trailer.
Man that truck always been one of my all time favorite Mack truck! In dumpster version or tractor.👌🥰👍it just looks great! What a sad site to see that beauty in such condition! It should be rescued and restored to it’s pristine hay day condition! Great video Steve! Thanks for the brief history!👌😎👍 lol 😂 Funny that you showed some of you Mack trucks models from your childhood! I also built one of those over 40 years ago! Mine is a cement mixer truck!👌😂👍nice!
My NY home town VFD had a 65 Mack B1 with a 30 foot tanker. It was parked in a barn across the street from my house. You knew there was trouble when that beast started
Wow as a Truck Driver here in San Diego Ca 25 years almost being a Teamster can’t even imagine driving these trucks back in the day.Thanks for the Videos Steve.
Hello San Diego! And hello Daniel! I used to live in El Monte, California (1991 - 2005) and had a side gig selling vintage car magazines at the many outdoor car swap meets in SoCal. I used to hit the Jack Murphy Stadium Auto Swap every month! Maybe you helped support me by buying some vintage magazines? I had a light green 1976 Plymouth Volare station wagon with Massachusetts plates. I kept it for weekend swap meet use and used it for about 4 years before a rusted K-member put it out of commission. Anyhoo, THANKS for "keeping America moving" with your truck driving efforts! -Steve Magnante
I am a retired teamster truck driver, and drove many B 61 Macks. No air ride seats or power steering and poor visibility . Sweat to death in summer .Top speed about 62 mph downhill. When they replaced the B model with the R model with the 5 speed maxidyne with the 300 Maxidyne engine , it felt that God had spoken. Also Steve i believe all Maxidyne engines were turbocharged and when mated to the 5 speed Maxidyne transmission Mack had set new industry standards. As for the B 61 series i still have battle scars on my body from driving them. Great article brought many memories. Jeff Cler
Great video Steve, When I worked at a scrap yard we had several B models, I got to drive them and started my truck mechanic apprentiships on Macks I will always love these old dogs!
Mack was the first company to have a transmission as one unit with two sticks while other companies had one or two transmissions behind the others as they called it a “brownie” as the auxiliary
I love the old B Series! They had Duplex, Triplex, and a Quadraplex for your shifting pleasure. I owned a ‘13 & a ‘16 Mack’s and they had they Mack rears, but I opted for air ride. I still have a R Model with the Camelback.
mack had the quadraplex (5x4)(20 foreward 5 reverse) and a duplex (5x2)(high low reverse) and a triplex (5x3)( high medium low and reverse) transmissions. so heavy you hated the thoughts of pulling one to do a clutch job. rockwell also made top loading differentials way back in the "40's" found on some army 10 ton trucks and on some of todays heavy vocational trucks. the thing with these are that they are straight centerline ring and pinion not a hypoid. this gives greater strength with small reduction. also the ring gear drives a spur gear which drives a bull gear for even greater reduction. fun fact that there is 2 oil levels one on the bottom as usual and one in that top side cover. if you didnt make your own wrench for the two bolts inside you had to buy one. the clearances were so small a standard wrench wouldnt fit. i made two each of 7/8 and 15/16 to cover it. long offset box wrench cut off heated and bent. b models were a nightmare for access to anything. fenders were taken off for some engine work and cab came off for others. the 673's were dry liners too. power steering was a late option. if you were heavy enough in the back they weren't too hard to steer but if you were light on the trailer nose you learned to always be moving to steer.
I drove an early 60s B Mack tanker in the fire department. It was a gas job with a 5 speed plus 2 speed rear. The joke was the siren went faster than the truck. That said, many trucks of that era had the headlight buckets rot through from the backside due to water / road salt splash. It was common to change them over to some bumper mounted tractor style headlights because the wiring also went to shit. In this case the plow mounted headlights served the same purpose. It was both a challenge and a bit of fun to drive, provided you didn't need to get anywhere in a hurry.
This one made me laugh, and remember my first experience driving a "broke truck" was an early 80's (may have been older) day cab Mack. Mack engine, 9 speed trans, single seat dog leg windshield with a tiny jumper seat. God what a basic rig that was, hauling 8K of liquid in an old 70's UN-baffled tanker. You had to hold it in gear going down hills or it would jump out, and brakes were air applied not spring, wow you learned quick.
LOve watching your channel, We find the same things, I just do it in the southern US! (although been up to Jersey and Philly.) And you know way me than I do about the tech stuff. Keep up the great content Steve!
up to a certain time. i worked in a shop that ran strictly macks mostly mh models. those bulldogs were all silver even though everything on the truck was mack.
Drove many of these. The absolute treat was the b81 with the 864 which was a V8 with a quadbox. Drove that for about 10 years and it had such personality! Couldn't beat the V8 rumbling along with a straight pipe. Not a fast truck but very strong puller. I hauled heavy equipment with it. Thanks Steve!
Cool schooling Steve. I got to sit in one a few years back. The cabs were very small and as you said, all business. I can't imagine how tough those truckers had to be to haul in these little bare bones cabs for a living! My hats off to them all.
I drove one when I worked in a junkyard in Lyndenhurst on Long Island in the '70's, taking cars to the shredder. Shifted the Pony transmission with the left elbow inside the steering wheel, double clutching my butt off 🤣
My volunteer Fire Department had a B model when I first joined, it was the first truck I learned to drive, and being a stick, many did not know how to drive it. It was also a “convertible” without a roof as many fire trucks we in those days. Wonderful truck, and in the northeast Mack fire trucks were mostly the norm until they abandoned the market after being bought out.
I'm honestly so glad you do these videos. just getting to learn about these things is so awesome. I knew SOME things about mack, but not this much. Thanks for what you do Steve.
The Maxidyne engines are diesel, and were introduced in 65/66. Mack also used some Chrysler 413 gas engines. Macks are still built in Macungie not far from Allentown.
If this guy walked me through a sewing machine junkyard I’d listen to each and every story.
His name is Steve bro
Well said and most likely true.
Yep he do not know all things so I can see lol ly
Absolutely
5 bobbins! Whodathunkit?!
My Dad taught me how to drive a truck in his B-model Mack when I was twelve years old. That was in 1974. That 5X4 transmission you talked about was called the Quadraplex. I spent many wonderful hours with my Dad and that tractor. I'm a retired third generation truck driver with 45 years under my butt. Rest in peace Dad. I miss you.
Hello Fred Simmons, here's to Your Dad, a member of America's Truck Driving Force who help keep our lives supplied with just about everything! Hats off to Your Dad and to you for following in his "tire tracks" as a truck driver yourself. I am 57 today but remember watching the TV show "Movin' On" about Sonny Pruitt's Kenworth back in the mid-1970's. I wanted to be a truck driver SO BAD. In fact, the two battered 1/25 scale truck model frames I used to demo the Mack rear suspension were built by me waaaay back around 1976. Somehow I still have a big box of busted up models from childhood. Finally, I also have a small stack of "Overdrive" magazines from 1972 - 1980 with GREAT truck ads for the newest Peterbilts, Mack R-models, GMC Generals, Chevy Astro cab overs and even Dodge's very briefly built Big Horn 10 wheeler series. Anyhoo, long live big rigs and THANKS for writing! -Steve Magnante
May the Lord keep you and your family safe.
@@SteveMagnante happy birthday sir ive enjoyed your knowledge for many years i was a car craft subscriber for many years and hot rod.... Always enjoyed the back pages of car craft thanks for your dedication to our hobby.
@@SteveMagnante I watched "Movin' On" and I built the "Movin' On" truck model. I think it was supplied by AMT.
@@SteveMagnante love those old Mack's!!!!
How cool! This old girl should be saved and restored. Love the classic Mack trucks. They had a lot of class.
I'm seeing this two years later...and i'm raising a glass to all the fine fellows who navigated the roads with these machines, including (especially!) my own father. Here's to YOU, all of you. I hope you're getting to drive a B-model in Heaven, because I know how much you enjoyed it.
We have an antique B Series (a 1959 B-20) at my job, and as per Mack's Functional Museum in PA, it is a 1 of 1 truck. When I sent in the information on it for research, they were very intrigued about it. Yes, Mack was in Allentown and the door data plates in the past said, "Mack Trucks, Allentown, PA. Truck Capital of the World". Ours was sitting for a while and after filing the points, checking the fluids and adding fresh fuel the truck fired right up and ran like new. Mack Trucks were like the "Chevy 350" or the "Slant 6" of the truck world. They ran, ran, ran, ran, ran, ran, ran and ran some more. Even today, I'll bet with fresh fuel and some TLC, that old bulldog will fire up. The B Series Macks are highly collectable and sought after. They are striking and classic in their style.
Mack has always had the "canine" theme in their trucks. Their engine brake is called a "Power Leash", their engine protection system is called "Guard Dog", some interior options are called "Pedigree" and some floor mats have dog prints on them. They also had another motto, "No Mack Truck is an Orphan" because they always had parts support for their products. Even today, you could send the VIN of this truck to the Mack Museum and they will send you a full history report and build record for the truck free of charge. They will basically send you the "Pontiac Historical Services" version of the data on the truck, a valued piece.
Mack was also big into fire apparatus for years and their fire apparatus are well known to be extremely reliable and simple. That division was at one time headquartered on Sexauer Street in Long Island City, Queens. This was before NYC started using numbers for the various streets in boroughs like Queens. I am pretty sure I know exactly which building it was (it's now a warehouse).
The name "Bulldog Mack" comes from World War I when the British government ordered Mack AC trucks and were impressed with their performance and found them akin to their national mascot, the English Bulldog. Even today, the Mack magazine is called "Bulldog" and features at times owners and you guessed it, their English Bulldogs. The bulldog mascot was carved by Albert F. Masury, who was an employee on medical leave. In 1979, Mack the Bulldog got his tail and ears trimmed as owners and technicians complained of getting their clothing and jewelry caught on the ornament at times. Today that hood ornament is valued. A gold bulldog denotes the truck has a Mack sourced engine, transmission, and axles. A silver bulldog means it has components from other sources.
Of course, Mack is part of Volvo AB now, but for a time, Renault had their hands in Mack, around 1979 or so. That is incorrect---the Jacobs Brake (or Jake Brake which was invented by Clessie Cummins) was introduced in 1961.
If I remember correctly Mack had a partnership with Scania. Starting way back in the 40s. And supposedly the Mack thermodyne and maxidyne engines were a joint design between Mack and scania
@@matthewjames4334 I think that was later on in the 70’s when they had Renault involved possibly. First diesel wasn’t actually “thermodyne” it was called “Lanova” in the 40’a similar design to the 673-711 engines and if I’m right sharing some idea with older 200-220 Cummins engines too back in the day.
@@davidbowser2395 1950 was the start of the Mack-Scania partnership but it was mostly for Europe. There were however Scania engines installed in some Mack trucks from 1962 to 1975.
@@davidbowser2395 Renault bought 10% of Mack in 1979.
It's great to see a truck, a GREAT truck, that was designed and built all by one factory, in the USA.
Thank you, Steve
WOW! I just learned more in 6 min. About Mack than I have in my entire life! I didn't know they had their own diesel engine. Amazing. Thanks Steve. Keep it up. Many out there that values the information you provide us.
When I was a kid in the 60s those were everywhere and in many configurations.
Took a helluva man to drive these trucks back in the day.
That's so great that you brought a model with you from your childhood to tell this story.
My dad retired from Mack trucks.
He worked as a mechanic out of the dealership in Ft. Worth Texas.
He worked there in the 60s, 70s and retired in the early 80s.
He would go nuts when he saw a B model. He was considered top mechanic for years, spok
e broken english but somehow he was able to read spec books. A man very dedicated to his job. His check would come all the way from Allentown, PA.
Taught me a lot.
He's been gone over 20 years and I still miss him every day.
He kept waiting on a Ford pick up with Mack features so that he can buy one. Sort of like the Ford-Harley version.
It never came.😒
I would love to restore the truck to its glory if I had a place to do so
I was thinking the same thing.. But I bet that it would still run and drive as it is with a little work. Those diesels never die,,people just moved on.
Joe Biden Is Not My President you have an awesome name for yourself. Got one I could sell you but she’s gas.
Yes, it looks pretty good. If you did need parts like that brake drum you might have trouble.
That auxiliary tank is probably a hydraulic oil tank Steve,used in the wet line system to run normally run a dump trailer,a hydraulic detachable low boy or the snow plow you mentioned.
Thanks for picking this old B-61!! As a Mack truck mechanic for the last 25 years, I appreciated this one.
Im retired with 40 yrs on the road an i remember sitting in my Dads lap driving a B model Mack hauling wood chips to the paper mill. I later owned a 55 B 73 Dump truck. The old saying goes, when the dog leaves the hood its time to sell the truck. Lol. Love the old Macks
Nothing better looking in the truck world than B-Model late fifties / early sixties Fire Truck with that massive chrome grill. Thanks for posting Steve.
That's wild that that truck is still sitting there. I remember looking all over that about 4yrs ago and wishing I had a way to drag it home
Hiya Steve, Jim from Allentown, PA here ..... I'm thinking that the truck actually started life as a municipal plow truck with a dump body then was converted to a "yard truck" type configuration after. Here is what I'm seeing: The covered headlights I believe were done by the plow truck builder after the factory (the lights would be repositioned to the top of the plow frame or even on top of the cab), the extra tank on the driver side I believe is for hydraulic (you can see the 2 levers in the cab.....1 for PTO engage, 1 for dump body lift (gravity down), the single short exhaust stack to clear the dump body cab overhang, the 5th wheel sits really high which was often done in yard trucks to lift the trailer for moving without the need to crank the landing gear (today its all hydraulics), the large approx 2" pipe behind the cab that is capped off was probably the hydraulic feed for the dump body, heavy camelback suspensions were usually used on heavy dump/concrete trucks but not as much on road tractors, missing brake drums (it looked like the other side was missing too) was often done on yard trucks because they didn't need all the braking effort so save on maintenance costs. Gotta love those B's!! Still some of the best looking trucks out there in my opinion. Love the videos!!
That deserves more likes than I am capable of giving and why I read comments before watching the video. Thanks for adding to our education.
Hello Jiggy Jim, THANK YOU for the expert analysis. I wish I had you on-site to serve as "detective" when I was making that video. I do what I can and often can only surmise as best I can - especially with subjects like Mach trucks - which are far left of my "smart spot" which is Mopars. I thank you particularly for the insight into the elevated fifth wheel and its helpfulness in eliminating the need to get out and crank. I do "file away" helpful comments like yours and hope I have the "presence of mind" to recall your input the next time I do a Big Truck. THANKS again, Steve Magnante
yeah i was thinkig that too. that "water tank" was probably a hydraulic reservoir.
That truck is definitely heavy duty, those rear leaf springs are sick. I would love to see this back on the road lol.
Great job Steve 🏆 way to get R done 😎✌️
I grew up when steel was big in the US. Both parents were from Europe. Dad came here in '61. Met Mom and he saved and borrowed enough to buy a used '59 B series Mack. Then came the flatbed. As a kid, I remember that truck. The other Mack's that followed too. There was such a source of pride riding in the seat next to him. Since I was 11, he took me every weekend to preform maintenance and thats how I became a "gearhead".
Cool to see an old road warrior and to here the story on it. Mack trucks is one of the oldest truck manufacturers if not the oldest still in business today.
I think Daimler Commercial Vehicles is the oldest and largest in the world
Great job on the old “B” Mack . Drive a lot of them back in the day. They where definitely hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Thanks again !!! Jim
That truck is way cool. Thanks for featuring it in your video !
As always, thanks. I drove the big city buses for 24 years and dealt with air over hydraulic brakes and varying weather conditions, and people of different kinds of civility.
A local engineering/dirt moving/concrete placing/trucking company owns a fleet of Mack rigs. The owner decided way back when that Mack was IT, and has stuck with them. He has them all the way from the 1910's to the present.
That engine still looks really good, it might start right up.
Steve, once again your classroom has a very broad spectrum! Not just Chevy, Ford, or Mopar automobiles but, trucks, busses, military vehicles, etc! This particular truck was probably my all time favorite. I learned alot about it in this episode! Keep em coming!! Thanks!
When I was a kid, I remember my dad taking me to work one day when he was a mechanic at a Mack truck dealership. He took down the road on a test drive a B-61 Thermodyne. I remember he couldn't quite get the rhythm of the twin sticks on the short drive.
Nice seeing the old Mack. In the early sixties when I used to go for trips with my dad, I always notice a lever on the dash that indicated "Wet - Dry". My dad said it was to shut the air to the front brakes. When it rained, he would put it on "Wet". If it was left on "Dry" the front wheels could lock up on the wet pavement, in a hard stop, and could cause loss of control of the truck. He drove mostly Whites and Internationals. I always enjoy watching your videos. Best Regards - Mike
My father drove one of those most of his career and I got to drive one a few times at the beginning of mine. Those things are classics. They're becoming collectors items and restored ones will bring a handsome price.
A bit of trivia - if you see a Mack truck with a brass bulldog on the front, it's a truck with exclusively Mack built components. If it has a chrome bulldog, it doesn't.
I grew up around Mack Trucks, before dynamometers, my father would road test new Mack's before shipping to customers. My father probably did a final inspection of that truck. He was the head final inspector at Mack Trucks in Allentown and retired in 1973. He started working at Mack Trucks in 1938.
Hi Ron Kipp, WOW, I love it when people - or kids of people - who were THERE speak out! I'm hoping your Dad kept a diary about his experiences at Mack? Wrote a book? But as is often the case, folks who had these jobs loved what they did but saw it as "just another day at the mill". If you read Hemmings Classic car, they have a recurring column titled "I Was There" that is written by guest authors who were in the auto industry - or related fields. It's my favorite part of the Mighty Hemmings Classic Car magazine every month. If your Dad is still alive and well (here's hoping...) maybe he should write about his experiences? I'd buy a book on his life! Thanks for writing, Steve Magnante
He probably tested some my father drove.
What I can tell by the center bushings of that Mack B, is that was intended for over the road use because of seeing the nut, thread end, and a very large flat washer, that indicate it doesn’t have grease left trunnion centers. The threaded stud is at the end of what is known as a trunnion shaft for which the suspension articulated in the center.
When looking at the Mack model truck and the B, you can tell it has the heavier duty end caps with the visible vertical mounting bolts. The end caps captured the ends of the camelback spring inside by locators on the lower cushion pad and and upper rebound pad for each corner, and safeguarded by tee spring leaf ends protruding.
Mack at some point developed a lighter version rear suspension that used springs that are like an inverted spring with eyes at each end with a bolt for the bushing at each eye to attach to the brackets under each rear axle corner.
The arm rotating the camshafts to spread the brake shoes, via input from the air brake chamber, is called a slack adjuster because it can be adjusted for brake shoe and drum wear.
I have reissues of both model trucks to build. I had built the KW W925 and had the lowboy trailer, along with the Cat dozer as one rig, plus a few back then, and some still now, with plenty more to build and kitbash.
My career has big truck intermixed with hot rods and a variety of specialty equipment, and I have my specialties amongst them.
Sweeeeet. If I had millions I would use that truck body and make a hot rod. Sweet truck. Love the style the curves and the bold strong look to that truck body. Thanks for sharing.
i used a b series to move trailers in the yard when i was a diesel mechanic. it had a hydraulic 5th wheel so i could hook up and go without messing with trailer legs. rig had super singles on the singe drive axle it also had an air starter. man that truck was fun, not road worthy but lots of fun
My first truck was a 56 LJ Mack with a 5x4 tyranny wich was also fun to drive
I used to run a spotter truck like that. One year company bought a brand new one with 6.7 Cummins automatic trans. It would roast back tires.
I love the B series trucks! One of the coolest truck designs of all time!!
Enjoyed the history lesson Steve.👍👍
That is what you call a truck. Note the complete absence of plastic, aside from signal lenses. I’m quite sure that the S can bushings are bronze, not plastic like the little toys with automatic transmissions they glue together today! Mack banjos, quad box transmissions or a straight 5 speed with a mud stick. Remember pneumatic starters??? What a great piece of history Steve! Thanks again!
I saw a beautiful B series Mack that has been restored and working hauling fuel for a large Construction company just this week. As a truck driver i loved seeing working and not just a trailer queen.
I could listen to Steve talk about the history of these cars all day long. Truly fascinating stuff! 👌
The last B model built still exists today. It was built with 3 axle drive in the rear with single tires. Cement mixer chassis. Today it is restored with a dump box on it. It still hauls sometimes. The owner also uses a 64 Peterbuilt to pull his lowboy trailer.
Man that truck always been one of my all time favorite Mack truck! In dumpster version or tractor.👌🥰👍it just looks great! What a sad site to see that beauty in such condition! It should be rescued and restored to it’s pristine hay day condition! Great video Steve! Thanks for the brief history!👌😎👍 lol 😂 Funny that you showed some of you Mack trucks models from your childhood! I also built one of those over 40 years ago! Mine is a cement mixer truck!👌😂👍nice!
My NY home town VFD had a 65 Mack B1 with a 30 foot tanker. It was parked in a barn across the street from my house. You knew there was trouble when that beast started
Thanks Steve for getting the camera views of what you're explaining. Interesting and fun.
I like Steve's cheat sheets in sharpie all over the hood and filter. so that's how he remembers everything.
I really like the Junkyard Crawls, I always learn something really cool.
Mack B Series Junkyard class :-)
I enjoyed that and chuckled quietly remembering a short time in an R Model twin stick
Wow as a Truck Driver here in San Diego Ca 25 years almost being a Teamster can’t even imagine driving these trucks back in the day.Thanks for the Videos Steve.
Hello San Diego! And hello Daniel! I used to live in El Monte, California (1991 - 2005) and had a side gig selling vintage car magazines at the many outdoor car swap meets in SoCal. I used to hit the Jack Murphy Stadium Auto Swap every month! Maybe you helped support me by buying some vintage magazines? I had a light green 1976 Plymouth Volare station wagon with Massachusetts plates. I kept it for weekend swap meet use and used it for about 4 years before a rusted K-member put it out of commission. Anyhoo, THANKS for "keeping America moving" with your truck driving efforts! -Steve Magnante
I believe that extra tank is for hydraulic fluid to operate a dump body or other accessories. Keep up the great videos.👍
That would make sense
I was about to say the same, probably for the plow.
I am a retired teamster truck driver, and drove many B 61 Macks. No air ride seats or power steering and poor visibility . Sweat to death in summer .Top speed about 62 mph downhill. When they replaced the B model with the R model with the 5 speed maxidyne with the 300 Maxidyne engine , it felt that God had spoken. Also Steve i believe all Maxidyne engines were turbocharged and when mated to the 5 speed Maxidyne transmission Mack had set new industry standards. As for the B 61 series i still have battle scars on my body from driving them. Great article brought many memories. Jeff Cler
If I ever hit the lottery, this is what my dream vehicle would look like, restored of coarse. Thank you sir.
Great video Steve, When I worked at a scrap yard we had several B models, I got to drive them and started my truck mechanic apprentiships on Macks I will always love these old dogs!
Mack was the first company to have a transmission as one unit with two sticks while other companies had one or two transmissions behind the others as they called it a “brownie” as the auxiliary
I love the old B Series! They had Duplex, Triplex, and a Quadraplex for your shifting pleasure. I owned a ‘13 & a ‘16 Mack’s and they had they Mack rears, but I opted for air ride. I still have a R Model with the Camelback.
mack had the quadraplex (5x4)(20 foreward 5 reverse) and a duplex (5x2)(high low reverse) and a triplex (5x3)( high medium low and reverse) transmissions. so heavy you hated the thoughts of pulling one to do a clutch job. rockwell also made top loading differentials way back in the "40's" found on some army 10 ton trucks and on some of todays heavy vocational trucks. the thing with these are that they are straight centerline ring and pinion not a hypoid. this gives greater strength with small reduction. also the ring gear drives a spur gear which drives a bull gear for even greater reduction. fun fact that there is 2 oil levels one on the bottom as usual and one in that top side cover. if you didnt make your own wrench for the two bolts inside you had to buy one. the clearances were so small a standard wrench wouldnt fit. i made two each of 7/8 and 15/16 to cover it. long offset box wrench cut off heated and bent. b models were a nightmare for access to anything. fenders were taken off for some engine work and cab came off for others. the 673's were dry liners too. power steering was a late option. if you were heavy enough in the back they weren't too hard to steer but if you were light on the trailer nose you learned to always be moving to steer.
Steve, I am constantly amazed by the depth of knowledge you bring to your videos.
That smaller tank was for hydraulic fluid, in what was called a
" wet line ".
Your videos are absolutely phenomenal to watch....keep up the good work you are certainly appreciated...
I drove an early 60s B Mack tanker in the fire department. It was a gas job with a 5 speed plus 2 speed rear. The joke was the siren went faster than the truck. That said, many trucks of that era had the headlight buckets rot through from the backside due to water / road salt splash. It was common to change them over to some bumper mounted tractor style headlights because the wiring also went to shit. In this case the plow mounted headlights served the same purpose. It was both a challenge and a bit of fun to drive, provided you didn't need to get anywhere in a hurry.
Keep the videos coming Steve I love the history! 😊
This one made me laugh, and remember my first experience driving a "broke truck" was an early 80's (may have been older) day cab Mack. Mack engine, 9 speed trans, single seat dog leg windshield with a tiny jumper seat. God what a basic rig that was, hauling 8K of liquid in an old 70's UN-baffled tanker. You had to hold it in gear going down hills or it would jump out, and brakes were air applied not spring, wow you learned quick.
Just wanted to thank you for your always informative vehicle reviews you do an awesome job!
LOve watching your channel, We find the same things, I just do it in the southern US! (although been up to Jersey and Philly.) And you know way me than I do about the tech stuff. Keep up the great content Steve!
If you see a Mack with a gold bulldog means it has all Mack running gear.
That is correct. A silver bulldog means it has components sourced from others.
up to a certain time. i worked in a shop that ran strictly macks mostly mh models. those bulldogs were all silver even though everything on the truck was mack.
@@richardcranium5839 Might have been changed down the line. All depends, anything is possible.
Originally, when introduced in 1967, the gold bulldog signified the Maxadyne engine and transmission
Another great historical vehicle story
That old Mack would fire up right now. What a magestic machine.
I don’t think so. It looked like the starter for it on the cab floor.
Thanks Steve, very cool information!
When the COVID cruises and meetups were in full force in our area. A local guy would bring his 1962 Dark Green to the cruise’s. Really cool old truck.
Love your videos. So interesting and informative. Thank you for making these 👍🏻👍🏻
Love all these junkyard crawl vids and how many gems Steve comes across.
the junkyard classroom of Steve Magnante, well done
Mack trucks were cool, I enjoy the junkyard crawl episodes greatly.
Another great video Steve get well soon
I drive a modern semi and it’s amazing how much hasn’t changed especially in the rear end
Excellent video Steve
Steve is freaking amazing
Amazing the knowledge that you continue to share! Thank you.
Plate C
Junkyard class room would be a good show to pitch to a streaming network.
Steve, you mentioned Hendrickson suspension several times. They also produced a semi-truck that had the longest nose of any semi ever made.
This would make a sick custom project
I like how Steve has started writing info in marker pen on the vehicles he’s talking about, saw some of that gas tanker in a previous video too… 😉
Drove many of these. The absolute treat was the b81 with the 864 which was a V8 with a quadbox. Drove that for about 10 years and it had such personality! Couldn't beat the V8 rumbling along with a straight pipe. Not a fast truck but very strong puller. I hauled heavy equipment with it. Thanks Steve!
Cool schooling Steve. I got to sit in one a few years back. The cabs were very small and as you said, all business. I can't imagine how tough those truckers had to be to haul in these little bare bones cabs for a living! My hats off to them all.
Great historical recount.
I drove one when I worked in a junkyard in Lyndenhurst on Long Island in the '70's, taking cars to the shredder. Shifted the Pony transmission with the left elbow inside the steering wheel, double clutching my butt off 🤣
The B-Series are gorgeous.
Thanks Steve Get well soon
VERY GOOD, great info here 👍
My volunteer Fire Department had a B model when I first joined, it was the first truck I learned to drive, and being a stick, many did not know how to drive it. It was also a “convertible” without a roof as many fire trucks we in those days. Wonderful truck, and in the northeast Mack fire trucks were mostly the norm until they abandoned the market after being bought out.
Very educational video! Thanks for posting.
I'm honestly so glad you do these videos. just getting to learn about these things is so awesome.
I knew SOME things about mack, but not this much.
Thanks for what you do Steve.
The Maxidyne engines are diesel, and were introduced in 65/66. Mack also used some Chrysler 413 gas engines. Macks are still built in Macungie not far from Allentown.
Still good looking truck. Thanks for another great vid Steve.
Very cool video. Enjoy the variety
Mack still has a museum in Allentown-- with a couple great OLD pieces outside awaiting attention
Awesome video Steve
I feel like Steve could be a good auto shop teacher
Engine looks mint condition.
Good show Steve
This one really should be restored