DRIPTROIT 71

This one will be awesome! Sean, have you seen the thread over on Hank's Forum under "Old Trucks" of the "Diamond in the rough"? It is a restoration project of one of these, with tons of good pictures. It is under "Old Trucks", or type in "Diamond Reo" in the search box. Looking forward to seeing more!

Looking forward to this one!!

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I really like the 70's factory fresh look! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with! I'm sure it will be great!!

Looking forward to seeing more of this one!! I always liked this wrecker bed in the Revell kit.

Cool project Sam! When I was a kid there were a few B Models still working regularly around here. They were always my favorite. There is one of the Carolina B Models at the Transportation museum here in Spencer, but the last time that I was there, you couldn't get very close to it. I'm looking forward to seeing more of this one!!

This is an Illini Replica Conversion that I picked up a couple of years ago. This build will be a little different than my usual builds. I generally prefer east coast style work horses. This one will be a custom more in line with Clayton's vision for the calendar. Mack guys, don't get mad at me, but the only thing Mack is going to be the cab, and style of the frame, and maybe a few accessories. You can see the GW Trucks frame rails and Mack mud flaps that I picked up from Sourkraut's. The plan is a 250" to a 300" wheelbase with air ride suspension. The plan is to use the 12v-71 Detroit from Spaulding Trading and Shipping pictured as the power plant. As of now, to be a little different, I'm planning on using the steel wheels pictured from Double Take Replicas. I'm still battling with choosing the color scheme. I have more parts to gather along the way, but pictured here is what I have.

This will be a very cool project!!

B-N-L resin has some engines that are similar and might could be modified to your specs. They sell them on Ebay as well.

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!

Very nice!!!

Incredible Work!!!

Nice Work!! This one is reminding me of an old Western Star that used to pull a flatbed here for a local lumber company. It had a similar wheelbase, and even had a solid back wall where the sleeper had been removed. Looking forward to seeing more!!

Looking great!

Excellent Work!! Looks like the real thing!! I had a 77 and a 79. Both were great trucks.

Very Nice work on the walking beams!!

Wow!!! This is incredible work!! Great idea on the flex, I will have to try that.

WOW!!!! That is one awesome build!!! Craftsmanship at its best!! Excellent Work!!!

That's what I always thought Sam, and there is probably some truth to that. Daddy always said it was because people wouldn't take the time it required to fix them. There may be some truth to both. What I do know is that in 1983 the company that my dad worked for bought over 40 new 3406 powered Freightliners, and sent the 5 remaining Detroit powered trucks to the shop in Alabama (where I think that they were treated as spares). I remember one Saturday the 1978 Cabover Ford pulled on to the yard to the fuel pump for fuel. The driver got out, opened the side box, pulled out a gallon of oil and started pouring it in the access on the front. Someone had lost the oil cap, (driver said it was because it was off more than on) and according to the driver no one else would drive that truck. The funny thing is, when it left Lexington it was probably the best of the 5. I said all of that to say this: I think Detroit 2 strokes much like steam engines have a lot of character, but also require a little more constant maintenance (as a general rule) than say a Cat or Cummins did.. Keep in mind most of my experience with Detroits was helping my Dad. My personal experience was mostly with Mack and Cat. So my observation may not be 100% accurate. But,I do love the sound the 2 stroke Detroit makes though. I road many a mile listening to one hum. That makes them my favorite old diesel. I would like to put a 4-71 on my M Farmall one day.

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My Dad went to school to work on Detroits, and was a Detroit mechanic for years. He always told me that he could make a Detroit "drip free."

My first truck kit was the AMT 359 Peterbilt (Matchbox version I think). I got it for Christmas when I was about 9 or 10. I put it together without paint or anything. The fit was terrible, I got glue all over it, but it all started there. The following year I got several truck and trailer kits for Christmas. My mom use to take me to the Rose department store to buy model kits after I started building. I Remember the DM800 Mixer and the DM800 tractor sitting on the shelf forever, I thought that they were ugly then. Live and learn.

I don't know... I've never really cared much for corvettes, but this one does have personality. What kind, I'm not sure of. It is definitely an original, a head turner, and a conversation piece. Do you think any Bondo was involved??? or maybe chicken wire and wood screws????

You always pick the best paint schemes! Looks great!!!

Now that's Cool!! Nice Work!!!