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Posted (edited)
5 hours ago, Scott Eriksen said:

I helped install an "add on " under reach on a 750 Holmes/Autocar back in 1990 ,,,it attached by bolting and welding to the top of the deck and back of the wrecker body ,it had it's own hydraulic pump driven by a 12V motor(like a lift gate setup) and had a tethered remote cable. Worked rather well actually ,that was back when I was a contract mechanic for New Jersey Bell . I can't remember the manufacturer ,,it may well have been a Zacklift                   Zacklift Towing Equipment | Zacklift International

Yes, I've come across the Zaclift equipment while looking up info on the Miller, Challenger body.  Neat piece of equipment!

Edited by BK9300
  • Like 2
Posted

I think we got a reasonable facsimile of an under reach lift ,,a knock off on how the Century is sorta,,, just have to make the pivoting tow bar and then paint it up,,,stick a couple hyd hoses on it .I'll probably just lay the original towbar on the deck attached to the pad eyes 

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  • Like 4
Posted

Brian (BK9300) while working on do-dads for his plow project was nice enough to draw up and get a 3D printed a cab console and a Chelsea PTO and a hydraulic pump (2 styles) for me ! Thanks buddy! 

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  • Like 6
Posted

Great update on the underlift, Scott and glad the parts arrived ok!  I have to give a shout out to Bren who printed them for me, before Christmas holidays.

  • Like 2
Posted

A little bench time today,,, chassis work,,cleaned up the brake chambers I got from Paul.....thought I'd share this pic,,,,I don't think I posted it before .I was a NJ Bell contract mechanic back in the late 70's up until they basically changed from a "Bell Atlantic Company" to Verizon ,,,around 1999ish I guess .Well anyway NJ Bell bought Weldon Concrete's old LJ Mack wrecker to be used in retrieving diggers and line trucks that were stuck in the mud,,,which happened a lot ,, this was during the big transition to fiber cable , We (myself and my crew of 5 other mechanics) pretty much overhauled and stripped/repainted/decaled the beast .Weldon had recently pulled out the Thermodyne and replaced it with a Maxidyne ,,the bed winch in this thing would pull the asshole out of the world ,we put the largest Aerodynic light bar they made on it!! Replaced all brake components,rewired ,,painted it outside the shop with Dupont Centari ,,myself and another mechanic were the ones to go out on the mud jobs,,,, fun times! 

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Posted (edited)


Scott now that’s a Cool LJ and story. Was it a 285 Maxidyne Weldon replace the Thermodyne with? This Truck reminds me of those Brockway Mixers with the “Boxed type” finders Gotnitro(Jeff) built some years ago on here.  The ones I’m thinking of were Green and Red not Colonial either. I hate getting old. Thanks for sharing. 

Edited by Pete68
  • Like 1
Posted
7 hours ago, Pete68 said:


Scott now that’s a Cool LJ and story. Was it a 285 Maxidyne Weldon replace the Thermodyne with? This Truck reminds me of those Brockway Mixers with the “Boxed type” finders Gotnitro(Jeff) built some years ago on here.  The ones I’m thinking of were Green and Red not Colonial either. I hate getting old. Thanks for sharing. 

Lee,,it was an ENDT675 ,,,237 no intercooler ,,,the Weldon trucks were Green with a wide orange band around the drum

  • Thanks 1
Posted (edited)

If you look at the back of the Mack it had a large swing down "stiff leg" with excavator bucket teeth welded on to it to bite down and dig in to keep the truck from sliding during winch jobs,it was lowered down by the small electric winch on the boom mast ,,,no hydraulics on this puppy. The large bed winch is mounted low under the boom support ,pretty much centered on the frame rails on the tandems 

Edited by Scott Eriksen
  • Like 1
Posted
48 minutes ago, Scott Eriksen said:

ENDT675 ,,,237 no intercooler

I remember that Engine. My current Boss her dad bought a 1968 Mack R steel dash at a Auction one time for me to drive that had that engine very low torque it was married up with a 5 speed. Thanks I appreciate the info. 

  • Like 2
Posted
48 minutes ago, Scott Eriksen said:

 

If you look at the back of the Mack it had a large swing down "stiff leg" with excavator bucket teeth welded on

 

That’s a great idea for more grip. This is a very unique truck I also like that “Pancake” style muffler and the single foot hole round tank. Have you ever thought about building this truck as a model? 

  • Like 2
Posted
6 hours ago, Pete68 said:

That’s a great idea for more grip. This is a very unique truck I also like that “Pancake” style muffler and the single foot hole round tank. Have you ever thought about building this truck as a model? 

We put the pancake muffler on along with the stack and new pipe up to the turbo. The idea of building it has crossed my mind,,,lol . Another truck we built in house was an '88 International S1800 4 wheel drive with a DT466 and 5 speed with a 2 speed rear ,,was originally a reel carrier truck that was deemed useless by the line crew so we put it into the Motor Vehicle Repair Fleet and built a road service truck,,,stripped out the reel carrier and associated equipment (the carrier was mounted in the bed of basically a big utility body with tool cabinets).We installed an air compressor and a Goodall Hot Start jump starter and added on to the back an under reach lift for small bucket trucks,vans and cars ,,that was self contained with an electric hyd pump .We also got a Western snow plow set up and put that on .......... it was the only NJ Bell truck running around with chrome wheel simulators front and back ,,,,looked good! I had a picture of that but damn if I can find it  

  • Like 2
Posted (edited)

I just got in from yet another trip to FDNY in Queens,, picked up #1117 for some warranty work,,,,,headed to the bench now,,,if anything major I'll take some pics,,,,probably do more painting this weekend

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Edited by Scott Eriksen
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Posted
3 hours ago, Scott Eriksen said:

The idea of building it has crossed my mind,,,lol .

Scott it would be a eye catcher for sure. Those DT466 are hard to beat. Before the Feedmill closed down  I was working at in the winter time delivering feed for 3 winters. They had a International feed truck that had a DT466 with a 5&2 speed with a working 4th & 5th gear.  My current boss she has a International dump just like it but with a navistar 6 speed straight across. I bet that was a cool S Series truck. Here’s the ones I drove I still drive the International dump truck when my Pete Dump Truck is in the shop for service. Thanks for sharing your story. 

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  • Like 2
Posted
3 hours ago, Scott Eriksen said:

,,if anything major I'll take some pics,,,,

Hope you see some eye candy like a Autocar or Brockway 😂 

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  • Haha 1
Posted
2 hours ago, Pete68 said:

Scott it would be a eye catcher for sure. Those DT466 are hard to beat. Before the Feedmill closed down  I was working at in the winter time delivering feed for 3 winters. They had a International feed truck that had a DT466 with a 5&2 speed with a working 4th & 5th gear.  My current boss she has a International dump just like it but with a navistar 6 speed straight across. I bet that was a cool S Series truck. Here’s the ones I drove I still drive the International dump truck when my Pete Dump Truck is in the shop for service. Thanks for sharing your story. 

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They were good trucks and like you said the DT was a good strong engine 

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Posted

.................no work today so more on the chassis,,,,,1 down 3 to go ...........primed the under reach too ,,,,,off to Walmart do more tonight 

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Posted (edited)

Got all the chambers on,,,,,,,,,,ran a few airlines and brake valves just to please the model truck DOT Inspectors ,,lol 😛  I'll use some CTM zip ties and tidy it up then shoot it all black again .I'll see if I have room for an air dryer once the cab/tanks and body are nailed on . Probably shoot some more red tomorrow and install Brian's cab console and maybe fit the pto and pump 

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Edited by Scott Eriksen
  • Like 3
Posted
2 hours ago, Scott Eriksen said:

model truck DOT Inspectors

Or ICC Boys lol watch out for those white coveralls. 😂 

  • Like 1

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