I spotted this in an empty lot in Oakridge, which was once a booming mill town. I just shot it from the car window, presumably too lazy to get out after a long hike. But it’s quite a fine old Mack, from its heavy duty FG/FH/FJ/FK/FN Series, that replaced the classic AC “bulldog” Macks that cemented its reputation as the toughest trucks in the land.
Here’s a closer look:
This series was made from 1937 all the way to 1943, or 1947, depending on the source. Its old-school semi-open cab looks straight out of the teens or twenties, but that’s the way they still made them. It’s not like they were whistling down the highway at high speed, what with their chain drive and low gearing. There were a variety of engines available, including Hercules and Buda diesels, and the later ones with Mack’s new diesel, making some 131 hp. I can’t tell what’s in this one; can you?
Here’s a fine old rendering of one at work. Fresh air is good!
I used Photoshop to increase the contrast in the engine bay (see attachment), but I’m still not sure about the engine. The internet photos of these trucks don’t show an exhaust stack through the hood, so it could be a replacement engine out of a tractor or grader.
Looking at the photo, it seems like there’s an injection pump mounted low on the block, and I don’t see any ignition wires or a distributor, so I’m leaning towards diesel. However, the plugs and wires could easily be on the other side.
If it is a diesel, both Buda and Hercules used distinctive up-swept runners on the exhaust manifold which I don’t see here. This engine appears to use the log style manifold from a the Mack diesel, so if forced to a decision that’s my vote.
Good old George Zaffo for the rendering! I have that book.
Thank you for saving me the time trying to look him up. I recognized that art from my childhood immediately, but couldn’t think of the name.
No side windows? It must have been real fun plowing snow in a blizzard at -20°F.
Even with side windows it’s no fun.
Dress warm.
I plowed snow once with an old Brockway (before they had the Mack cab), and the heater and defroster were so poor that I found that keeping the heater off and both windows down allowed the cab to stay cold enough so that the windshield didn’t require scraping on the inside (which it did when I tried to use the “defroster”!) Maybe the C cabs were ahead of their time…………..or I was just a foolish young man with more enthusiasm than sense. I can’t imagine suffering like that now at my age.
By the way, could that be an updraft carburetor I see?
Thanks. Love seeing this and reading of it.
I worked with a guy that had been with the Minnesota Hiway department way back in the day before they had sanders for spreading sand. One guy driving the truck and one or two guys in the back of the truck shoveling sand off the back of the truck. Wrapped the distributors with burlap to keep the ignition dry.
Keeping the windshield defrosted is still a problem today. Too much moisture.