1968 Mack M123A1C 10 ton Tank Transporter

[Jeff Lakaszcyck]

I've always been more into the WW2 trucks, I have a couple of Federal 7-1/2 tonners, but just jumped into the M series in a big way. A friend and I just bought this 1965 Mack M123A1C with the V8-300 Cummins and 13K miles. It's in very good running condition and everything seems to work like it should. The super singles keep the width legal. We picked it up Friday in New Hampshire, spent all day Saturday cutting off the ugly cage and sprucing up the paint, and took it to the truck show at Worcester (Mass) Sand & Gravel on Sunday. We are looking few things it needs that I think are common to all the M series trucks, like windshield frames, tail lights, and guards for the turn signals on the front fenders. We are also looking for some of the M123 specific items like the spare tire carrier and derrick, and the 5th wheel and ramps. Any help finding this stuff would be greatly appreciated. We are planning a full military paint job in the future.

 

[silverstate55]

Nice score, looks great! Not an easy truck to start OD Fever with, my hat's off to you both.

For M-series general use items, try Erik's Military & Industrial Surplus. Great guy to deal with.

Also consider Eastern Surplus; they're an advertiser here and they also should have stocks of M123-specific items for you as well....they are located in eastern PA, so shipping shouldn't be as much of a detriment to you as it is to us here on the west coast. Or you could always visit them in person and talk with Dave.

ETA: Sometimes these items pop up on Craigslist & fecesbook Marketplace. For CL multi-area searches, try SearchTempest.com to combine multiple-area CL searches.

I know many people start to sweat and lose sleep at night over the word "search" but SearchTempest makes it easy and convenient when navigating CL.

 

[fasttruck]

Grease is cheap. The most important grease fitting on the entire truck is between the transmission and the left frame rail. This is on a bell crank for the linkage between the brake pedal and the remotely mounted applicator valve. This is hard to see and if the bell crank sticks for lack of lubrication the brakes will either drag or the pump will not build pressure. There is also an applicator valve on the left side of the steering column that applies the rear brakes on either side of the truck individually. Forward is the left side and the left brake can be found dragging if the jiggle this with your knee getting in or out of the truck. Don't make a move without the pubs: operator's annual, organizational maintenance manual, 20P parts book and lubrication order. Also monitor the oil level (4 points) in the steering knuckles because if you burn out the bevel gear sets they lubricate you will end up junking the truck. The applicable tms are in the 9-2320-206-10,20,20P, and LO.

 

[Jeff Lakaszcyck]

Thanks for the tips, we are looking into those parts suppliers. Also awaiting the mail man to bring all the books, including the lube spec. We are also hoping to find an M123 hulk someone may be parting out.

Just to be clear, we are not new to OD or big trucks, we both own some big WW2 7-1/2 ton 6x6's (and larger), but this is the first M series truck for both of us.

My two Federal 606 C2 AAF wreckers, and Ken's Biederman F1 AAF tractor, and Reo 50V Navy wrecker.

 

[silverstate55]

I also neglected to mention Big Mike's Motorpool; he's on your side of the country. Excellent customer service and has been known to locate some hard-to-find bits before.

 

[Jeff Lakaszcyck]

I'd like to thank everyone for all the suggestions for the parts we needed. New windshield frames, along with takeoff tail lights and front turn signal guards came courtesy of dueceman51.The correct 5th wheel and ramps were found at Alfa Heaven in Wisconsin, and a complete set of top bows came from TMJ Murray. Last week we had a work party with several friends, we put in some long hours the get the truck ready for paint. The rest of the nose sheet metal came off along with the home made metal top which turned out to be welded to the windshield. The rear frame extensions added by one of the civilian owners had to be cut off to allow the 5th wheel ramps to be installed. After hot water pressure washing and sandblasting, the truck went back in the shop where we pulled the those big heavy 1400-24 wheels and tires off. Finally our friend Paul did the priming and painting honors. We got the entire chassis and most of the cab painted. We still have some body work to do on the cab and need to prep and paint the nose sheet metal but we got a great jump on all the major work that needs to be done. We are still trying to solve the spare tire carrier dilemma, it appears the original one was cut off of the winch framework so we will have to cut one off a hulk or fabricate one. Here's a few photos.

 

[m1010plowboy]

Now that's a fast way to get things! Fast is a relative term when it still took us 6 hours to get reasonable paint coverage with a similar stage.

Do we know how many hours Paul was on the paint gun? We're talking multiple angles laying on the floor squirting paint in pockets so buy that Paul painter a massage. Great progress, thanks for sharing.

 

[Jeff Lakaszcyck]

Paul probably had 3 hours for the primer and another 3 for the top coat. He did a great job. Yes, there are lots of nooks and crannies, I found them all (or at least most I think) while pressure washing and sandblasting.

 

[Dirt71]

Man, you guy's are taking me back... Won best of show with this one in 2010 in Belleview that year.

 

[zebedee]

Jeff - Nice find and seriously pro effort on the progress. I'll let Chris (Sterling in UK) know that you have leapt into the modern era (well, relatively that is), I'm trying to get him over again this next year for an ATHS event or similar.
Keep up the great work. I look forward to seeing it - and you in the future!

Howard. (NY)

 

[kubotaman]

Looks great Jeff

 

[SCM35A2]

Subscribed, this is an awesome build!!

 

[Robo McDuff]

Jef, you sure as heck now hows to make somebody jealous and/or .Also with your speed of work.

To be honest, your orange monsters are my

 

[Another Ahab]

Subscribed, this is an awesome build!!

Awesome is the word.

Got to follow this, too:

- Subscribed

 

[frank8003]

show what you gonnah pull

 

[jonesal]

The thing that most amazes me on this site (and the lesson I value the most) is the ability of folks to "get after it". A complete lack of hesitation, fear, etc. to get a huge job like this accomplished. This is outstanding. Well done guys.

Al Jones
with a measly M923

 

[Redpawn]

They had one of these at an air base when I went look at some deuce's that where being auctioned off and that is a monster truck in person. That's one of those truck that would drag the gate off of **** if you wanted too. Amazing work.

 

[Ajax MD]

The thing that most amazes me on this site (and the lesson I value the most) is the ability of folks to "get after it". A complete lack of hesitation, fear, etc. to get a huge job like this accomplished. This is outstanding. Well done guys.

Al Jones
with a measly M923

Ha, I hesitated quite a bit when my transfer case crapped out. There's only so many times you can read the TM before you finally just "do it." Successfully tackling that job has given me the confidence to keep going.
Still, I would be very unhappy and pretty intimidated if I dropped a cylinder liner or something along those lines.

 

[Another Ahab]

Ha, I hesitated quite a bit when my transfer case crapped out. There's only so many times you can read the TM before you finally just "do it." Successfully tackling that job has given me the confidence to keep going..

Yeah, funny isn't it:

- But sometimes that FIRST step, the start, is the hardest part

 

[71DeuceAK]

I commend you for rescuing her! Nice work.