Military Fire Trucks - Page 24 - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

Greasy · 07-31-2010, 18:14

I'm the head of the motorpool at a local museum Thought yall might like a look at a 1944 or 1945 GMC 6x6 Firetruck i'm in the middle of restoring. I did not start the restoration, just trying finish it. Drive train done (running), brakes done, have new wire harness (Vintage wire of Maine) not yet installed, all new tires/tubs/liners, pump engine repaired and running, pump repaired (not tested). Still working on body work and metal work. She was road hard and put away wet! This is where i'm at now:

tamangel · 07-31-2010, 19:03

Looks like a nice rig.. Any questions on spec's or equipment, you might check with this guy..

World War II Army Engineer Fire Truck Identification Homepage

Mike

captain-crank · 07-31-2010, 19:56

Jim Davis is an amazing man in this field.
He's helping me figure some things out on my first fire truck.

A '42 Class 155 Crash Truck

tamangel · 07-31-2010, 20:19

Cap, are there more pic's of your truck and related equipment and restoration already on here? If not, would you be able to put up some info and additional pic's..?

Mike

captain-crank · 07-31-2010, 22:34

Mike,

I'm waiting on delivery. Just bought it a couple weeks ago.

Here's some bad pics of it as purchased.

Been sitting outside about a year and a half. Hard to believe it's the same truck as the pic in my first post.

Thankfully no real rust, just faded and oxidized. Got this one just in time.

It will be OD green soon.

I believe it's one of the first 100 built with a 501 Continental in the truck and 602 Conti for the pumper.

Will be getting a file on it's history and pedigree this coming week.

I'll post more info as it becomes available. Pics too.

milfireguy · 08-08-2010, 10:45

Mack factory photo of a Kenworth-Mack Class 155. Note the location of the USA registration number when you attempt to locate the the reg # for your rig. Army records show this rig USA 508025 assigned to the Camp Springs Army Airfield, now Andrews Air Force Base, MD

Ted

captain-crank · 08-10-2010, 21:34

Some updates.

Rumor has it the Mack will be loaded and heading North later this week.
I asked that the water cannons be guarded with rabid dogs and razor wire..... 300 lbs each and mostly brass.
That would be liike losing the cherry to your sundae.

Truck was received from surplus around 1969 and went to Willard Airport- University of Illinois.
Fire Marshall there said it mostly held down tarmac since it took ~9 guys to operate.
Once a year it went to some type of fire exhibition.
He says there are three of these in the US but didn't know where they were.
My sources say 2, this one and one in Texas.

Stayed at Willard until 1998 and then they donated it to the Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum.

In '08 the Chanute Museum donated it to the Orpheum Childrens Science Museum, Urbana, Il.

Now in '10 I have it.

If I find some registration numbers I will try to get back farther than '69.
Unfortunately that's usually a dead end. At least with the vehicles I have tried prior.

These cannons can shoot a stream or a fog/mist of water.
According to the Willard Fire Marshall it is set up to shoot fire suppressant foam also.

milfireguy · 08-10-2010, 21:49

Thanks for the update on the Class 155. Army records show 117 Kenworth-Macks with USA registrations 508023-508122 under War Dept Contract W-2337-Eng-1542. Another 18 rigs 508123-508140 under unknown contract #. Have locations where 45 served by serial number.

captain-crank · 08-10-2010, 22:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by milfireguy

Thanks for the update on the Class 155. Army records show 117 Kenworth-Macks with USA registrations 508023-508122 under War Dept Contract W-2337-Eng-1542. Another 18 rigs 508123-508140 under unknown contract #. Have locations where 45 served by serial number.

.........awesome.

emmado22 · 08-10-2010, 22:41

You would be amazed at what the SPAAMFAA archives have on old fire trucks. For the few dollars it costs for the research, it's priceless when you get the list of info/pics/specs that they have found.