Building a welding rig:

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Hi been on here a bit lately and have received great help from Duane as far as repairing my Hobart G-213 to make AC power from the outlets and many thanks are rendered for this.During the plans for rebuilding/rewinding the rotor of this machine some measurements have been taken rendering a few questions to it's future use and seeking answers to alternative plans. My project is an updated old Mack single axle truck using a Leland "Roughneck" bed of former oil patch use. Retaining the folding gin poles, 5th wheel, and deck winch precludes mounting the welder on the deck and it not be in the way constantly. I've elected to mount the welder under the deck on the right side of the truck just forward of the drive axle within an enclosure. This welder measures about 28" from the bottom of it's framework to the gas filler opening on the top. It's about 43" in total length, and near 26" in width. All of this is easily worked with given the allocated space for fitment. The question is about available ground clearance which figures to be about nine inches from the bottom of the enclosure to the road. This is a bit more snug than I'd like as the truck is going to be used off road. Elevating the welder mount to just under bed level allowing fuel filler access through the bed would gain about four inches which I'm thinking is still too slight.  I'm thinking of looking for a newer welder for this project given the age and limited availability of parts for this machine. It is the only portable welder I've ever had so no comparable experience with other brands but I'd like to come up with something with a bit less height to increase my ground clearance. It doesn't much matter gas or diesel power, (truck is diesel) but I'm hoping to complete the project over the winter months and have something to work with next spring. I'm planning to retire from my full time occupation at the start of next year and venture off into something else.I don't mind purchasing new but prefer used as this is a startup type operation so looking for input from anybody with experience on particular machines which may fit my criteria.Here are a few photos of the truck: Thanks for reading and any input.SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....
Reply:It's gonna be sweet!!!   R model Mack?Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:i like the truck But keep in mind on the enclosure you have to have good ventilation ...Running balls out in the summer creates a lot of heatalso think on what if you have to replace that welder for some reason...Or maybe you want to upgrade to a bigger welder with more featuresBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:Originally Posted by DieselDon16It's gonna be sweet!!!   R model Mack?
Reply:It is a 1957 B61 series from San Antonio TX originally, (little to no rust). I've owned it about 15 years or so. I'm planning on a full width door opening with a heavy hardware cloth floor to the enclosure. This welder takes cooling air in from the bottom, and expels it across the inductor through the side. It should cool acceptably well with the door open as the air will escape through the open door. You are very correct about upgrade considerations; hence the questions at this time. Virtually nothing is available for the Hobart machine any longer and I'm thinking I'd be best to get something newer where this wouldn't be such a large concern. Here are some more of the truck frame after gluing it together. I overlapped almost a foot and it's welded on both sides good and deep. Xmembers are also bolted through the sandwich using 5/8-18 grade 8 flange head bolts, hardened washers, and hardened nylocks. I should have practiced before taking after the welding but it will hold. It has been ground and capped on the inside since these photos were taken. When I remove the cab and mechanicals down to bare rails for blasting/painting, I'll finish out the outer frame splices. SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....
Reply:Originally Posted by 12V71Back of cab almost looks B-model to me (Drool).
Reply:Something that may work for that would be to use a pair of 6v71 turbos mounted to each blower and look at it as 2 6v71s inline using the exhaust manifolds and turbo feed pipes. Could even reverse one setup to exit the opposite side of the other simplifying the outlet piping to each side of the frame. I have given this a bunch of thought, since the end mount or center mount turbos don't fit under most truck hoods.
Reply:You're right about them not fitting. Mack's 12V-71 trucks were never turbocharged so the problem was lessened. I've thought about swapping the manifolds end for end to place the turbos at the front and modifying the hood but I'm not there yet. I have about 30 hours in glassing that hood back together as it was really busted up. I had to cut a headlamp bucket out of a donor and glass it into this one.SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....
Reply:This is on of the cooler projects I've seen in a long time!  Please keep it going.  Our ranch has a running 48 kenworth that I would love to restore as well.
Reply:Originally Posted by DieselDon16It's gonna be sweet!!!   R model Mack?
Reply:Originally Posted by farmer2This is on of the cooler projects I've seen in a long time!  Please keep it going.  Our ranch has a running 48 kenworth that I would love to restore as well.
Reply:That dumptruck in your shop happen to be an A model? I used to have a 1952 A-53 tandem with an 8 ton Pitman crane. Still kick myself for selling it. She had a little gas drinking problem, but did the job well.
Reply:Yes, it's a 51 A-40H. I purchased it from the original owner's estate sale back in 98, or 99. All original except the rears which are Eaton on Hendrickson from a 1962 IH truck. It has the 377 flathead engine which runs perfect along with the 6231D "Brownie" auxiliary trans. Yes, that series of "Magnadyne" engine does love it's gas..... I'll probably put a different dump body on it retaining the original hoist as it's a bit "different" these days. The truck was used for demolition work so the bed is pretty beat up. It would/will lift a full load of sand at idle; (albeit slowly) until I plasma cut the floor out of it. I know this from experience as I hauled 605 tons of it when building my shop using this truck. That was in 2000 so she's still earning her keep.....Photos:Last edited by Slob; 07-26-2014 at 07:15 PM.SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....
Reply:Few more since you are familiar. All original including paint it was sold new with:Last edited by Slob; 07-26-2014 at 07:19 PM.SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....
Reply:And finally: SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....
Reply:Originally Posted by SlobYou're doing one hell of a job on your welding bed. Someday I hope to be that good, (and I do mean that). Ain't quite nothing like the pride of when you can say, "I did it my self".Thanks,
Reply:Originally Posted by DieselDon16Thankyou Sir.  Someday I will have a 1972 Pete 359 or a 1989 R Model Mack.  Nothing too fancy just restore it good enough to take the old lady out in on Friday nights and to run and get Milk with.
Reply:I like it all. That dump box is interesting to say the least!
Reply:[QUOTE=Slob;4465871]Few more since you are familiar. All original including paint it was sold new with:That's a good looking A model. Its too bad we don't see more of them, mine had the 471 engine with overhead valves, 5x3 trans and a 4" straight vertical exhaust. It had its own sound for sure. That's a nice herd of Macks you have there. Love the pics!
Reply:[QUOTE=12V71;4466661] Originally Posted by SlobFew more since you are familiar. All original including paint it was sold new with:That's a good looking A model. Its too bad we don't see more of them, mine had the 471 engine with overhead valves, 5x3 trans and a 4" straight vertical exhaust. It had its own sound for sure. That's a nice herd of Macks you have there. Love the pics!
Reply:Musta been tired as I forgot to attach the photos.....Oh, the trailer is not mine but belongs to the gent whom borrows "Yella Dog". He has since purchased an Ottawa "spotter" tractor to cycle trailers.SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....
Reply:[QUOTE=Slob;4464831]Thanks, what was that KW used for in it's prior occupation? Logging perhaps? It started off as a logging truck, but it was our equipment hauler until a couple years ago.
Reply:There were a lot of KW and Pete logging trucks in the Northwest for a long time. Probably still are. I have photo of my Mack as a logger with it's bunk installed along with it's trailer mounted. The tank is engineered to lift off by crane and a log bunk be reinstalled. The tank is retained by spring loaded chain binders. The water hoses are all quick connect so changing over to logging would be less than an hour ready to go.This truck will not stay a tanker too much longer. I'm going to install a 28-30' rollback bed of my own design and have been collecting parts for the hydraulics for a while now. I picked these up cause they had enough stroke to them priced right:Never mind about the hole in the trailer decking. Something about hauling forklifts causes this.....Thanks,Last edited by Slob; 07-27-2014 at 10:49 AM.SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....
Reply:Love the old Macks. I don't mean to hijack the thread but if you want to check out some cool old macks that have been restored over here check out the Heavy Haulage Australia Facebook page. This guy runs a fleet of heavy haulage trucks that are all 100% restored or customised. Most of his work is done by PJ's Custom Spray Painting
Reply:No Hijack at all. I've been to the site and it's quite a show to see. Thanks for the reference for others to share!SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....T-Bone is drooling.  Your trucks make mine look like a pipsqueak....love it!!!!
Reply:I ran "S" series medium duty trucks for several years. They're not pipsqueaks IMO. For the most part profitable too. Good platform if you can keep floors in their cabs. The rust belt ate them up pretty good. One of the best cabs for room and visibility and when coupled with the crew option, plenty of room.SlobPurveyor of intimate unparalleled knowledge of nothing about everything.Oh yeah, also an unabashed internet "Troll" too.....