What have I found?

[diesel583]

Title says it is a 1955 International. Some where in it's life it has lost the transfer case and front axle. Has full air brakes a 220 Cummins and a 13 speed. It was the wrecker for a Cement company. The price was right and it started right up after setting for years, so it's following me home

 

[BenRoberts]

What you have found is a project

 

[diesel583]

It's really not to bad. Started easy and built air. Brakes work and it drove out of the hole it had been in for 8 years. A pressure wash will do wonders

 

[porkysplace]

You got any pictures of the inside of the cab and dash ?

 

[diesel583]

Didn't get any inside pictures, it will be a few weeks before I get it home. Except for the additional air brake knob and air switches for the winch it is pretty much stock. It does have a big heater taking up a lot of the passengers floor.

 

[jatonka]

The hoodand the straight air brakes are a Zeligson ( not sure of spelling} company conversion, they were big in the 60s and 70s. Lot of pipeline and timber people bought from them. Memphis Equip also did air brake conversions. No clue why they lost the transfer case and front drive axle unless itbecame a dedicated road truck. JT

 

[diesel583]

Zelligson was local but I can't find any information that shows where they used the Mack type front end

 

[red]

Looks like a short winch truck. Can't tell from the pic but does it have a rolling tailboard and a set of gin poles?

 

[diesel583]

No tailboard or poles it had a short wrecker boom made out of very heavy pipe but it is long gone. I remember the truck when the cement company had it. Never seen it haul a truck in, just winch out stuck trucks

 

[NDT]

The frame does not look right for a 5 ton. Too many holes and the steering gear does not go through the frame.

 

[Tracer]

Interesting truck, definitely a hybrid.

 

[diesel583]

From the firewall back it is positively M54, I think the steering was changed when the front axle was changed. The engine and transmission change along with the front axle look to have been done by people that knew how to do things right.

 

[diesel583]

Here's after we got it out.

 

[Tracer]

Like to see some interior pics. Does it still have the dash data plates?

 

[diesel583]

If the dash plates are still there they are covered with white paint. I'll have it home in a few weeks and will have pictures then

 

[74M35A2]

Something new to drive the kids to school in.

13 speed is cool. I can't even count that high.

 

[Tracer]

From where the truck is how far is home, and how do you plan on getting it there?

 

[diesel583]

It's about fifty miles, got a buddy that does heavy haul. Just got to catch him between jobs, buy the fuel and beverages. If it hadn't been sitting so long I would drive it. I'm getting where I don't want any roadside problems.

 

[diesel583]

The kids are 39 and 41 and the grandkid is 16 they can drive me

 

[diesel583]

I finally got it home runs good just needs a lot of little things. Here are some inside pictures. It's got a bigger heater than my house.