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Your on! Be safe out there!

The not so exciting parts of the restoration. Wirewheeling lots of nust/bolts/washers These hold the front fenders on to the body.

Hummm.. The '45 Willys MB, the '54 Fire Jeep, or the '08 Wrangler?????

Dam well better! If it wasnt for Willys, Jeep wouldnt of happened!

Does Willys count?

Someone asked what I started with.. Here is a before picture of the 1969 M274A5 Mechanical Mule when I first got it. Alot of replacing of leaking seals, gaskets, some engine and transaxle work, all new fluids, finding or fabricating some missing parts, wire wheeling, sandblasting, primering, and painting went into it. And a ton of hours doing research: Reading the military technical manuals, looking at other mules, and some SWAGing. The 2nd picture is the day before I put the stenciling and reflective decals on it.

I will be in the area, I will try and stop by with my son.

Thank you.. I enjoy bringing old vehicles back to life in their fully glory.. While the Fire Jeep has taken more time that I planned, I think it may be the best when it is all done.

The "year and a half later" update... I work on my Jeep in my spare time, which between work, family, Fire Dept, Fire District, working on "quick" restoration of a M274A5 mechanical mule and life in general, there isnt much of.. After determining that the engine and drivetrain were working well and didnt need any internal work done to them, the body came off in early June. The frame was cleaned, degreased, primed, painted, and the brakes upgraded from 9 inch drums and single circut master cylinder to 11 inch drums and dual circut master cylinder. All body panels were sandblasted, cleaned and primed. The pump was removed and cleaned up. Prior to removal, it put out 490 GPM according to the Pitot Tube flow tester. Not bad for a 50+ year old pump rated for 500 GPM. With some luck, the paintshop should get the body stuff done by the end of July, possibly earlier. Once paint is done, reassembly will go pretty quick (week or two), as there is no removing rusted bolts, wire wheeling them, priming them, tagging/bagging and documentation of them and everything else that came off the Jeep. Some pictures of how it currently is. I have also attached some other pictures of other restorations I have done. a 1945 Willys MB with 1944 Willys MBT trailer, and a 1969 M274A5 Mule. Both of which are in 100% functional "as it was back then" condition and in fine running condition. Both were in my town's Memorial Day Parade this year.

PM sent, thanks!

Does that hold true for an Archived thread also?

I was a personal friend of CPT Williams son, Craig. Unfortunately, he also died before his time. May they both RIP.

At the Association of Fire Districts of NY meeting last fall, one of the attorneys mentioned a court case somewhere upstate where a woman was suing a Fire Company (not district) to make their finances open to the public. I havent heard any further on it.

Fire District's "books" are already open to the community. Monthly bills are read off at every district meeting. If the public/taxpayers wants to come to the meeting, they can hear where every penny of their money is spent. Also, in October, public meetings are held where the public can come ask about the district budget. In the past 4 years in my district, I can count on one had the number of taxpayers that showed up for all 4 years total, and still have some fingers left over. No one can force taxpayers to come to the meetings. Every year we post when and where all the district meetings are, and the door is litterally and figuratively open for them to come.

No relation to the seller, I saw it on the SPAAMFAA website http://www.spaamfaa.org/forsaleapparatus.html For Sale: 62 Mach B85 Pump Truck, It served in Bedford NY, It is loaded with equipment and all comes with the truck. The truck has 18,000 miles and runs great. Paint is a 7/8 and the interior is a 10. Great tires. It is located in Columbus MT. The owner died in an accident is why it is up for sale. I have lots of picture if you want to Email me. I can answer specific questions if you call me at 406-780-0555 cell. (5-28-12 - - 12-21)

And here is the form. Another duty for those in the officers seat while responding. Making note of entry/exit times.. http://www.thruway.ny.gov/commercial/forms/ta-w68181.pdf

But when you respond to a call on the Thruway (medical, accident or fire related) they pay you to show up.

I will research my statement, Im pretty sure I saw something somewhere that mentioned the NYS Constitution, or I may of misinterpreted something.

I am going back to Iona on Sunday, I will take more pictures of the station.

The problem is that to have a countywide fire dept you would need to change the NYS Constitution.. I doubt that will happen any time soon with the way things work in Albany..

I got a happy letter today from the DEC. Did anyone else?

PM sent

I read the same thing, but am curious as to how they determine the rate of loss.

I saw an ad recently from a company that offers in air bag testing. Im curious as to if any one does this to their air bags?

Correct, but from my understanding, thats not as "good" as having a Hydrant system or your own "water on wheels"