Chicago Ward LaFrance/Ranger/EONE (part 3)

I’ve been following the progress on the Engine 17 rig updates, and you can find more details on the Chicagoland Emergency Vehicle Show's Facebook page. If you’re interested in buying it, feel free to send a private message to Facebook.com/ChicagolandEmergencyVehicleShow or leave a comment below this post.

Chicago Fire Department Engine 69, renumbered for both Backdraft Engines 17 and 51. Photo by Tom McCarthy.

Here’s where they ended up:

• 80-287/D-372 E126 – Rehabbed to E122 – Crushed in Blue Island in 1994.

• 80-288/D-373 E73 – Rehabbed to E103 on 4/2/81 – Not rehabbed again – Crushed at Cicero Iron in 1984.

• 80-289/D-374 E8 – Rehabbed to E17/51/69 – Sold to Erickson Trucks-n-Parts on 8/28/96.

• 80-290/D-375 E106 – Rehabbed to E113 – Sold to Erickson Trucks-n-Parts on 9/4/96.

• 80-291/D-376 E22 – Rehabbed to E46 – Sold to Erickson Trucks-n-Parts on 9/9/96 (Crushed).

• 80-292/D-377 E113 – This rig served as a spare at several stations including T61, O’Hare, E34, E19, E109, and E72 before being rehabbed to E14 – Sold to Erickson Trucks-n-Parts on 8/29/96.

• 80-293/D-378 E49 – Rehabbed to E34 – Sold to a private party – Now with the PA FD.

Engine 17 on April 4, 2004.

What’s the current state of Engine 17?

• The owner thinks around 75% of the rig is still intact. About 20% of the parts need to be purchased, and another 5% require fabrication.

• It has a full Cummins NTF 365 Turbo-Diesel engine (365hp @ 2300 rpm).

• It’s missing an Allison HT70 6-speed overdrive transmission.

• It’s also missing $1,100 worth of copper radiator cores, originally from Mesabi Radiator of Minnesota.

• The Hale Q-2 2,000-GPM pump isn’t functional but comes with a replacement PTO gear box, some pump valves, and pump gauges taken from E14. These parts can be rebuilt by SPAN gauges in Wisconsin for $30 each, along with a set of period-correct backing plates. There’s also a new pump gasket set available from Hale.

• It has a 500-gallon water tank and a 140-gallon foam tank added during the refurbishment.

• It has a 50-gallon diesel tank.

• It’s 35 feet long with a 178-inch wheelbase.

• The original grille was stripped but replaced with a high-quality reproduction.

• It still has its original deck gun.

• There’s some diamond plate and steel work needed, but it comes with the refurb blueprints from E-ONE.

• It retains its original Imron paint, which could be repainted to match the 1968-1969 Dodge red.

• It includes 500 feet of 5-inch LDH hose.

• It has fully functional lights, sirens, horns, and a period-correct Motorola radio.

Engine 17 photographed on September 15, 2012.