restoration Scammell Pioneer Rebuild (winter project)

Hi we bought the Pioneer earlier this year after seeing it on ebay.

When we got it home the engine was seized (it'd been stood for 20 years) but after a few days messing we managed to get it free'd off and turning over, before starting it required a few new parts for the fuel pump but after fitting them it started up quite easy.

we decided to get the truck to a state where it could be used to give us the chance to find any issues with it before we stripped it down to rebuild it.

Before putting it on the road we split the rims and fitted some new tyres and gave the rims a paint at the same time.

we've had a few trips out in it over the last few months (including a trip to Blackpool where we met Les Ward with his Pioneer). Everything seems to be working right but the engine had slight knock when rev'd.

we're now in the process of stripping the truck down. the plan is to rebuild / make new body work and rebuild the engine over the winter then its all ready for next spring (hopefully).

Good to see another old Scammell being loved !

Good to see another old Scammell being loved !

.....and pushing an old FC Landrover about on a straight bar just for fun!

Think I'll have to reverse Forcefuls rear wheels now I've seen yours....

That first pic makes it look the same size as the 101

What is the box like structure above the radiator? Some seem to have it, while others do not.

Cheers,

Terry

The structure in front of the radiator is a rack for carrying counter weights, weighing around 75kg each and it has 7 of them.

People tend to drive around with out the weights, because there is no reason for making the steering heaviere than it is.

The rack is only fitted to the recovery version of the Pioneer.

And yes nice to see another Scammell saved.

hi, are you rebuilding the rear body as standard or keeping the ballast box.

Wondered whose that was!!!

Saw ti the other day when I was getting some gas from near you!!

Only up the road hope to see you one day!!

Curiously the registration of your 101 is almost the same as my one, just 100 or so different.

Hi,

Thanks for all your comments.

We plan to put the body work back in the same style as it is now (but with a few slight changes).

Haha we might regret this but it'll be having all the weights on the front, it looks odd without them and heavy steering is all part of the fun.

You can alway make a set of fake weights for it, of box section steel and some tube.

I have a set of fakes on mine, the only problem with them is that they rattle and they can jump abit when driving on rough ground, due to being lighter

bit more of an update

we've started to strip the body off the truck, the engine is out and all the chassis has been steam cleaned

That's very quick progress! Looks like you are doing a superb job. Will be good to see it out refreshed.

Ed

Thanks, hopefully it'll start looking like a truck again soon.

just a small update, got the bits swapped over from the original engine onto the replacement engine, new clutch fitted and managed to get it painted this weekend

to replace the lw with an lx you will have to modify the bulkhead to clear the pump which is set further back.

to replace the lw with an lx you will have to modify the bulkhead to clear the pump which is set further back.

Is there room lengthwise in the Pioneer for an LX in place of the LW??

Yes, done by a very good friend of mine 30 years ago.

we're on with making a new cab so will be making the new bulkhead to fit round the pump (any excuse to play with the plasma cutter )

Well done with your progress, was this the Pioneer from Tadley ?

Well done with your progress, was this the Pioneer from Tadley ?

Thanks, yeah we picked the Pioneer up from there early last year (we found it on Ebay). Do you know the truck?

I remember it in the yard there on various visits was intrigued what you found wrong with the old engine?, I was under the impression or remember foul play by some uncouth character in that dept, but that was 15 years ago.

I remember it in the yard there on various visits was intrigued what you found wrong with the old engine?, I was under the impression or remember foul play by some uncouth character in that dept, but that was 15 years ago.

haha we didn't know about that,

the engine was locked up but we managed to get it running and was able to use it, but it developed a slight knock at higher revs, when we took the sump off we found that number 5 big end had gone.

bit more progress made on the truck this week

chassis primed up and painted black, nearly ready for the engine to go back in now

we also managed to source the history card (our pioneer is the last one on the page, 36 YZ 07). Hopefully we'll be able to trace more of its history now we have this.

Not sure if you know but YZ would not be the original reg but a 1949 re-reg of wartime vehicles under the census number system.