HWade

Wanted m36 gun ring must be complete with poles,brackets,skate,ect. :-D

Well chaps a few pics of the truck leaving and returning from her road test.

Well chaps I Took the truck out yesturday for its first road run and she ran very well :-).No water blowing out of the rad cap.No nasty transmission noises.so all is well,in fact it drove bloody well I am well chuffed.see you all at Bolero.

Hello gents I cant promise about comming to the shows took it out on a road test and looked like the head gaskets had gone,took heads off only to find some of the valve seats were in very bad shape,have now reground these out and lapped in the valves heads back on.but thats as far as I have got.will keep you posted.Howard.

Hello David I used dot 4 in my jimmy and had no probs just need to make sure that you get all of the old fluid out of the braking system. All the best Howard

Hello David From what I know alot of peaple drain the system and use silicon based fluid but you cant mix this with other fluids,or stick to using girling fluid its alot cheaper than the silicon. Reguards Howard

Well Gents I have finally managed to locate and fit a new exhaust manifold :-D,have had it running and she sounds great,all of the wooden poles for the hoops have been replaced and fitted,the front end,and body have been painted,Iam having four tyres fitted on tuesday and she should be ready for her first road test.Will post some pics once she comes out of the work shop next week.

Hello Ian2B I have been towing a brock field office converted to a living for a couple of years,I towed it behind my GMC had to alter the braking system on the trailer,but I have never had any problems,I shall be towing it behind my Diamond t 975 this year,will keep the same braking system in place,rather than air they are electronic. Howard

Like the gun ring Jack wouldnt mind one of those for Diamond 975 have got all the fixings just need the ring and poles.keep up the good work,looking forward to seeing your truck at Bolero.

Hello Jack If you can let me know what numbers you require for the bonnet and bumper,do you want Bomb group markings,Red ball express,fighter group markings. Will leave it up to you.

Hello Mark If you can let me have the info on what a Reo has on it then there would not be a problem in doing them.

Hello Jack I thought I had forgot something the kit includes the numbers,with reference to the height thats up to you I will look up the correct size,there must be one, although when you look at different MVs some are different. Cheers Howard

Evening Gents How many peaple have trouble getting the right stencils,I am putting togeather some precut stencil kits for various vehicles.for example a GMC 353 kit would have a large (bonnet Star).(Small star for side),side stencil for truck body( Length,width,Net Weight,Gross weight,Total).Fuel tank(Min 70 Octane)Bonnet(Prestone 44)Back(caution Left Hand Drive)(Bonnet Numbers)(Bumper Numbers).These stencils would be available in oil board or vinyl with a semi sticky back this stopping overspray.The kits would cost £25.00 each.One off stencils also available.The kits will be available from the about middle of March.

Hello Jack The rad screens works very well if I remember I had to remove it after about 15 mins of running.It got rather hot. Howard

Hello Lee any chance of a quote for stencils I need some for the Diamond T 975. :-D

Out in the Jimmy braving the winter weather :shake:

Maria thought she would come along.

Clive if you need any help with the Lottery forms, Sharon may help she has filled these in before. Howard

Hello Jack Ive got a spare wire brush I will give clive a call. :evil: Reguards Howard.

Hi Clive,Thats a great idea for peaple to post a picture of there vehicle,you beat me to it. I am still having probs downloading pics of the restoration,the site says my file is to large but not to sure how to make it smaller. Howard

Hello Jack I am glad you like the report on the restoration,the reason for having a Diamond T,well I always wanted a 969 wrecker there is somthing about them,they certainly presence when one is comming towards you on the road.I was a GMC 353 owner up untill a few months,but wanted a change.I didnt get a 969 because I have the Daf YB626 wrecker which is the dutch equivalent of the M62 wrecker in fact it just has a different cab.When the 975a came up for sale I fell in love with it,somthing totally different,I expect it peaple will enjoy seeing it at the various events I go to.With reference to the restoration it is mainly cosmetic,but there are some repairs as you will find out on the retoration report. All the best Howard

Hello Guys Thanks for the support on the retoration of the Diamond T 975,yes mick your right its great looking down the Snout of the truck it will be eaven better when I have her on the road. All the best Howard.

Hi she carrys just the one spare wheel behind the cab there is room for another the other side but,I was led to beleave there should be a tool box there,something else I have to make,thats if I get time. Reguards Howard

....................................................PART 1................................................... Hi Guys Where do I start,well it arrived Saturday 17th Feb and I had plenty of hands on Deck to lend a hand,Clive Stevens,David Hines,Roy Baker,and Tony Butts,all owners of military vehicles.With the ramps down on the loloader I backed the Daf wrecker a YB626 up to the tow bar of the truck and hooked her up,with David behind the wheel of the Diamond I pulled her off with out a hitch.Once off we all gave her the once over.I decided that we would tow start due to the nearly flat Batteries and faulty starter switch.We pulled her into position and Roy took the seat of the Diamond T.With a good pull she burst into life.Once running I disconnected the tow bar and Roy with the assistance of the others we directed him into the work shop.Once inside and we had turned her off we lifted the bonnet,to give the engine the once over,this is when we found that? To be continued Hi Guys The story continues,Part 2 Firstly there will be pics still trying to down load got a soft ware problem but they are worth waiting for,anyway back to what we found under the bonnet,the Exhaust manifold had a nasty crack,but apart from this the engine is in great shape oil pressure,at 60bar so thats ok and it runs very smooth.The body work is great to apart from the passenger side under the door it has a little rust there,so all in all a good solid truck,where do I start first well as I had to tow start her and she would not start on the starter switch,I thought I should find out why,so I set to and removed the floor pan out of the cab,I then removed all of the wires off the starter switch and then removed the switch.Once I started to take it apart water poured out,but as luck would have it,the points and contacts had not corroded,so with a good clean and a drop of WD40 and a wipe,I put it back togeather and fitted it back to the truck,Will she or wont she start.NO she didnt,what next the starter motor,I got the socket and spanners togeather and craweled under the truck,with the wires dissconnected and the three bolts removed I managed to pull it free,god its heavy.Once on the work bench I put some power through it only to find it was shorting out.Some one had used a steel washer instead of an non metalic washer so it was causing it to short on the outer casing from the main feed in.I removed the washer and replaced with an nylon washer,and yes it worked fine.So back on all fours and under the truck to reinstall the starter.Once refitted and all wires reconnected,I gave it another try,yes,yes success she worked.Next job remove the cracked manifold but that story tomorrow. The Story Continues Part 3. Hello Gents its now Saturday 24th February and its now 10.30 am and I am on my way to the Farm,after taking my daughter for her Horse riding,once I get there I proceed to unlock the work shop.Once the lights have warmed up and I can see what I am doing I decide to tackle the removal of the Exhaust manifold.After weighing the job up I have to remove the front right hand side wing,followed by the inner louve panel.30 mins later and these are removed after a bit of groaning,I had to remove one of the brackets the wing bolts to,and of course the bolts that are on the chassis are in a pig of a place to get to,but hey thats all part of the fun.With this bracket removed and the wing out of the way.I firstly remove the Carb,followed by the inlet manifold,this had to come off anyway.It actually came off with out any problem.I had already sprayed the nuts on the manifold a few nights before so this should help with the removal,with spanner in hand I tackled the first nut,great off out any problem,it was only when I got to the last three nuts I hit problems they would not budge.So out with the gas torch and a bit of heat on the nuts,let them cool more WD40 but no these were not having any of it,infact I ended up snapping all three off.With the manifold off I could see the full exstent of the crack in the manifold (pic to follow) it was ay least 3/4 of the way around.Well worth taking off to replace.I dropped back onto the removal of the broken studs,I heated all studs cherry red and let them cool then sprayed WD40 and a tap with a hammer out with the mole grips an gave it a turn,and to my delight it moved very slowly.I didnt want to push my luck so more heat and WD40,and taps with a hour it moved and 3 hours later all three broken studs were removed.Well thats about for Part 3.To be continued. Hello Gents a late night up date.Part 4 Its now 10.10pm just got in from the work shop,anyway thought I would strip the seats out tonight,spanners in hand I set to and removed the seats,once removed I took apart the frames these were all in good order a bit of surface rust but nothing the wire brush wont tackle.The cusions were past there sell buy date so I shall make these my self I have some weathered canvas so this should look the part.The metal boxs that the seat frames sit on these being bolted to the floor in the cab were not to bad at all so these will stay in place,if time permitted I would remove the whole cab and shot blast it but I dont have time so once this season comes and goes I may well do this over the next winter.I gave the doors a close inspection and these are in really good order, other ones I have seen have rotted out at the bottom.I managed to get the drivers seat frame down to bear metal tonight and gave it a coat of primer,just leaves the passenger to do.Well thats about it for tonight,All being well I am collecting the new exhaust manifold on friday so that should go back togeather on saturday but thats another day.night,night.To be continued. The Restoration Continues part 5. Back in the work shop and I decided to look over the the rear body.I have removed all of the hoops and found that the upright pieces of timber had rotted off.So all of these have been removed from the top hoop,and require new uprights,these are on order with a local timber merchant 2.5" wide x 1" deep and 5FT lon g.I have over allowed on the length so I have somthing to play with.The timber being suppied by a local timber merchant.The steel body inside and out is in great shape apart from the floor,just surface rust.So out with the angle grinder fitted with wire brush wheel and off we go.3 hours later and all rust removed and down to the metal.I gave it a good sweep up and a good hoover to remove all of the dust.Then with a roller in hand the first coat of red oxide primer was applied.Will give it a second coat tomarrow.The sides of the body are so good that I am only going to give them a light rubbing down with some fine papper just to give it a key for the top coat of paint to key to.now the inside of the floor is painted in primer,I decided to look at the right hand side of the cab under the door,grinder inhand i gently started to remove the rust,a few holes started to appear along with some filler.This had clearly be done before,I think Iam going to have to weld in some sheet steel,and build up with filler.This being a temporary repair of course.I have treated the rust and will have to pick up some sheet steel tomarrow.Well thats about it to date will keep you guys updated just as soon as I do some more of the restoration.To be Contiued. Diamond T 975 Restoration Part Six. Its now 7am and I am setting off to collect two oil filters for the truck,and then I am of to Lavenham,to a military surplus store,got a few goodies to collect there.then its back home for lunch,then off to collect the manifold plus a few other bits.Will let you all know how I got on. [/To be continued]5.15pm. Hi Guys back again well,went to get the the manifold but the gent decided not to sell it to me, :cry: which means I am going to have to get the original manifold welded up,oh well cant win them all.I did get the new gasket set so Iam ok there.Have done some more to the cargo body, its all sanded down and ready for painting,I gave the sides of the body a coat of olive drab,but thats about it for today.Will be up the farm tomarrow to carry on with the restoration.Update tomarrow. Diamond T Restoration Part 7 Well I spent all day saturday and got up early this morning giving it another 4 hours of my time.On saturday I worked on the passenger side rubbing down the rust to bare metal,I then moved on to one of the wings followed by the radiator,the original paint on these were so good that they just got a light rubbing down to give a good key for the paint.I then went back to the cargo body and gave that its first coat of olive drab in the buck,it went on very well,I then started with the radiator and the front wing.I then started rubbing down the slatted sides which I did next door so not to get dust on the wet paint,I painted these this morning.I also painted the top of the bulk head near the windscreen.Well thats about it to date.I am hoping to have the manifold welded next sunday,but I am in the hands of Tony Butts another M.V.owner.I shall be going up there in the week for a couple of eavenings so I will keep you posted. Diamond T 975a Restoration Part 8 Eavening Gents its now 9.45pm just got back in from the work shop managed to get the front slatted body top rubbed down and also one of the side sections,also managed to get some paint on them.I also managed to get some of the body work done to the passenger side under the door.Well thats it.Keep you posted. Part 9 Diamond T restoration. Well gents The rear body is finished including the slatted sides and benches.The cab has been rubbed down and painted,the bonnet and right wing have also been completed and are waiting to be fitted once I have refitted the manifold,still waiting to have it welded.Have bought two new Batteries,and also two new oil filters,plus wiper arms and blades.Engine oil has been changed,so has all the gear box,transfer box,and diffs all oils changed.Just deciding on what markings to put on her.I may have found a complete set of tyres but will keep you informed on that one.Well thats about it for now.I am hoping to have the manifold welded this afternoon and fitted back on :-) will keep you posted.

Hi Clive nice pic of the B-17