Nick Johns

Austin K2 One for Radek http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AUSTIN-K2_W0QQitemZ320258684719QQihZ011QQcategoryZ27376QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

1/ As purchased 2/ Chassis, axles, springs painted

Here goes again after the previous posts were lost in the crash, The blog of renovating the very original August 1945 Willys MB imported from California. Chassis and axles are now painted and back together, started on the body which has a little rot in parts of the channel sections, is otherwise near perfect, to facilitate work and make it easier to move in and out of the garage was lucky to find this portable frame on ebay

This pic

Its looking good Paul, my MB rebuild has slowed, but should be back on track with some pics soon. What/whose paint did you use? it looks like the shade of OD I wanted, not really happy with the colour I've got

Correct, this is what was running at Horndean, makes it easy to operate, all running from a small generator

I didn't want my Jeep to look like all the others with a 50cal in the back, so opted for a WW2 Bell & Howell 35mm cine camera as used by combat camermen...can still shoot things!

This was just a trial run with a small back projection screen, the planned "Mobile Army cinema unit" at W&P will be much bigger, so far have hours of WW2 training and instruction film, some in colour, preparing for D Day plus plenty of combat footage, lots of mv's Jeeps/GMC's/Dukws/Scammells/Bedfords, all now on DVD....look out for us in the living history area

I'm going to Biggin Hill in the Jeep, but not Bromley theyv'e changed the date, going up to Duxford MV show, its same day

As kids we used to play on this Grant when It lay abandoned on the former anti tank firing range between Lightwater and Camberley Surrey, the now restored Jagpanzer was next to it

Its worth every penny to buy a new repro loom made by MV Spares available from TS Autos, they are superbly made as per the original and each wire is labelled and with wiring diagram making installation an easy job

In the centre of the top flange of a jeep grille there is a small half round "dip" clearly seen when the bonnet is open

Ford V8 O1A

Try some thinners or white spirit, might soften the paint enough to get it off or use paint stripper in small areas, as soon as it starts to blister the paint immediately wash it off with water

I recognise that Scammell, pic is taken at Keith Gott's Landrovers, he bought it out of MOD auction at Aston Down, apparently the last Scammell to come out of military service, it had been stationed at the RAE on Salisbury Plain for use as a snowplough.

....Rover 3 litre 6 cylinder, also multi leaf springs, final production 101 was quite a bit different

I'll be there too, Nissan X Trail and Jeep trailer, full of gear having a good clear out..

And the Chevy tipper I rescued back in 1971

It surprises everyone when I open the door to see the Dodge in there. it fits with an inch to spare each side! Yes they are telescopic shocks on the front, come from the later M37 improves the handling and steering

Mine lives in a standard garage, its a tight fit...though have to remove the top and fold screen. Pic taken while doing the timing cover oil seal, very easy to remove front wings and radiator to work on the engine

I'm sure you will have to fit some sort of mudguard around the rear wheels and those headlamps likewise look to be too far in from the edge of the vehicle. Landrover had to move their headlamps from the grille out to the wings back in 1968 to comply with UK regulations !

Weapons carriers are fairly bulllet proof hence why so many examples survive. Usual things are obvious rust in the body sides and cab mounts, engines can suffer oil leak fron rear main, ok if not too excessive, big job otherwise, they should run very smoothly with 30-50lb oil pressure when hot, any missing or uneven running could be valve trouble, crash gearbox, no syncro, brakes can be troublesome, master cylinder is prob going to be £100+? wheel cylinders £ 30? each, mechanical bits are readily available, but windscreen frames can be expensive if you have a rusty or damaged one. Dallas Autos is the place to speak to for parts and repairs. There has been numerous discussions about MOT and if the Dodge is exempt, I keep mine MOT'd. Does the one your looking at have all the canvas top and hoop frames? if they are missing youl be looking at up to £1000 for the complete set. Tyres are about £90-120 a piece, they are a great vehicle but thirsty at 10-12mpg but big enough to camp in, prices from £3000 for a runner needing bit of tlc, usually missing the canvas, several on Milweb like this, up to £7000 for a really nice one

Its going to be a bit more complicated to register your Sisu, as its too young to be historic you will need to contact VOSA to get a goods vehicle test where a plating certificate is issued, it will help if there is the manufacturers plate on the vehicle which states the axle loadings etc, you could pay the private goods rate to run it privatley but you say about using it for your business things then would get very complicated, as its over 7500gvw do you have the equivilent of a uk goods vehicle driving licence? it would need a tachograph if not already fitted if it is it has to be re calibrated then you or your business would have to apply for an operators licence, quite expensive and very involved,, have a maintenance contract or own facilities , keep records and on and on..... just stick to private use...all the best

Found this on youtube

Its good to see the ww11 reenactors forum is now on a new server after being hacked and closed down at the same time hmvf went down, will be back up and running soon http://www.wwiireenacting.co.uk/