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Thanks, I'll drop him an email

Thanks Terry, that's really helpful. I'll have to fabricate the hand wheel but the photo clarifies exactly what's needed. I only managed to get hold of the shorter (side) vision block from Richard Banister which I was going to use, with some slight modification to the housing, in the absence of getting the correct vision block. I gues it begs the question, where did you get the front vision block from? Nic

Thanks Clive, that's useful as I don't have that part. I can work out dimensions given I know the distance between the fixing 'holes' Nic

Clive, I'm assuming this is the keep plate assembly albeit with one or two bits missing, do you have any diagrams of it? Nic

This is the clamping plate that (via compression) holds the front vision block in place. There was a rusty broken threaded rod that passed through a clearance hole in the right hand wedge and threaded into the left hand wedge. The head of the threaded rod is located on the outside of the vision block housing. This is as I believe it to be assembled. I am a bit confused as to why it should work, I can see that as the threaded rod is tightened the left hand wedge moves towards the centre of this plate resulting in a clamping force on the vision block. But there is nothing pushing the right hand wedge towards the centre of the the plate so surely the vision block is only being squeezed on the left hand side, or have I missed some vital point?

Thanks Mick, pm sent

Not sure Mick, but if you could measure the length of section that goes into the engine bay I could see if that would be long enough for the Saracen, I imagine the drive dog would be similar Nic

Please let me know if you have a Saracen starting handle for sale

When I was at the Headcorn show the other week, a number of ex servicemen came up to me to talk about their experience in Saracens. One of them asked if I had problems with vapour locks, given my experience with my Mk6 before I converted it back to RFC it was an interesting question. He went on to say that they fitted auxiliary electric fuel pumps down near the tank (as I did, although now that it is back to RFC I don't seem to get the issues I had before with regard fuel supply to the carb). Another chap confirmed to me that they did have Clansman fitted in the Saracens they used (can't remember where he had served), this is the first time I have heard of Clansman being fitted to Saracens.

Thanks Richard, I spoke to Richard Banister yesterday and he will sort me out with one. Really looking forward to fitting it!

Well this year i did manage to get the Saracen to Combined Ops at Headcorn. Overheating issues now resolved with the reinstatement of the RFC setup although we did have some fueling issues en route necessitating a stop to clean the plugs. We were rewarded for attending the show by receiving 1st prize for armour, OK there weren't a million armoured vehicles there, but first prize is still first prize.

I used hammerite smooth on the inside of my Saracen, I applied it with a small roller and got a pretty good finish.

So last year I had this excess engine bay heat problem on my Mk6 that the previous owner had converted to 'normal' flow cooling. I tried a number of measures to overcome this, none of which were successful. Over the winter I converted it back to reverse flow cooling with parts obtained from Richard Banister. Today I took it out on its first test run and the problem seems resolved. I drove about 6 miles which previously would not have been possible. Fingers crossed and I will get to Combined Ops this year. Nic

I splashed out the £7.50, thanks all

My installation comprises an IB3 connected to two CB2, with two headsets connected to each CB2. I also have a VRC353 connected to the IB3. Today I was testing my set up, with the following results: - The intercom works fine. - The VRC353 sends and receives to my PRC349 OK when it is operated in local mode with a headset connected directly to the 353 - The problem occurs when I try to operate the 353 via a headset on the intercom, in this instance I have the 353 set to remote and it receives from the 349 fine. However when I press the pressel switch on the headset connected to the intercom I find that the 353 transmit light comes on and the 349 goes quiet, but there is no voice transmitted or yet can I hear myself in the headphones when I press the pressel button (I hope this makes sense) I have tried changing various settings on the 353 to no avail. Any ideas what might be wrong or incorrectly set up? Nic

Thanks Ian, very helpful Nic

I think I'm after the user handbook for the 353, I need the information for setting all the various switches for use. Anyone help?

I think the pump is OK thanks Clive

Thanks for the drawing Clive

OK I was being particularly thick yesterday, I shan't bore you with my excuses. So I have dismantled the ram and can see the O rings, I am reluctant to remove them to take measurements in case they break and I can't get any replacements, so the next question perhaps for Clive is do you know what their dimensions are/where I might get replacements from? Nic

I've got around to the last of the cosmetic improvements to my Saracen, namely the drivers hatch. The hydraulics have never fully lifted the inner flap presumably due to a lack of fluid. There are also signs of historic hydraulic leakage near the ram. So I have several questions: 1. What hydraulic fluid should I use? 2. Where is the filler, there are three allen bolts on the top of the pump/reservoir, I have unscrewed the one on the left in the photo and the one near the handle, is this where I fill from? 3. Is there any need to bleed the system, if so from where? 4. With regard the ram, it may be that it would benefit from a change of seal(s), is this possible. There is what appears to be a non removable circlip at the top, should it be possible to strip the ram? I also managed to remove the centre vision block which was knackered (I have a replacement one to fit). Since this was rusted in, the technique I used was to smash each of the 8 layers of glass in turn and once all the glass was removed I was able to collapse the outer frame of the vision block and remove it. In front of the vision block set into the armour is a separate piece of glass, I was very please that I had not broken this whilst smashing my way through the vision block. Much to my annoyance, when I went back to the vehicle a few days later a crack had appeared down the middle of this piece of glass. Does anyone know if this piece of glass is available, I have tried Richard Banister but he can't help Nic

Hi Richard, yes that snow plough does not look to be very effective means of preventing exhausted hot air from being drawn back into the engine bay. I take your point about the front armour not being obviously a unit modification

I came across this photo today of a Saracen said to be operating in Cyprus. It appears to be a DIY reverse flow configuration, was such an arrangement common?

Brilliant, thanks Clive I would never have looked there. I'm assuming my Saracen should have it fitted as it was a reverse flow that someone reversed to 'normal' flow. This helps me confirm that the shield is fitted or else I know where to fit it if it is missing. Nic

Just had a look at the Saracen and it could fit under the exhaust, but I'm not sure why one would want to do that, so not convinced.