Chris Hall

For comparison.

It was pretty darn cold today but I managed to get a bit done. Wheels are now on the track drive axle (backwards because of the offset) so I can move it around but it’s still very front heavy. I think I may strap a concrete counter balance to the back end to help. The only items left bolted to the frame are the front bumper, radiator support arms and a armour bracket (bolt is metric I think, so will be cut off).

That seat is almost identical to my 1936 Rudge Whitworth with the bungies.

I found on the G that it’s a small weapons adapter.

It’s mentioned on the G as an adapter for smaller weapons. https://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.php?t=172077

I suspect it could be an adaptor to install another type of gun in to the standard rack.

Alocrom is the green/yellow tint you find on aluminium aircraft panels. Then you would find a zinc chromate primer on top of that.

As daft as it sounds, I’m really chuffed that I could save this part.

I’ve been busy doing little bits here and there. The new Halftrack was missing the right leaf spring but I got one with it courtesy of Ivo Snr at BAIV. The 2 links were bent badly and there was no way it was going to fit so I put flame to steel and got them red hot before bending back into place. It took a few tweaks to get the bores to run true to each other and the opposite ends but it’s all sorted now and the leaf spring is now fitted with some nice new bolts. while I was on with straightening the links I thought I’d have a go with the bent radiator bracket. I didn’t hold much hope as the bracket is 1/4” thick steel and I didn’t think I’d get enough heat into it. I was wrong and it was easily straightened in the vice. I need to get the first Halftrack stripped down so I can get number 2 moved in. But I also needed the front axle from number one to fit to number 2 so I could push it into place. Unfortunately due to the storage area I can’t just lift it in because there are caravans in the way. So, out came the engine (sounds so easy) followed by the front axle. The axle is now under No. 2 Halftrack waiting for me to sandblast the U shackles, nuts and the spring saddle (just to make it easier to assemble and disassemble later). I’ll be fitting the wheels to the track drive axle on No. 1 so that I can wheel the frame out before removing the wheels to fit to No. 2 and then remove the track axle from No. 1 And talking of wheels, I knew that one tyre was a 11 x 20 Michelin solid tyre and the other a correctly sized 8.25 x 20 Michelin pneumatic but I didn’t realise the size difference until I put them next to each other! The 8.25 is correct for Halftracks and I could just about remove that on my own. The 11 was just far to heavy and needed the engine crane.

Not only Frouth but Moet & Handon and also Moet & Qandon. I can understand some letters being in the wrong order as the ‘Type Setters’ worked back to front, but to miss a letter (or perhaps it was damaged) and an incorrect letter (a Q rather than a C) is quite bad. Then again you would think they would have printed a ‘Proof’ before printing in their thousands.

Sorry for your loss Steve and for what it’s worth, try and make the most of Christmas. 👍

I did a little research on the Italian data plate and found that it was installed to a FIAT gun truck in or around 1952. FIAT 639 Quadrinata below.

Christmas has indeed come early. Here’s Santa unloading the Maxson, or was it the Half a track? Yep, it was 5pm and pitch black! Had to make a right meal of the slings to get it off.....but we got it off, and in one piece!! while I was waiting for the truck, I started to prep the engine to come out of the other track. It’s seized which is no surprise, but what did surprise me was that the inlet ports in the engine block were chocka with a black sand like substance like an ash. It’s the same stuff that I found around the back of the frame. I now wonder if the engine gave up the ghost because it was clogged. My next problem is a slightly rounded head bolt. There’s about 24 of them and all but one came out relatively easily which astounded me. I think I’ll cut the head off this one and lift the head off. I don’t think I’ll like what I find.

Got the gearbox and transfer box off today. That wasn’t fun, I hadn’t realised the PTO box needed to come off as it hit part of the frame before the gearbox could be fully withdrawn. I tried to drain the oil but nothing much came out. When I split the PTO from the gearbox, it all came out then. It was peeing it down so it’s turned to a right sludgy mess. I’ve ended up soaking it into paper and cardboard and scooping up with a shovel. I think I’ll need to put some sand down just to finish tidying it up. I also got the generator off, man it’s heavy, it’s definitely at the limit of what a single man can carry. Next up will be to take the head off I think and then lift the engine out. Tomorrow should see the arrival of the Maxson and 2nd Halftrack or half a track as I’m now referring to it.

When you think in the big scheme of things, we probably overfix everything. Our jeeps are now knocking on for 80 years old when they weren’t expected to last more than a few. I’ve no doubt the hat channels and seams would have been left in the white at the factory and they’ve lasted this long (although rotten). They would have been left outside in the elements, treated like the cheap run around that they were, bodged to keep running and bodged to suit other purposes. And then we rebuild them with TLC, store them under cover and lavish them with all the cash we can spare. They best last another 80 years or more, even if we won’t be able to buy petrol to run them.

I see the description has changed now, someone must have corrected them. I didn’t even notice is wasn’t a Griffin.

anyone want a aero engine project? Nothing to do with me but thought someone may like it. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENERATOR-POWERED-BY-RUNNING-ROLLS-ROYCE-SF65-ENGINE/164473401021?epid=22036447394&hash=item264b60eebd:g:BMsAAOSwltVd-koA

If the government get there way then I think our vehicles will end up parked in collections. I was hoping as the demand for petrol drops (with the ban on new sales) then it would become cheaper however I bet the tax increases massively to force people into electric vehicles. And then when ICE are all but gone, a hefty tax on electric vehicles will be introduced

The hardest part of any restoration is deciding how far to go. I like to keep as much as original as possible but at some point, it just becomes unrealistic. I’ve seen some replace small sections of hat channels that have rotted through which is fine. But in my experience the rest isn’t far behind and sometimes you’ve just got to bite the bullet and replace the lot.

I’ve also heard of nylon being used instead of oak.

Well bugger me! It’s in near identical cans with the same number so I’ve obviously just over looked it. At least the old cans were different colours.

This is the stuff I’ve used for years and then someone said I should try the copper rich rather than the Zinc. I’ve never seen copper stuff never mind tried it.

It’s real, there were quite a few photos of it. I think they would describe it as “well balanced” where as Esther Rantzen would describe it as “a potential disaster!”

It’s a seam sealer/glue. Waxoil is good inside things like hat channels but I do find it can either wash out or trap moisture. A combo of both would work well. The sealer/glue is something the manufacturers use to build the cars as it’s easier and stronger than welding. The spot welds simply hold the pieces in place while the glue sets rather than add much strength.

Today I received a photo of the M45 I shall be receiving. It’s on an M20 trailer which will be surplus and I don’t think there’s much of a market for them so it will likely sit propped up under some tarps. I hate to scrap something that’s perfectly fine but no one wants. I decided to take the plunge now and avoid any potential import duties I would incur in the new year. if anyone is considering a purchase from B.A.I.V. In Holland, I would highly recommend a chat to Ivo Jr or Ivo Sr. I had a good chat with Sr over WhatsApp and got a really good deal. His English is exceptional which is a good job as my Dutch extends to what I’ve seen in films such as Austin Powers ‘Gold member’.