handy1882

Thanks for the comments guys, always nice to have a challenge, it wouldn't be any fun if it was too easy :-D

I thought i'd make a start with the front axle, it had been painted before but needed a bit of tlc.

The wheel bearings seem to be in very good condition and most parts just needed a clean, sandblast and paint.

The thrust bearings that the axle sits on inside the stub axle castings were completely shot and had fallen to bits so will need replacing on reassembly.

The track rod is made out of 7/8" bore pipe, 1 1/8'' o/d and has nearly rusted through on a section about 8" long i'm keeping an eye out for a new piece so i can repair it. Seems quite a rare size these days, so i may just use a piece of solid bar instead.

One of the track rod ends has had one of the grease nipples torn out of it, so i bored out the hole and spot faced it, then made a top hat section with the correct thread and silver soldered it in, which didn't turn out too bad.

A few more pictures taken by the previous owners when they first bought the project in the late 70's

The chassis upside down and back to front.

The original engine before it was taken to bits.

The rear axles.

Hi Everyone,

I’ve had my new project for a few months now and thought I would start a restoration blog if anyone is interested?

It’s a Vulcan VSW 30cwt 6x4 built in 1927 for trials with the army. Many other manufacturers submitted vehicles for trials based around a WD spec rear bogie, the contract was eventually won by Morris Commercial with their D type.

The vehicle was owned by some family friends for the last 30 years and I am only too pleased to take it on and hopefully restore it back to its former glory.

This one, chassis No 13 is one of the only two surviving VSWs along with chassis number 16 as far as I know. I would like to be corrected though!

It was used by the RASC, Possibly 8 Coy and was sold into civilian hands in the early 30’s and was used by an agricultural contractor to haul threshing equipment until it was abandoned along with another Vulcan VSW a 3 Tonner No 51 on Salisbury plain, these were both rescued in the mid 60’s.

They were then sold on to a buyer who had the remains of VSW No 16, all 3 then changed hands a few times. At some point No 16 was restored using No’s 13 and 51 for spares. No 51 was eventually broken up as the chassis had rotted through.

No 16 was then sold along with the back axles from No 13 for spares, I would love to know there whereabouts of these axles if anyone has seen them, as they are not with No 16 any more.

That was a bit long winded but basically what I have got is most of No 13 along with the 3 ton back axles from No 51.

Its all a bit of a mess but its surprising how much is there when you start going through it all.

Two pictures of when it was first rescued in the mid 1960's

As purchased.

This is the original engine in pieces showing block, crank case, head, manifolds etc, mostly complete but a bit of a mess. the pistons and con rods etc are all together in a box.

This is a later Vulcan engine which will hopefully have some usefull parts.

Hi Tim,

Thanks, it was good to finally meet you too, i've been following the Dennis thread for ages!

Catch up with you at the next club do.

Cheers.

Thanks for your help Nick,

I'll have a trip down to my local office in Theale and see what they say, i've heard some good reviews that they are a bit sympathetic to older vehicles. It would be nice to get the original number back, but its not the end of the world if i can't.

What sort of evidence they would need? I guess a few magazine articles and letters wouldn't be enough!

Hi Nick,

Thanks for that, I've just had a look on there too, looks to be quite a simple job just to send off the V5 and get that number then.

Any idea what the procedure would be if i wanted to change the reg to the original one?

Would VB 4339 be non transferable?

Cheers

Hi All,

I'm not really sure how to proceed and was just wondering if anyone on here would be able to offer any advice on the historic vehicle registration/ number plate process before I make an idiot out of myself at the local DVLA office.

I've been going through some of the paperwork that came with my Vulcan and found a V5 for it:yay:

Its one of the old blue types issued in the early 1980's, but the truck has not been on the road since the early 1960's.

I've spoken to the previous owners who had the vehicle inspected by DVLA, the number plate issued (VB 4339) was a plate that was found with the truck but not actualy attached.

Theres nothing wrong with the number at all, its the correct period, would not look out of place and it could be the correct number, but i'm not convinced.

I think originally the number would have been MP 8871, i have a few magazine articles putting this number and my chassis number together as well as a letter from the gentleman who originally rescued the truck in the 1960's supporting this, but nothing concrete like a photo or buff log book.

There is another Vulcan which is 3 chassis numbers away from mine, and its reg is also 3 numbers away from MP8871, could this just be coincidence, or were some numbers issued consecutively?

If i send off the old V5 that i have, will VB 4339 be non transferable when the new V5 comes back?

Obviously i would like to get the vehicle registered to myself as soon as i can, but i don't really want to be stuck with the wrong number.

Are there any army records going back to the late 1920's that would prove which number is correct?

Any advice or comments welcome, and many thanks in advance.

Thanks for the kind comments everyone. I suppose I'd better get my finger out and get on with it then, and take lots of photos while i'm at it

Yes there is quite a lot of work there, it has been dismantled by a previous owner since those pictures were taken, but it is the original engine for the vehicle so it would be nice to get it going again. Hopefuly the later spares engine I have will yield some usefull bits. Not really looked at the engine too closely yet as I have been concentrating on rebuilding the front axle, repairing the chassis and trying not to get too overwhelmed with the amount of work ahead!

I was thinking about doing a restoration blog when i've made a bit more progress if anyone is interested?

Redherring,

Some photos of the original engine that were taken in the late 1970s before it was stripped down.

Thanks Guys,

I'll give these chaps a ring and see what they can do.

Hi All,

Does anyone have any good recommendations for leaf spring manufacturers near or a few hours drive from Oxford?

I've cleaned up and painted the two on the front axle of the Vulcan, and they are pretty much shot. They are ok just for assembley purposes, but i wouldn't like to go up the road with them like that!

How much is a reasonable price to have a pair made?

Sorry for the poor qualty of the photos my camera is playing up at the moment, I don't think it likes the cold!

This is the best one of the two, 9 leaves 2" wide x 1/4" thick. Shackle pin holes are 5/8" Dia x 35 1/4'' hole centres.

The ends of the leaves are tapered and spade ended which have rotted through, it would be nice to have them remade the same but i guess they would be a lot more work and cost a lot more than standard square ended leaves?

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Hi Redherring,

Yes quite a few bits, shame there aren't a few more! Should keep me out of trouble for a little while.

The original engine is a Vulcan 3X4 I think its 17.9hp, 85mm bore x 130mm stroke.

I have some pictures of the engine that the previous owners took when it was more complete, i'll try and scan them later.

I've not looked at the engine too much yet as i've only had the project for a few weeks, everything is soaking in a big bucket of WD40 for now.

Rob.

Hi All,

I thought some of you might be interested to hear what happened to the other Vulcan VSW's No 13 and 51.

It all gets a bit complicated and i'm happy to be corrected but from what I can understand, 3 Vulcans were collected together for restoration, VSW 13 and 16 (30cwt) and VSW 51 (3 Ton). All were in quite poor condition and a good one was made out of the three on the best chassis, VSW 16.

VSW 51 was in the worst condition and was broken up to provide parts, all that remains is the rear bogie assembly and a few other bits and pieces.

VSW 13 is fairly complete, but the 30cwt rear bogie was sold as spares with number 16 at some point, if anyone knows the whereabouts of these axles I would be very interested to hear from you as I have just taken on VSW 13 and the remains of VSW 51 as a project!

There are a few bits missing, the radiator core and top tank, bonnet and bodywork,a few engine parts and the original 30 cwt rear axles. The 3 ton axles look like they should fit, but i will probably have to make some new mounting brackets as they are slightly larger.

First time its seen daylight for nearly 30 years.

Bits and peices!

This is a spare Vulcan engine which is a later model, the crank case and most of the bottom end looks to be the same as the original engine so hopefully it will provide some usefull parts.

I hope the pictures come out as this is the first time i've tried posting photos.

If anyone has any information on these trucks or any leads on parts please get in touch, I would be very grateful for any help!

Thanks Ian!

Engine parts in the dishwasher Simon? What a brilliant idea!....:cool2:

Well its probably too cold for the paint to cure properly in the garage, so the aga sounds like a good place to me!

Just taken delivery of a new project, there is a carb and a valve cover lurking in my kitchen!:-D

Something like that Jack!

I've been a member for quite a while and had a quick look every now and again, but bought a house and spent most of my spare time renovating it so not had much time for any other projects. I've now decided that the bath panel and tile grouting can wait till I start on something green and exciting that moves!:-D

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

Simon, i'll keep a Mutt in mind, it would probably fit in my garage a lot better than most of the vehicles i've looked at so far!:-D

Hi Everyone,

My name is Rob, I've been a member of the forum for a while now and thought it was about time I did an introduction, you all seem like really decent people and it felt rude looking at all the great information on here without saying hello.

I'm based just south of Oxford and have always been interested in old vehicles, anything from ships to classic cars and usually attend steam rallys exhibiting vintage tractors and my fathers commercial vehicles.

Always fancied getting into military vehicles, especially after going down to Beltring for the last couple of years and have been keeping my eye out for a Dodge WC 51/52 for ages, not really found one within my price range so far though.

Would love to find an early vehicle to restore like a pre war Albion or something similar.

Hoping this post comes out ok, as i'm not all that computer literate. Apparently a hammer does not turn your computer into a mind reader or make it work faster! :-D

Cheers,

Rob.