Antony

The cab has been removed to allow easier access to the engine and chassis. The fire damaged compresser has now been replaced, and the next job will be to remove the timing cover and replace oil seals etc.

Seen yesterday in France, load of scrap heading for England.

Caption reads, Keep France tidy, dump your rubbish in England!

The rear left spring has been replaced with a N.O.S. one, and as light was rapidly fading this evening the vehicle was dragged outside for a first coat of olive drab on the rear end of the chassis.

We have discovered that the rear cross member was bolted, not riveted in the factory.

Are those nuts and bolts a permanent replacement for the original rivets or just temporary?

 

I am on the look out for some 3/8"x1" round head rivets for my Ward La France if anyone knows were I can find some. The alternative is to make some up, probably from bolts.

There were no rivets in the cross member, all were 1/2" bolts, they have been replaced with new. [ Not metric.] I don't know if they were riveted originally, but I am sure I remember hearing that British Army Rebuilds of Diamond T 969's had chassis rivets replaced with bolts, but I would like someone to confirm that.

Today's news is that the rear brake drums and wheel hubs were removed, cleaned and replaced, all in very good condition. There are a few broken half shaft studs in the hubs to extract and replace.

A bit more progress to report, the rear cross member was in a poor state and has been replaced with one which became available from a doner chassis. The lower web plates had to be renewed, and the rear part of the chassis and the cross member were sand blasted and primed.

I would like to thank those who have posted kind words about the restoration, but I would like to point out that it is not my project, I just take the pictures and help where I can.

Recently, drilling winter wheat has taken priority over restoration work, but the headlight brush guard frame has been made, ready for the wire infill. The engine bores were cleaned and soaked in thin oil after the heads were removed. A bar was engaged on the ring gear teeth last week and the engine turned and is now free, which is very encouraging.

Hi Jack,

No problem, its quite fascinating where things lead to.

Antony.

HI willy,

Thanks for your interest, and Autocar pictures, keep in touch.

Antony.

Indeed the front tyre was burnt off, presumably a grass fire during the 30 ? plus or minus years it was in Mr. Beke's yard. The damage was not restricted to the tyre, it extended to the steering wheel, the distributer, compresser, and the water pump, spares of each were obtained for replacement. It is likely that the wheel bearing and oil seal on that side will need attention, but we have spares available. Mr. Beke had a complete set of N.O.S. springs which were brought back with the truck.

A bit more progress with the Autocar over the weekend, the front left spring was badly out of shape and was replaced with a new one complete with shackles and castings.

The structural pressings for the cab are being fitted to retain the cab shape, and then the cab can be removed which will make it easier to rebuild.

Oops, sorry its on its side!!

If no one manages to buy the two in France, this one will be for sale soon in Belgium.

And a person under the blanket in the foreground.

Probably the driver.

Indeed, a sobering thought.

price ?

His Quote: " The both for 6500 euros"

A contact in Belgium sent these pictures to me, but unfortunately he does'nt know where they are in France, but the front one looks quite reasonable, and maybe of interest to Jack.

Progress with the Autocar has been a bit slow recently because of the busy season on the Farm, and a couple of end of season shows. Some of the structural cab parts have been made, shown here, together with a new bumper which has been fitted.

this one would be up for a total rebuild

There are two trucks in the picture, the one on the left is an International M426, and the other one is I am sure is an Autocar U7144T.

Great story Antony looks like you are enjoying the rebuild ! I look forward to seeing the story continue as more progress is made ! Well done for saving her ! :-D

Thanks Andy, its another project for my retirement!!!

Late last year I was made aware through HMVF of a Diamond T 968 for sale on ebay, less than an hour from my home, so a friend and I had to go and see it. Needless to say the purchase was made. After the delivery we had a good inspection and found too much backlash on the timing gears, so we decided not to run the engine untill this was fixed. We suspected the timing idler gear which proved to be the case, it was very loose on its shaft so I built it up with weld, and had a friend turn it down to a tight fit. My son and I fitted it recently, and on Saturday replaced the radiator and started it up. It ran so well we decided to take it for a run to listen to the transmission. As it is not road registered we took it on the old airfield behind my house and had great fun driving up and down the remains of one of the old runways where, B24's and B17's of the 34th. Bomb Group once flew from. The transmission sounded good in all gears, and the truck drove very well which was very pleasing. It had been brought into the UK from France a few years ago, having been used as a wrecker with a frame over the cab using the front winch, and large jacks at the rear. The back part of the cab has been replaced by a home made job, but everything has been very well done. I will have to make a new body and replace the cab but it is very helpfull that it runs and drive so well.

i hope you make a lot pics of the engine restoration looks good

Yes, we intend to make a pictorial record of every stage of the restoration.

Ah, this would be the one we brought back from france then....

It is indeed, and is giving the new owner hours of pleasure, lifting the heads was like opening a Christmas present for him!

The Autocar made it into the shed this afternoon, where an interesting discovery was made. The cylinder heads where removed to reveal the bores are in very good condition apart from some surface rust and the exhaust valves being a bit corroded. There is a rebuild plate dated 1952 on the block, and the general feeling is that the vehicle has had very little use since then.

The hope is that given the good condition of the bores, once the valves have been removed the engine will be free to turn, the possibility of getting the engine to run is increased.

I notice the hierarchy of freeing off implements in the bottom photo:-

 

First and nearest the truck, the trusty can of WD40,

Second the frustration beater or hammer,

Thirdly and the final resort, the gas axe!

Even the air hammer spanner needs help as well!

They are truely a stunning vehicle and they all must be laden with history.

Jacks mention of history is relevent in this case, there is a brass plate on the instrument panel of the Autocar written in French. When the details were entered into google, it showed a military hospital in Versailles, the connection between it and the Autocar have not been established, but we wondered if it had been a break down vehicle for the hospital transport. It had the remains of an A frame hinged on a heavy plate on the rear of the chassis which was obviously for that purpose.

All the unwanted additions have been removed to reveal the state of the chassis at the rear, which is reasonable, but the cross member will have to be replaced. Both the clutch and brake pedals are now free, and both gearboxes turn and the handbrake has been released.