Great War truck

I wasnt in the Jeep behind you, but in the Jeep behind that. When you started rolling back down the hill during your hill start saga, the Jeep in front of me took fright and came shooting back towards me at a great rate of knots. I went back to avoid him and came very close to the Jeep behind me. I was very pleased when you managed to get going as my hand brake would not hold and my leg was giving out. I was happy just to follow you up in first, but i started catching up with you as you approached the top and didnt really want to stop. At what stage did you boil over?

These two pictures show the final assembly - but it has thrown out the fact that the Gearbox is about 1/4" higher than the engine on the chassis! Something that we hadn't really realised. The engine will have to be lifted by about 1/4" - the same amount - to bring the engine and gearbox into line by placing packing pieces under the four feet of the engine - but that is no great deal. Excluding building the body - something we look forward to, we have to install the magneto and the wiring, finish the plumbing of the water pump, fix the exhaust pipe, make a Steering wheel and buy copious amounts of oil to fill the engine, the gear box and the back axle. So we are nearly there!

The two inside end covers were machined as one part for each of the two covers but with a deep "V" machined through the centre so that they could be broken into two with one half of each cover then being placed over the shaft. A rather cumbersome way of sealing the end - but this as in the original drawing!

Some of the parts of the Coupling prior to assembly are seen in the first picture. It took two pairs of hands, working in a difficult restricted space to get the main parts of the assembly into the final position. It was not easy to get the studs in as they are longer than the available space when held parallel with the mechanism and the whole assembly had to be articulated to its full extent so that they could be "wiggled" in.

With Steve down in Devon for the weekend, we took advantage of having the great necessity of having two pairs of hands available to fit the Universal Coupling. The wire cut ends of the coupling were placed onto the spline (front end) and the square at the other end. The Clutch Release Bearing together with its big locking nut had first of all go on the shaft ahead of the front cover. The "Dumbell" shape drive shaft is held up between the covers so that you can see where it goes and the supporting springs are visible there in Steve's hands.

Thanks for your positive feedback. We are delighted that everyone finds this so interesting. I have been having computer problems, so i will add the next lot of photos in small groups incase everything goes belly up and i lose it all. We finished off the rear cover of the Intermediate shaft by bolting it down where it meets the Ball Joint - a felt seal was made and inserted but this had to be supported at the rear by a thin steel disc. The disc was cut across to the centre so that it could be "twisted" over the shaft. All straight forward.

Now, doesnt that look nice.

Ok. some good ideas there. I will let you know how i get on. Thanks.

A U Joint. I hadnt thought of that, but the sound doesnt seem quite right for that. I can only describe it as a constant and very fast, pop, pop, pop, popping sound. It sounds like it could be small drops of petrol igniting as it lands on something hot, but i cant find any leak in the fuel line. It comes and goes and I just cant find where it is coming from. More examination required. I have had enough of it at the moment, so will take another look next weekend.

Interesting. It would look much better in a WD green GS body as opposed to that ghastly red wagonette.

Tony and Steve fitted the Intermediate shaft today - this is the shaft between the Gearbox and the Ball Joint. The shaft has been newly made but the splines have mated up very well indeed with the existing female parts with only the slightest bit of "twitching" required to get them to marry up. They had to work in a very restricted space - and with all the various covers, seals and springs to be fitted at the same time, then it was certainly a job for more than one pair of hands to manoeuvre them in and to take the weight.

The jeep has started making a strange sound and I have not been able to work out what is causing it. It sounds like a popping noise, much like lots of bubble wrap being twisted. It goes on for a few seconds and then stops only to start again a few minutes later. I cant replicate it when the Jeep is sitting still, only when i am driving it. It seems to do it most when i am doing about 30 to 40 mph. It is hard trying to work out where it is coming from, but either from just in front of the scuttle or under the floor. I was wondering whether it was petrol leaking and landing on something hot like the exhaust pipe. Or if it was the exhaust pipe blowing. I have had a good look and can see no evidence of what might be doing it. The Jeep seems unaffected by it and carries on at the same speed and power as before. Does anyone have any thoughts please? Thanks Tim

The newly built exhaust pipe arrived a couple of days ago. It looks ok. Hopefully it will fit first time:

Yes indeed. Wonderful.

Not really, the weather does not look to be that bad tomorrow. But anyway, i really cant make it. i do have another thing i have to do. Anyway, here are a few photos of today. Hungerford Common where we stopped on the site of the Kennet and Avon stop line which a very knowledgable chap gave us a talk about. We drove past a couple of pill boxes and parked up beside the road. The talk was very interesting. Then after an entertaining drive with lots of hill starts we arrived at Combe Gibbet. You know you forget how big GMC's really are sometimes. This one parked on top of a Jeep (well it looks like it): The valley below was used for training for the assault upon the Merville battery: The gibbet can just be made out in the background. At this location a husband and wife were executed (for some horrible crime) and the location was chosen as being the border between the two counties where they were born. Apparently the counties had to meet the cost of executing those criminals who had been born there, so this was a cost saving measure. Then off to the Jack Russel pub for a pint and a roast hog: The 101st Airborne picnic reenactment: Probably my favourite vehcile of the day. Lovely. But dont park behind it when it is doing hill starts.

I have just got in after another superb RTV. Great weather too, Just one short heavy shower on the way back to Ramsbury. Great run, good company, good food and cider. All in all, a brilliant day out. Photos to follow. Jack, you have stood me up once too often. I have burned your tea bag and snapped your custard cream across my knee. Sadly, i cant make it tomorrow, but i am sure you will find some room in one of the many fine GMC's that were there.

What time does the road run start on the Saturday? last time i nearly missed it and arrived just as everyone was getting ready to set off. Tim

I was wondering about him as well. I just assumed that he really was very fond of his Foden indeed. "I love my Foden - I love my Foden".

No, but i do have a home brew lager kit in the back.

Are you coming just for the one day Jack or the whole weekend? I will be there for the Saturday if you want a ride. Tim

Another missing link has been completed! When we obtained the kit of parts to put the Dennis together, no Intermediate Shaft was included and we have been unable to find an original. Fortunately, the original Drawing of it has survived and Ben very kindly obtained a copy for us. It is again just a little beyond our home workshop capabilities to make one so we asked Charles Leek & Sons Ltd of Stafford to machine one up for us from the Drawing. We used this firm once before to make up a Half Shaft and were impressed not only with their work, but the very helpful and quick service which they provided. So we had no hesitation in going back to them for the Intermediate Shaft. If anybody is interested, they have a website :- http://www.leekgears.co.uk The pictures show what the Shaft looks like - 17 3/16" overall length with the splines in line, and max diameter of 2 1/8". This couples the Gearbox to the Torque Joint. It now has to be fitted! These three pictures show where the shaft will be fitted very shortly.

So it was. Well done and what an interesting life she had. I found a photo of US Army 55 gallon oil drums on the Western front. The first photo i have seen of them during WW1. Thanks Tim

Thats quite right. 55 US gallons = 45 Imperial gallons.

Who invented the 55 gallon oil drum and when was it first used?

Fantastic diverse selection. I like the Sherman dozer. Kevin brought one back from Israel. Love to see it working. The ISU 152 is a corker as well. What is the yellow job behind the Su 100?