Great War truck

This suprise was caused by the oil filters. Designed to keep the sludge within the filters (at the bottom of which are the drain plugs), it prevented the sludge that had formed elsewhere in the sump from reaching the drain plugs. That was of course until we tipped it up. Interesting to see that one of the filters had not been fitted properly and as a result had been crushed. This did nothing to allow the good oil to get back to the engine, so a previous operator had poked a screwdriver through all the gauze to leave a broken mangled mess. Steve is going to have a go at remaking one and repairing the other. I will let you know how he gets on. This is how they were today. Overall it was a productive weekend and we got a lot done. We also left poor old Tony with a pile of bits to clean up. He has gone looking for a plastic tub large enough to put the sump into to soak it in paraffin. Tim (too)

After (wisely i must say) putting it in a drip tray we tipped it over and were slightly suprised to find gallons of the most horrible thick, rank black sludge come out. In fact we filled up the drip tray three more times. Just to share this moment, this is what it looked like as we started to fill the third tray.

After the heads were off we took a look at the pistons. They are in great shape, with no wobble and the bores are perfect with no sign of scoring. It means that we will probably just leave the crank case alone apart from cleaning it. However then there is the sump. Steve had already drained out a couple of gallons, so we thought it would be empty! Ha, not so! After securing it with a rope from the chain block we undid the bolts and lowered it down ever so gently.

Apologies if i post all these photos seperately. I tried to do it all in one go and then my computer tripped up, so i have to start again. Anyway, the next thing was to get the heads off. We took off the 6 bolts securing each head and then with a chain block lifted them off. A bit sticky to start off with, but a gentle tap with a mallet freed them.

We have had a rare weekend with all of us at home on the Dennis and it has been very productive so thought that i should post up a few more photos. Mick asked if the valves were all free. Well they certainly are all now. We got the first one out a few weeks ago, and on Saturday we got out the remainder. Everything was all very nice with little or no wear and just needs cleaning up ready to put back again.

I had not looked at this one before. A great job on an uncommon vehicle. Is it possible that it was captured by the Israelis off some other nation, who had taken it off someone else first. Did the UN use them in Lebanaon and then possibly leave them behind. I guess that we will never know. What was the year of manufacture? I think there was a picture in Wheels and Tracks of Mutts in service with the US during the first gulf war. Tim (too)

Always. We took our WW1 Autocar to Popham once and then also the location before Horndean. Just thought that you were talking about the recently restored WW1 Daimler truck. Tim (too)

Yertiz. Propperjob! http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/Greatwartruck/CAT.jpg[/img] Ideal for grubbing out them there edges! Tim (too)

Is it a WW1 truck by any chance? Tim (too)

There is also a fully armoured, original and unrestored British army D7 in the UK. Steve gets to travel to all these interesting earth moving shows and saw it there. I have a picture. Let me see if i can find it. Tim (too)

I think that colour is right for USMC vehicles. It does look a bit bright at first though. Are the rings on the front and back unique to USMC though as i have not come across those before. Tim (2)

Thanks guys. Well i am now going to Dallas dig out tomorrow and will see if Steve can help me with a new joint. As you say, it may go on for years, or it may stop catastrophically - and that is something that i would like to avoid. I am doing a local road run and could do with out breaking down in a muddy lane. I dont know, these modern vehicles. Wouldnt get this problem on an A Type Dennis subsidy lorry thats for sure. Tim (too)

Just took the Jeep out for a quick blast around the town and noticed a knocking noise that i had not come across before. It happens when i do a sharp turn to the left and comes from the front left wheel. When i got home i jacked the Jeep up, gave it hard lock to the left, spun the wheel and the knocking noise reoccurs once per revolution. My immeadiate thought is that the bearings might have gone and need replacing. I have not got time right now to get the wheel off and have a look, but might go to the Dallas do tomorrow and pick up what i need. Would anybody agree that it might be the bearings, or might it be something else. If it is the bearings, how critical is it as i hope to take out the Jeep again shortly and might not have time to sort it out. My immediate thought is that it might not be dangerous, just noisy, but i suppose that there is a chance that the bearings might seize up on me which would be a right pain in the neck. Any thoughts anybody. Tim (too)

I think it is funded by his dad, but what an incredible collection. I did not know that he had half of this stuff. Another King Tiger! Amazing! I would love to see it. It is nice knowing all this stuff is safe, but if most of it is hidden away it is real shame. Tim (too)

What a thing of beauty! Do you know how many of these there are in the UK? I think that i have only seen one before. Tim (too)

Sorry. I am told that the owner (who must be over 80 now) has sold it and they dont know where it has gone. Somewhere "Up country". Sorry to be of so little help. Tim (too)

What an awful situation, artistsrifles has my every sympathy. Last November some kids kept coming back to take out their frustrations on mine and my wifes car. I knew who it was, i called the Police. They asked me if i had close circuit TV evidence, i did not, they offered me councelling, i laughed. Anyway, these kids (a family of 4 teenage boys) were moving away from the area, and were just saying goodbye in the only way they knew how. They have moved about 7 miles away. My gain is someone elses loss. They had troubled another neigbour recently. Apparently he caught one and nearly killed him. They did not trouble him again so i am told. I cant reccommend doing that as i think it very risky. Another friend did that and ended up in court - quite an amusing story, but i will save that for another day. Your best bet is to invest in a visible close circuit TV mounted high up on the outside of your house. It is your best solution to a crappy situation. Good luck Tim (2)

You wonder why they bothered stacking them so high. A lot of effort to put them up there and even more to get them down again. I would not have thought that space was at such a premium then. Great photos though. What a tragedy. Tim (too)

Tony has been very busy making the steering column support bracket. We had a very badly corroded original which he used as a pattern. He cut some steel to length, got it red hot, then put a bend in the sides. Drilled some holes, milled a slot, put a curve on the ends and then put it all together. The end result is quite pleasing. Tim (too)

My understanding is that when it was all cleared out it was all bought by Saumur where it remains now. I guess some of it which was beyond redemption was scrapped, but all the useful and important stuff has been kept. If you go to France looking for stuff you might be dissapointed as a lot of it has either gone or has been pulled inside for safe keeping. I remember as a 12 year old staying on a French farm and there were cars and trucks abandoned everywhere. Was not really interested i must say at the time and did not take any photos. I do have photos though of another french farm with 7 WW1 trucks parked up in sheds. They can still be found but you have to look. Also speaking French would be useful as would being friendly to big dogs. Tim (too)

Oh hang on the Plymouth one was a SWB 7144 version as well. Would you still like to find the guys number out? Tim (too)

I will see if i can find out and get back to you. A friend of a friend of a friend.

There is a restored one of these in Plymouth. The owner also took out the original engine and put a diesel in it. Tim (too)

Very interesting to see that. I met a Czech guy at Beltring last year and he was restoring a Cromwell which he said the free Czech forces used towards the end of the war. It was owned by a museum and had been used in a Quarry. Took it all at face value, but it is interesting to see that another one has turned up. Doesnt Preston have a Cromwell, he converted it back from a Centaur bull dozer. If so i am sure that he could help with turret plans etc. Tim (too)

Tony and Steve have been having a busy day. Sadl, due to other commitments i was unable to lend a hand. However, today they fitted the petrol tank, fuel tap, hold down straps and enamel sign. We have been stripping down the engine, identifying problems and trying out our new jet paraffin bath. This is how it was looking this morning. The stand is the one that it was mounted on as its previous incarnation as a water pump at a factory. However, the stand does not allow easy access to the sump, so it had to be moved. We therfore put it on a proper engine stand which had just been vacated by a Wisconsin engine, which is now on blocks. Can you see which bit has had the benefit of the paraffin bath? Every home should have one. Tim (too)