sirhc

I see Spartans on the news quite often!

Chris

Mick,

Careful with a 1 inch socket! If you drop the plug down inside the bell housing you'll have to take the engine or box out to get it back. Much safer to use the original tool, which screws in to the plug.

Try ebay, Green Machine Surplus or Marcus Glenn for one.

Chris

Karl,

Usually vehicles come with a 'Cast Vehicle Form' which you hand in at the local DVLA office, with a certificate of insurance and an MOT certificate. If it is an accident damaged Wolf, which was sold without paperwork, then it is a bit more of a challenge. You'll need to get proof of the date of manufacture from Land Rover using the chassis number, and take that instead of the cast vehicle form.

Chris

Just a quick update on the Sabre restoration.

I've now sourced most of the bits on the shopping list, and work is progressing well, if a bit slowly. I have fitted a set of Armstrong dampers, the correct Messier dampers proved too expensive at this stage. the interor is stripped, and all the bits painted.

The turret floor is very corroded and is now ready for needle scaling and a coat of bilge paint. The exterior is also stripped, and the bits ready to go to the blasters. I've also needle scaled about 1/2 of the outside ready for new paint.

The Sabre is also now road registered, and taxed, so I can't wait to get it finished so I can take it for a drive. I did have a small problem when driving it round the farm yesterday, when I got some speed up down the straight and put it in 6th gear the engine seemed to loose power. :shake: Maybe the 4 year old fuel isn't burning very well? When I stopped, went down the box and started up again it drove fine!? :dunno:

Chris

http://www.sirhc.co.uk/gallery/album/CVRT%20Sabre/IMG_1939.JPG[/img]

http://www.sirhc.co.uk/gallery/album/CVRT%20Sabre/IMG_1940.JPG[/img]

0.45mm (0.018 inches)

If it runs like crap when you get it going, change the plugs for new ones. I've had a couple of engines which ran really rough, and struggled to spark, using old plugs which looked perfectly fine. Fitting new plugs cured the problem, my Spartan will now idle at 500rpm and starts on the button.

Chris

Neil,

It's just a piece of gas pipe, so it should be easy to replace. I've just got some gas pipe to do the Sabre gun, just need to thread the end really.

Lee,

I take the barrel off my Fox when it's not going anywhere, and put it back on for shows. It might be an idea to unbolt yours in future?

Chris

It should be ISO 10 Hydraulic Fluid, try Morris Lubricants Liquimatic No. 1.

Don't use RSN13P! They were having problems with them causing burnt pistons in service, they also foul up quickly. The issue plug was changed to the RSN12Y Land Rover plug. I have the gaps at home in the J60 EMER, I can check it later.

Chris

Mick,

You shouldn't be experiencing wind up at 20 miles, I've driven hundreds of miles in one go mine and only been off road once or twice to relieve the wind up. Driving on grass or gravel will do the same as driving off a kerb, you don't need to lift the wheel up you just need to give it a soft surface to slip on.

When I restored mine I painted parallel white lines on the hubs so that I could quickly see if I had any problems with them. Paint or chalk some white lines on yours, they need to be pretty accurate, and then take it for a drive. When you get back if they're not perfectly parallel, jack up one side and see if they go back. I think you'll find they're ok though.

Have you checked the oil level in the fluid flywheel? If you've topped it up, did you use the correct oil?

Chris

Mark,

I don't know what they're selling for at the moment, I bought some at £4.50 each a few years ago. Try Wayne Meadows, 07734 829626, although I'm not sure he will want to ship them over the pond to you.

Chris

Looks like a T55 to me. The Sun link didn't work, but I did find it on You Tube.

Chris

The deact cert will have details of where and when it was made. I have no idea how to trace the service history of a weapon, I don't know if you even can?

Chris

I don't know the price, but the owners know what it is worth and it won't be cheap. I will try and ask though.

Chris

Crikey, I bought mine for £120 a couple of years ago! I have some brand new in the packet slings for Sterling if anyone needs one, £5 plus postage.

Chris

Tony,

I don't think Withams have any left now, they all got scrapped! I'm not sure what they're really worth as scrap, there's 5 or 6 tonnes of high quality Aluminium Alloy in each one. Looking at todays price (about $2000 a tonne) you're looking at about £5000 worth of metal in each one! You would need to add in transport costs, the cost involved with cutting them up etc. The scrap man wouldn't want to pay more than £2500 to £3000 each at a guess.

Chris

Marty,

For a first project its probably best to look for something which is pretty much on the road and just needs a few things doing. If you definitley want to dive in at the deep end look for something which is mostly complete. If you were to buy this truck I think you'd end up spending far more then if you bought a complete one. I also think you'd never finish it, you'd get fed up with it and bored with never getting anywhere.

Chris

The way I understand it is that there is a minimum sales price, set by the MoD. I would guess this is the scrap value, or a little bit higher, and if there are no bids or this price isn't met then it will be scrapped instead. It would take ages to strip down 100 Spartans, and even longer to sell on the bits. Plus you would need to pay someone to remove them, have somewhere to store them etc etc. If you were to bid £1 on them they would just rip up your form and throw it in the bin!

Chris

I think it's more a case of they have to go somewhere, they can't sit around in Withams yard forever. The MoD wants the money, and there are only so many collectors willing to buy and restore them. It's sad, but at least they're being recycled and not shot to bits or dumped in the sea.

Chris

I'd guess Allied Forces since you posted a message about going there on the public forum?!

Andy,

There ARE piles of tyres, I'm not sure how happy the owners are about people turning up though so I'll PM you the address and phone number. It's in the Midlands.

Chris

Andy,

Nope thise are off something else. There were thousands of tyres of various sizes chucked all over the place. The Saracen had all its wheels and tyres!

Chris

I found this yesterday, it looks to have many of the modifications done to the Pigs, and even some others. It would be easy enough to save, and was very complete. Someone please save it before it gets cut up! If you want details send me a PM. I'm not sure of the price, it might not be cheap, but it is probably unique.

Chris

http://www.sirhc.co.uk/gallery/album/Hamptons/IMG_1910.JPG[/img]

Here's a couple of photos to make fans of British armour weep! This is what happens when nobody bids on them at Withams...

Chris :cry:

Paul,

I have a tin of that stuff, some people complain it stays soft and comes off on your clothes. I don't think it does much to stop rust, I've not seen many vehicles which have been painted with that stuff without rusty patches.

I use gun wash to thin Hammerite and haven't had any problems yet? :dunno:

Chris

Mick,

Hammerite is a bit expensive. Look for damaged tins in the cheap section of Halfords.

Chris