sirhc

You don't need to let the clutch disengage, it is a hot shift gearbox. You can change up without easing off. When changing down you need to let the engine slow right down before changing down, especially from 4th to 3rd. I always slow down through the gears and you hardly ever need to use the brakes if done right.

Is it flat? Maybe warping when it is hot?

Danubiana, not sure who sells them though.

Got them on mine, no problems at all.

Happy Tim Hortons day Robin!

Robin - I can't take it to W&P looking too scruffy! It's still full of graffiti inside and the paint is flaking already as I didn't strip it all off, but it looks good from a distance!

Raffz - I like to put vehicles back to how they would have been when in service, usually I paint them in the same colours I found them. I would try and keep the original scheme and markings.

Chris

All jobs completed and ready for W&P. I was planning on putting more markings on it, but these will do for the time being. Looking forward to the show now, are any other people bringing CVRTs?

Chris

Have you seen it? The Arrows 1.3/4 Ton trailer is a big beast, they are not very popular and mint ones are not expensive. They are heavy if you need to move it on your own .

You put a Cummins in it..

You can catch a train straight into London from the show site, then it's pretty easy to get to the airport.

I used Shiply to get a M151 back from Portugal, got a good price from a guy coming back empty after dropping off a Jet Ski.

I think you'll be there all week trying to put those hoses on with the engine in place. The fittings are angled and can be a bugger to get right at the best of times. My advice is lift the engine out, put them on in the right place, tie the ones for the gearbox up near the carb, fit the exhaust all the way to the y piece and then put the engine back in. I have done lots and always do it this way. Most take out units you see still have the pipes and exhaust connected this way too.

Chris (still in Normandy!)

Chris,

There are only 4 brake bands, the 5th gear just uses a clutch. I have never replaced them but I believe if you replace the linings they need machining, but not if you replace the entire brake band assemblies.

Chris

Interconnecting box 2 radio (IB2) rather than crew box 2 set (CB2) too !

Charlie,

I have a friend who had a Mk 1 and yes it did sound like that !

Chris

Have you tried Comptons for a new cover? Wouldn't surprise me if they made them in the first place.

http://www.comptons2000.co.uk/index.htm

Chris

Does it look like this?

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvis_Salamander

Chris

Sounds like a cheap modification. Mine seems to go ok, but I can understand tuning it down a bit to make it last a bit longer with army drivers...

Terry,

What have you done to tweak yours?

The 235 upgrade has I believe a bigger turbo and different injection pump.

Chris

Leah,

What vehicle is it? Do you have some photos?

Chris

We were very lucky yesterday that the rain held off so I could finish spraying. We swapped some wheels around, a few were in a bad way, and then removed the tracks. Everything was given a good clean. I noticed a bolt missing from one of the sprockets so that was replaced and then it was time for more light stone paint.

We then put the tracks back on and drove it backwards a few feet to paint the bits of the wheels and hubs I missed. I have bought a compressed air powered grease gun which really makes tensioning the tracks easier.

The next job was the number plates, a job I hate doing as it takes ages to get everything lined up and I never quite get it exactly right. I think it's close enough for now. The BATUS zap numbers did not go quite to plan as my stencil, cut from vinyl, ended up peeling off the black paint. I will probably just cut the numbers from white vinyl and stick them onto the black squares instead.

I still need to put some rear mud flaps on but they were buried in some boxes of stuff so that's a job for next time. I also need to clean out the inside and bolt some Clansman intercom boxes in.

Chris

Hi Jason,

I'm pretty sure I saw this on the back of a truck just south of Lincoln the other day! Good luck with your search for parts.

Chris

British army demonstrating the type of vehicles, the Latvians don't have them yet.

The BATUS fleet had upgraded gearboxes. I guess they removed them all to fit to the remaining vehicles. There is a big problem with gearbox casings cracking and they can not get spares, most of the vehicles which have gone for disposal have the gearbox missing.

Like all these things, there will probably be loads around in 10 years time once the vehicles are all scrapped!

I don't think the Sturgeons at Withams are the ones from Castlemartin.

Chris