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I'd like to give my chassis a good clean up and a decent coat of paint before putting the body back on. I wondered if anybody has had any success with these cheap blast pots? Machine Mart are now selling one for under £50 but they don't state CFM to run it. I got a quote locally to blast and prime a LWB Landrover chassis of £150 which I thought was a bit steep, apparently it's nearer £500 for a lorry, they do do a good job but the money could be better spent.

I've been trying to find out some information about my Atlas crane and I've been looking at the ones fitted to Militants, but it's not that one. Then I came across this picture of the Atlas crane mounted on the back of a Militant and wondered if anybody knows the owner or the whereabouts of the vehicle and could find out what model the crane is for me please? or even some better photos for when I re-assemble it.

Cheers for your help Ian, that's what I thought but Richard's trolley jack and frame sounds good if the Bedford engine I'm looking at tomorrow turns out to be salvageable, it's only done 30k miles from new but being a cherry picker it's been sitting about idling all the time and is producing rather a lot of white smoke which sounds like un-conbusted diesel. And the starter motor has packed up, we need to tow start it. If I go down the Cummins (DAF 45) route with the Spicer 5 speed box the cab has got to come off. If I'm going to fit it it's got to look like it belongs there so I've got to do it properly. Richard do you have any pictures or drawings of this frame, so I could knock one up?

I did mean to say through the open doors. I was just a bit worried about lifting it there as it is a lot of stress on the roof. I don't think anything I make will fail, I have a reputation for over engineering, things tend to get a bit on the heavy side.:cool2:

Any helpful hints on removal of the cab? I know there's 6 bolts holding it on and a couple of other bits to disconnect, but I'm not too sure the best way to support it. I'm worried about using a spreader through the doors as this might damage the roof.

Welcone and Nice Scammell.

Cheers for the replies chaps, didn't realise the AFS RLs had no towing equipment. I had a look at your blog croc, didn't realise they twisted that much, mind you once the crane bed is mounted on there I don't this it will twist any more. I found an older post on the forum about an RL with a 2 ton Hiab mounted on which was military equipment, I would like to see how they mounted it. Also the RL recovery trucks, I assume they had an all steel construction body which would have made them a lot more ridgid. Is anybody currently overhauling or restoring one? I would like to see some pictures.

Wow that's a great work of engineering!

Just out of curiosity I've been trying to find some decent pictures of the sides and back of the vehicle. Have looked on the internet and can only seem to find pictures from the front. Would be nice to see the back of an original vehicle for comparision. I've found a picture of the militaty version and it doesn't seem to have the same length of chassis behind the rear axle. Sorry to be a pain, chaps.

Hi Paul The pump came off a Dodge RB44 cherry picker which came from Eastern Electricity. I bought some bits off the chap whos converting it into an expedition camper, he removed the cherry picker and sold it on, retained the pump as it had a hydraulic winch fitted but then he changed his mind and sold the winch, I ended up with the pump, he said it was a good one. I tend to hord hydraulic bits and bobs that look useful. It's a standard four bolt flange with recessed spline drive. I think £45 plus postage is fair unless you've got something useful for my RL. Give us a ring on 07920 162859. Cheers Adam

Cheers for that mate The details on that pump are 0905 3592, 59 in a circle, T41 in a circle on the main body, it's an Ultra made in the UK, on the side of the pump is says 47 940 10 92, on the front 7722-3 F. The filter housing is UCC. I've also got a brand new Dowty 2PL120 CQHFBEKI, 41190.

Cheers for the info Croc. I will contact the DVLA as Mike suggests. So you lot aren't going to get upset because I'm not putting it back to original - excellent! But if you don't mind, even though it's not apparently a Military vehicle you lot are very helpful and I would like to stay on the forum. Cheers Adam

Hi Paul You wouldn't happen to have any pictures of your old crappy Atlas would you, and do you know what model it is? It could be the same as the old crappy one I've got but mines in kit form. I've got a pump off a Dodge 4x4 cherry picker with filter housing, kicking around, 4 bolt fixing with a spline shaft. Cheers Adam

How do I go about finding out the history of my vehicle, which is an 1957 Bedford RL ex-AFS.

I had an idea about the vacuum pump, some modern diesels have a vacuum pump mounted on the back of the alternator so I could just swap out the alternator off the donor engine, this would be the simplest solution. Any idea where I could get a decent manual or a copy and parts book? The top support bracket on the steering column, should that have some type of bush in? My steering column is flopping about all over the place. Cheers for the phone numbers Ian.

Cheers again chaps for the warm welcome. So as Roger Moore's stunt double did you have to learn the eye brow technique? The first RL I remember seeing was at a steam rally, Henham I think in the 1970s. It's interesting how many people know what an RL is, my father can remember them from his national service and one of my customers drove one in Northern Ireland in the 1960s, apparently it had a large partition bolted to it. But I think he's quite happy to stick with his lightweight, it was touch and go whether he was going to keep it, 'cos of the cost of the petrol but I converted his mates lightweight to 200 TDi and I've just done his as well. He now has a silly grin on his face most of the time. I forgot this is not my first military vehicle, I had a 1965 BSA B40, ex-Royal Signals display team, great bike. Cheers Adam

I spoke to a couple of breakers today and they were talking telephone numbers with no warranty, it's hard to believe, it's cheaper to buy a Cummins. I'm going to have to have a good long hard think about this. Obviously I could go for a different manufacturer, apparently the Iveco 6 cylinder diesels are cheap but I'm not a big fan, equally Perkins are now getting hard to get hold of. Has anybody run one of these Bedford petrol engines on LPG without problems? I would have thought it would be necessary to have the exhaust seats and valves hardened.

I didn't think it was off a particularly big vehicle, be nice to see some better pictures of the USMC GMC. I have got the details off the makers plate: Mead Morrison Winch Model No: 3M607LH Serial No: A-23114 Garwood Industries Inc It's doubtful that anybody would want it so I'll most probably remove the capstain bollard and mount it on the Bedford. Thanks for all your help so far chaps.

It could be off a Landing craft I suppose, there was lots of them broken up here after the war. I originally thought it was the one of the back of a Duck and then a Diamond T but it's not big enough for the one behind the cab.

To be honest I've been considering fitting it to the Bedford, but not having a transfer box PTO it's going to be a bit complicated. I do have a hydraulic PTO unit for the Bedford, it's not fitted so it may not be the correct one. I bought two winches a couple of years ago off an old wrecker, one turned out to be off the front of a White Half Track but I've never managed to find out what this was originally fitted too. There's a makers plate with serial numbers on but I've lost the piece of paper which had the information on so will get it tomorrow and post later. If somebody needs it for their vehicle I would be more than happy to swap it for something more useful for mine, a smaller hydraulic winch or parts I need, but it would be nice to know what it came off if I do fit it. Cheers Adam

Just out of interest I was wondering what this Garwood winch originally came off?

Thanks for all the great advice about the engine. I'll have a ring round the local breakers and see what's available. I've taken some pictures of the Atlas crane, hopefully somebody can help identify what model it is.

Petrol Tony.:sweat:

That's good news just need to find a 330, but what do I do about my vacuum brakes, does the 330 have a vacuum pump or are they all air. If so where can I find a suitable vacuum pump? Your help is gratefully received Richard.

Tony the problem is there are no serial numbers or markings on the king post where they're supposed to be. It's going to be a couple of weeks before I can assemble the crane so there could be a plate on the opposite side of the dipper arm, which is laying down on the deck at the moment. The plan is to move the crane to the back of the cab, for two reasons, I can fit a longer load on the bed and at the moment the extra weight of the crane as it is seriously knocked the balance of the truck out, tends to bounce although once it's up the front it will make the steering heavier, hence the enquiry about power steering. Richard, thanks for that, I did wonder, I suppose the 330 would be more than adequate, I was thinking a 6 cylinder Cummins but I think there would be too much to modify to make it fit. If I go this route I would most probably retain the gear box as well, the 130bhp one out of a Leyland Roadrunner, I think it's a mated to a Turner 5 speed box. It would be nice to see some pictures of a 330. Could I just remove the bell housing off the petrol and fit it to the diesel. Mike, nice looking truck, I found some pictures of SXF 333, SXF 279 and SXF 288 but I think it's too far gone from original now to be full preserved, it will survive as my work truck, most probably only be used about 2 or 3 times a month but will make my life easier. The later remote transfer boxes, are they the same ratios as the petrol ones?