mike65

Just found out it was Rob Davies flying it, he had a lucky escape a few years back when a Skyraider flew into the tail of a Mustang he was flying.

 

Major rebuild if you look at the photos here;

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/tenterden/news/spitfire-crash-lands-in-field-42807/

So the BBC used the picture from the good side.

Should be fixable after all the 2 Mk1's were much worse.

MIKE

It is still sitting/floating thesr so I took a picture whilst I was down there.

Mike

A Spitfire has come down in Kent

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-34174822

This appears to be the T9 that is based in Germany and would have been heading for Goodwood

Thankfully nobody appears to have been hurt and plane dows not look too bad.

Mike

Yes I spotted that, so that is 2 trips to Goodwood in 3 days for me.

Currently there are 36 Spitfires, 8 Hurricanes and 1 Blenheim on the list.

Entry to Goodwood on the day is by ticket only

https://grrc.goodwood.com/battle-of-britain/battle-of-britain-day-flypast#Jb666F1pIu5o7TL3.97

Suppose they need to control numbers (it is free though)

After take off they are splitting up into groups and covering a large swathe of Southern England before landing at various places.

Mike

I shall be there always enjoy days out at Old Warden, hopefully no mishaps this year.

For those who have never been it is well worth it.

Not the massive hussle and bussle as you get at Duxford and the likes and nice friendly atmosphere.

Oh yes and if you like the odd picture but not of dots, the display line is one of the closest I can think of. No need for that ultra long lense.

In fact last year I believe I entertained a few people with the words "damn its too close" as the Spitfire made its last pass.

Must remember - will not need long lense for Vulcan.

Mike

Probably the only original part is the airframe ID plate!

Well having read the book you are not that far wrong.

The airframe is completely new.

The tyres are of course brand spanking new, remanufactured to original bald type at great expense.

De Havilland 2 pitch propellor was reverse engineered from crash salvage, as no plans available.

There are a few iriginal parts that are not critical and could be salvaged.

The engine block is the one that was in it when it crashed, been rebuilt of course.

The guns in it are not original as the French army had them away shortly after it was dragged up the beach. They actually fired one.

Mike

Let me know how you get on, I have a grumbling thrust bearing .

There is one good thing about a military Land Rover. The gearbox has a removable cross member for those occassions when you need to remove a gearbox. Beats the civvy job of remove the interior seats and all.

I believe you can just do the clutch by moving the gearbox backwards. Still not an easy job

Mike

Well I have managed to survice the winter and the truck has passed another MOT.

Due to rule changes I am driving around displaying an out of date tax disc

Maybe I should remove it and ree up a huge section of windscreen.

Between the rain I have managed to clean up a replacement wheel and some YUAAM boxes.

Weather now seems to have picked up so I have stripped the dexion of the 351 bits and bracket and added another mount to the radio table.

Thought I better see if things fit. Seems OK

Not sure do you think I have enough in there?

Mike

When I did mine I took the drivers floor plate out, makes like a bit easier for removing the cover plate that bolts to the front of the transfer box.

But you still need to be a bit of a contortionist.

I did not bother draining my transfer box as mine was a bit of a big failure and most of it was on the driveway in any event.

The joys of a sloping drive.

Mike

My 109 runs two 075 batteries in the standard location

Mike

Incidentally - do you have any idea what the normal compression reading should be for a 3 bearing 2,25 lump?? The 70 psi I got on the front two cylinders seems a bit low to me - I was expecting at least around 100 psi....

Well according to one of my manuals, does not say 3mb or 5mbso assume they are the same.

7:1 comp head = 145

8:1 comp head= 160

both should be at 300 rpm

But looks like you are well out on all

Mike

Whilst trawling a few websites I cam across this.

Has to be the perfect TV stand for any MV enthusiast.

Except maybe us Land Rover ones:D

Alternatively he may have forgot to sort the brakes,

Mike

Neil

Fingers crossed for you and I hope it is the head gasket.

IIRC you said you initially drove it and had an issue which was resolver by retorquing the head as it was loose.

This may well have damaged the gasket and it hence failed. Although would expect a bit more than .

Mike

How strange to see your brake light switch fitted to the brake pedal on your 24v Series LR. My 12v Lwt has this switch under the bonnet behind the brake servo. I thought all Series 3s were the same in this respect!

Yes they are normally mounted under the bonnet by the servo, mine has a very nice shiney expensive replacement one there but it refuses to work correctly or for more than 5 minutes.

So I obtained and mounted one inside where it can be adjusted easily and works no problem.

Oh yes and it was a much cheaper switch.

Mike

All new Land Rover brake light switches are a PITA.

They cannot make things like they used to, you need a very sensitive switch and the patience of a saint to adjusted and readjusted avery trip.

The prblem is the switch is mounted almost on the pivot fulcrum of the brake pedal.

I adjusted mine 3 times going to Duxford last year.

Before I left, before going down the runway, before going home, each time it stopped working very quickly.

It was an expensive switch not a Britpart one, that might actually have worked:undecided:

I have now made a slight modification that works every time regardless of how long it is left and was really easy to adjust.

This was done following a chat with the MOT tester, who spent a while getting it working for the MOT. He said it was a common fault these days and there was one good way of fixing it which he has seen on a few occassions.

So my break light switch is now located here

All you need is a switch that is ON in the out position and a home nade bracket.

Mike

Excellent news on the MOT and congrats on all the hard work paying off.

looking forward to seeing your personalisation progress, that will probably be the expensive bit.

I find the satisfaction you get from actually doing something yourself to be one of the best things about our slightly insane hobby.

Good to see you shared it around aswell.

Mine is only on here and EMLRA (http://www.emlra.org)

Mike

PS If only I could get through mine as quick, maybe I should stop driving it:D

Were your end fittings Metric as I think that's where the old British Vehicles might struggle wit all the old Imperial fittings out there.

 

Its always worth a go though!

 

Anything can be done, but cost can be an issue of course :shocked:

I find most flexihoses are between two metal pipes.

If this is the case you can make the new metal pipes up with a metric end for the flexihose and an imperial end for the other connector.

Mike

That's correct: none anywhere. DDA Classic Airlines is the first historical airline in the world(!) to carry passengers in Dakotas without exemptions & under regular Air Operator certificate.

 

Quite a feat when you take into account that the aircraft is a 1930s design which is operated and maintained by volunteers. :thumbsup:

 

I really enjoyed flying with them:

So what about Buffalo Airways who operate DC3s on scheduled passenger flights.

Not forget a C46

http://www.buffaloairways.com/index.php?page=passenger-service

Mike

PS: I watch Discovery channel

would be good to see that collection in a museum

I totally agree, it is an outstanding collection.

It is well worth a visit to their open day to view in a field, with interspersed technical talks by some very knowledgeable people on all things Land Rover. The 2013 one on the evolution of the WMIK was very good.

Next years open day is on the list already.

http://www.dunsfoldcollection.co.uk/open-days

I believe there are already exemptions for Dakota operators to carry passengers, but none have taken up the option.

You can however go flying in a Spitfire but only if you can reach the bottom of your deep pockets.

http://www.boultbeeflightacademy.co.uk/#!passenger-flights/c1exu

Mike

Currently delving down the cushions of any sofa I can get at:D

mike65

Next on the agenda was to fix the blowing exhaust, it has been doing that for ages but it has passed MOTs with help from gun gum.

I always new it blew where the manifold and downpipe met, but seemed to be getting worse.

So it was strip the manifolds off it only had gaskets on the inlet manifold (I know its an option)

Hmm it appears to be blowing at No. 4 and is that a crack?

Gentle tap with the specialist percussive maintenance tool and it was definitely a crack.

Good job I had already bought a new one.

Whilst in bits I decided to try out the other thing I did over the summer, I built this

Air inlet pipe before

and after

It then got painted and refitted.

i also took the opportunity to change the carb over as this one never seemed to want to run right.

Now has a proper Zenith 361V (at least that is what is on the side). Replaced gaskets and cleaned up and fitted.

It now seems to tickover more reliably, starts better, revs better, all I need to do is see if it runs better, a job for the weekend.

So far it seems to be one of the best tenners I have spent.

Mike

Well another summer has passed us by and I seem to have got nothing done on the truck.

I reckon the only thing slower than s Series 3 is my restoration pace..

My excuse was the weather was good so I went out to play, OK only once

Shortly after this weekend it rained most or was alternatively busy.

Bank holiday weekend I noticed a new oil leak. Then went to Bournemouth for the airshow.

Got homw and OPEC had set up camp on my driveway.

Sloping drives are very good for letting the oil run out passed a failed front oil seal on the transfer box.

So floor out and prop off

Those old leather and steel seals are right pigs to get out.

Cleaned chassis and painted the floor UJs on the prop were a little bit stiff but a good clean, paint and a large injection of fresh grease fixed that.

That is an improvement.

Mike

You are a lucky bloke.That's two recent lucky saves.

Have you bought a lottery ticket?

They say things come in threes.

Mike

So what was it you very actually searching for Tony when you found this :confused: a go faster kit for the WC54 dragster ? :shocked:

I found a rat rod kit for a Dodge

Mike