No Signals

http://news.webshots.com/album/556832487tbjnwe

really rotten remains of a couple of Dodge ambulances.

The tank I had, not got the vehicle now, had been treated with 'petseal' or something similar. This stuff started to come off in tiny bits which clogged the fuel line and filter regularly. A pal of mine suggested that it was the octane booster I'd put in with the fuel that had lifted the seal. I imagine red oxide would lift with the action of the petrol alone. Anyhow, not wanting to have to strip the vehicle to remove the tank I got a length of garden hose with a lump of rag tied firmly to the end and proceeded to mop the inside of the tank out. The hose quite easily being manipulated and guided to all areas of the tank, even past the baffle plates. I did this through the sender unit hole, as there were too many bends on the filler. The rag(s) being coated in stages with grease, thinners, turps and acetone. Grease being nice and sticky it picked the big bits up and the others I used as I wasnt sure which one would do the 'fine cleaning' the best. I then dried it out with a hot air gun. Same as Jack. It took me a few hours but it was a sunny afternoon and I did have a good supply of cold beer to help with my lubrication. I reckon I shifted it all as the problem didnt reoccur during the rest of the time I had the vehicle.

I'll keep the thread posted regarding progress. These things rarely turn out ot be as straightforward as we hope, as I'm sure you'll be aware. Initially they weren't for sale at all. One of them was well hidden. The old guy I think is relenting as we have got on well and he can see I am serious about old stuff. His 'lad' (must be fifty odd himself) is a different ball game, not as easy to talk to at all. Thing is though that there are so many potential (desirable) restoration projects in the back of the yard that even he is perhaps realising he'll never do them all. (My bet is he wont do any). Large sums of money have not been mentioned. If I can get them for hundreds I will, but if I have to get them at the top market rate then I'll get one, leaving me some spare dosh for doing it up. Dont know enough about the marque to tell an early from a late etc (be lying if I said I knew anything about them really! :-) ) They seem reasonably complete. No obvious big lumps missing but one of them is more weather beaten than the other. Neither have the aero screens (from memory).

Now, now... I never said they were ugly. Just not as pretty as the Yank. :-)

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Go on then, yeh - dog ugly :-D :-D

So if I get the pair for less than a grand I'll take it I've done well.

Cheers fellas. I'll hold on the Ant at the moment, probably the chance that bits will be very few and far between. I did notice in another thread though that another member was after one, maybe he might be up for it? The Bedford is more of an achievable project in that I've now come across a second in a similar state! The only thing that really bothers me though, is why cant they be as good looking as a Dodge? :-D

Looked again today in order to point to the threads and the pics were there! :? So maybe the problem was my end. Thanks for the input anyhow.

Anyone any suggestions as to why I can see some of the pics which have been posted but of others there is no trace? Cheers

I've no experience of these vehicles, but I've come across one in a scrap yard. It seems reasonably complete but obviously has been outside a long time. The owner says he is 'going to do it up', but then again his father has been going to do that for the last sixty years and he isnt going to be any different. What is the top I should offer, given that there is the chance that everything will need working on? I think the sight of pound notes might work. Any input appreciated.

These places do exist, but probably not as common as the myth might suggest. I've personnally followed up quite a few of these stories over the years and only in two cases have I found evidence to suggest there might be substantial numbers of rusty bits underground. One case was at an ex Yank site in the North of England which was associated with a camp which supervised substantial bomb dumps in the neighbourhood. And no, no matter how good the metal detector signals are, I am not sticking a spade into ground which I know was somwhere near a bomb dump. : ) Another site in Devon turned up masses of signals over a huge area. Some very substantial suggesting tank size metal objects. A few small excavations turned up too much live unstable ordnance for comfort! In amongst a lot of very rusty personal and small unrecognisable equipment. Dreams of Harleys in packing cases are just dreams. And before you ask, no I wont tell you where the site in Devon is - find your own! : ) : )

Cheers. I'll have a look at his site.

Fuel pump heat shield? Not got one of those. Nor the carb heat shield I've seen references to. Anyone know of any web pictures links showing these? Thanks for the help.

I want to check the valve clearances just so that I know they are correct. I've no confidence in the work that previous owners have done and so have no reason to believe these will have been set properly either The covers wont just slide out. At the rear tthere is a (?) breather pipe stopping it and at the top of the front the fuel pump is in the way. Tried wangling it all ways but without stripping some other bits its a no no.

The engine isnt particularly noisy but it is blowing a fair bit of smoke and has a tendancy to lose power on a long run. Too tight tappets/lifters and a valve not seating properly could be one cause. Thanks for the input.

New(ish) owner. Garage upside down and cannot find my TM for love nor money. Want to check the tappets but find that it appears I cannot remove the covers without stripping other bits. Should this be so? Front one appears to be blocked by either fuel pump or manifold and rear one by manifold or external pipe. Is this a bigger job than I was hoping for?

If you have got MSPhotoeditor, is that in XP? then just go to the top menu of 'Image' - drop down menu -'resize' , that allows by % or down to a pixel size. If you have Windows picture and Fax viewer then use the next to the far right bottom button and that goes to Paint and editing and change the size as was said before.