TooTallMike

Driveshafts are in. Handbrake is adjusted and now works (unlike previously!) Exhaust is loosely fitted. Front grille is on and needs to be top-coated. Bonnet is test fitted. Transmission cover is fitted. I temporarily fitted the driver’s seat so I could sit in and say ‘brmm brmm’ to myself and try to remember why I’m going through all this! One night this week I’m going to run jump leads from the WLF to the MUTT wiring loom to test the lights etc.

The MUTT body is called a ‘uni-body’ which means it’s monocoque. So instead of having a separate chassis and body, the whole thing is made from folded and spot-welded sheet. There are two main body rails which act as the chassis and then 3 main lateral bearers, one under the bulkhead, one before the rear axle, and one at the rear. These all usually rust out and have to be repaired, but one of the reasons I bought this vehicle was that it is entirely rust free. I wanted to make sure it stays that way so yesterday afternoon we hung the MUTT from the WLF crane and injected Waxoyl into all the structural members and the suspension units.

Engine and gearbox are fitted but I’m still waiting to get the head back from the company which is supposedly installing hardened exhaust valve seats. Fuel tank is in and plumbed. Rotating beacon is mounted. Steering wheel is painted and fitted.

If it is John Dews, he's a smashing bloke, very knowledgeable and consciencious. He's helped us with quite a bit of info. and advice in recent years. :tup:

CC worked wonders on freeing up our recent J60 rebuild :tup: (the one that's going to get a radioactive distributor :-o)

These J60 electronic ignition modules are safe as long as they aren't damaged or opened up though aren't they? As stated, this type of radiation is stopped by a sheet of paper so the tar-like sealant should be adequate shouldn't it? I've seen these stickers before and wondered how serious it is. (only asking because I'll be re-fitting one of these modules in the next few days :whistle:)

Nick, Stop press: that handwheel at the front may not be a handbrake as we thought - I think it's actually for raising the axles, thus lowering the trailer deck to ground level for ease of loading. I've just found a bit of info on these in one of my books. Some have the 4 jacks & some don't, and there are different types of rear ramp. I think you need to post some pics on cckw.org. Someone over there will know exactly what it is.

I had a similar unit on a 1971 Dennis fire engine and rebuilt it using overhaul kits for the standard (single) pumps using the part nos. found on the pumps. I believe they are just 2 pumps attached to a manifold.

Also, what's the legal situation regarding scanned photos from books? There's a couple of pics I've wanted to post in reply to threads but have been concerned about infringing copyright.

First time! Well done :tup:

The trailer towed beautifully apart from a bad bounce at 32mph because of a bad flat spot on one of the tyres. I was cruising at 50 before realising that even when new this trailer would only have been rated for about 45! This was a good find and it’s in remarkably good condition. All 4 jacks raise and lower fine. The floor is a bit rotten but it’s only chequer-plate and will be easy to replace. The tailgate was in among a load of parts we’d previously collected. I’ll leave Nick to follow this up once he’s had time to look at it properly.

Last Saturday Nick Hobbs and I collected the last of the bits from the place I've been emptying. The main thing was a tandem-axle GMC trailer of the type used to transport searchlights, smoke generators, electrical generators and as a fire control 'director's' trailer. After clearing the crap from around it and raising the jacks, it actually moved very easily. We cleared all the dead car parts from inside and found the frame and many parts for a second Jeep-engined generator. I'm not sure what I'll do with this yet. I may hang onto it as a prop (photos to follow in a few weeks' time). We also found the second wing from the Autocar as well as more Ward Lafrance parts. I used my pickup to tow the trailer out, Nick pumped two of the tyres up and we loaded Matt's generator in the back alongside the 'new' one.

Sounds like you may have a short circuit further down the system. I wouldn't drive anywhere else until you've isolated the fault. You may damage the generator and/or regulator, you aren't charging the battery, and there may be a fault somewhere. I'd find out what current is being drawn through the wire which has failed. If it is unusually high, look for faults elsewhere. If not, it may just have been deteriorating and needed changing. Nothing lasts forever :-). - Mike

I highly recommend Fred W Crismon's US Military Wheeled Vehicles. It covers everything from the earliest motorised days to the early '80s. As the title suggests, it deals solely with vehicles in US service. It used to be a hard-to-get book but was recently reprinted. Not cheap at £30 but lots of pictures to look at :drool: Again, let us know where your particular interest lies. I have several shelves of books but not all are relevant to everyone. - Mike

Ward Lafrance series 2. Nice :-)

The fire engine guys are going through the mill with this at the moment because there is a lot of debate about what constitutes a load. Water and tools are necessary for fire fighting but constitute load when on a preserved vehicle since they are not fixed to it and are not necessary for the function of the vehicle (ie. fuel, oil, personal toolbox etc.) I think it's ridiculous because there are so few of them out there that it hardly seems worth the bureacratic effort. Point is, I'd suggest you don't focus on it being a fire engine. Think of it as an old lorry. Therefore, it's over 3.5t, was registered pre 1st Jan. 1960, is not being used laden or towing a laden trailer (insert your interpretation of 'laden' here ;-)), is not being used for hire & reward AND you received your license before 1997, you can drive it on a car license. - Mike

2 XL polo shirts please :-) - Mike

It is, relatively speaking... It's in Nijmegen, on the German border. If you get a 24hr pass on Eurotunnel, and get on the 1st train after midnight, you can be at their gate for 08.00, have time to look round and bankrupt yourself, leave by midday, go to Chris Muys south of Brussels & Lys Tout Terrain, hypermarket & jerry cans of fuel in Calais and back on the Chunnel and be home by 20:00 for tea and tiffin. And that's in a 2.5 n/a diesel landy :shake: Essex boys could price up Harwich - Hook of Holland 'cos you'd save loads of driving time. You won't regret the visit but you will come back with a longer 'wants' list :tup:

An idea for another board is a support network for people embarking on long journeys in unfamiliar territory. Steelsoldiers has a similar system in the US where members post their locations and what they can offer to other members on a friendly basis e.g. mechanical skills, recovery/towing capability, short-term storage of broken down vehicles, or even just a cuppa and a friendly face. The idea is if you plan a long drive you make a note of contact details for members en route and if you have a problem you have someone to call for support. To take an example, I'm planning to go to Kemble and it'd be good to have some numbers to call even just to ask where the nearest petrol station is. Equally, we're not far from the M25 and I'd be happy to offer any help I could to anyone who found themselves in difficulty. Just a thought - may not be worthwhile in the UK / Europe.

Thanks for sharing those pics :-), Those poor MUTTs! & what on earth has happened to that twisted one? :-( There's some rare stuff in there - the Diamond T 969, the Kenworth XM818 (?). Each time I go to Reomie's it makes me want a mulitfuel 5-tonner. One day...

Hi all, I've got some strange French-made Dodge piston rings here: There are 4 thin rings and a wavy sprung ring in each packet. There's also a hexagonal sprung spacer to keep them in shape in storage. I think these kits are designed to replace single piston rings. Label translation is: The new piston/cylinder sealing method Original Doublex scraper 82,55 dia. throat profile 4,75 type Dodge Adjusted ready for fitting 13 D.O. lower diagram trans.: sealing throat flats axial flats I have 5 of these packets marked as +0,20 and a sixth unmarked but which appears to be the same size as the others. Has anyone come across these before? - Mike

Something strange seems to have happened to all the letter 'l's ('l' for Lima) on the pdf. or is it just my computer playing tricks? :computerterror:

I have 2 1/2 packets of these exciting tubular spacers part no. 666764 group 1601 for a Studebaker 6x4. I'm posting them just in case they're the missing parts for someone's restoration. If not, I shall hang onto them for my museum!

Great poster :tup: Can you send it out as an email attachment thereby maintaining the quality and saving postage?