TooTallMike

Ok, I haven't got the patience to work out how to insert photos here so if you go to my album "Mike Gillman", you'll see three scans of Set 7 installs. I hope they help.

Help... I'd like to put some scanned pages into a gallery so that I can then use them in a message on the forum but I can't see how the galleries work. I filled in a form asking for my user name and password and was sent a confirmation email with a link to click on. That took me back to the gallery where my user name was displayed at the bottom. But I can't find a gallery with my name against it and I can't see how to upload piccies. What am I doing wrong?

In the earlier edition of the Boniface book there's a 352 with the rearmost 4 hoops raised but the front one lower. This all suggests that a Set 7 makes it higher than a 'normal' GMC, but how you choose to arrange the hoops and canvas is up to you! Do you want me to scan some of these pictures so my waffling makes sense?

In The Boniface GMC book there are several shots of Set 7's, both 352s and 353s. All of them seem to have hoops which pass over the lifting beam. On one of them, the 2 rearmost hoops have been raised but the others are normal height; normal canvas is installed. On other vehicles, all the hoops seem to have been raised, with a mixture of short and longer canvas. You can see the bottoms of the troop seats/stake sides on those where the canvas doesn't come down far enough. There is also a rear-end photo of a stripped Set 7 and the proportions look the same as on yours. Incidentally, is that the Set 7 that was on Milweb for £200? If so, well done. I had thought about taking it for stock pending my next GMC so I'm glad to see it's found a good home.

I put 4 on Milweb the other day on behalf of a friend, George Paice. £150 the lot. Four 9.00 x 16LT bar grips made by Lassa. They were on a WC so I don't know how suitable for a 101 but that's up to you. They were brand new and driven once from Chris Muys in Belgium to our yard in Croydon. Call George on 020 8660 3907

Degsy, Thanks for your help. I found my 'cookies' although in the end they weren't in the same place as yours. On my machine they were under C:\documents and settings\cookies . Anyway it's done the trick and I don't have to go through the palaver to get in... and I've learnt something, which is very important. Regards - Mike

I get the same message. I deleted 'history' and 'temporary internet files', is this the same as cookies? Excuse my computer non-skills, I prefer things with engines.

Sadly, deleting cookies hasn't cured this problem for me!

I wondered about that. We'll have to gauge whether he's ready for it. It's very interesting as he's suddenly appreciating what he took part in. At the time it was just 'something which had to be done' and then he went back to his civy life and tried to forget the horror. I don't want to push him, he needs to do this at his own speed. My father knows him better so I'll see what he thinks. I'm sure I could find a Morris Commercial or similar which would help jog his memory even if it wasn't exactly the right thing. He was in raptures when I plonked the Ward Lafrance outside his house on my test run a couple of years ago so we'll see. Clearly the last thing I want to do is upset him.

I had found the first link but the second two had eluded me. I'll blow them up so he can see them. Many thanks - Mike

Help requested! We have a family friend who is a D-day veteran. He has recently been coming out of his shell about the Wartime experiences he suppressed for the last 60 years. Among many other fascinating and harrowing stories he recalls driving a Guy Ant and would love to see a picture of one. I've been through my books, magazines and Google and couldn't find anything that 80-year old eyes will be able to decipher. Does anyone have any pictures they could share? Many thanks in advance - Mike

Steve, Matt is correct. You can only tow an unladen trailer. However DVLA are reluctant to define 'unladen'. They quote Construction and Use reg's but leave it up to you to interpret them. According to C&U, a load appears to be something which can be removed from the trailer and is not directly related to the use of the trailer. I recently heard of someone who had a Scammell Pioneer (R100?) tank transporter with an OT810 welded to the trailer. This was therefore part of the trailer and didn't count as 'load'. This is within the wording of the law if not the spirit. Sadly the only way to prove any of this is by a test case. - Mike

Mick, I guess that answers the question about whether to change the Halftrack track then! I'm glad no one was hurt. What happened when the track went? - was there any other damage or did it just spool out underneath? - Mike

Excuse my naïvity but how many of those vehicles are 'real' and how many were props? I imagine owners of real restored vehicles wouldn't have been that impressed to have them buried up to their wings in sand.

Hi Del, If you're good with spanners and have the space I'd agree with Jack and say get a GMC: there's enough space to kip in the back, the exhaust note is to die for and they aren't too uneconomical. Maintenance is ok and spares are readily available. The best thing is you can take it to Tesco's and menace Mums in 4x4s! Enjoy! - Mike

We have 5 Saracen runflat inserts available. (nb. tyres are shot) I can't offhand remember what size tyres they are on. Any use at all? - Mike

Are you aware that under Construction and Use reg's you are allowed white front indicators and either red or amber rears on a Jeep (pre-1965)? See extract below. I've had whites on the front of a Series 1 landie, a GMC and the WLF and never had any problems with people misunderstaning them. They look a lot better than amber on an old MV. In more modern applications I've used theatre lighting 'gel' - the coloured plastic sheet used to tint stage lighting. Obtainable at theatre, disco etc. suppliers and not too expensive. It fades over time but since it comes in large sheets you can afford to change it once a season. Just glue or trap it inside the light lenses. Regards - Mike ------------------------ Statutory Instrument 1989 No. 1796 The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 SCHEDULE 7 (Regulations 18 and 20) PART I “REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO OBLIGATORY DIRECTION INDICATORS AND TO OPTIONAL DIRECTION INDICATORS TO THE EXTENT SPECIFIED IN PART II.” 7. Colour- (b) An indicator fitted to a motor vehicle first used before 1st September 1965 and any trailer drawn thereby- (i) if it shows only to the front: White or amber (ii) if it shows only to the rear: Red or amber (iii) if it shows both to the front and to the rear: Amber

I've seen one at a show in the south east with the silencer under the LH front wing - is that yours? (it might have been at Military Odyssey?)

I carry a laminated copy of the following in the cab of the WLF in anticipation of being pulled over one day (Translated as I go to France regularly). I also carry copies of the 'exemption from Class C driving licence' requirement and the lighting reg's relating to having white front indicators. ------------------------------------ Statutory Instrument 1988 No. 1478 The Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) Regulations 1988 - continued SCHEDULE 2 Regulation 4 CLASSES OF VEHICLE TO WHICH THESE REGULATIONS DO NOT APPLY 30. Motor vehicles first used before 1st January 1960, used unladen and not drawing a laden trailer, and trailers manufactured before 1st January 1960 and used unladen. For the purposes of this paragraph any determination as to when a motor vehicle is first used shall be made as provided in regulation 3(3) of the Construction and Use Regulations. trans. : Extrait des regles quant au (contrôle) des véhicules motorisés (1988). SCHEDULE 2 Règlement 4 CLASSIFICATIONS DE VEHICULES QUI NE SONT PAS SOUMIS A CES REGLEMENTS 30. Véhicules motorisés utilisés pour la première fois avant le 1er janvier 1960 et utilisés sans charge, et sans une remorque chargé, et des remorques fabriqués avant le 1er janvier 1960 et utilisés sans charge. Pour les besoins de ce paragraphe, la détermination sur la première usage sera fait en accord avec règlement 3(3) des règlements « Construction and Use » (fabrication et usage).

€3000 (£2000) from Chris Muys in Belgium. He says he has 120 pairs... Ours were ex-Israeli, one 1986, one 1996.

Generally speaking, vehicles which were built pre-1960 and are over 3.5 tonnes MGW are exempt from MoT / plating and testing reg's. This is why there are so many '1959' REOs about. Exemption is on condition that the vehicle is used unladen, not for hire & reward and not towing a laden trailer. Old buses must be tested annually regardless of how they are to be used Vehicles built or constructed before Jan 1st 1973 generally pay zero-rated road fund licence. We had a SIIA Landy Ambulance: chassis built in 1972, bodied in 1973. DVLA tied themselves in knots before deciding that the dataplate for the chassis was identifiable in records as 1972 so that was the date they gave it. There are many grey areas in the reg's because they weren't written with us madmen in mind. It is therefore up to you how you choose to interpret the law since DVLA and the police will only give you their 'opinion'. Just bear in mind that you should be prepared to defend whatever decisions you make in court... - Mike

Cheers Dougy, I understand what you're saying and I will check tonight. I think we looked at that but it wouldn't hurt to double-check. The fact that the system is pressurising suggests that the problem is in some way hydraulic, unless something is heating the fluid, causing it to expand. (seen that before - PITA to fault-find) I certainly don't want to pull the engine (again) for no good reason. - Mike

I'm feeling stupid but... We have a 2.5 n/a diesel 110 LR with a clutch problem: you can be driving along quite happily and suddenly the clutch will start slipping. This mainly manifests itself when under load e.g. loaded and towing a trailer, but has also done it going uphill empty. . It does it when hot and cold and is not associated with gear changes or changes in speed or incline. The 1st time it did it I was doing 60mph on a flat section of motorway with a trailer. I cured it temporarily by releasing pressure at the slave cyl. bleed nipple. In chronological order we have replaced the slave cylinder, friction plate, pressure plate, release bearing, master cylinder, flexi pipe, and tried a second master cylinder. The steel pipes are clear. I now suspect the gearbox input shaft may be bent but it could also be the flywheel. Does anyone have any thoughts or tests to suggest before we pull the engine and box out next weekend. This is driving us mad! - Mike

Cummins B goes in well. One of our guys has done this. It is slower than the petrol and sounds like a bus but is cheaper to run and starts every time, even after sitting 6 months. B series comes with either SAE 2 (medium) or 3 (small) bellhousing. We have 2 halftracks: One ex-Israeli International with an SAE 2 bellhousing, one with a White gearbox which is SAE 3. I'd recommend going for the larger size so you can fit a beefier clutch. Clutch Splines are the same as Leyland Daf Roadrunner etc. Uses existing rad. Engine is almost the same length as original. 2nd hand parts are cheap as B's were made by the millions, however Cummins sting for new parts. That said, they are more or less indestructible. Israelis fitted Detroit 2-strokes which sound lovely. I've ever looked closely at one though. - Mike (Cummins fan)

Redhill Steam Fair, Robin's Cook Farm (opposite Redhill BoB Aerodrome), Redhill, Surrey. All classes of vehicles welcome. Large military section including 'wooded' area for camping/dioramas. Free off-road course. No need to pre-book but an idea of numbers would be helpful. New experimental formula for arena events: vehicles will be invited to parade by period rather than by type, e.g. 1930s, 1940s etc. Free cuppa for HMVF members and anyone else who is nice to me.