Sidewinder

I had something similar in my old Series 2 Land Rover. It had no seat belts when I bought it and flew through the MOT without them. Perfectly legal as it was exempt on age grounds. However the MOT tester said that if I choose to fit seatbelts then they had to comply with the current regs. Which I later did.

Correct mounting points being the big one, as Andy says you can't just bolt them on anywhere they have to have 'solid' mounting points, there will be a lot of force on the seat belt mounts in the event of a crash. Just bolting them to bodywork won't do, as they'll just pull out or distort the metal.

I would imagine if you're retro fitting seats then it won't matter as to the age, as I get the impression that any modifications have to comply with current standards.

Either way, and just my opinion, but why not fit them anyway? Seatbelt kits aren't exactly expensive. Is it really worth taking the risk whether its legal or not?

James

When I saw the first two pictures, my next thought was christ, they're gonna use the goat for target practice! :shocked:

On a serious note though, very interesting pictures. Thanks for posting.

James

At least you'll have somewhere to point that new FH70!

James

Very nice! You'll have enough for your own armoured division soon! Need any drivers?

job hmm, not easy my jobs, money, I dont have any, I spend it all on toys and things, time, I am just a do-aholic

 

Don't blame you, afterall you can't take it with you so you may as well enjoy it and yourself! Only get one chance etc...

(Not forgotten about those periscope screws btw, took them out the other day put them somewhere 'safe' and immediately lost them, found again now so should be in the post soon)

James

Ditto. Interest in 432 parts here too should he want to sell.

I'd always have one fitted and switched on. Most road users don't have the faintest idea whats going on around them, let alone directly in front of them and if they do they have no idea how to drive around a large/slow moving vehicle.

I know technically its against the law to use one over 25mph, also got to make sure they are mounted level so that they don't flash downwards to dazzle other road users, but I think it'd be a very bored copper that'd book you for it.

Ditto. My main reason for owning my vehicle is for myself. Always loved tinkering with old machinery and wanted something a bit different and more interesting.

That said if people come over and show an interest I'm happy to show them round/talk about/take them for a spin etc but at no point do I wear a military uniform. I've not been in the army and make no secret of that, as a result I don't wear a uniform mainly because I don't think it would be right. I've not earnt it, unlike many people and I've no wish to decieve people or try and make them think I'm something I'm not. A pair of dark blue overalls are more than smart enough and offend no-one.

James

Robin, if this is the box you need I think I might have a few in my 432 that I don't want. Certainly look similar to this, although its been a while since I've had a close look.

James

Very interesting stuff, helped to pass a slow, quiet afternoon at work.

Thanks for posting.

I've only just found this thread and have spent several hours reading (and still only at page 33!) through with utter amazement at the work, dedication and skills that you have and are putting to use to save this vehicle.

I don't think I can say anything more than other people have already said, so quite simply absolutely amazing! Well done.

Out of interest, I notice Steve(?) is wearing a Terex-Pegson shirt in one of the photos. I work for a quarrying company (Bullimores). I wonder if we've met at some point.

James

I tried reheating a bacon sarnie on an exhaust manifold of one of the machines at work a few years ago... complete disaster! Would not recommend!

Ah I see that makes sense, thanks for that.

I often wonder whether should I be worried that I find rusty old machinery and noisy tracks so fascinating..? :-D

Very interesting pics, thanks for sharing.

Interesting to note that the track pads only have 'guide horns' on every other track link, was this purely a Russian design aspect and/or was there a reason for it?

James

There are Drops in use as we have some 8 wheelers "roll-on roll-off's" as we know them by, in our fleet. However these aren't ex-MOD vehicles but civvi vehicles from new.

However, I'm sure I've seen pictures of DROPS with flatracks with 20ft shipping containers on the back and they are a snug fit on the bed, so using this as a guide they don't appear to be massively bigger than a standard shipping container and therefore I wouldn't have thought that they are overwidth.

Could be wrong though.

Couldn't resist the urge to burn some diesel any longer!

James

Guess that means I shouldn't have gone out and pulled that stuck lorry out of the village earlier and the half dozen or more cars that were stuck behind him and blocking the road with the telehandler then.

Again I don't agree with or condone breaking the law, but for the short time it was on the road would the fact that the fuel might not have been fully taxed (lets not forgot red diesel is still taxed, just not as heavily) really cheated the treasury out of millions of pounds...? So much for the big society!

Still never mind, I'll sleep soundly tonight.

I had a few sets of 'bad' Hawkers when I first got my 432 and 439. They were all completely dead when tested. I gave them to the fitters at work who advised that they would be scrap and were not worth trying to recharge, I persuaded them to give it a go anyway.

Few days later went to collect them and they were amazed that they were holding a charge and appeared on the meters to be very healthy. I put them back on the vehicles and, touch wood, haven't had any problems since.

Not bad for batteries that according to the date of manufacture stamped on them are seven years old and were completely flat for god knows how long...

Yeah, I wasn't complaining, like you say I understand that information requests are going to be the very bottom priority especially at the moment with all the cuts. I was just wondering whether there was a charge for the service as I just fired a quick letter off with the vehicles details and the quick (two day) reply from the tank museum just got me wondering about where the Merlin report was.

Sure it'll turn up soon.

James

Got the record card back from the Tank Museum today for my 432 (17 EA 99).

She spent '67 through to '73 with the Royal Horse Artillery in BAOR so pleased she has some history anyway.

Don't suppose anybody remembers the above vehicle? Or even better has any photos?

Sent off for the MERLIN records as well (about two months ago) to an address I was given by sirhc on here but not heard back yet. Do they charge for this service?

James

Very nice, looks like a good drive in a lovely truck.

Makes me wish I hadn't fought the urge to take the 432 for a spin... maybe tomorrow!

Starting to get bad here near Grantham now... spent over two hours this morning pulling stranded cars (and a lorry!) up the hill out the village.

Now snowing heavily again. Still I've been told to go home from work so I'm off to the workshop!

That pack lifting frame looks like its worth its weight in gold. Definitely a very ingenius piece of engineering.

Looking forward to the next set of photos!

Cheers,

James

Personally I wouldn't... I've seen enough vehicles of all shapes and sizes in ditches and hedges to put me off. Including a gritter lorry lying on its side in a field, just not worth it especially when you factor in all the idiots who tear around as though its a clear summers day.

That said the snow covered field my 432 is parked in is looking increasingly tempting! But then again there's no other vehicles to bump into!

Here we go:

Hovered there for a good few minutes before slowly melting away...

Some people here will remember compo ration tins being heated in the exhaust and pitched out by blipping the throttle!

 

I keep meaning to try that, might take a tin of beans with me tomorrow!

Just been out to warm the 432 up after the long cold weekend, and discovered she can levitate snowballs!

Always knew there was something 'mystical' about it!

Picture to follow if I can work out how to get the photo off my phone and onto the computer!