DINGODOUG

Thank you Clive for your excellent advice. I adjusted the torsion bars as you suggested. They only needed to be rotated by one spline which made a surprisingly big difference. I had expected a struggle to free the torsion bars from their collars but they came off with minimal force so the job was incredibly straightforward. Next job will be the clutch. I was wondering whether to fit a harder wearing clutch? Presumably they are all carbon based friction materials now so wonder whether they perform better? regards Doug

I am now on my second MK 1 Pig , 03BK22 , which seems to show the same problems as the first. The clutch seems to have very little 'bite' and only engages in the last inch or so of travel. I have tried adjusting it but can make no improvement. Is this normal or does the clutch need replacing? Also I have a very saggy rear end, or at least the Pig has. I have adjusted the torsion bars right up but the lower wishbone is horizontal and nowhere near the angle shown in the User Handbook. Again is this a normal Pig problem and if so is there a need to get the torsion bars re-tempered? Who could do this without breaking the bank? Incidentally my old Pig was 810 FUF which I still see occasionally in pictures at various shows. I bought it from John Marchant in the Seventies and used it as a car for a while.

Hi Simon,as an ex-REME myself I wondered whether you had tried the REME Museum at Arborfield for any information about your father's service record. They are usually very helpful.If you need the details I will dig them out but they will no doubt have a website. Secondly you mention the Ferret has had a recent repaint but is there a good thickness of previous coats underneath? If so you stand a good chance of finding earlier unit markings if you carefully strip off the layers. I found a number of signs on my Mk1 Ferret including a complete set of 4RTR markings. All I had to do was paint over them to freshen them up. Finally the other good folk who replied to your message have said it all. It is entirely up to you what you do with the vehicle; you couldn't have picked a better way of perpetuating your fathers memory. good luck.

By coincidence I have just been wondering the same thing and was told by an expert that the original central towing eyes were prone to corrosion cracking of the welds and were removed. The plate is to cover up the affected area. I don't think all vehicles were modified as I seem to recall seeing a Sabre with the central towing eye.

They are both great vehicles but on balance I prefer the MK1 because it is the original configuration and natural successor to the Dingo which was also a Daimler product of course. I also think the MK1 looks better whereas the turret looks a bit like a fat Dalek. With the canvas cover on the MK1 is just as watertight so give me the ragtop anytime. However any Ferret is better than no Ferret.

As a recent member to the Forum I thought I would make contact with other Pig owners and pass on some of my (limited) knowledge. I previously owned 810 FUF which I have seen on the Forum and which I bought from John Marchant more years ago than I care to acknowledge. It is great to see it from time to time pictured at various shows. Subsequently I owned 05 BK 61 ( 105 UXL ) which was owned by Adam Elsdon though I understand from Croc that he has now sold it. Currently I have yet another Mk1 03 BK 22 which previously carried the wrong registration number 16 BK 41 and which has also featured in certain publications. 810 FUF was previously 04 BK 21 and was sold at Ruddington on 29Nov 67 to the Talbot Garage Much Wenlock from whom it was bought by John Marchant on 16 May 72 after which I bought it on 10 Nov 76.At the time I also had an old Rover 200 TC which was always breaking down but the good old Pig never let me down and I often used it as a runaround including taking my girlfriend home!! Those were the days - I don't think my wife would let me away with that. John Marchant was a great proponent of military vehicle restoration from the early days though probably only the older members will remember him - is he still to the fore? keep thinking 'piggy' thoughts

I've just seen this thread and there are some good ideas for improving the cooling. However you might want to think again about fitting the B81 which will produce even more heat to get rid of. Also you may need some specialist advice whether the gearbox/ fluid flywheel will take the additional power. The Stalwart had a beefy twin plate clutch and manual gearbox to handle the B81. Interestingly Alvis had a prototype Stalwart with an Alison semi-auto gearbox when I briefly worked there in the early seventies. Apparently it was the same gearbox as the FV432 and I often wondered if it would fit a Saracen? I have no idea how well it worked. Don't you just love all those rows of 7/16 unf bolts holding it all together inside? And that oil pipe at the back of the oil tank !Happy days.

Greetings to all members from Aberdeenshire- I'm not very good with computers so it has taken me ages to get this far with contributing to the HMVF. I've been collecting military vehicles since I was a lad in 1970 when I got my first Champ. Since then I have owned about 50 vehicles ranging from Albion CX22S,Humber FV1600 1 Ton, Ferrets,Saracens, Saladin, Daimler Dingos and Armoured Cars, Humber Pigs, CVRW Foxes and lots more Champs. Currently I've got 2 Morris MRA1s, 3 Foxes, Ferret Mk1, Champ and a MK1 Pig. I used to own 810 FUF and wanted to add comments to the thread which was previously running but lost my password and screwed up the recovery process so for those involved you may want to get in touch. There is a fair amount of kit up here but we are well spread out so we have to add ourselves on to various agricultural and commercial vehicle shows. I look forward to spending more time on the Forum and will offer help or commiserations if I can. Remember if you can't fix it there is always the option to set fire to it and walk away...

Hi Ivor, I was very interested in the C9 as I believe it was profiled in the magazine of the Morris Commercial Club of which I am a member. By a strange quirk of fate I have just located a C9 which was converted to a recovery truck and is missing much of the original fittings. It would be beyond my scope to restore it but I wonder if you know of anyone who might be interested? I have some photos but would need my children to send them as I don't know how. The chassis looks ok and it has the basic body work but only half of one jack at the back.I know who has a bofors gun but much work would be needed to convert it back to original. It would be a shame to see it being scrapped but that will happen soon unless someone comes forward. Doug Matheson