Sylvester

Cheers for that folks....I have flushed out the head at this time, some good old sludge came out, flushed the rad out too, that seems to be very clear!!... will give the rest of the block a good old poke about on monday when I get a chance to get over! Thanks for all the help, just wondered about a rubber seal due to the shape of the casting around the neck? I had already decided to make sure I didn't overfill the system next time but thanks for the supporting info. thanks again (will keep you up t speed Richard!!) All the Best Fred

Do You never sleep mate!! I'm on nights!!! As for my rad... I have the neck and all that, the hose is not the correct one...It's ...Straight!! Its the bit it shows in the WSMan. at the bottom of the rubber hose, where it attaches to the rad there should be another cup similar to the bit at the top of the hose, which the metal filler tube passes through. Something to do with the overflow system! Also, the rad cap has absolutely no rubber on it, there is a small brass cap inside which has the chain attached to it which has holes in and steam is free to pass straight through this and runs over the inside of my cap! Which of course everytime she gets hot the darn thing just boils over! the water then P's down over the rad canopy and all over my windscreen!! It looks like it should have a rubber seal around the neck of the filler tube which of course would allow the steam and hot water to pass back into the neck and allow the spring in the filler tube to go down and allow the water into the outer part between the filler tube and the rubber hose?? Just wish I could have a shuffty at a properly fitted one to see what it should look like! Don't suppose you have any better diagrams?? or a photo?? I have the head off now, can't see any really obvious burnt valves!! Have re seated all the valves with the jolly old cutting paste!! Hopeing to refit it all next week! I have this really horrible feeling though that after all this its going to be something really simple like the vacum advance after all!!!!! We shall see eh!! Thanks again mate, Fred

Hi Folks, Have been sorting out my old girl, and....on removing the radiator....and looking at the workshop manual....it is obvious that suprise suprise! ....Bits are missing! Don't suppose anyone has a few spares in the filler cap area?? It is the bit that should fit into the actual top of the radiator, also....does anyone have a proper filler cap that they can describe if there should be some rubber and where exactly it goes?? (Waiting Richard!!) This old girl is giving up her secrets slowly but shorely!! What with the brake servo to master cylinder pushrod .....MISSING!!!.... this was clearly a Top job of a total renovation carried out for the previous owner eh!! I await some usefull assistance!! Hopefully xx All the Best Folks Fred

Will be interested to see it. As for getting the facts correct! I read the book about the raid , it has written coments by surviving members, but there are quite a few variations in the details, a case of elapsed time and memory as well as different views at the time and of course the good old 'rumour control' at the tme eh! But i think it would be good to see the end product, I love the original but the thought of modern cgi effects does make you wonder just how realistic it will get! A group of vets viewed the film Saving Private ryan, they said that it was the closest they had ever seen it portrayed on film! So, i will certainly be getting the DVD when it comes out! Fred

Hi Folks, Well, just to add to this thread!! If you were unlucky enough to be in the Life Guards in NI on a ferret......We had to have SLR's instead of normal SMG, The beauty of being titled temp, as a rifle sqn. silly B..'s took it to the letter!! Great fun trying to get out in a hurry with a SLR, you should try it some day.....if you want a hernia!! One good bit of kit we had in Germany tho, which I aint seen yet at any show, was the Ferret heater!! This was a big 6-8 inch diametre flexi black tube which came in through the rear hatch round the front over the steering column and back out the rear hatch, both ends then fead into a box mounted over the radiator cooling fins! Anybody else ever seen this bit of kit?? I was in one in NI in 74 so ......Yeah I know .....Old G....! We also had some 30's converted to 7.62 but that was later on and I never got to play with one! As original thread was for kit in 80's-90's no good me offering any tips eh? but ....if it never changed, we had smoke grenades in the small bins at the rear of the interior, a flare pistol and schimulees!! but also a classy little box on the left side by the drivers earhole....The anti personnel electrics !!!!!! with a small chain which was lowered through the drainage hole between the drivers legs, made a little "Ticking" sound, followed by a scream from anyone who went to climb on or lean against your ferret!! Lovely jubly!! All the best, Fred

With some of the munitions being used these days (Depleted urine!!!) etc. I would not be too keen to get near the stuff! Might end up looking like a Ready Break advert!! Fred

As a former driver of the chieftain from Higham......You Will enjoy!!! And I bet you will get a video which you will play over and over again and again, with the Base turned up on the surround sound !!!!!! Nowt wrong with that....I still do! He He! Its that sound, you just can't beat it! Will look forward to hearing it....I meam, seeing it at the shows, it's been too quiet at the W&P since we left the old girl to the plight of its unhappy misery of an owner! Oh! If you ever want a hand.......! He He! ...... I would buy a bullworker before you start any maintainanceon the old girl though!! Happy cruising mate Fred

Hi Richard, Matey! Thought you might see it :-) I got the stencils for the 8 Corps but its just this number at the front I just can't make out but Rich seems to have struck a note with 73 on unit colours as the number I can see is definatly a 3, just can't see the first one!! Thanks Fred

PPS... Have had another look ...could it be the 73? it definately looks like a three to me! Fred....Yet Again!!!

PS.... The number is on the rolled panel bottom right side of radiator, as viewed from driver's position! ie Left as you look at it!! He He! Fred

Hi Rich, Thank's for this info, I am attempting to attach photo's, think you will see what I mean!! I have found out from REME Museum many years ago whilst researching my Dad's war years that it would have had the tri-colour REME backing tho at that time the guy I was communicating with could find no records for individual sub units, so could not help with no's! If you have one of those super-dupa photo enhancement gismo's on your computer perhaps you may be able to clarify it a little better?? Once again Thanks for your help......and yes... I have got my foof up!! Regards Fred

Thanks for your help, He was REME, Light Anti Aircraft maintainance served with 8 Corps, and was attached to 5th Guards Armoured Brigade Workshops, his vehicle was a general service utility vehicle. I looked at the photo under a magnifying glass, I thought it looked like 320 but my wife also had a look and she thought it was only 2 digits ! As she has had her eye's lazered, I think she could be right as this would tie in with what you have said eh? Hope you can help, I have managed to break my leg...Yesterday! So, this has reduced my roaming a bit!! Do you have a name? :-) All the Best Fred

Hi Folks, I have a little question for anyone out there who know's about these things!!! I am renovating my Bedford QL to be a tribute to my late father, who served with the REME LAA, 8 Corps and attached to 5th Guards Armoured Brigade Workshops. I have two photo's of him with his truck, but due to the quality of the photo and the position of the vehicle, lighting etc.etc.....just can not see the unit no's painted on the front of the old girl, as best I can see ( With magnifying glass!!) it looks like 320 but can't be certain! Have now got the colour of the backing,dun me omework!! But....No idea about this B.... Number!! Anybody out there who can help!!! Pretty Please! All the Best Folks Looking forward to W&P Fred

Cheers Richard, Yeah, definately meet up at both if you like eh!! As for wood panels, yes two were back rests, but there is a seperate split beam, 2 sections join to create 1, chamfered at each far end, think this is probably a mod done by a previous owner, think I will fit it to save those orrible watery moments eh! Also, amazin little event, the other week my wife was sorting out her Creative Memories photo albums and opened up her W&P one, I had taken some photo's of a QL 7 years ago when I was a visitor (My first ever visit to a military show) I took the clips because it was the same type as my Dad's, only turned out to be the very one I now own!! How odd is that!! Previous owner prior to the owner I got her from, was in East Sussex, you may have known him?? Thanks Again, Fred

Hi Richard, So...do you reckon the central wooden struts would be fitted normally or do you reckon its a modification? Just a little funny, I was cleaning up the windscreen wiper motor yesterday, under all the paint I found Manuf.Stamp.... Bosch, Made in Germany!! Original or .....!! I know my Dad used to joke about the wind up clock in his cab being a Smiths made in germany job! Thanks yet Again mate, definately have to meet up at a show and have a drink eh! Fred

Hi Richard, Thanks, I have 5 straight bars, 2 that are bent that appear to fix to the holes in the midle loop nearer to centre and angle out at each end, 2 straight timber lengths that appear to fit as back rests to seating, (Full length of cargo area) and two pieces that join in middle to run full length also!That bit about running inside to outside makes sence, looking at the loops hieght!! She's starting to take shape now! Thanks Fred ....Again!

Hi Folks!! A little question, When fitting the bars up for the canvas on the back of my QL, do the bars bolt onto the inside or the outside of the loops?? just wondered, I have steel poles and some wooden supports, do the wooden supports bolt onto the very top in centre to create roof type ridge to prevent water pooling on top of cavas?? I may be a bit dim, but.... just want to know as first time I have assembled this type of frame work! Any help, much appreciated ...as usual!! Fred

Silver letters on black background illegal if on a non historical vehicle, as for no.plates on a military veh. as Richard said, the numbers used to be painted on usually on the bumpers,on the Landy's, but I don't see the prob unless you are going to re-arange a normal index No. into a military style, otherwise, if you have a original army number for the said vehicle, paint the bugger on and hang your normal road plates over the top on the road! I have " Illegal" plates on my car and my bike, they are in "Legal" spec, but technically ...Illegal, naughty aint I!!! http://www.cheapestplates.co.uk Give these a try! Fred

Cheers Richard, Once again you come up trumps!! Will have a shufty round the old girl, have found lots of little brass plates on various spots, as for poss markins under the paint....its had a complete makeover about 15 years ago looking at the reciepts! all that sort o stuff is lost me thinks maybe! Thanks for the PM, will have a look, mind you, it may make life easier perhaps not knowing eh? As I want to mark her up in my Dads old veh markins as a tribute. But, might still have to find out.....the curious bit in me eh!! Thanks tho, speak in a bit eh! Fred & Annika

Anyone happen to know how one goes about getting the history of thier truck?? I am now the proud owner of a Bedford QL but........ I have no details at all about the old girls history! Armour was easy, just contact Bovy! But Old Trucks??? Any suggestions? Fred

I meant to add this to my entry !!! OOOps!! Fred

Yep.... They most certainly did have both on the old beauty.... I used both at various times in NI, good fun but a bit grizzly !! The night site II was really good except if some sod lit a fag!!! pooof! wait a while for it to come back up and ....Where did the bugger go??? I like the old SLR... A real Rifle ...not like the johny 7 that came in just as I was leaving! Always puzzled me that...It took ages to get everyone in NATO to use the same Ammo, 7.62 then...Just when everyone is in sinc..... we change to another calibre??? Keep going with the SLR matey, they were a good looking bit of kit! Fred

Hi, This little story is of interest to me personally, as I tried to research my late mothers war years some time ago, she was a WRAF barrage balloon operater, but when I tried to find out any details even though I have photo's of her and of her friends at various sites, including the site numbers..... the RAF could find no records pertaining to these sites, even drew a blank with the Barrage Balloon Association! So, could be true eh! I would not put it past the military of the time. One of my fathers comments always makes you wonderat the logic, he worked for the Railways up to call up, he said that a whole group of them joined at the same time and were all put to work driving lorry's, where as the lorry drivers that signed up together..... were put to work on operating the captured trains!!! Makes you wonder really eh? Things were not much improved in the area of logic when I was in either!! Fred

Hi Degsy, My reason for buying the old girl is because my Dad used to drive one during the war, so as me and the Mrs now dress up as my mum n dad for the 40's nights, we thought we would go WW2 and so sold the old Ferret (Boo Hoo, Sob Sob) But looking foward to it All the Best Fred & Annika