Big Dan

Bugger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I also uncovered the all seeing eye pretty much as per yours under many, many layers of paint on my Pig. I have unearthed no details so will be intrigued to see what you find out. Thanks, Dan.

Ah, now thats a clear picture - yep, mine is exactly like that - except that the on in the picture looks like the springed actuator id out a lot further in neutral than mine - could be stuck. When engaging/dissengaging are there clonks etc. to listen out for as, say, a Landy engaging diff lock? Thanks, Dan.

Getting somewhere now! 1. The gauge and cooling system is fine - the rad cap has no plunger so system won`t pressurise and steam escapes very easily - the gauge reads correctly - human error and a bit of over caution. 2. Engine stopped due to air in the fuel lines - I did prime the carb and it all worked fine for about half an hour - but loads of air in the system ended up starving the carb - cracking the fuel line nut, priming the line then tightening and re-priming the card had it going a treat! 3. Brakes needed loads of fluid, bleeding, the pedal return spring fitted and seized links oilong and freeing - now they actually work rather well - much better than expected! 4. Third hatch in roof confrimed as "Holy" dome not a gun mount:( - my friendly ex Reme Sargeant confirmed from looking at mountings showing on the inside of the roof that it was a dome - he had fitted a both dome and Ferret turrets in period and mine was the former. Overall I am amazed at how well it drives - sure its a bit weighty on parking steering and double-clutching is a pain but the rebuilt engine and box are smooth and precise, the brakes make me want to wear a seatbelt to keep me in the seat and the beast drives really well - a big thumbs up! I wish I could get it to Beltring but work is just to darn busy to let me get it there! As ever, a few more jobs to be done - not least replacing a handfull of hi-pressure nipples etc. Two things: 1. Dissengaging 4wd - I know this is meant to be done automatically when coming out of first - my 4wd lever does not move when going in or out of first (though it does press against the gear stick in first) - does this mean its stuck in 4wd? Not a bad thing as far as I`m concerned as its will help presserve the rear axle. 2. A longshot - Does anyone live near Adam the former owner down in the South West and might be heading to Beltring? Adam has a spare wheel and tyre for me but its proving a real pain to retrieve it - 3 abborted collections so far! I`d be happy to pay transport costs if anyone is headed to War & Peace and could pick it up - like I sais, long shot! Thanks, Dan.

Drove the Pig again this weekend and it overheated - plenty of steam and water from around the filler neck. Once cool I checked the seal and neck - the neck was very knocked around and no way would it seal - so I flattened the face off with some percussive maintenance, re-filled the coolant and brought it up to temperature with the cap off - the thermostat opened nicely and temperature held niceley at around 160f. I popped the cap back on and left it running - all was good until after about 3 further minutes the idle revs increased to 1500 then the engine shut down! - The temeperature was fine - no overheating. The engine would not restart - it would for the odd second but not for any longer - my thinking is fuel - any ideas? Thanks, Dan.

Hi Guys, Just got my Pig running and took it for my first couple of drives - awesome! It was smooth, started on the button, gear change good, went straight - even stopped! I`ll pop a video on here soon. Couple of questions: 1. When started from cold, the temperature gauge immediatly goes up to the middle of the gauge, then, after a couple of minutes progresses towards the end of the gauge. I checked the engine at this point and it was what I would describe as "running temp hot" not "OMG its off the gauge hot" - when cold I checked the fluids and all is good, fresh fluid with plenty of anti-freeze. Is this a case of "they do that" or is a shot sensor/gauge? 2. Bonnet catches - the little twiddly catches that hold the bonnet down are seized solid - any ideas? Thanks, Dan. PS - May have a lead on a guy who claims to have a very famous Pig rotting in his yard - I`m trying to find out details/reg - I suspect it may be the faked RUC "fire bombed" Pig though I can`t be sure - I`ll keep you all posted - one Pig is never enough!!!!!

And started getting the fresh paint on after some truly horrible time spent stripping the old stuff. Alas the compressor melted and sezied after the redox went on so a slight delay in progress....

Hi Everyone, Just an update on my Pig progress. The bodywork is almost reay for paint but more importantly.... After putting a post on regarding some mech help I bumped into a semi-retired time-served ex REME sergeant who spent 5 years in NI as a heavy recovery specialist - which was nice! He kindly spent a day greasing up the many suspension nipples, checking and greasing the steering (4 new hi pressure nipples on order), topping up the diffs and transmission (a mere 5 litres of oil required here!!!!) and generally sorting the beast out. As some of you may have read, I went for Adams old Pig because it was mechanically sound - and it seems that is the case. The steering has little play in it, the diffs are good, and the engine - why did I not know about the little screw top paperwork holder by the thermostat housing?????? - the REME chap undoes the cap, pulls out a rolled up piece of paper with all the re-build details of the unit that was fully refurbished at Bicester in `89 - just at the time it was de-mobbed. Hopefully painting it this week and driving next week....... maybe...... I thought the engine looked fresh I kick myself about not finding this sooner And of course the re-build details were also on a plate looking at me! Loverly grease on all those suspension points

Now that is a good looking Pig - awesome detail. Hows the interior? Thanks, Dan.

Hi Clive, Sounds good - If no one is available locally to do the work then I`ll come down - I have to pick up a wheel and tyre form Adam at some point and he`s not far from you. I have my hands tied up with bodywork at the moment - man there`s a lot of Pig when you get down to the nitty gritty! Many thanks, Dan.

Hi Everyone, I`m working on my Humber Pig and need help from someone who knows their way around these beasts to spend a day checking over it, greasing the suspension, oiling the joints, checking the diff oils etc - all the really mucky stuff! I am happy to hand over money in return for the efforts and am near Lingfield Park Racecourse just on the Surrey/Sussex/Kent border. Thanks, Dan.

Looking really good - You`re a bit ahead of me! Cheers, Dan.

Hi everyone, Have been stripping off the paint on my Amby Pig and I came accross another unusual thing - both rear Radio mounts had been cut off about an inch from the body, then welded back on again. Any got any ideas?

Hi Clive, You`ve lost me on the ERM stuff - could it be relavent? I just figured it was a sales marking to make sure the right Pig went to the right buyer?

There we go....