N.O.S.

Very pleased for both of you. So it was worth all the hassle of swinging the boom gear out then, Mark - :goodidea: Must say it made an impressive sight, how about swinging a gmc from it next time? :whistle:

Notwithstanding the deadly seriousness of war there was, on occasion, room for some much-needed relief. My father was a pilot with Air Sea Rescue, and towards the end of the war was stationed in northwest Norfolk covering the North Sea for downed American bombers. He dreaded a search for a Liberator as they tended to break up on impact with the sea, and there were rarely any survivors. B17s fared better - the plane (Lockheed Hudson) would drop a large dinghy and guide rescue boats to the crew. Eventually they were issued radio sets with dual frequency, allowing them to hear stricken bomber crew communications directly, and thus saving valuable time. This is one of the very first transmissions they overheard (from a rookie B17 crew returning over the sea towards Cromer) - "Plane 738 to tower, we got a motor out, we got a motor out, what are we gonna do?" "Tower to 738, what's your angels?" (thousands of feet altitude) "55, 55" (pilot mis-read altimeter, should have said '5 point 5') "Tower to 738, standby please" (a minute passes) "Tower to 738, ah, we recommend you cut your other 3 motors and glide home" No further transmission!!

Lets see if I have got this right, you fill the bucket up with thick paint, then dip the workshop floor broom in and........ :whistle:

Well that's quite a relief seeing as I'm no good at bricklaying or plastering - how does price of the local truck compare? :dunno:

Liberation Road by David L Robbins (Orion, ISBN 0-7528-7815-8) A Novel, set in the period following D-Day, and based on 3 interwoven tales - 1) Drivers in a Negro trucking company on the Red Ball Express 2) An army chaplain with the front line troops 3) A mysterious American operating within the Paris black market An easy read, but at the same time a fascinating and (I believe) well-researched account of both the operation of the Red Ball Express and the horrific conditions on the front line. Only 1/2 way through so far, but would recommend it. WARNING - Not for the squeamish - SOME GMCs DO GET HURT..... :shake:

In fact, when you consider that a doctor can now supervise (i.e. virtually perform) a complex medical procedure half way round the world by means of cameras and stuff (and a person who can follow instructions at the other end), Repaircam could untap a vast resource of experience and knowledge of specific mechanical / electrical tasks. :rtfm: : I'd just love for someone "who can" to guide me through the process of applying paint with a spraygun without the need to hold a paintbrush in the other hand....

Would this have not been an ideal application for the HMVF REPAIRCAM ? Far better than any other Reality T.V. entertainment! Us armchair restorers could monitor in real time the valiant efforts of comrades as they struggle with an obstinate assembly, and hide behind the sofa when the big hitty thing or the hot spanner comes out to play. Not much good in my workshop, unless you want to sit and watch some blue tarpaulins (and the XXXXXX mice) for weeks on end. Although when I do finally get around to something I'm sure you would all have a really good laugh......... Perhaps Markheliops could set up REPAIRCAM when the Ward rear bogie job gets underway - it would rival a live medical operating procedure with all that SAE 90 gushing everywhere - Quick nurse - more silicone sealer!

1) Undo bolts around halfshaft (centre of hub) 2) Pull out halfshaft 3) Does the hub spin freely? If so brake shoes are not binding, but a good idea to slacken off brake adjuster anyway (sometimes get an unworn ridge around inside edge of drum which prevents drum from sliding over shoes freely) 4) The outer hub nut (locknut) has a steel tab washer locking it - bend this free of nut 5) Take your hub nut box spanner and undo both nuts (what do you mean you have not got one?....) 6) Pull off hub (with integral brake drum), drop bearings in dirt on floor and bite tongue 7) Retire to pub pleased with progress to date, reflecting on the fact that it could have been a lot worse e.g. mortar fire dropping all around... 8) Make note to acquire workshop manual at earliest opportunity to prevent premature cutting up of truck in frustration Alternatively trade in for nice Ward laFrance Oh the joys of working on Jimmies.......... :shake:

I was saving this one for another day, but have just seen it advertised on Milweb by someone, on behalf of the owner (totally co-incidentally!!). So here it is - a very rare Dodge WK-60 workshop truck with unusual Thornton double-drive rear bogie. Also interesting spring and relieving arrangement at back end. Had same body(?) as Austin 6x4. Not in the best of condition, but a real challenge or good for driveline spares? In the same yard as the Chevs, either PM me and I will give you owner's tel. no., or respond to Milweb ad.

Visited Bovington in 1999 (new building just opened?) and thought it was a great museum - anything new to see there now? Another Norfolk yard from Tuesday this week - 2 x Chev 1.5T this time, and these are available.........spares only I would imagine. The rear truck is a Post Hole Borer, as it has the original Highway winch behind what is left of cab. You need to be brave to take on these trucks (and the owner!), a very good cab is available (with trucks only?) If interested, PM me with your contact tel. and I will gladly pass on to owner.

That worked ok without any cropping - so if you use this method go for picture width of 780 pixies :-)

Just trying to maximise pic width using Kewelde's method - trying width 780 pixythings

Hang on - Don't forget the Major.............

A warm welcome, CCKimW. ALL HAIL GMC, ALL HAIL GMC, ALL HAIL GMC, ALL HAIL......Quick, :box: run for it guys, here comes a WARD laFRANCE!!

As some of the lucky ones were being driven to W+P, spare a thought for this old girl I found basking in the morning sun today, 'somewhere in Norfolk'. Been here ever since demob. Sadly she is destined to remain in this spot for some time yet, as a sale is not an option. Unloved maybe, but relatively safe. You have to admit it is a magical scene.....

I spoke to Footman James this morning and got a very simple answer - IT IS ILLEGAL TO INSURE THE SAME VEHICLE TWICE So, there is no way to cover Driver A (the owner) when in charge of vehicle, and also for any loss (e.g. theft), and at the same time give driver B a policy which only covers him/her and accident damage etc when in charge of vehicle. Despite the fact that this is not providing multiple cover, an insurer wold still be breaking the law by issuing such policies. Thanks anyway folks

Great news for you (and Roadsure!) Had any luck with a "N.O.S." split axle yet?

It was a civilian MJR ex Thames Water slurry tanker. Installed a Cummins 6B and 5 speed box, tipping cab from a TL and widespread 425x20 tyres. Hydraulic rig is powered off transfer box pto. Cab now rough again, managed to get last-but-one M.O.D. conversion TL cab from Leavesly - problem is finding time to install it, as I now have a house extension to build for some family with a GMC and KrAz225b.....

Thanks for the pull, SnowTracDave - might need something with a big winch to get me out of this hole though.......something like a Kraz 255b? Look out - INCOMING!!!! :shake:

Wish I hadn't dug the pictures out now! :cry: It had an unusual reinforced front axle, centre section cast with big webs, bolted to tracta joint housings. Believe they were fitted to the armoured command cars??? I changed the steering box for one from an 8 wheeler, made one-handed steering a possibility, even from a standing start. Hope you find a nice one!

You will indeed get away with it, until some idiot drives out of a side road straight into you or something similar. At that point the Vehicle Inspectorate may visit the scene and inspect your (the innocent party's) vehicle. Then you will have a serious problem. These exact words were spoken to me by a Vehicle Examiner when I had cause to phone DVLA, concerning the legality of towing vehicles on an A-frame where the brakes of the towed vehicle (if over 750kg or something) must operate whenever the towing vehicle brakes. Also, your insurance may well be invalid......... Do check with DVLA - the second time I tried the guy was actually quite helpful!

This is a dodgey (or jeepy) area too. One policy I came across, the small print restricted the 'other vehicles' bit to merely 'moving them out of the way if they were causing an obstruction', though I suppose this might have meant that you did not need the owner's permission...?.../ Guess we need to understand the smallprint!

Forgot to say that I always hinkit is good to buy a truck from the same person you may be toally dependent upon for spares, so back to Plan A? I never said that, either /i] I'm still way behind with my d.i.y. list, but have a very understanding wife (yes,yes, I'll turn the computer off in just a moment!!!!!)

It should still be on Milweb Heavies with plenty of detail pics. £6K rings a bell. I never told you, O.K.?

Hi RC I believe there's still one for sale up in Norfolk, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE come and buy it before I make a BIG BIG BIG mistake.....