Chev41

Hi All, I popped down at lunchtime and ground all the Valves back in ! I got the Cylinder head back on, now the compressions are all around 125 psi and more, I started her up and it ran well, more testing Saturday.... Seat cover have arrived Cheers Mark

Hi All, Test running the Engine yesterday run good, checked the Compressions and No2 cylinder was 100 PSI and No 4 was 75 PSI ! so I removed the Cylinder head, one sticky Valve is the cause, so I am grinding all the Valves back in to improve the compression also more debris had moved in the Cyl head from the Radiator. Should be back running Saturday. New seat covers are on the way too.. M.

Another 3 test runs today,flushed Rad then the core blew. Robbed Chev No2s Rad, not blocked but it did spring a leak...

Hi H, Looks Fab ! Well done....... I do like deep bronze green M

Ah thanks, test running last right revealed a blockage in the radiator ! Have to remove the rad and give it a reverse flush. miinor setback....

Once the body is attached properly a good run should do it good. Fuel pipes and brake pipes next. M

Hi All... Managed to put the Drivers side brakes all back together, fitted two more tires, then, I did finally manage to drive it for the first time in 47 years ! Not very far but she did drive... Big milestone.. Sounded nice

Thanks, cant wait to drive it back to the old scrapyard and show the old owner. More next winter is the other one..

Hi Paul good to catch up, I will need the Kit for Chevy no2, looking fward to getting stuck in on that one too, I am thinking of doing it as a tractor unit or a K51 panel van although very ambitous.. Looking forward to see how she moves under her own power for the first time in 47 years, I traced the history back to when when it left Ricks of Dereham (Vauxhall Bedford main dealer Breakdown truck) in 1965, I assume it ran then could be longer, I know it was part of the hedge since the previous owner bought it in 1980 maybe earlier.. Got new seat covers coming very soon. Would be nice if someone out there has a Spare wheel carrier before I make one ? M

Ah Thanks, its been alot of work and still a fair way to go, I have to make a spare wheel carrier, bolt on the body, replace the bearing for the Prop brake, make an exhaust system from silencer back, make a wiring loom and fit the lights and horn, brake pipes I will start making next week together with the fuel lines, I hope to fit the shoes and brake cylinder to the nearside rear Saturday then take it for a drive, master cylinder should be sleeved by now as it went off to be done last week. M

Hi All Another busy day, fitted new front brake cylinders and refitted all the front brakes, borrrowed the shoes of Chevy 2 which were perfect as its only got 7000 miles on the clock, fitted new rear cylinder and and replaced the Drum, the Tires arrived together with the new tubes, fitted the 4 of the tires on the rim, easier than I thought it was going to be ! anyhow she looks the part with her new boots finished at midnight..... Enjoy the pictures

Hi All, Tyres are now on the way cant wait, been spraying the Wheels, and bang on rims all day today, three good coats of paint. removed remaining brake drums and fitted new brake cylinder to the drivers front, new reflectors arrived as you can see from the pictures, Master cylinder has gone off to be sleeved with stainless steel, brake pipes wiring and handbrake still to do. Rear brake shoes gone to be religned, I reckon 2 / 3 weeks and she will emerge from the Hangar for the first blast down the Runway...

Managed to do some more spraying today as the sun was shining at the Old Airfield, thanks to Howard running me down another 5 litres of drab and some thinners. I am very pleased so far with the progress she looks really good. WW2 US army blanket over the seat until I get to War and peace.... Thanks to Roy Baker for bringing me down a pattern for a spare wheel carrier on Saturday. M

Well done Howard, and thanks for the paint delivery. I managed another coat of paint tonight ! thats it till Saturday, I will make a call and chase up the deadmans handle tomorrow. M

Hi All, Yes its a GMC 352 Buck, I think it looks great, a few minor alterations where the spare wheel sits in to be done. I may find a genuine tipper body in the future or I may make one, anyhow I have been busy with the cab. One coat of Olive Drab, I made the most of the warm Spring day, spent hours getting the windows to close. Enjoy the pictures

Here is the new upright for the side stakes, folded by a local metal frabricators. side step repaired, inside cab firewall sprayed matt black. finished petrol tank. Still on track .

Hi H, It was nice to have some help down there at Sunny Mend, Anyway heres what I found for you today if you can make use of it, I have another one slightly larger too, Roys coming tomorrow to have a peek.. M

Stake sides aligned well.... Nice to see you Clive thanks again for the pictures. M

Hi All, H helped me yesterday on the Buck by cutting out all the uprights, he also welded in a new corner on the passenger side rear of the body, I welded and cut out the grot from the bottoms of the uprights, I finally finished fitting all the uprights at six tonight including the one front one behind the cab, enjoys the pics...

Hi H Hope to have your Tank tomorrow, you know F, its prob been in the hedge since the War ! I will be talking Trailers in the morning too... Keep up the good work, amazing job.

Hello, Another day on the Truck, been working on the front bumper all day apart from skimmimg the passenger side step with some Glenn Miller. Bolted on the Hooks and finished fitting all the rivet bolts and winch supports brackets, bit of a mission, 16 bolts in all to be aligned but I think it looks alot better..... Collected the folded metal for the buck uprights to be done weds...

Hi All, Another busy day.. Tested Generator and all good, repolarized and bridged teminals charging 34 volts @750 rpm, cleaned and fitted terminal blocks onto bulkhead, fixed fuel filter which had rotted off inside drilled and rewelded, hooked up accelerator and return spring, fitted drivers side wing and cut and fitted side panel, finished fitting winch bolts, engine test testing today resulted in fuel pump diaphram failure sump filling with fuel ( I blame the modern fuel ) anyway enjoy the pictures. Tackling the body next week where the tin worm has got in. Thanks for the link to the side panels.

Heres some pictures of progress... I know its a GMC Step but thats all I got for now, I had to shorten it by a few inches by cutting the end off and rewelding it back, I hope to find some Chevy ones and Chev side panels at some point ! I have a very rough Chevrolet scripted side panel for the drivers side but very poor condition if anyone out there has a pair ? please...

Hi all, Things are still progressing ! I made an exhaust downpipe, replaced the clip on the Distributor which holds the cap on which had rotted away, fuel tank back from H, so fitted fuel sender and made new cork seal for that, fitted wiring to sender and slotted in the tank, front propshaft is on ! Been cutting and welding the passenger side side step today which is a GMC one in very bad shape (kindly donated by H) Pictures to follow later tonight. So Fuel line next, brake pipes. Collecting metal for body upright posts Monday which I have had made. M

Some more progress, Engine runs well, still the odd little oil leak, front propshaft on transmission and clutch all working as it should, fitted rubber mat inside cab. Thanks to H stripped down one of the siezed on front brakes, that was full of grease. Fuel tank should be sealed by Thursday ready for new fuel pipes to be made. stripped down and rebuilt the fuel tap and filter housing. Speedo working and all instruments in, Vacuum pipe for Hydrovac fitted, made new rocker cover gasket no leaks..On track hope you like the pictures.Radiator and surround painted after I removed lots of leaves and seeds from inside the Rad, lined up the top coated panels. Fabricating exhaust next.