Stormin

Think I found it on Google Street map.

Think you've pretty much hit it on the head there! :argh: Try reading a copy of Plant and Farm trader,you'd love it, barely a price published in there, nearly everything POA! It's like their own secret world. I'm different than you I would rarely if ever phone up and request a P.O.A. My opinion is if it's a good price the vendor would be please to state it not hide it. You obviously are not as put off as you suggest, as you seem to have enquired at Boys' about the Autocar.

As Runflat says check your deeds, especially on newer properties there's far more likely to have been council led restrictions imposed as a condition of planning. A frend of mine wasn't even allowed to park a white van on his drive! If you have an older property it seems there's far less restrictions and if you have a farm you can have all sorts of crap lying around anywhere.

That was my other thought as to a possible solution but you'd have to watch lubrication and sump capacity especially if off roading. Can't beat dry sumps for off-roading.

Isn't the B81 engine in a Stalwart dry sump and therefore reasonably low profile? I have the feeling most diesels being rather tall may struggle to fit beneath the unmodified floor of a Stolly. A V configuration diesel (or K60 multifuel) may be get around this problem if there is sufficient width.

I think Grasshopper (Vince) and Too Tall Mike, paid a visit to collect some spares at least. They've been rather amiss in not recounting their exploits on here!

These Autocars were commonly available and cheap until some well known rich chap from down South widely publicised his desire and search for one. Values subsequently rocketed over night! Rumours that said chap had one in his barn all the time, and is only waiting for values to reach a peak before moving it on, are yet to be confirmed.

Seems as though the pace of war time developments over took it. The original idea for a low profile seems good, less of a target than the more successful Sherman. f there hadn't been the huge acceleration in armour thickness and gun power of the axis tanks it may have made it.

I would imagine the much talked about Autocars are the same? Are you listening Jack?

Phew! Glad to know it's not exactly faulty then. May try and add a second heavier brake pedal return spring in that comes in half way down see if it gives a better feel.

Having spent many weeks fettling my Ward La France brakes I am disappointed and shocked that the brake pedal travels to the floor! Strangely the brakes work fine. The air moves, works the brakes and stop the truck in the first half inch of pedal travel, but there is nothing to stop the pedal being pressed further down. I have heard that these early air brakes lacked any feel but the huge pedal travel doesn't instill any confidence. I am currently running without the pedal return spring, as I don't have one, (using a bungy cord at moment to stop pedal falling to floor and applying brakes itself) but this can't be all that is relied on for pedal feel surely?

I assume the oil soaking into the seal causes it swell slightly and tighten it's grip on the running face, hence improving the seal. Something that doesn't happen with modern neoperene types.

Seem to be quite common. Surpised Jack is having so much trouble finding one

Both look in very good condition. Are you aiming to get both restored and up and running? Hadn't realised how much taller they were than the Ward La France until the bottom pic. Looks to be a lot more room under the bonnet for engine changes. What Diesel is fitted to the converted one?

Just been doing a boring job in the garage, wire wheeling WLF wheel nuts. Got to thinking about maintenance during war time. Having read the Ward La France TM manual the list of regular maintenance operations is quite extensive. If the vehicle was maintained to those standards it would be in superb condition. Obviously 65 years, several owners and being stood around a long time means things aren't as good as they could be but what's the general opionion on maintenance and vehicle care during war time? I know most vehicles will have suffered similarly to mine since and require extensive restoration but I'm interested in the time during service. Where they really treated by the users as if they're life depended on them? Remembering many soldiers during the war were called up rather than volunteers. I have a feeling things must have varied, vehicles must have missed out on regular checks whilst on the front line and potentially under fire, were as those on the rear echelons could easily get the full treatment. I suppose some vehicles were more likely to be in former sitution than others. Has anyone had experience of vehicles directly released from war sevice or had stories re-counted by ex-servicemen as to the level of care and maintenance that actually went on?

Looks very tidy. Would be better in green though especially seeing as it's got the bare galv cappings.

I spy a proper blast pot next to the job there. Sure you've not been cheating? Or has somebody just placed it there to tease you whilst you vibrate away on the end of a needlegun?

I bought a cheap dremel copy from Aldi a few years back. Not used ut a lot but when I have it's been invaluable. Mainly used the minature grinding disc were you can't get a full size grinder in on nuts and bolts etc. Seem to remember it cost about £15 and came with a long flexy shaft.

I've always oiled my leaf springs. Dating to back to my times of trialing, gives better axle articulation and hence traction, can sometimes be the difference between clearing a section. Having been around a few vintage car shows I've observed many leaf sprung cars with the leaves wrapped in leather. Presumably to contain the grease or oil lubricants. Anyone ever tried it? I imagine more of a problem with off-road vehicles as it will hold grit and accelerate wear in the leaves. I wasn't aware that the later lightweights went to `ordinary' halfshafts, always assumed it was a later bodge. Certainly one of the lightweights character indentifiers for me is the flat ends.

I think the main thing with light weights is to make sure you get a good one to start with . Some parts have now become quite expensive. Bulkhead top rail springs to mind. Not too bad a job to change and used to be around £120. Now upwards of £400 :shocked: Alot of parts seem to get replaced with cheaper and incorrect civilian spec. Lights spring to mind. Head lights can be quite expensive to get the correct military type. Also a full set of side and indicator military screw types add up. Half shafts are another. The correct flat ended type on a light weight are harder and more expensive to come by so often get replaced with civvy spec with seperate drive flange and greater projection. Rear crossmember is another area. Prone to corrosion and often lazily replaced with a civvy shaped one instead of the straight military type. Also in the corrosion department are footwells. Different than on normal models as they show outside the land rover and form the outer skin of the door pillar.

If anything the lightweight is smoother off-road than a standard short wheelbase by virtue of less leaves in the springs and less inter-leaf friction. I think the main reason for less leaves was weight reduction but also helps in the comfort department, as long as they haven't been flattened by overloading. One improvement may be to fit the more modern type parabolic springs. Again even less inter-leaf friction and smoother ride. Not too sure about the quality of some though.

Thanks for that! There must have been a few more down there? Seem to recall about 20+ Explorers in total last year. Not all in military guise though.

The Land Rover! Arrived two years too late and even then it was only a slight improvement on the American jeep.

Looks like the castings will not be cheap either. Guessing there's a fair weight of bronze involved. Have you any idea of the total weight? Have you a source of old castings to recycle or are you having to purchase new material?

Ohh No! Another one that makes all the rest of us (or at least me) look like messers!