brown cow

I'm new to the forum, and amazed at the time and effort put in to your scout car (probably loads of cash as well). Anyway regarding your transfer case question according to a Heavy Utility parts list the gears are the same as your Scout Car. The HU list has a different layout illustration and even give the gears a different description, but same part number. Those gears are really shot! best wishes Andrew

Thanks for the reply Richard. I wonder if Henleys have any archive type paperwork or photos. (BTW sorry I haven't done those MCC C8AT snaps yet) Andrew

Just started reading about Morris driving position. I had a WOT2 in the 1980.s with the same sports car seating and plenty of padding. The fun part was driving on a 40 degC with your feet about 2 inches from the engine in a semi enclosed box. My mate and I were travelling to a distant country rally on a day such as this and I ended up pulling the throttle knob out and sat on the back of the seat (not recommended for city driving!) The WOT2 had a great braking system with the hand brake connected to the foot rods. When you can't apply any more foot force (after being cut off by some idiot) just heave on the handbrake, it was about 2'6" long, like a power booster. The WOT2 was good for about 50mph on the open road. Morris' still look good though, especially that PU4! regards Andrew

AmphibAndy, That's a pretty low act regarding your radiator. I wish I was able to help. It would be a small fortune to get one built from scratch, I had mine re-cored and it cost me A$1400! I just closed my eyes and handed over the credit card. They're probably almost in the truck class. When we were taking my bodywork apart (those bit that were still together) we found holes redrilled, bits of fibreboard used as packing, a couple of notches where there was nothing attached etc. When I took the tailgate apart I made an interesting discovery, a bit of a time capsule. My Humber was rebuilt in May 1955 by MTRS no.B269 according to the rebuild plate (screwed onto the kickboard inside LH front door) and the blokes doing the job had put their names inside the sheetmetal. There was a repair on the tailgate. Done by Payne & Flook ? at Henleys (pictures attached) I wonder if Henleys (where ever they were) still exists along with the workers. good luck with your projects. Andrew

Hi Jules your Personnel looks great as well. You may be slightly more advanced as I'm labouring through a minefield of woodwork. I had a retired chippy do most of my woodwork some years ago and it looked great but I'm having "fun" getting it all to line up the way I would like. Mind you I would never have got as far myself. I just have to think of the finished product! I reproduced the pieces above and around the windscreens, the main piece is unbelievably complicated, nothing parallel, tapered in two planes, it took me ages with only portable tools. And then making sure it all fits. Screens that open, door frames with odd angles and curves. If only it looked as straight forward as your personnel cab! Here's a couple of photos, when I 1st got the Humber, and starting to line up timberwork. Maybe this will inspire AmphibAndy! regards Andrew

Hi Richard, I am assuming the LRC came here when fairly new as the mechanical internals are still in really good condition. I purchased it from John Belfield about 15 years ago when he was just starting to sell stuff. He got it at a clearing sale of an MV collector in NSW who I have known for a long time. I saw this fellow after my purchase and he presented me with some paperwork dating back to 1972. Another previous owner had written to Chrysler for info on parts (assuming it to be a Heavy ute) .A reply came back from E.M. Lea-Major who also sent a drivers handbook which I also have. The upshot of this is that the LRC lost it's body probably long before as the chassis had remains attached to a rudimentary bonnet (shaped like a bedford MW) but with original dash with the contract plate still attached. There were also vertical pipes at 2 corners for pushing objects presumably. Phew! I wonder on occasion whether a repro hull would be worth the effort. I want to contact The Tank Museum to ask whether they have any info (chassis & engine no.s 8461025, chassis contract no. S1993) Full floating axle, big brakes etc. Photos are pre digital! As you can see it's been outdoors for a while. regards Andrew

Richard, yes, you're partially correct it's an MCC product but a C8AT which had the rear body replaced with a crane at some stage. If that was a PU 4x4 I would have kept it, I wish! I actually had 2 at one stage but they were sold just before I tied the knot (the start of compromises!) I sold both along with 1 1/2 CS8's to a guy in NSW who has since passed away. I don't know what has happened to them. The one in the background came with a spare engine which had the next consecutive engine number! I'll have to scan some happy snaps before I can post them. Keep posted. By the way my back yard doesn't look as bushy as that now. Full of garage and other goodies. regards Andrew

Hi All, I have just joined the forum but have been following AmphibAndy's adventure for a while. What a job ahead! I've been slowly restoring a Heavy utility for some years now. There are a couple of shots of it in my introduction thread. I have a New Zealand friend residing in Oz who has one with practically no body, so look on the bright side! I was interested in the radio vehicle info, as mine has a transfer case with a rear output at the top. The shaft only protrudes about half an inch with a female thread. All the tin around the transfer case in intact but the gearbox cover has an extra slot cut in at the base as if for a small lever or something. The front end ended up like this as the main spring leaf was broken, boy that exposed some hidden rot! I have committed a sacrilege by putting the 12 inch brakes off my LRC Mk3a chassis. How could I ever go back. When I started cleaning brackets I didn't think it would look like this, and there were more! Maybe a group therapy session with some woodwork practice thrown in! regards, Andrew Browne

Hi all Thanks for the welcomes, I've had some practice with the photo attachments, but only the full size variety. The Ford ute is one of about 500 built, modified from sedans or coupes, with the full floor left intact (great for rust creation) The other 2 less respectable utes were bought for parts (10-15 years ago) and have had hard lives. There are 2 others that I know of both in Queensland. The ute has been partially restored but pushed aside for my dream machine, the Humber heavy utility. We used to dream of vehicles that had speed and comfort to cover our long distances. The Humber's owner had passed away and the son wasn't willing to part with it for a long time, but was talked into selling to save it. The Humber is getting the full treatment as everything I touch needs something doing to it. I'm about half way. cheers for now Andrew

Hi Jules i have just joined the forum, and want to give some input into the engine colour discussion. I bought a late 42 contract (S538) Humber box some years ago which needed the whole resto bit. It still has all the original bits and was overhauled in 1955 with a replacement engine painted that lovely duck egg blue. Unber the flaking paint the colour is dark green , same as the colour I have found everywhere whilst stripping the vehicle.The gear box, t/case and axles are the same green colour. I bought the remains of an LRC mk3a with all running gear and its all painted black (still matching engine & chassis numbers) so I am assuming that armd vehicles have those components painted black and soft skins have green. My dilemma is do I paint my engine in original colour or do I do the engine in duck egg blue (and theoretically have post war markings) Here in Australia nobody would probably know (or care!) I'll try and attach a couple of shots for what it's worth. the engine's from the HU, the original eng no. was roughly ground off and a friend said it may have been from a 4x2 snipe! (just to muddy the waters) The generator's from the LRC. regards Andrew

Thanks for the welcome Snapper we don't see many dancing girls around here, only kangaroos! I'm typing this at 3am (insomniac?) as I can get some peace and quiet. thanks Andrew

Hello all, I've been surfing the site for a while and it's to try and contribute. Like many suckers I started off with jeeps (still got a GPW) and progressed to other interesting, and in Australia, more exotic stuff. I restored a Ford WOT2D in the 1980's, had a couple of unrestored Morris C8AT's (they went just before the wedding vows) but I still have a part restored 1941 Ford 12cwt ute (Aust) progress which stopped when I got a Humber heavy utility, currently under slooooowww restoration, which apparently came here in the 1960's with an immigrant. When I work out how to attach photos, I'll post them (soon?) regards Andrew Browne