LarryH57

How strange to see your brake light switch fitted to the brake pedal on your 24v Series LR. My 12v Lwt has this switch under the bonnet behind the brake servo. I thought all Series 3s were the same in this respect!

What scale are you building this in 1 to 1 scale or perhaps 1/35 scale? If you are building one without guns is it this version? http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m550/JimWarford5/SU-122-54_BMR_5.jpg

I'd been interested in any updates too, as would many other members? How is the project progressing?

Regarding the Hillman Tilly, the fuel pump is actually OK and in good working order. The problem is with the push rod bar that's driven from the engine cam shaft, in that it appears to be worn down at each end so that when the engine is turned over there is not enough of a push on the push rod for it to move the rocker arm on the fuel pump sufficiently to pick up fuel. This problem is apparently typical for Hillman Tillies. A replacement part was sought from a firm called Speedy Spares IIRC but one has not been found as yet. Presumably the push rod which can be pulled out of the engine block (and replaced the same way) is made of hardened steel so could be made up quite easily but does anyone know the correct length, as at the moment we are guessing ours needs 1mm added each end.

I may be stupid but I have often wondered how members bench test the engines they have bought or restored that have been removed from the vehicle. Presumably once reassembled they connect up a battery and perhaps stick a fuel line in a jerry can etc but what else is involved. Do you need to build a steel frame to hold the engine in place?

Well if being older(er) is of benefit when it comes to the cost of insuring MVs, then the opposite is true for younger members. Something therefore needs to be done to help out the under 25s as I doubt that age has anything to do with the likelihood of an accident involving an MV.

Many thanks for your replies; the bubble is about 1/4th inch already but if it has no bearing on the accuracy then that's OK by me.

So presumably it was a Military vehicle at some point in time, before being used by the Fire Service? It would be interesting to know if it has a GS body or a house type, and hopefully it can be tastefully restored back to an MV before its nabbed by our 'greatest rivals' (those who like restoring ex-MV's as Fire Service vehicles, and who probably own red Dodge Weapons Carriers, just to spite us!!!!)

I bought my son a compass off the web and it has a bubble in it. The seller says it is normal as it is designed to show the user when he is holding it level, however it already has a separate spirit level next to the dial for this very purpose. Is the wool being pulled over my eyes? I can't say I remember such a bubble being in the compass when I was doing map reading in the Army? Also its strange that none of the photos of the item show the bubble, neither does the photo on the box.

Sorry to digress, but its seems every home in 1960-70s had a carpet like that!

Was there not something from the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs recently that said they had some funding or backing to allow a few firms to take on apprentices for the very reason that (dare I say it) many of the experienced restorers are getting old. I've read on several occasions that MV owners have taken something along to guys in their 80's who are still expert at sheet metal work and fabricating parts.

Richard, in 1970s I didn't go to MVCG meetings only events, as I was heavily in to the TA in those days. I did go on the 35th Anniversary Normandy Tour in 1979, and wrote an article for Windscreen a few issues ago. Anyway its encouraging the responses from the younger MV owners, so keep up the good work.

I'm one of the old ones! I joined the MVCG in 1978!

It's just occurred to me that I'm preaching to the converted, as the people to which I refer are not online! Apparently there was a lot of resistance from older members to the idea of having Windscreen put out on the web and getting rid of the Greensheet for Sales & Wants, as for many members that's there only communication with the 'club scene' as they don't go to meetings either. The Greensheet will now be in the mag that's to be published six times a year.

Interesting comments; I appreciate that D-Day 70th in Normandy and similar events can bring the family out in support but this often happens when 'dad' says he's going in his MV and the rest of the family come along for the ride, which may give weight to the idea that loads of youngsters are involved. For every club member that dies sadly there are not plenty more to take their place. Some MVT Areas are down to seven members and others consist of owners who are getting to the stage where they rarely get their MVs out on the road. I expect its similar in IMPS. Now without club members, you won't have people to run these clubs, and our voice will be lost with the powers that be!

I was thinking the other evening that if MV owners and members of the MVT and IMPS with grey hair were excluded, how many people would be left to carry on these clubs? It seems the average age is well over 50. Something needs to be done to encourage younger members.

I might just stick with the Clive Elliot method, and paint it again like a squaddie. Do people wash their MVs before painting?:-D

Amazing response - many thanks to you all, and yes I only have the Lwt for the moment. The idea originally was to get rid of the areas of paint were the 7 or more layers has chipped leaving a crater.

I bought an Angle Grinder and Grit Flap Discs to remove paint on my MV in order to take off a few coats of paint before repainting, as I prefer to do this rather than use paint stripper. As I'll be wearing coveralls, gloves, eye protection and a mask, I'm wondering if it is in order to remove the guard on the Grinder, so that all of the disc can be in contact with the paint rather than just half. I appreciate that a guard is needed for more serious work such as cutting with a grindstone, but would it matter to remove the guard with a Grit Flap Disc?

Out of interest what's involved with converting a vehicle from 6 volt to 12 volt and why bother? Presumably 12v gives better starting and lights. Is the job complicated or is there an easy way?

Just a thought - I had similar symptoms with my Lwt LR which was fitted with a new carb. Apart from a small piece of swarf in the needle valve, which was easy to spot, I later found that the O ring (of inferior manufacture) between the upper and lower halves of the carb expanded when in contact with fuel, which caused internal flooding. This was not apparent from a visual inspection, and the last thing I expected on a new carb. Just to complicate my problem I also had a float that broke and had a new one fitted that despite being the 'correct part for a Zenith' was in fact too big and it rubbed against the inside of the carb. So check the carb refurb parts and their fit.

One was on Milweb not so long ago for £45,000 which I thought was a bit much. So how much for this one?

For me the very original 115 KGC Ambulance is the most interesting, especially as the owner said to me that he had evidence it was actually used in Italy during WW2.

Did you win in the end?

Did this vehicle get saved or shipped for scrap?