TooTallMike Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 Forum member Adrian Scott has recently acquired a Ward LaFrance which has been on the rally scene in the Middlesborough area for many years. It is now undergoing some major repairs to the bodywork and running gear. The cab was found to be badly rotted: the floor will need to be replaced and the side panels repaired. The front wings are badly rusted where they join the chassis, and the radiator and its frame are both compromised. It is now looking like a candidate for a performance upgrade, but more of that anon. The front axle has already been rebuilt with new driveshaft seals, swivel seals, hub seals, brake linings etc. For now here are some photos of the truck showing how it currently stands. - MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supertrack Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 The cab is poor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 The cab is poor The French are......so polite! :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supertrack Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 yes exactly ! Nos :angel: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooTallMike Posted January 14, 2011 Author Share Posted January 14, 2011 The cab was found to have been a modifed GMC one as so many are. The floor had been patched extensively in all the normal rust spots, as had the side panels. I am pleased to report that this morning I saw the freshly repaired side panels and was very impressed. Once the floor and back panels are repaired to the same standard it should be a pleasure to bolt back together again. - MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooTallMike Posted January 17, 2011 Author Share Posted January 17, 2011 The engine has been stripped of unwanted ancillaries and the flywheel housing has been changed for SAE3. Flywheel is ordered and engine has been steam cleaned. Next job is to reverse the sump, modify the pick-up pipe and cut out a section to clear the chassis cross-tube. - MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Scott Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Just thought i would post 3 pictures of the Ward as i brought it and before Mike started to take it to bits !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owl Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 i rember the vehical from events around north yorks and was still grafting . the owner was living in a caravan i think the ward lafrance must have gold hiden on it at the price he was asking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooTallMike Posted January 19, 2011 Author Share Posted January 19, 2011 The truck was based in the Middlesborough area before coming down South. No comment on the previous asking price but there was a story behind it :-X. Yesterday the engine was removed and the front half of the chassis was steam cleaned in preparation for painting. Also, the Cummins sump was removed and the pick-up pipe extended to permit the sump to be reversed. This evening the sump will be notched to clear the chassis tube. Before: After: - MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gritineye Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Gosh that pickup pipe is so easy to do compared to an L10, which has the tube welded into the sump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooTallMike Posted January 19, 2011 Author Share Posted January 19, 2011 I did wonder why Youngun was making such a fuss about it as that whole job only took around an hour, including soldering! - MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Scott Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Unfortunately in stripping down the W L F we have not found any hidden gold bars as yet !!!! , i brought the truck from a good friend of mine and we had it on hire on a film set for a couple of months over the summer so its turned out to be a pretty good buy after the hire , have to say that the restorations have developed a bit more than planned but the finished truck should be good when finished . The picture below is the truck on set ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooTallMike Posted March 10, 2011 Author Share Posted March 10, 2011 We've been very busy in the last few weeks on the truck: the front half of the chassis is now in OD; the front air brake cylinders have been rebuilt; the correct mechanical handbrake has been installed (thanks Tony NOS :thumbsup: ); the front axle interlock has been installed, the front prop has new UJs; the cab has been extensively repaired; the steering box mount has been replaced with a properly fabricated item; the Cummins has been prepared, mated to gearbox and now sits in position in the chassis. First job next time is to fabricate engine mounts. In the mean time Adrian went to Army Cars a couple of weeks ago and came back with a vehicle set of torque rods, vehicle set of UJs, replacement gearbox to Xfer box propshaft, front air cyl overhaul kits, rear springs, rear brake chambers and more. - MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markheliops Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Nice to see things moving along chaps. Did you opt for the Cummins conversion in the end? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 Yes, some serious work you're doing there, looking good. Are you going to keep the power steering set-up? Glad the parts have been put to good use. Maybe I should have had some parts off Adrian's motor to get my spares truck going instead of the other way around, but I think overall the best truck won! :D:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz76 Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 That's progressing very nicely. Thanks for posting the photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Scott Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 I have just managed to source 2 original (i hope !! ) work/spot lights that go on the top of the crane mount from a mate , im trying to make the Ward as original as possible other than the cummins diesel conversion . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supertrack Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Nice orginal lamp ! :cool2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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