MICHAEL01 Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 My father took me to my first military show when l was 16, a year down the line l bought my first jeep and have since rebuilt it, l have caught the bug for military vehicles, and was in need of a new project, I got the biggest buzz when l saw Jason jefferies Diamond T with the sherman on the back. I new from then on my next project was a Diamond t, l kept my eyes out for a wrecker as its not quite so big as the 980 and plus l was told its to big for the Drive. Cut along story short we took a trip up to David crouches Yard to look at the FV 432s that he had recently bought, I asked him if he new of anyone selling a diamond t wrecker, we followed him into his big sheds and their in front of me was ww2 wreckers every where. A Deal was struck and my bankrupcy and problems began! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MICHAEL01 Posted October 28, 2012 Author Share Posted October 28, 2012 l was determined before dismantling the Diamond t to do one show with it, l was told by David that my Diamond t had done nothing except sit there for at least 30 years and perhaps had the engine started once a year. when buying it, l could only see the good points and its not untill on futher examination you see the rust. Anyway l managed to get it running half decently and so we descided to do a trip to buckfasleigh show. A few issues arised, l had a major knock in the engine and the lift pump was on its way out. we managed to nurse it there and back and that was the final dissecion! Strippdown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niels v Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 That looks alot like an ex Danish Diamond but nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MICHAEL01 Posted October 28, 2012 Author Share Posted October 28, 2012 Its Amazing how a coat of paint can hide a multitude of sins, Im lucky enough that the family buisness is Blast cleaning and after a blast and coat of red oxide you really can see the state of the metal work, the cab for me was where most of the work was. The floor was completely rotton along with 2 inches all the way round on the walls. Plate welded on plate with tons of filler! The back body was not too bad as only the box sections on it where rotten! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MICHAEL01 Posted October 28, 2012 Author Share Posted October 28, 2012 That looks alot like an ex Danish Diamond but nice I have found a canvas book tucked up under the dash, this has given me it service history since the sixties but your correct its all in Danish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niels v Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 Nice find... that is actually quit rare with to have on danish vehicles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MICHAEL01 Posted October 29, 2012 Author Share Posted October 29, 2012 I nearly came a cropper when it came to lifting the main wrecking gear, l left the wrecking arms on free floating on a slight incline, and there are 6 major bolts which hold the rear winch frame to the chasis, l let go 4 of them but didnt leave two in diagonaly, l left 2 which where opposite each other, as l climbed on the truck between cab and frame, the arms started to come round and the whole winch frame started crushing me, luckily dad managed to get a rachet strap on and pull it back enough to free me. l Had serious brown trousers and didnt want to play anymore that day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MICHAEL01 Posted October 30, 2012 Author Share Posted October 30, 2012 Hi all, we decided to get the diamond t down to the yard for engine out, gear box out and tranfercase out, we had a few funny looks when the landrover was towing it threw our village on a solid bar.( Cant understand it myself!) Over one weekend l manage to make an engine craddle up and get it up to home. It was no easy task trying to lift this sized engine of our garage roof out of the trailer, l had borrow a couple of reinforcing beams for some extra support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MICHAEL01 Posted November 4, 2012 Author Share Posted November 4, 2012 Hi all, while waiting for some engine parts Problems being the bottom end bearings,(apparently when speaking to japp reitveild the danish army added an addative to the oils to prevent the oils freezing in cold climates, this left over long periods of time makes the oil aciddy and starts breaking down white metal bearings, giving it metal fatigue, this was a new one on me). But hey hoo! So Dad and l started work on the chasis removing all ancillarys. There seemed to be quite a bit of pipe work for the air brakes, so we purchased some tags and took several hundred photos to refer to at a later date when putting back in. l had some free time one night and wanted to have a look in a brake chamber, l have seen other threads on this matter and some of the sore sights of the rubbers perishing. upon examination on a rear chamber l was very suprised for the fact it wasnt a rusty mess, As for the rubbers they are in reasonable condition, but knowing that this is what gives you brake, l will throw them away and start with fresh new ones. Next stage will be to get the chasis blasted and painted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 (edited) ...Upon examination on a rear chamber l was very suprised for the fact it wasnt a rusty mess, As for the rubbers they are in reasonable condition, but knowing that this is what gives you brake, l will throw them away and start with fresh new ones. There's fresh - and there's fresh! Some NOS diaphragms I've seen are ok, but some have become very hard with long shelf life, and I would expect their working life to be compromised as a result. New new ones are still available from USA through distributors of BENDIX brake gear. Edited November 4, 2012 by N.O.S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MICHAEL01 Posted December 6, 2012 Author Share Posted December 6, 2012 Once again, Landrover was used to tow the Diamond down to the Yard, all went well without any hitchs. It took me a day or so to do a bit of prep work and masking around sensitive areas that needed protecting. l was lucky that last year on my 2 week christmas Break the weather stayed nice and Dry so that made life a bit easyier for painting. As for putting paint systems on there was only one way l wanted to go. a full 2pack Marine paint system and stripe coating before hand. l know this system works as alot of my work is for Mod Pontoons and seeing them coming out of the water after 8-10 years and still being in good shape, Give me confidence in knowing that it will last. Mind you when it came to buying it, l sacrifice 2 arms and 2 legs.(It wasnt cheap!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boblester40 Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 Fantastic chassis job there, kinda helps having all the gear , well done look foward to seeing more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadow_wolf Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 Its looking great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MICHAEL01 Posted December 19, 2012 Author Share Posted December 19, 2012 Thanks Guys for the comments! heres a bit of an update, Got my bits from America and engine is back together run up, painted and put back into the chasis, when putting new shells in, the manual talks about using a 3thou shim and placing between crank face and bearing to get the correct clearances right. l have to say l didnt like that idea as im not mothadicle enough so with talking to a couple of machanic mates a purchase was made for a product called plastigauge, Brilliant stuff! And so easy to use. When the engine was back together l used nitromous on it for 2 days and gave it a good scrub with some engine degreaser before pressure cleaning( what a messy job, blasting is much quicker but its how far the media gets into the internals of the engine.) After a good painting session, we assembled it and rigged it on the stand for startup, all went very well, except a oil filter lid seal leaked and we had a good mess on the floor!( my father was not best pleased!) with the engine running well for well over an hour l was happy that we could place it back into the chasis, l did call a favour in as a mate has a good hiab on his lorry plus it didnt take much pursuading when l told him what it was for. With the correct engine rubber mounts and a bit of jiggling all Four bolts dropped in without a hitch. Wish we did this before when we did the halftrack![ATTACH=CONFIG]70515[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]70516[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]70517[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]70518[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]70519[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]70511[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]70512[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]70514[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]70513[/ATTACH] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shane.c Posted December 22, 2012 Share Posted December 22, 2012 Just read the thread, looking good keep us updated with pics and info, :cool2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MICHAEL01 Posted December 30, 2012 Author Share Posted December 30, 2012 Renewed images as last lot didnt come out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scammell4199 Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 Looks great. What does the plunger looking thing next to the main gearbox do? Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
42 chevy Posted December 30, 2012 Share Posted December 30, 2012 That is the series parallel switch. It "joins" both 6 volt batteries to give you 12 volts to start by putting them in series and after starting it goes back to parallel. You place the heel of your foot on the switch and push down to start. John G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MICHAEL01 Posted March 17, 2013 Author Share Posted March 17, 2013 Been a while since l last posted but weather hasn't been to great for us in Devon, so basically my planned changed and instead of restoring as going along I have been restoring parts and getting them into kit form so when we do get a nice day, its a bolt on exercise. My Biggest headache so far has been the cab, l can weld to a degree and do a good job, but the cab is beyond me and as I mentioned before the floor and up to 2 inches most of the way round is completely rotten. So this part of the restoration l had a mate who is a panel beater help me. Definitely Blasted clean steel helps for a nice weld and with some grinding and a thin smear of filler just around the welds we saved the cab. Even managed to find the cab number stamped on front pillar post passenger side. l've uploaded a few pics, I'll try and get the rest of my mates camera and how we made the floor sections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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