Humber FV1600

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

As discussed earlier, the exhaust manifold on the Humber is problematic, and after my re-re-re-welded "Y" cracked again I have replaced it with a set of extractors. Hardest part of the project was finding someone local willing to do the job, fortunatley there is a guy in Albury who has surpassed my expectations. With a new system to match, and the elctronic ignition ready to fit I am determined to have a Humber that is as close to affordable to run as possible!
Pics enclosed: before and after.
No changes where made to the truck itself, and all the removed parts have been kept for posterity.
Rich.

[hrpearce]

Looks good Rich it should breath a lot better now.

[lynx42]

Hi Rich,
I hope that your contact has kept a drawing set of the extractors. Whilst I don't need a set yet, who knows when they will come in handy.

Having done that, I guess your not considering a river crossing in the near future, so can I have your snorkel, please.
Regards Rick.

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Hi Rick,
Bad news, no plans, one off custom job, Good news the guy who did the extractors thought it was a good job to do, because there was plenty of room, so not as time hungry as a lot of his work.
(also due to the logistics of getting the truck to and fro, he had at the very least a week to do it. I supplied a manifold gasket which they had used as a template for the laser cut flanges, so all the parts were sitting on the bench before I took the truck in.)
I spoke to our local Mustang restorer (also fellow Jeep & Blitz owner) who put me onto the only guy in the area whom he trusts with this sort of work. Must be a guy down your way who would do similar work?
Snorkel remains firmly bolted in place, awaiting spring floods.......
Rich.

[FV1611A]

Originally Posted by Richard Coutts-Smith

As discussed earlier, the exhaust manifold on the Humber is problematic, and after my re-re-re-welded "Y" cracked again I have replaced it with a set of extractors. Hardest part of the project was finding someone local willing to do the job, fortunatley there is a guy in Albury who has surpassed my expectations. With a new system to match, and the elctronic ignition ready to fit I am determined to have a Humber that is as close to affordable to run as possible!
Pics enclosed: before and after.
No changes where made to the truck itself, and all the removed parts have been kept for posterity.
Rich.

That Manifold is a work of art even though it is not original.

On existing manifold scenario I believed that Brazing was the long term solution on castings as a weld cannot handle the heat in the same way and always cracks quickly afterwords.

Whilst your replacement looks resplendant a professional repair on the original manifold may come good in the future.

I guess due to nature of repair not a cheap solution, but your repair looks more like exhaust sculpture anyway

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

G'day Wayne.
The decision to go non standard was not an easy (or cheap!) one.
However, the exhaust system itself was a combination of differing sizes and originality, and needed replacing, it was not possible to get a NOS "Y", and even if I fabricated one myself it would not be out of cast iron. So , the "originality" became a moot point for me. Mind you it took three years to make the decision.
There are better products for repairing cast iron these days than brazing rods, however since the original repairs were done this way it really precludes using anything else, particulary with a shape like this where you can not remove all the contaminated material.
Cast can only be welded so many times, last attempt it was cooled over 18 hour period, cracked within the week.

I must say that the 30 km trip home after I picked the old girl up was a bit of a worry, cost me over half a tank of fuel, was down to about 4 cylinders and blowing smoke like you would not believe. Kidded myself that it was due to the change in dynamics caused by my lovely new system, but was having serious doubts when I finally Huffed & Puffed into the shed. Halfway through changing out the plugs I had a brain wave and looked at the carby. The workshop had started the truck using the cold start (which it never needs) and it had jammed full on at the carby, was looking me in the face all along.

Been sitting in the shed since, while fitting the electronic ignition from Jolley Engineering. Similar decision process to above. Finished last night, quite shocked to actually have it start. If you knew what you were doing, this would be about a half hour job, I managed to drag it out way longer than that. Start was very quick and easy, 90% less smoke billowing out at the rear end. Plugs are set with a huge gap, so the spark is very intense. Test drive showed a much more lively truck, does not stop dead soon as you back off. Looking forward to doing some miles in it in the next month or so and see how much improvement there really is.

Thanks to Clive for the extra info on fitting this system: http://www.hmvf.co.uk/pdf/IGNITIONMATTERS.pdf
it was most helpful indeed!
Rich.

[FV1611A]

Rich that is great news. I have heard a few tales on the forums regarding the cold start not being used or indeed sticking! I guess as they are little used they can seize up and become problematic....

I have a nice NOS cold start cable bought off that nice man in Salisbury of Humber fame and I suspect it will be a dash feature for correctness.

Of course when I fix mine up it may be one of those engines that needs a rich start??? Time will tell

[malcolm erik bogaert]

this is a message for Clive...I have been offered the ex RUC Pig thats located in Pompie which has back axel problems and which you have advised the chap on..would the axel from 1 ton g/s Humber fit..our friend Doug in Elgin can supply me with same or could I get away with just changing the diffs etc...your advise is most appreciated best regards malcolm

[fv1620]

Malcolm greetings. I have followed the history of this Pig in its various guises for the best part of 30 years. A few years ago it appeared on ebay painted grey displaying the registration 3071 EZ & claiming to be ex-RUC

This was not the registration of the vehicle. EZ was belonged to a Mk 1 Pig used by the RUC, it was unique in that it was a FV1611 unlike the other 9 RUC Pigs which were FV1609.

I think a previous owner thought that the flat barricade ram bore a resemblance to the one on his Mk 2 Pig & assumed its identity. I pointed this out to the then seller informing him of the actual civilian registration. As this agreed with his V5 he believed me, removed references to ex-RUC in the advert.

It passed through a number of sales subsequently, but no doubt still has the grey paint underneath that might give the impression that it had seen RUC service.

The RUC did have three Mk 2 Pigs in the mid-late 1970s but the one being offered is not one of those.

The transfer boxes are different.
Pig 1.41:1
GS 1.33:1

Axle ratio
Pig 5.71:1
GS 5.57:1

I am told the present difficulties are due to a damaged diff pinion wheel. I believe the pinion & crown wheel are the same for Pig & GS.

The rear joints on the GS will be Tracta whereas Pigs were originally fitted with Chobham joints. The Chobhams proved unreliable in their duties in NI as the retaining clips for the articulating pad were prone to failure.

In desperation some Pigs were fitted with GS Tracta joints & indeed some were actually re-manufactured for this role.

Subsequently the stronger Birfield joints were fitted. However they ran out of the special steel so there were 104 Mk 2 Pigs that were not fitted with Birfields. So without dismantling the joints there is no knowing whether a Mk 2 Pig was fitted with Birfield, Chobham, Tracta or a combination of any of these.

[malcolm erik bogaert]

aye Clive many thanks for the prompt reply and greetings from the frozen and windy north..yes I knew about the tracta joints from your article in the windscreen mag..however I thought I might get away with just swapping the complete axels over..I dont plan any long journeys..best regards malcolm

[fv1620]

Originally Posted by Richard Coutts-Smith

As discussed earlier, the exhaust manifold on the Humber is problematic

I think we should all be impressed by the work involved in making this from a block of metal. Roger in Essex said he had to use every tool in his workshop to re-create this.

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Impressive indeed Clive. I assume Roger (from Essex) has made a few extra for Christmas presents. I am sure he had many hours of fun working this one out, although I am afraid that only the rare Humber owner would truly appreciate it.

On similar note, we had an aero parts guy making bits for WWII aircraft restorations, he would machine a replacement part out of a billet of aircraft grade aluminium, but would include the moulding marks present on the original cast part. He had some terrific CNC gear, even greater attention to detail.
Rich.

[fv1620]

I thought you'd like that Rich, I didn't ask if there was a FV number on it somewhere. Usual story though I think once he made it, a genuine one turned up.

Welding up a Pig is one thing but this restoration is out my league. He re-manufactured the rear body which is superb. It is a nice NOS canvas I know as I sold it to him last year.

I have watched this Humber for many years. For much of that time it was fitted incorrectly with a FV1604 body. He re-manufactured the rear body which is superb. In fact about 15 years ago it was owned by an Australian chap (Andrew Kemp) who was going to drive back home. Clearly the Humber never made it but I assume Andrew did as I've not heard of him since then.

Yes I remember his answering machine went something like "G'day I can't take your call at the moment, I'm out the back feeding a dead dog to the kangaroo"

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Clive, what happens when he finish's finding things to do on the old girl? Take it he will not be sitting back and resting on his laurels? I would have thought a project like that would have kept him occupied for years to come.
Great job.
Rich.

[fv1620]

Rich I sold him 2 more Humbers last year. One is beyond it but the other is the FV1622 Missile Test Truck that awaits restoration.

That particular one 18 BK 91 is the one that appears in the books. That was the one I put on YouTube getting it through the narrow garage.

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Been talking to another Aussy Humber owner who has a query:

"I suspect the valve guide seals on the vehicle are in poor shape. The Rolls manual on these engines seems to indicate that these are relatively easy to replace without removing the head. Are they rubber seals or something else?"


I note that the seal is referred to as an "0il Seal" in the workshop manual, and "Packing" in the spare parts book, and is on the inlet valve only?


It does appear (Rolls "B" Series Manual) that you can remove the inlet valve spring in situ, with the right tools to stop the valve dropping, but the Champ and Humber manuals both mention the oil seal replacement only with the head off.

Any one been down this path?
Rich.