T16 restoration starts in earnest

[eddy8men]

very nice restoration and thanks for all the detailed pics and descriptions they will be an enormous help to me when i start my t16 resto. cheers

rick

[andrew honychurch]

thanks Rick, its been fun doing it, although I have not finished yet! The last bits are taking the longest, and some of the fabrication is costing too much. I am having a rear box made and the internal large one on the drivers side, also new front side fenders. I have left these expensive items until last and now the pain!

I have had tremendous help from this forum, and in particular from David Gordon who has backed me up with hundreds of e mails and detailed drawings and information. He really should get a medal for his efforts and knowledge of the T16.

The forum has been a huge help and source of encouragement. Having restored many MVs over the years, this is the first vehicle that I have kept an internet log of and its been great fun and real stimulus to keep the momentum up.

Anyway, I will try to post up the photos of the finished article before it gets covered with the enivatable foot marks and mud!

[andrew honychurch]

I thought I was way past posting some update photos so here are some. I still have lots of bits and pieces to do, and a final blow over of paint, but she went on her first tarmac road trip today. Did about 4 miles without too much to worry about, although I did experience a bit of fuel starvation. I switched it onto the other tank and off we went again. Lost a spark plug as well as the cap was loose but soon fixed that. I was slightly surprised just how fast it was, and found myself having to ease off all the time. Steers very nicely and smoothly on the tarmac. Having done the 4 miles today, I am now thinking that 22 miles to War and Peace is a long way!!!!! Hope you like the photos.

[horsa]

Updated shots look great and it appears the front fender skirts came out nicer than you'd led on. Good job

I didn't know your carrier had one of the handles welded on in front of the driver spot where the face crash pad is located. I've seen this on a handful of T-16s but hadn't been able to determine if it was a British add-on or a modification done by the Swiss. Since yours never saw Swiss service, it would seem it has to be a British feature. My carrier (Swiss return) and the one we found in the UK within 100 serial numbers of mine that never saw Swiss service don't have the handle.

[Ron Pier]

Nice one Andrew. Probably you're not bothered but a simple letter to DVLA could get rid of the V plate. I just did it with an A plate (1963) on my latest Enfield, which was first registered in 42. Although mine did show the date of first registration in the V5, otherwise a dating letter might be required from MVT. It's clearly not an 80's vehicle....or whenever that V relates to. Ron

[andrew honychurch]

Originally Posted by horsa

Updated shots look great and it appears the front fender skirts came out nicer than you'd led on. Good job

I didn't know your carrier had one of the handles welded on in front of the driver spot where the face crash pad is located. I've seen this on a handful of T-16s but hadn't been able to determine if it was a British add-on or a modification done by the Swiss. Since yours never saw Swiss service, it would seem it has to be a British feature. My carrier (Swiss return) and the one we found in the UK within 100 serial numbers of mine that never saw Swiss service don't have the handle.

Thanks David, yes the front fenders looked a lot better once they were painted and the problems I had seemed to diminsh once fitted. Interesting about that handle, I had not realised that they were not fitted by the factory as standard. I think, that it is there to encourage the driver to take his hands off the sticks.

Talking of steering, I still have an issue that I am not sure the oil is circulating through the rear axle oil cooler. Its all plumbed in ok, but the feed pipes that drop oil onto the brake bands dont seem to have had any oil in them. The oil cooler is getting warm, but the rear axle is very hot after my run. I know there is a thermostat in the cooler, but dont know whether this stops ALL flow if it is stuck shut. Any one have any experience of this? I dont want to have to disturb it really as its a hell of a job getting the oil cooler out now!

Thanks Ron, glad you like it. I think you may well be right on the registration as it was not registered as HISTORIC and so I had to go to the local DVLA office to get them to tax it for zero. They took the registration documents away and said that they will ammend it. My guess is they may send me a new registratoin mark. Hope not as I just made my plates up! It was first registered out of Pounds in 1980, so you are right with your date guess.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Looking excellent, Andrew!

Hanno

[horsa]

You could open the lines at the exit side of the rear end's oil cooler and then rig something up to catch the fluid as is pumps out during a short test run. That would tell you if it is actually circulating via the pump or not. That would be fairly accessible. Other option would be the line outside where the oil is pumped back into the rear end. That would probably actually be better since it would confirm if the entire loop is clear and that the pump is moving fluid.