Restoration of Hull 731- Carrier, MG (Aust) Mortar Carrying

[Darrin Wright]

Finished welding up the cut out section next to the drivers area.
Mounting blocks have been made and arrived in the post.
Replaced all the mounting blocks for the front mudguards that required to be replaced.
Repaired the 2 seat bases for the front section, had to remove some additional metal and straighten them and weld up a cracked corner.
Now they are in the box of bits ready for the sand blaster come summer.

[Darrin Wright]

Sunday I worked on the engine cover, stripped it down and replaced all the welded in nuts that secure the top grill section and the lower rear covers. Removed the weapon mount post from the top grill as it was broken.
Straightened the rear section of the engine cover as it was bent.
Also straightened the area around where the side engine cover panels go, had to trim the side covers as something is not quite straight. Marked out where the top catches will be welded.
Took some pics of the camouflage paint pattern for when it gets re-painted. You can never have enough pictures, and when it goes back together and painted I will wonder why I did not take a pic of..... when it was all in pieces.
Removed the 4 knurled knobs that secure the lower covers, will get them remade as the threaded sections are partially rusted away and they are a little bent.
From an old salvaged part of a gear lever assembly that was laying around, I heated (carefully as it is brass) it up and removed the gear lever shaft from the front mount for the gear lever. This will be sandblasted and go back it later.

[Darrin Wright]

Removed the blocks welded to the LHF gunners floor section that hold down the Vickers ammo box tray and replaced them with new items. Cleaned up some threaded blocks with a tap, have managed to save and tidy up a few of them, so will not have to cut them off and replace them. Many of the blocks on the floor are rusted beyond use due to dirt and moisture build up.

Finished making and welding my V8 engine stand, welded in some rear legs and 2 vertical supports for the engine bell housing. I wanted it so that I can just have the engine sitting in the stand and also the gear box on it, so hopefully in the future I can run it up as a test bed.

To finish the engine stand required a floor crane, so I went and picked one up from the tool place. After doing some research found that they are all made in China to the same specs, depending on which company places an order will then depend on what colour it gets painted and the load rating on the boom. All cranes have a 8 tonne ram on them. Anyway, a very handy item to have as I will also lift the suspension with it when the time comes.
It's a red one too.

With the engine stand complete, I also pressure cleaned the engine and gear box and removed the mechanical PTO from the side of the box, something I do not need and will sell. It may suit a tipper, but fits any Ford/New Process gear box.

[Darrin Wright]

Picked up a NOS BGC radiator off EBay during the week.
This part has been hanging in a shed for 40 years as a spare for the Ford blitz that the old owner had on the farm. The blitz was sold off 10 years ago and the old owner died about a year ago, so the family are selling anything of value and tidying up.
The NOS radiator is painted Khaki green, never had water in it, the overflow tube and union is still to be bent to the right for the BGC overflow valve.
This is one item that I required.

[Darrin Wright]

Well there was no work done this weekend as we travelled to Bendigo for the Swap Meet.
Booked some bush cabins about 4 km from the site.
Got the family up at 0530hr so we could be there at 0600hr (early bird catches the worm???). With children we got there at 0610hr and commenced walking and catching up with some people we know.
Egg & bacon sandwiches for breakfast, excellent weather 18-20 deg C for the day. Very mild sun burn.

Bought some goodies for the BGC, like:
2 x NOS Ford dash gauges (amp and temp)
3 x Vickers ammo tins (I think I have about 3 BGC worth now, so probably should stop buying those)
another 2 gal POL tin, marked 1944 and Canadian
a Ford sidevalve V8 repair book 1937 to 1947 Ford, Mercury and Truck engines
Ford V8 valve spring lifting tool/bar
flash lube fuel additive
breakfast and lunch, followed by 2 rounds of ice creams for the children
and probably a few other minor things.

Things that I did not buy are in the pics.
Sea mines were $500ea, 3 there
bike in the back of the ute $18000
US jerry cans from $20 to $125 ea (from the shed to fully restored with pourer spout)
Ford sidevalve engines from $600
There was some Aust Military International truck items there,
Field cooker $100
turret bubble for an aircraft (not sure of the price but it sold)
various tank manuals (Churchill, M4A2,??)
RC controlled foam F18 & F15 jets and planes from china, battery powered. Me262 with 1.5m wingspan and a 1.2m long fuselarge for $299, Spitfire for $165 with 1m long fuselarge. They would have been a lot of fun, so is driving a BGC so did not buy them- might ask Santa...

[Darrin Wright]

The mortar rounds were there by the box load, boxes marked 81mm but the rounds were $150 each and looked a lot bigger- 4.2"??????
Hub caps $5ea
Lots of cars stuff and resto services and parts items to assist with a resto.

good weekend to get out and about

[Darrin Wright]

The weekend previous to the Bendigo swap was occupied with a local car club event. Decided to take the Jeep and trailer down for a motorkana/gymkana, where we drove around attempting different activities.
I let me eldest take the Jeep around the events and drive around in the paddock, he was hesitant at first but soon got the confidence up and by the end of the day could not get him out of the drivers seat.
He drives the Jeep around at home but he has to negotiate trees, dogs, house, workshop, dam; so it was quite safe for him in the paddock is 1st low range.

The post are out of order as I had to wait to get these pics. Anyway, enjoy....

No BGC was worked on during this report