Humber FV1600 - ARN 105-819 - Restoration moves forward.

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Dave, I have never seen the steps or grab handles before, so assume it was a mod by the owner.
Not much good for you or me, we would get hung up on them in the bush at Humber Camp 2015.
Rich.

[Dave Mills]

Have been rather quite lately but managed to have the cab and assorted panel work dipped in a nice paint removal tank, rust killed and a protective clear coating applied. Rather expensive but well worth it, if only for the peace of mind that the rust is dead and this includes the hidden rust. It will certainly allow for a better and more thorough restoration.

Cheers,

Dave.

[warren brown]

Sensational. Wow...

[Dave Mills]

Thanks Warren, I am certainly happy with the job at least I can now locate all rust. Now for the body filler, undercoat and top coats.

[Dave Mills]

Learning fast about the application and use of POR 15 paint. Some recent shots of preperation work.

#1 - Rear drive axles overhauled and ready for reassembly.
#2 - Rear brake backing plates completed, Shoes away being relined
#3 - Chassis rail POR'd and waiting for reassembly
#4 - Rear Diff and Transfer Case assembly, waiting on shaft seals.
#5 - Outer rear Tracta Joint showing wear from misalingment.

Have had to replace at least 60% of the mechanical parts due to poor maintenance and repair. Thankfully the donor vehicle supplied all the parts i required. Best $400 i have spent.

In town we are lucky to have a Steam preservation group and they still run their machine shop. Had all new steam quality brass bushes made for the drive axles, installed, reamed and honed to suit for an amazing donation of $150. Nothing like having retired tradesmen doing this kind of work 5 minutes from home.

Next stage is to gather the remainder of the parts required and then reassemble the rear end. Finally starting the uphill climb to completion, at least for one section of the vehicle.

The cab is currently getting the rust cut out and repaired and stored off site as NO room left in the yard.

Cheers,

Dave.

[fv1620]

Coming on nicely, your efforts are greatly admired. That's quite a bit of wear on the Tracta, are you planning on doing anything about that?

Incidentally I was looking in EMER WV N253 June 1954 & the bearings are packed with grease of course & on assembly the hub is filled oil as one would expect.

Put an amendment in June 1956 states:
Delete "fill with oil"
Insert "pack with grease LG-280"

Yet all Servicing Schedules up to the final one in 1976 ignore that & still require topping up with oil OEP220.

Did the Australian Army run off EMERs for the Commers or did they produce their own angle on things in the form of EMEIs I wonder?

The Commer handbook I have refers to oil top-ups as well.

Many Pigs in N.Ireland were fitted with lubrication nipples on the hubs to facilitate speedy top-ups. Unfortunately some owners interpret this as an invitation inject grease into the hub rather than oil.

[Dave Mills]

The Tracta Joints are scrap value only. Management to retrieve near new joints from the donor vehicle. Very lucky indeed.

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Dave Mills

Have had to replace at least 60% of the mechanical parts due to poor maintenance and repair. Thankfully the donor vehicle supplied all the parts i required. Best $400 i have spent.

Glad to hear it Dave, we didn't get to save much out of that yard so it's good to know the Humber was worth recovering. Like most vehicles there it appears to have been in excellent condition before being parked out in rainy Gippsland for decades. Heartbreaking stuff really.

Snapshot 3.jpg

[Dave Mills]

Yes Tony, and I am very grateful for your efforts in saving this vehicle for me from the scrapper, a great job indeed and of course to Euan for recovering it and transporting it to Seymour.

Having a donor vehicle certainly helps with any restoration, a shame to dismantle one to make one but this is how it must be in this day and age and we must make decisions which go against our conscious.

Keeping in mind that 130 only had been purchased by the Aust Govt, they are rare vehicles over here in the land of Aust and in fact world wide as many had been converted to the PIG in the UK, hence the time, money and effort to restore this vehicle is well spent and invested.

Dave.