VICKERS MK6B's resto

[colin jones]

Such a pain I just ran out of mig gas so I thought I'd start doing the sump.

[Lynn Eades]

Played your guitar lately Colin?

[Russ Gregg]

I am quite capable with a welder, mill and lathe, but I am still impressed as hell by this. I would have thought distortion while welding would have given you a fair bit of grief and you would have maybe been better machining a finished weldment but you have obviously planned your assembly and managed heat very well. Again, fantastic project.

[colin jones]

Hi Lynn, yes as a matter of fact, my band had a Pub gig last night.
Hi Russ, I had little to no distortion. I tacked everything in place first and kept my bearing plugs and rods in place the entire time. I also tack welded it down to a heavy plate to keep the top flat at the bottom ( the top of the trans was at the bottom and that is what I tacked) I used a series of clamps and did small sequence runs like tightening a head and let them cool naturally. I kept checking measurement as I went and also welded flat bar spacers where I thought it might warp and to my surprise it came out very good. The sump won't be a problem as it has now got some independent strength. The only part I need to be careful of now is welding the bearing housing in the centre as there will be a fair amount of heat go into it but I will have to again do short bursts. It's annoying doing that as I'm a bit impatient when I want to get something finished. After the sump is done I only have the side wing parts bolt holes and stud holes. All going to plan.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Colin......awesome work! I am enjoying this thread just as much as the threads on HMVF where the guys are restoring WW1 trucks.....making stuff from scratch, turning, milling, bending, brazing, welding....

Alex

[colin jones]

Thankyou Alex, I too am finding it very interesting and a great challenge.
The sump has almost been completed.

[colin jones]

I thought this part was going to be a lot harder than it was.