An Introduction: Chris Collins and Morris Tilly Project

[jack neville]

With the engine and drive train fitted and a test run we need the radiator fitted so we can run the engine longer. This is what we have as the best example of a radiator support bracket.

[jack neville]

Nothing to do but have a go at making some new ones.
Another job for my go to tool stock- scrap railway line. Forming the top hat section is simple enough.

[jack neville]

The trickier bit was to get 90 degree bends in the ends of the top hat.
I already had a strong tool made up for previous job so I added some guides into it.

[jack neville]

The bends could not have worked better. Now just to trim down to size and weld in the mounting plates and bolts.

[Lang]

Jack

Great stuff

The ordinary punter would just have pounded the plate over the edge of an anvil and taken hours to straighten it all out. Really professional work.

Lang

[jack neville]

Thanks Lang. I have enjoyed playing with 100 ton psi and pieces of scrap. The tools might not be pretty but it’s the end result that matters.

[jack neville]

All done. The side tabs are where the bracket was soldered to the bottom radiator tank but as all of these had vibrated apart from the tank I thought there is no point in rejoining them as original. I will glue some rubber inside them instead.

[jack neville]

Radiator in and hoses connected.
Time to finish the grills.
I have rebuilt two grills but we did not have one decent wire mesh as both had been smashed around the crank handle hole.
Chris sourced some stainless steel woven mesh very close in design to the original galvanised wire. We salvaged the wire frame surround and reshaped it back to where it should be as they were both badly twisted.
That wire is only 2mm thick so impossible to work with.
I needed a frame to work with so I cut a piece of scrap to the shape of the mesh and curved it as needed.