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

[Darrin Wright]

I have finished welding the inside of the front panel where I replaced the 1/2" section of front hull. It is now ground down so that it is flat. Due to grinding upside down at times to get the angle grinder in there, I went and purchased a full face sheild and goggles as the safety glasses were letting sparkes in around the edges. Job is done now.

Borrowed a 2 gal POL tin to test fit in the back right corner, where I welded in the new/replacement strap bracket. Even though I had allowed an additional 5mm it is a snug fit.

Replaced more threaded blocks on the front floor, the Vickers toolkit mounting plate/bracket and the blocks for the cover that protects the linkage from the gunners feet.

Dragged the hull out of the welding bay so that I could have a tidy up, clean up all the metal, dirt, grinding dust from under the hull. Saves tripping over rubbish.
Commenced to strip down the V8, removed the gear box, starter motor, manifolds, distributor, drained the water and oil from the sump and dropped the sump down. The water does not appear to have damaged or marked any of the important bits underneath.

I cut out the rear sheet steel covers that protect the brake rods, something that I had forgot to do before, found plenty of rust under them with lots of red Northern Territory dust/dirt. Cleaned that out of the hull onto the nice clean floor, that tidy floor did not last long.