VICKERS MK6B's resto

[Ben]

I spoke with a Lagonda restorer at the weekend.

The basic engine is the same in the light tank as the cars. The sump and ancillaries etc are different between versions but the basic castings are common. If you could find a car engine he suggested you’d have the vast majority of the what you needed....... he said the main issue would be finding an unwanted engine (or parts) and being prepared to compete in a very expensive classic car market.

His suggestion was to use another engine type to get the tank moving and build the Meadows slowly as affordable parts became available. He did apologise saying it’s not the best news but without a blank cheque book they can be an awkward engine to restore if the general parts condition is poor........ certainly possible but prepare to be patient.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by Ben

I spoke with a Lagonda restorer at the weekend.

The basic engine is the same in the light tank as the cars. The sump and ancillaries etc are different between versions but the basic castings are common. If you could find a car engine he suggested you’d have the vast majority of the what you needed....... he said the main issue would be finding an unwanted engine (or parts) and being prepared to compete in a very expensive classic car market.

His suggestion was to use another engine type to get the tank moving and build the Meadows slowly as affordable parts became available. He did apologise saying it’s not the best news but without a blank cheque book they can be an awkward engine to restore if the general parts condition is poor........ certainly possible but prepare to be patient.

There is a story of an American speedboat builder buying up a UK MOD stash of rebuilt Centurion tank engines. They were ordered for Centurion (something specials) before the Gulf War, when it looked like the old supplies wouldn't last long enough to keep the old girls in the fight. But the war ended quickly, and the contract was not cancelled. Then the Centurion funnies were sold off. Consequently, several dozen zero time engines sat in stores getting old without a service need. Skip ahead, and the fellow got word of a supply of engines which he could repurpose to propel one-of-a-kind speedboats at high speeds for the genteel classes of wooden boat owners. Now if a tank owner wants a replacement engine, he's competing with the "Woodier Than Thou" types.

[Grant Bowker]

Like others, I'm impressed by your standard of work and willingness to take on a challenge.
There's one thing about the sump that puzzles me. If the ribs are mainly for stiffening, my question is probably irrelevant but if they also act as cooling fins, wouldn't a continuous weld of rib to bottom plate help heat transfer?

[David Herbert]

Grant,
If the fins were continuous welded they would certainly radiate rather more heat but not as much more as you might expect, probably less than 50% extra. I did some experiments with this when designing a lamp housing many years ago. The down side would be that all that extra welding would cause quite bad distortion that would be very hard to sort out.

Colin,
Beautiful job once again !!!

David

[James P]

Sweet mother of god you take on and do some amazing work. Without a doubt this is right up there with the top five restorations posted here. Thanks for the lavish spread of pics showing the work and progress.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by James P

Sweet mother of god ..... Without a doubt this is right up there with the top five restorations posted here.

Good lord, point me to the other four!

[colin jones]

Thankyou gentlemen for you comments but again it is nothing more than fabrication and there is plenty here that are, and have done great work that would far exceed what I have done.
Grant, you are correct about cooling fins but David did answer what I considered during the fabrication. As I am only using 3mm plate is would be near impossible for me to keep it straight and I didn't think that what I have done would hinder the cooling effect very much and I think that the thinner gauge plate should compensate (I hope)
James I guess it was a case of have a go or don't use the original engine and seeing that I have made the trans box it didn't seem to much to think about. I will be pretty nervous on the first start up though. That part I will have to video