Restoration of Hull 731- Carrier, MG (Aust) Mortar Carrying - Page 12

Darrin Wright · #**331** 26-01-15, 11:25

Our neighbour let us drive around on her 10 acre block/paddock, so after attending the local BBQ breakfast and flag raising, we drove down to the paddock (500m away).
With the size of the paddock and the laps that I completed, plus cutting back and forth; drove about 6km.
On 2 occasions, the engine stopped from fuel vaporising. Managed to restart the 1st time and continue driving. But the 2nd time I had to leave it for quite awhile and cool down. Spent the time in the neighbour's swimming pool. Not so bad.
Also managed to start finding all the gears, cannot get into 3rd and 4th around the driveway at home. But today I found them all!!!

David Dunlop · #**332** 26-01-15, 18:56

Great to see her out in her element, Darrin! Must have felt really good from your end!

David

Darrin Wright · #**333** 27-01-15, 09:03

Thanks David, it was good to get it out and run it without having to watch out for the house, carport/garage, dogs & garden beds.

The real challenge was driving on the road and keeping to the left (yes- in Australia we drive on the left) but not in the gutter. Luckily being the Australia Day public holiday there were no cars to share the road with.

I did try driving with the seat in the lowered position, but there was not much fun in that. Vision extremely limited and just an uncomfortable driving position. Much prefer the seat in the raised position.

Using my new laser temp gun, I had the following readings (curiosity factor):
wheel hubs 30-34deg C
brakes L 79deg C; R 70deg C
Engine (top of cylinder heads) 87deg C

Some of the suspension squeaks a little. Have since washed it so that may have fixed that.

Curious to know what others have done to stop their engines from causing the fuel to vaporise? modifications? heat insulation/wrapping?
This may warrant a thread in the carrier forum???

jack neville · #**334** 27-01-15, 11:02

Electric fuel pump Darrin. If you think a carrier gets hot try driving a Fordson WOT in summer. Roast feet and legs as well as vaporising but never a problem since I added the electric pump. Just used a slug type pump from Macs Autos.

Mike Cecil · #**335** 27-01-15, 17:25

I agree with Jack. On the F15, I put one in-line, using the holes in the battery step designed for an Autopulse pump, with a switch in the appropriate place in the dash. Only used it when needed, such as pre-start priming, re-start on a hot day or when the motor 'stuttered' on a hot day, usually labouring under load. Quick flick of the switch: problem solved.

The modern pump used the same mounting holes as the original Autopulse, but had a higher delivery pressure, so a pressure reducer/regulator had to be installed just before the carbie. It was a device with a dial for the required pressure. System worked very well.

Mike

Andrew Rowe · #**336** 27-01-15, 18:38

Hi Darrin, I am not a great believer in an electric fuel pump on carriers. The reason being is they are so easy to flood and to bypass the needle valve and full your cylinders up with petrol. However your climate might force you to consider this option. We run rubber hose from the fuel valve to about opposite the gearbox where we install and inline filter and an outboard motor fuel squeezy and then rubber up to the fuel pump, then copper pipe to the carb, works all the time. Only use the squeezy when carrier has been sitting around to save battery. cheers, I like the paint job!

Darrin Wright · #**337** 29-01-15, 07:36

I will conduct some research into the different 'modifications' and make a decision from there.
Thank you for the input.

I have since taken the BGC out for another 5km drive (last night) and this time there was traffic on the road. The look on the other drivers faces was priceless.
Have had to adjust both track tensions up, about 2 clicks on the ratchet pawl, grease the suspension arms and general check over.

Starting to get some trust and reliability with it and learning how it handles. Which is good, as there are no BGC Drivers Courses to attend now days...

Lynn Eades · #**338** 29-01-15, 10:21

Re Andrews post, I would avoid the copper pipe. Henry used steel and it is still the better of the two, because of the heat transfer.
The problem is worse these days because of the high level of aromatics in the fuel. Ideally a pump that has a return system would be better because the fuel keeps moving and goes back to the tank before it gets too hot. (hopefully)

Darrin Wright · #**339** 12-02-15, 10:31

I have a 3D printed data plate (collected last week) and have had it laser engraved with the details originally on my broken data plate.
Here are the pics of close up detail.

It is currently drying from a coat of green and will be ready to place on the BGC this weekend.

Ryan · #**340** 12-02-15, 11:35

Awesome Darrin. Was it expensive to 3d print it?

Darrin Wright · #**341** 13-02-15, 03:33

Ryan, there was some R&D set up fees that we had to pay, but the 3D printing is very affordable in this medium. It also helped that we had 5 plates printed.
The engraving cost more than the plate, but professionally done by laser.
Plates are $50 each plus postage, if interested.
Should put up a post in the For Sale section.

Darrin Wright · #**342** 19-02-15, 09:49

I always enjoy those before and after pics that people take to compare and look back on their progress.
On the weekend, with good weather, I placed the BGC in the same place that it sat when it arrived so that I could take a series of pics.

Darrin Wright · #**343** 19-02-15, 10:02

and some more

Darrin Wright · #**344** 19-02-15, 10:04

couple more

Darrin Wright · #**345** 19-02-15, 10:05

and some more

Darrin Wright · #**346** 19-02-15, 10:19

That should do it for pics.

All the minor jobs are done, will just continue to run it in and adjust where required.
Next week the BGC and Jeep are getting loaded to go to the Avalon airshow to be displayed with many different organisations at the event.

http://www.airshow.com.au/airshow201...icle-corps.asp

After that it will then go to Corowa for a week of family camping, driving and socialising. There should be several BGC there of interest.

Wayne Henderson · #**347** 19-02-15, 11:24

Well done Darrin,
I've been watching this thread since the start and have been most impressed with the level of detail. Brilliant!
Please post some photos when you get the carrier to some events.

Darrin Wright · #**348** 06-03-15, 09:31

Well myself and the BGC & Jeep have been to Avalon and returned.

Pete from Albury Wodonga Car Carriers came around Wednesday night and loaded. Winched the BGC up on to the steel tray. Secured the BGC by using 4 chains through the wheels (4 corners of the vehicle) to each corner of the tray, used rubber tubes to protect the wheels from rubbing. Left the winch cable secured to the front of the vehicle with a slight load, this was to stop any rocking of the hull.
In this fashion, it was very secure and did not move.

Early Thursday morning I left at 0515h and proceeded to Melbourne, arriving at the service centre at Avalon at about 1000h.
When the truck arrive, we then moved to the air show set up area. Unloaded and placed both vehicles into position in the Victorian Military Vehicle Corps display area.
There were approx. 21 vehicles on display. There were 3 x HUMVEE, 2 x Ford CMP, 1 x Dodge WC-57, 1 x Dodge WC-53 Carryall, 2 x BGC, Wiles cooker trailer Jnr, 8 x Jeeps, 1 x Mule, Ford T and other display items.
The Geelong Military Re-enactment Group had a huge turn up of vehicles and display items, every day they had two battle engagements. This was a huge crowd puller, when the explosions happened people just flocked to the area, with 1000s watching on.
There was a WW1 historical group also having a battle engagement with trenches and Turks.

Camping was free and organised by the air show people, this was at Lara show grounds with showers, security and a bistro for meals. Shuttle buses were provided to get people between the two sites. However, I had a exhibitors car park pass, so utilised that as it was more convenient and close to the main gate.
Lunch packs were provided to the exhibitors, it took us until Sunday to figure we could take the Mule for a drive up to the lunch hall and collect all the lunches for people. That was fun moving through the 1000s of people.

Friday was part trade day and opened to the public at 1200h. Reasonable busy with people.
Saturday got busier and Sunday was very packed with people. flying usually commenced around 1200h. There were lots of plane. But I'm not here to discuss them.
Saturday, around 1700h, when the crowds cleared I took the Jeep out onto the tarmac where the aircraft were parked. I parked/posed in front of the Catalina, DC3 and the B-52 for photos. No one seemed to mind...

Sunday when all had finished and the crowds were leaving, Euan ground guided me out in the BGC to the battlefield area and I managed to cut some laps, giving 2 good friends a drive around. Negotiated some obstacles and managed to cruise along in 4th gear for a bit. The BGC got quite dirty.

Monday morning returned for the pack up and loaded the BGC and Jeep back on the truck and headed home. left around 1200h and got home at 1700h.

Monday morning the starter motor failed, it is producing a grinding noise but starts the engine. Cannot here the engine run over the noise, so will have to investigate that before the next outing.

Now for some pics...

Darrin Wright · #**349** 06-03-15, 09:38

The Pacific belles also sang and entertained from the back of a CMP truck, after a show I asked them to pose with the Jeep for some pics.

Euan had his BGC there looking good in green. Euan invited some friends and there children to climb in his BGC for pics, well once other children saw this, he was inundated with about 20 children climbing/ stumbling over his vehicle until it became unsafe- then he had to clear them out & off.
I sat back and took pics of his predicament.

Darrin Wright · #**350** 06-03-15, 09:43

Nice Jeep with unique Australian mods, its owner siting in the display.

Darrin Wright · #**351** 06-03-15, 09:49

last of the pics

Dale Jordan · #**352** 06-03-15, 22:10

Looks like a great display Darrin well done to you and the other members good practice for Corowa . Did you leave the tools on the side and rear for the trip or remove them ? I thought they might vibrate loose . Was there four carrier at the show . Dale

Ian Mastin · #**353** 07-03-15, 00:27

G'day Darrin,

Thanks mate! for putting up the photo's of me and my display had a great weekend at this years Air show hope we do it again and also thankyou for giving me a ride in your awesome BGC to, looking forward to see it at Corowa.

Regards
Ian

Darrin Wright · #**354** 07-03-15, 01:05

There were 4 BGC at the airshow, 2 from the GRMG (Robin & Tims) and 2 from the VMVC (Euan & mine).
Tim's was active in the battle re-enactments with a Bren and Boys firing.

All tools were left on the vehicle, I used tie wire to secure them from falling off and theft. They would be reasonably secure utilising the standard hull fixtures as that is how they secured them back then. I guess when they lost them in WW2, they could just go to the Q-store and request another. We don't have that luxury.

Found the grinding noise, the bolt on the end of the bendix vibrated loose and fell out. I have pulled the starter motor and recovered the bolt with a flexable magnet.
Now to Loctite or tie wire it back in. It did have the lock washer, but this is now broken...

Mike K · #**355** 07-03-15, 01:41

The most unrealistic scene would have to be the Japanese soldier in the surrendering pose

Darrin Wright · #**356** 30-03-15, 11:15

I had a tilt tray load the BGC and deliver it to Corowa on Wednesday, I had to provide guidance on how best to secure it to the deck of the truck. The operator had never loaded anything like that before, and that was good, as he was open to advice.

Drove the Jeep across with trailer.

Camped at the Ball Park Caravan Pk in our usual spot. Parked the BGC out the front of our camp site.

It was good to catch up with several people on MLU at the park.

Thursday I went to start the BGC and the starter motor just spun. Pulled it out and discovered the bendix spring had shattered. Not good. A friend and I drove around town in his Jeep, looking for an engineering place that we could repair the spring. Instead, we found a place that the owner was into Ford hotrods and just happened to have a spare bendix spring at home. He was kind enough to loan me the spring to get me going. That got the BGC going again, and by lunch time we were driving along the river bank area.
On Thursday I managed to drive approx 35km until later in the day she was hot and vaporised the fuel system. This provided some quality time to talk BGC and reflect on BGC.

Friday morning I took it back down to the river bank area and drove around. Unfortunately, the BGC broke down again, this time it was catastrophic. The generator pulley had spun on the shaft and the fan bladed got wobbly. This was the noise that something was not quite right. Luckily the only damage was the pulley and generator. A friend brought his 6x6 GMC down and another loaned me a chain so we could recover it back to camp. I removed the blades and kept the cooling belts on, this allowed me to run the engine for a short period so that I could manoeuvre into our camp site.

Another friend in Albury had an engine with generator and pulley and was kind enough to loan it to me. So a 4hr round trip to borrow that, go home and clean & lubricate the bearings and return to Corowa, meant we had it operational again by 1700h. Just in time for the VMVC BBQ.

Friday night, attended the presentation by Mike Cecil at the football grounds. Sounds like there will be some good books coming out in the near future.

Saturday morning took the BGC for a quick test drive to ensure all was good. I still had some doubts about reliability and going in the street parade. last thing I wanted was to be broken down in the main street. All was good, so with the children in, drove up to the parking area and looked and all the other vehicles pulling in.

We drove the shorter version of the parade and headed out to the showgrounds. All went well, sat on approx 34-36 mph most of the way with the sound of the engine and the clatter of track on the road. Arrived at the show grounds and was parked in at the back. Not happy, as the other BGC there were all meant to be parked together off to the side. Oh well.
The swap meet was interesting. Didn't buy much at all, managed to talk with a few people.

My wife left early in the Jeep to go back to the park, this left my eldest son and I to take the BGC home. So when we could, we left. The BGC sat on 34-36mph again, all the way back. Went for a quick swim in the afternoon, it is hot work operating a BGC. Then later drove around some more until it got hot again. Then it started to lack a bit of power and not perform very well.

Saturday night, went out for tea with friends to a local restaurant.

Sunday, the day everyone hates, was pack up day. In the morning Keith Webb came by and we did an interview down by the river bank area. Packed up camp and had the tilt tray arrive at 1000h to load.

When we had it home, decided to take it for another drive in the vacant block behind out house. There we discovered what was causing the lack of power. The fuel tap and linkage had vibrated partially closed, staving the engine of fuel. Adjusted this and we were off again driving, until it got hot. Took some good quality pics and then took it home and gave the suspension a quick wash.

It was really good to catch up with people, especially those that are on MLU and meet those that helped me with info & advice. Thanks

Ian Mastin · #**357** 31-03-15, 12:14

Boy Darrin you've got a lot of good Friends!!!!! I think one of your friends

crank started your lovely wife Jeep down in the main street on Friday I think.
You can fill in the rest of the details about the battery.

Ian

Darrin Wright · #**358** 01-04-15, 12:53

And a BIG thanks to Ian for assisting my wife and the Jeep, as it also had issues.

A bolt on the bendix spring came loose and jammed the starter, while trying to start it, this then drained the battery of life. The starter motor got quite hot.

I got 6 years out of that battery...not too bad.

Had to pull the starter out and put bolt back in. All good now.

Darrin Wright · #**359** 25-04-15, 05:44

It's taken several months of planning with the Albury RSL; however, paid off today with the BGC being transported by Albury Auto Body Repairs (Andrew 02 6021 4175) tilt tray. Andrew donated his time and truck to assist in getting the BGC there and back again.

Loaded at 0600h and dropped near the Albury Cinema. Got there early so there would be no pedestrians to run over. Rained most of the morning and stopped prior to the start. March commenced at 0900h with a P-40 and another aircraft performing a fly over. I think they were from Temora.

At the end of the march a flock of 4 navy helicopters flew up the main street.
There were lots of people along the sides watching, really awesome the interest shown. At the end of the parade I was directed up the road to park.

Did a tight pivot turn on Dean street, with the road being so wet the track wouldn't grip and then when it did, we spun. Parked the BGC up and talked with people about it.

Had approx 6-8 Jeeps, late model CJ Jeep and Austin Champ- all local.

The tilt tray came back and we loaded and headed for home. At that point, the Hudson from Temora and 3 more aircraft performed a fly over along Dean st and then back over Wodonga.

See the pics attached.

This event seems fitting to conclude this restoration thread that I started. As they say in my previous position, moving from restoration into the sustainment phase.

I set out to document and photograph my progress and I think I have achieved that, hopefully assisted a few people along the way. I always like watching peoples restoration progress and I hope you have enjoyed this.

It has been great to meet MLU people in person and chat, especially at events such as Corowa. There are several people that have really helped me along the way, thank you, you know who you are (you have posted in my thread- thanks!).

I won't be leaving MLU and will still participate when possible, not sure if I will start a restoration thread on the LP1 BGC. There is a bit of time, planning and effort required to make a thread readable and logical. Sometimes not all that easy.
The LP1 restoration has commenced with a strip down and collected several important parts over the last few months, with assistance from a friend. My plan is to have it sandblasted in 6-8 months time, as summer starts.

Regards to all

Dale Jordan · #**360** 25-04-15, 06:30

Well done Darrin . Thank you for your restoration posts on the MLU your build as been the biggest help for me with my project . I look at it all the time to check up on where things go and how they should look. I 'm sure other owners do the same . Lets hope you weaken and do the same with the LP1 ... Dale