Lynn, that block of wood is for the Bren barrel. There was a bracket attached to the "Oh S*%T" handle that held the back of the Bren. Basically the gun would fit in on a downward angle.

wood
 

I was looking at that also. It almost looks like it's original but I've never seen anything like it . A guy would have to clean up the metal bracket on it and see if there is a part no. on it.

Here's the two pages on the MkII carrier from Gregg's Military Vehicle Profiles. There's some useful info here. I broke each page into three images to retain the details for you.

This is the second page.

photos
 

Great photos Dave. The only trouble with this new photo display system is now we can't look at the pics' in any detail. We used to be able to zoom them in and examine then in up close.

Save them to your hard drive then look at them with your picture viewer and blow them up there. I use ACDSEE and haven't seen anything that works any better.
I might as well post the pages on the MK I Carrier too so you can compare the differences.

The second page.

I'm attaching 2 more pics, she is still covered with snow but I think we are to get warmer weather over X-mas, so I can get the serial # verified. I'm getting excited to work on it. She will go in the shop in the spring and won't have to be outside anymore.

The wooden block I hope is original. My MK1 can rest there someday but I was hoping that carriers came with an original permanent mount.

I have some pics of a carrier I saw at the legion last summer, going to post them later, it's just beautiful.

I'm planning to start on the armor pieces first, getting dimensions so I can cut each piece out. I don't have a compressor yet for sandblasting the hull, but I have a big pot.

I'll have to add a steering wheel to the list of parts I need. Wonder if that same wheel was used on trucks of that time period? Phil

gear shift gate
 

Hi Phil, I just noticed that your carrier has a piece cut out of the gearhift gate, any idea why that was done? Why do i ask? mine is cut in the exact same place.
regards
nick

cut out
 

That was done to allow the lever to move farther in reverse. Most likely due to linkage out of ajustment or worn linkage. Some times it's just a matter of adjusting the rear engine tie rods. What happens is it will slip out of reverse and if that happens a few times it will never stay in anymore. A very common problem with old vehicles. You always have to make sure that it is all the way in gear. also reverse is a very weak gear in a transmision due to the idler gear that is involved. If at all possible never try to pull something unstuck eg. another vehicle out using reverse. :nono: try and pull frontwards.

Mk2
 

behind the gear change on the hull division plate is a lever made from rod. I guess thats the starter, which would also identify it as a Mk2.
Jordan, I dont think the Mk1 Mortar carriers had the big holes in the rear plate for the battery leads.

I just realized I forgot to thank Cletrac for his info posting. Thanks :), I've been learning a lot reading through these pages while offline. I see the armor thickness is listed in millimeters.

Can't tell about the gearshift slot, we will have to check that out in the spring.


Weather really warmed up today losing most of our snow. We got pictures of the hull and engine serial #'s. Is it an original engine? Zooming in on the engine # is interesting.

I kept looking for the oil cooler line plugs on the engine. I think they are the ones by the oil sender unit(?). We think the oil cooler is there along with the lines coming back along the floor on the passenger side, but I think they stop at the 90 deg bulkhead fittings. Phil :)

numbers
 

Hey! Thats a pretty good guess on that engine no. I did. And I would say that this is the original engine. The oil line holes look good. The one farthest to the right that is just in the bear block was made for the return. The one farthest on the left is plugged. And the center one goes to the the filter. The guage sender was fitted to the bypass that is missing. I can see the oil lines on the floor. These engines are converted for full flow so that the oil can circulate to the cooler. There should be a plug installed between the far left hole and the far right hole. There is a horizontal passage there that is treaded and plugged. if you take the sender off and look in the hole You should see the passage and it should be theaded but there shouldn't be a plug there. Your serial no. should be close to 28720. But it is hard to guess on the CTno. as they aren't from ford.Maybe CT 269....?

Thanks for explaining that all to me Ledsel. Having the original engine has really perked me up. I don't know how long it would have taken me to figure out the oil cooler plumbing. Definitely going to have a rad shop flush the cooler and lines out. No telling what's in there.

I'm guessing that the carrier I saw at the legion gathering last summer is a MK2(some pics below). I was drooling over it, she was beautiful. Might be my best bet to try and find out who owns it and see if I can get dimensions from it.

Presently mixed up in other projects, can't afford to do much to my carrier until spring. Phil :)

interesting shot of the cockpit and gunners area, what is the setup on the left side of the gunners shield ?

mortar
 

I believe it is for the 2" mortar.

Even though your carrier is cut up the parts you need are the ones that are easier to make, Mostly flat plate . So it should be fun to do. :thup:

Lynn About the wood
 

I can send you a picture in the spring as mine is original of the bren gun mount .Mine has the wood also . Anything that has to do with the Brits will have some wood in it .Real bullet proof . George

George
 

That would be great. thanks.

Including more pictures of the carrier at the legion. I did find a newspaper clipping on the gathering so I'm well on my way to finding the owner. Hope he doesn't mind me posting these pictures. This carrier got a lot of attention despite all the other vehicles there. Phil :)

That looks like the UC that had been at the Fall OMVA show.