Staghound Update
 

After 3 years of collecting parts and information I have finally started the strip down and restoration of my Staghound.
The first thing was to strip “Snowball II” of all salvageable parts. Originally it was saved for the turret and ball mount but I have since removed everything that unbolts. If it does not unbolt the gas axe is used.

Wayne

Punched, bored or reamed?
 

Good golly Wayne. What are all those holes? They look very recent. Have you been trying something out?

David

Was it called Snowball because someone said "there aint a snowball in hells chance anyone will restore that"!

Good luck, watching with interest

R

Compared to some I have seen out this way, Wayne, yours looks almost drivable! Does it still have the engine covers?

David

staghound
 

Hi Wayne,
Looking forward to seeing more of your project.
All the best with it.

Luke

Update
 

Hi David, this is one of the Firing Range Wrecks I recovered a while ago. It got a quick paint job for use as a backdrop for a photo shoot.
It copped a fair bit of stick from CG 84s and small arms fire for 40 years.
Here is the down range side and the reason it is getting chopped.

Wayne

and...
 

Hi Robin, very close... this was the reply from the WO in charge of Ranges when he was first asked about the possibility of recovering one of the targets.

Hi David D, There were at least 16 Staghounds on 2 seperate Firing Ranges here in the West. They have been shot at since the 1970's by everything and most were reduced to piles of twisted metal. Scrappies were contracted to clear the sites.

I purchased a set of early production engine covers on a trip to Corowa in 2013, along with new tyres and a nos transfer case.

Wayne

Front diff
 

Pulled apart the only hub that doesn't have damage. Came apart easy enough and the design is very "Chev".
The hub and brake shoes have very little wear.

Wayne

Am I seeing things or is there a notch in the axle tube adjacent the inner bearing location? It's an optical delusion right?

David

Great job saving this Staghound!

See http://www.12mbdragoons.com/stag01.html for the restoration carried out by MLU member Marco. It was in a frightful condition too, but see what can be made of a range wreck.

I was often amazed how some parts of range targets can survive the ravages of target practise, weather & time to be used again on a restoration project with a little elbow grease only.

H.

Wayne.

They are wonderful machines! I wish you all the best with the restoration! A handful were surplussed out of Edmonton, Alberta in the very early 70's. All but one were effectively traced and accounted for and that one has been a mystery ever since. Hopefully it is tucked away in a farm shed somewhere waiting to be rediscovered one day.


David

Fantastic beast the Staghound.
Will be watching with interest Wayne, not to mention jealousy...
Rich

The good hull
 

This is the first hull I bought home. It had been on the range a long time but had very minimal hull damage. One nasty hit at the top left side and a dent next to the driver's head space. The worst is the damage done to the turret ring mount when the turret was blown off. Its only metal...

The right hand side of the hull is unmarked and the floor is mint. I'm still amazed it was in such good condition, unlike the other targets

David, That is a grease return hole on the top of the bearing mount.

Hanno, I made contact with Marco way back and he gave me some very helpful information and advise. His restored Staghound is beyond excellent.

Wayne

G'day Wayne

Last time I wandered onto the Muchea RAAF bombing range :nono:, there was a pile of Bren Carrier and Staghound parts piled up to one side of the target area. I remember the Staghound guards were in pretty good nick. I suspect that these parts may still be there as they were sitting under a tree and in the bush.

PM me and I can give you a rough location of these parts.

Have you had any contact with the Royal Canadian Dragoons regarding the one that got recovered from the Winchester bog just outside Ottawa?

The approximate location from where it came is as follows for the interested +45° 7' 17.56", -75° 27' 32.07"

R

Here is an image of what it looked like on one of the times I walked out to it in the pre GPS days. I have quite a good sense of direction even in that sized undergrowth. I had found it myself after overflying it in a friends plane and referencing the Staghound to the surrounding trails.

You get an idea as to how close one could walk past it and not even see it.

Every time I went I found it, at least that is how I recall it.

Does anyone here recognise the young lad with the red hair at the back?

The other picture are after the recovery.

R

See http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=18421 for some background on what Robin is referring to.

H.

Turret
 

First weekend without a total fire ban and it's up to the shed.
It is ankle deep in dead leaves here so the gas axe and angle grinder are off limits for a while.
Started to pull the mantle and main gun parts out of the turret.
I pullled the trunion caps off and still plenty of grease in there which means a clean up and paint only. Made a tool to act as a screwdriver to remove the 20 odd screws but this is a 2 man job for tomorrow.

new diffs and stuff
 

The old hull has been salvaged of all usable parts as well as the damaged diffs.
Another set of diffs arrived today which are low miles and not damaged.
Very Happy.

Hi Wayne,

This arrived last week and I thought it would go rather nicely with your 'toy' in progress. :thup2:

Regards

That is a grand hull you have.

This is going to be great

R

37mm Candy
 

Thanks Phil,
Please send this and another 107 just like it to me ASAP, I'll go halves on the postage. :thup:

Hmmmm, only 107 to go eh :coffee

Rear Diff
 

Started on the front and rear diffs by knocking out the old spring pack bolts... a 3 day job.
Took the rear brake hubs off and all good inside, shoes are perfect and drums are still shiny. Confirms the fact these are real low milage units.
The rear diff has two wheel cylinders per hub.
2 brake wheel cylinders were honed and came up perfect. 2 didn't. Too much pitting where gravity, time and moisture took its toll.
I'll check out the front ones later and get NOS ones or sleeve these ones.
Wayne.

wow!
 

jeez. I was looking at possibly working on a staghound in memory of my father in law who was with the 12th Manitoba Dragoons in Minnedosa, MB. After seeing this and realizing their size and limited parts, I'm tempted to make a mock one from plywood. I'll stick to my M37s for now and think about this. You are doing a wonderful job in acquiring parts and doing this the right way. Keep up the good work and good luck. e

And another thing...
 

Got back to the Staghound after a few months of working on other projects, of which I have too many. Also did Corowa and found a few more bits for the rebuild.

The front diff is also in good condition, one lower trunnion bearing and cup has major pitting and needs to be replaced.
The outer end seal or wiper seal has gone beyond hard rubber, more like soft stone. I think I may have trouble finding a replacement.

Again the brake hubs and shoes are in excellent nick.

Also had a play with the engine oil cooler. I intend to make one good one out of the two I have. These are cast metal and bloody heavy, like everything else on the Staghound.

Heads up Wayne!

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Fan-Belts...f#ht_66wt_1362

Wheel bearing seals
 

I have NOS wheel bearing seals here for the M-6 Armored Car, G-122, P/No 3671517. They are leather and quite supple. Strangely enough they are the same as GMC 6x6 2-1/2 ton Banjo Diff.
I also have the canvas covers that attach to the mantlet.

David

Belts
 

Hi Ryan,
Thanks for the heads up but I was too late. May try to contact seller.

Thanks David,
PM on its way to you...

They're up on ebay again.


http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Fan-Belts...8#ht_66wt_1362