54-82540 Ferret Scout Car Restoration

[Brad Mills]

Figured I would start a thread of the restoration of 54-82540.

First the recovery photos. Tucked away in this garage for the past 8 or 9 years.



A very slow way to load a trailer on a hot day...









Loaded and ready to roll

[Brad Mills]

At my Shop

[Philliphastings]

An excellent start to an interesting thread.

Among my several projects I am slowly restoring Ex Australian Ferret Mk2, 115300 and not so slowly restoring Ex Australian Ferret Mk1, 115134.

Both were stripped out hulks when I recovered them but have amassed most parts now.



Cheers

Phill

[NORTH-SHORE(CANADA)]

Hi,
Nice find look like a nice projet

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Terrific!!
Always wanted one of these. Been told they are a hoot to drive, but have never got past sitting in one.
Watch out for the three water jacket covers on the intake side of the block. I have learnt the hard way to put inspecting them very high on the list.
Have fun.
Rich.

[Brad Mills]

Some interior/detail photos photos:



Creative way to convert the Brit lamps to the M-Series

[Brad Mills]

Here you go. A short video from this morning.

Click here to watch on Youtube...

[cantankrs]

Originally Posted by BMills

Here you go. A short video from this morning.

Sorry about the title of this post - couldn't help myself

Great thread you've got going - good work and excellent pictures, and really inspiring in respect to our own two Ferrets.

Back to my title - watch out for stuff like that bit of sheet-something that looks like it got sucked into the fan in your video. For everybody: keep rags and loose tools out of the way i.e. clear the decks before starting any motor you're working on (with respect to fans and belts). Heard of a guy who was wiping an oil leak on his motor with a bit of rag and an end got sucked into the fan pulling his hand in and well he don't pick the guitar so well these days - has to use his teeth!

Regards

Alex

[Brad Mills]

June 22nd Update

After installing the exhaust (with a homemade muffler that came with it...).



Replaced one brake line, bleed the brakes I sorted out a few loose wires, I connected the drive shafts and she was ready to check the transmission operation. (nice to have the brakes for this)



I started it up and after allowing it to warm up, poped her into reverse, selected 1st gear and poped the change pedal. A little lurch was all I got. 2nd gear was the same feeling. It didn't look to promising at this point. When I selected 3rd gear, she started rolling back! Turns out, 3rd, 4th and 5th gears seem fine, just 1st and 2nd seem non existant.

I only wanted to prove the driveline operation today, the transmission will require some further investigation. I assume its possible (and most likely) that both 1st and 2nd brake bands are totally burned away or would poor adjustment cause this issue?

Keep in mind the previous owner only ever started the vehicle a couple of times and never drove it or moved it from where its been sitting for the past 9 years. I have no idea how long the owner before him had it or if they abused it until it broke then they parked it. I assume that may have been the case.

So I poped the top cover of the transmission, and lookie what I found...years of sitting I supose with condensation has caused this. It's no surprise that the 2 rusty adjusters, at the bottom of the photo, are the ones we are having a problem with. I will have to remove the springs, plate and adjusters, clean them up and refit them. I think the other bands are starting ware out as well so now’s the time to purchase some new bands from Bannister's.

I think I should be fine with the gearbox it just requires some gentle persuasion!




Cheers

[Brad Mills]

Forgot to post a photo of the oil that I drained from the transmission. The transmission uses SAE30 weight oil, you can see the state of the oil that came out of her.

[charlie fitton]

I noticed that , too. Thought it might be his wallet.....

[pauljboudreau]

milky oil , are the band in those transmision held on with glue or rivet in these thing? nice work so far , i like them feret

[Brad Mills]

The brake bands are riveted on thankfully!

I made a short video of the transmission shifting between gears. In each gear I am depressing the change lever several times to observe the movement with out shifting gears.

Click here to watch video on Youtube.

[Brad Mills]

Originally Posted by cantankrs

Sorry about the title of this post - couldn't help myself

Great thread you've got going - good work and excellent pictures, and really inspiring in respect to our own two Ferrets.

Back to my title - watch out for stuff like that bit of sheet-something that looks like it got sucked into the fan in your video. For everybody: keep rags and loose tools out of the way i.e. clear the decks before starting any motor you're working on (with respect to fans and belts). Heard of a guy who was wiping an oil leak on his motor with a bit of rag and an end got sucked into the fan pulling his hand in and well he don't pick the guitar so well these days - has to use his teeth!

Regards

Alex

Alex,

Very good point. That fan really is quite powerfull. When your standing near it when the engine is reved up you can feel air rushing past you. It really must be quite efective when the engine hatch is on.

That piece of material that came off the top of the radiator was a piece of felt. It was glued on top of the rad. The fan puled it off. It didn't pass through the fan, got lodged down below just before hitting the blades.

Cheers