54-82540 Ferret Scout Car Restoration

Brad Mills · #1 16-06-10, 02:22

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 · #2 16-06-10, 02:35

At my Shop

Philliphastings · #3 16-06-10, 06:31

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) · #4 16-06-10, 11:16

Hi,
Nice find

look like a nice projet

Richard Coutts-Smith · #5 16-06-10, 12:25

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 · #6 16-06-10, 13:25

Some interior/detail photos photos:

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

Brad Mills · #7 16-06-10, 13:28

Can anyone tell me where the location of this RCEME Workshop would be?

Brad Mills · #8 16-06-10, 13:33

Parked in the shop, this is where its going to be for a while until she is mobile.

Brad Mills · #9 16-06-10, 13:44

June 15th

A few things have to be done to the Ferret before attempting to start the engine. Keeping in mind the engine has not run for about 5 or 6 years. Replace all the fluids and check flywheel fluid. The Carb needs to be rebuilt as well as the diaphrams are really bad. Hook up a temp fuel tank. I want to prove the operation of the running gear before the powerpack is removed.

First order of business is to remove the outer bins and fenders.

When the RR side bin was removed, these were wedged between the bin and the hull.

Brad Mills · #10 16-06-10, 13:55

Bins and fenders removed on right side.

Whith the fenders removed, you can really appreicate the suspension design on this vehicle.

Front:

Rear:

RHClarke · #11 16-06-10, 14:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMills

Can anyone tell me where the location of this RCEME Workshop would be?

It would be and still is in Longue Pointe (Montreal).

http://www.forces.gc.ca/aete/ourpast-notrepasse-eng.asp

Brad Mills · #12 16-06-10, 14:43

Thanks for that Rob.

rob love · #13 16-06-10, 15:06

Hey Brad, what gives?? 24 hours and it's not done yet?

I believe you showed me that one when I was out your way. Are you going to leave the canadian modifications on it (like the poorly installed M series lamps, the signal stat turn signal flasher etc) or are you going to clean them up a bit?

There was also a Cdn modification to install the 60 amp M series alternator. I did this to mine and it was an improvement. It also freed up a lot of wall space in the back corner where the British regulator was.

Brad Mills · #14 16-06-10, 15:38

Rob,

I know, I know. I'm starting to slow down in my old age. Gravity is starting to take effect. :-)

Yup, same Ferret you saw when you were down. A deal was struck at last and things are now underway.

The ferret has all the CDN mods except for the DR-8 wire reel mount on the Left side. I want to keep the vehicle as original as possible as it was used by the CDN Forces. The signal lamps/brake lamps are a real mess. Not sure what to do there. The conversion using the original Brit towers are hideous, but it is what it is. I will either leave them as they were or make up the small brackets as was done on some of the other CDN Ferrets such as seen in the photos below of 54-82593 (Gate Guard at the NSH Armories)

The style above is much cleaner looking.

Strange how they remounted the rear lamps, moving the original towers towards the middle of the fenders. Kinda makes the fuel can rack useless unless you mount the can on its edge.

Nice to see the right upper hull has the mod for the Spotlamp bracket:

Will list all the CDN mods with photos I can see on this ferret in another reply.

Brad Mills · #15 17-06-10, 01:17

June 16th

Managed to get a couple more hours to work on the Ferret today. Removed the left side fenders and bins. Everything went very smooth.

When I removed the LR bin, hiding in a mound of twigs was another spent case dated 1973 and what I would like to think is a juice can tab. I know it wouldn't be a beer can tab...Can't be

Brad Mills · #16 17-06-10, 01:23

Before I tuck the bins and fenders away, I couldn't resist laying them out for a photo...

Brad Mills · #17 17-06-10, 01:25

This will be tomorrows job. Once I rebuild the carb and install, we may see her spark to life once again.

Brad Mills · #18 17-06-10, 23:55

June 17th

Carb isn't finished soaking yet, so I quickly mounted the rear fuel can rack that was mounted on this Ferret to have a look and see how bad its twisted. I think it was used as a backstop at somepoint. Its badly bent up and twisted but great for a pattern. Took a few snaps. Very crudly made, so easy to fabricate a perfect copy with my welding skills

I read somewhere this was added to the Ferrets Canada sent to Egypt/Sinai Penisula in 1956 and used in Germany as well.

maple_leaf_eh · #19 18-06-10, 01:05

My first experience with Ferrets was when the 12RBC took over the local reserve armouries for an exercise about 1975. The school bus passed a troop doing a road move, and I was entranced! What little go-carts they must have been!

rob love · #20 18-06-10, 02:29

Some of the ferrets had brackets like you show, but many more had the standard jerry can brackets mounted on the rear plate.

Brad Mills · #21 18-06-10, 02:48

Rob,

I think the Jeep fuel can brackets would have been a later mod perhaps? Most of the early photos of Ferrets in CDN service shows the large rack not the dual fuel can brackets.

Just my thoughts.

charlie fitton · #22 18-06-10, 02:49

What's the hole in the middle top of the backplate and the 'can rack for?

Brad Mills · #23 18-06-10, 02:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

My first experience with Ferrets was when the 12RBC took over the local reserve armouries for an exercise about 1975. The school bus passed a troop doing a road move, and I was entranced! What little go-carts they must have been!

Terry,

They are a hoot to drive off road. Driving down a logging road, they are fantastic. That at least is from the drivers point of view, very comfie down there tucked away. Being up top, well, I would suggest hanging on during the ride.

Brad Mills · #24 18-06-10, 02:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlie fitton

What's the hole in the middle top of the backplate and the 'can rack for?

Charlie,

The hole is to re-mount the Lic plate lamp. You can see the original hole directly behind the rack in the rear armour plate.

charlie fitton · #25 18-06-10, 03:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMills

Rob,

I think the Jeep fuel can brackets would have been a later mod perhaps? Most of the early photos of Ferrets in CDN service shows the large rack not the dual fuel can brackets.

Just my thoughts.

Brad-
Thanks for that, seems like a lot of work for a lamp....kinda like the hugely expensive recess fabricated into the grizzly/cougar avgp hull for the armour plate covered muffler... the armoured elbow and 200$ muffler was a much better idea.

Philliphastings · #26 18-06-10, 08:38

Having owned and driven Carrier, Centurion tank, Stuart M3 and Daimler dingo, I can agree whole heartedly that the Ferret is the easiest to drive and the most comfortable of the bunch. That's why I decided to stick with ferrets after all the other vehicles have gone to better homes...

Cheers

Phill

Brad Mills · #27 19-06-10, 16:33

Success!

After cleaning the carburator, replacing the diaphrams, installing 6 new spark plugs and priming the fuel pump The engine sparked to life instantly. I was amazed it started so quick. I didn't even touch the distributor.

Keep in mind, the last time the engine ran was at least 5 or 6 years ago.

Now that I know I have a good engine, I have to get the brakes working. Once that is done, I will take her for a drive to make sure the gearbox is working correctly, then I can pull the power pack.

I made a video of the start up. Will download it shortly.

Yippie!!!

Brad Mills · #28 20-06-10, 00:19

Here you go. A short video from this morning.

Click here to watch on Youtube...

cantankrs · #29 20-06-10, 10:38

Quote:

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 · #30 22-06-10, 15:52

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