T16 restoration starts in earnest

[andrew honychurch]

Hi Marc. Yes I was there, desperately and pretty much unsuccesfully looking for parts. I shoudl add that the serial number is T 440587, but not sure how to edit the original post now. I will try to find out whether the drive gear is the same on Universal as T16. How do I contact Dirk? I can tell you that it has six internal splines and 16 outer gears. I have about half of all the outside gears left, well I mean all are there but they have broken aroudn half there length. I think we broke quite a few getting the engine and box out as it was well and truly stuck. Some of my helpers were a bit over enthusiastic in waggling the suspended engine and box around to free the splines! Ah well, they must have been pretty weak anyway. Not the end of the world. gearbox was pretty yuck and stuck in gear as the selectors had rusted up. Anyway, it will be a lot better for a rebuild. Going to leave the engine for now, and get the rest of the hull stripped. Plan is to weld new track guards down the sides and above the rear axle as David Gordon has done so well on his. Mine came out of a scrapyard in Portsmouth in 1978/9 . Floor not too bad but need to repair some of the drain plug holes which are very rough where the rust has got to them. Does anyone know if the floor plate is threaded for the plugs or is there an insert? anyway, very much enjoying it and I feel I have already done the worst job which was stripping the drivers compartment out which was horrible. Gearstick lower swivel housing was a complete block of rust, but is now fine after some judicious use of heat and oil. More to follwo soon. Andrew

[Marc van Aalderen]

Hello Andrew,

If you want I can get the sprocket for you and ship it. Need to talk to Dirk anyway. But please, let somebody confirm the part numbers are the same. I have no T16 parts list so can't help you there. You can find Dirk through his website www.lwdparts.com. The sprocket is listed under Canadian parts and costs a mere € 25.

Cheers,
Marc

[andrew honychurch]

Hi Marc, thats kind of you. I have looked at the website and it certainly looks the same. I have the T16 parts number somewhere, but can measure it up and let you know by pm what the dimensions are if you like. Dirk may well know if it is the same if you speak to him. Thx andrew

[Marc van Aalderen]

Hi Andrew,

I will call Dirk and ask him. To be continued.....

Marc

[horsa]

Hey Andrew,

Welding new steel over the rot was something we thought about at first since it is obviously much easier to do. It would also be stronger with the double skin, but only at first. Mud and water would get trapped between them and it'd be like termites for steel. You wouldn't know there was a new rot problem until the newer upper layer began to come apart.

Certainly better to go ahead and cut the cancer out while you are tearing everything else down. That way it will outlast you and someone else can enjoy it while you're pushing up daisies for them to drive on

On that small tranny output gear, I know that Rod Shaver had them NOS a couple of years ago. Sure he still has some available. If he still isn't responding to messages, it could be he is not currently on-line. The MVPA national convention in the USA was the week before the W&P show in the UK and he likely attended both events and may not be home.

If you ever make contact with him, ask him if he still has Windsor carbs. They have a different part number from the T-16 type but we determined the only difference is the choke mechanism. T-16 is set up for an electric pattern and the Windsor used a manual style. Internal parts and most of the cases are the same so its a viable source for NOS spare parts if needed.

[andrew honychurch]

Hi David, thanks for the heads up on the transmission drive. For the avoidance of doubt, according to my T16 Parts list, the part is interchangeable with Canadian UC. I thought they looked the same. On the carbs, I may have a source of a new one here in the Uk, and also I think I have a source of the autochoke mechanism. I have attached a picture of the choke I have been offered. Made by Sisson Choke. Pierce Gov USA?

[horsa]

The choke looks like the one I have mounted to the engines intake manifold. They can be hard to find but weren't a T-16 specific item.