Restoration of Hull 731- Carrier, MG (Aust) Mortar Carrying

Darrin Wright · #1 30-09-13, 14:03

Also completed the brake pedal assembly and welded in a grease nipple fitting.
Will get this sandblasted and painted soon.
Also added to the pile of parts to be blasted, with the good weather I hope to do this soon.

Dale Jordan · #2 30-09-13, 22:14

Looks fantastic Darrin well done so far . In the photo with your son what is the square welded part on the lower hull ? Dale

Darrin Wright · #3 01-10-13, 14:59

Dale, that is the mounting plate for the steering axle mounting plate. That part of the hull is reinforced to take the load, hence the plate.
The before resto pic should show what you are referring to.

Euan McDonald · #4 01-10-13, 15:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darrin Wright

Dale, that is the mounting plate for the steering axle mounting plate. That part of the hull is reinforced to take the load, hence the plate.
The before resto pic should show what you are referring to.

Darrin,
I think Dale was referring to the patch panel.

Darrin Wright · #5 03-10-13, 14:33

That square panel is where someone has cut out a section of the armour and then re-welded it back in.

I think it was done by the Army, educated assumption, as a training task; because most BGC that I have seen with steel cut out has been used for other things and not welded back in.
I have decided to leave it there as it tells a part of its story/history; however, the inside has been welded and ground down so that it is not seen.

I have attached a 'before' pic to show the cut & welded panel.

Euan McDonald · #6 04-10-13, 01:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darrin Wright

That square panel is where someone has cut out a section of the armour and then re-welded it back in.

I think it was done by the Army, educated assumption, as a training task; because most BGC that I have seen with steel cut out has been used for other things and not welded back in.
I have decided to leave it there as it tells a part of its story/history; however, the inside has been welded and ground down so that it is not seen.

I have attached a 'before' pic to show the cut & welded panel.

Could have been an emergency exit!

Darrin Wright · #7 07-10-13, 14:05

Well with the good weather it was time to get that pallet of parts blasted and painted. So I took in the RHR suspension unit, track adjuster bar, tube axle and a box of loose fittings.
Had it back just after lunch and undercoated, later in the afternoon gave it a coat of green.

As I could not assemble the steering axle rollers in the hull, I removed them and assembled them on the bench, then re-installed them back into the hull. With those mounted back in the hull, the boys and I slid the tube axle into the hull. It went in easier than when it came out.

Darrin Wright · #8 19-12-13, 06:15

Picked up a set of lazer cut floor plates (sump drain, gearbox drain, coolant drain & 2 fuel tank drain covers) during the week, from a fellow MLU member.
Will get them blasted and painted over Christmas and installed.

I have also had all the seat cushion foam cut, already have olive vinyl so hope to make the seats and have them installed over the break.

More to follow later

Darrin Wright · #9 24-12-13, 10:36

This weekend before Christmas have done a few small/light jobs, such as:

lightly rubbed the painted surfaces back (the only section not rubbed back is the front interior) this is for a flat coat

made/completed the modification to my choke & throttle cables by brazing the spring loaded yokes to the inner cable, this is so they can attach to the balls/levers on the carby. The spring loaded yokes are from Mac's Auto, an item used to run a dual carby setup on a sidevalve V8, I cut the shaft in the middle & drilled a small hole down the centre of the shafts for the cable to go into to.

continued making clevis pins to suit all my square yoke ends for the steering/braking rods.

Painted my fuel tap and some more steering/brake rods.

Merry Christmas to all over the festive season and take care.

Darrin Wright · #10 11-01-14, 02:28

With the engine in and mounts done up, we then assembled the RHR seat and installed that into the hull for a test fitting. Little bit smaller than I remember when I was a child riding around in a friends BGC, I don't really have to worry as that is where the kids/friends will be as I will be in the front (hopefully driving it!).
Also installed the RHR suspension station into the hull, was going to use my floor crane to lift it, but with 2 people it was up and in within the minute. Then set about tightening up all the new fasteners. Still have to tighten the 2 engine rail bolts, but they are installed. It is now a little bit tighter with the engine in.
Removed the oil cooler and installed the better item.
Time for tea & sleep.

colin jones · #11 11-01-14, 05:53

Hi Darrin, very nice work. If you want to put it on a trailer and bring it over, I'll give you a hand and we'll git,r,dun before you have to go back to work.

Colin.