Restoration of Hull 731- Carrier, MG (Aust) Mortar Carrying - Page 3

Darrin Wright · #61 26-12-12, 11:51

Welded in the last section of the rear shelf, the Right triangle end piece. Also cleaned up and repaired the bracket for the POL container in the RHR section.
Took the Dodge and Jeep for a drive as it had been awhile since they got out of the workshop and the summer weather has been nice.
Managed to straighten the exhaust shields at the rear of the hull as they were slightly bent and also some minor damage to the angle that protects the brake linkage at the rear.

Darrin Wright · #62 27-12-12, 11:18

Have continued with the welding of the front panel. After welding I then ground down the welds and ran over them with a course sanding disc.
There is a slight variation between the flat panel surfaces, this should be reduced with sandblasting and perhaps, dare I say this, a slight smear of body filler later before painting. This will bring the panel into 1 flat plain surface.
Well it will not fall out as I had the amps turned right up and really managed good penetration.
Just have to place some welds in behind the panel now, not looking forward to welding upside down.

Lew Skelton · #63 27-12-12, 18:53

Hi Darrin, when I replaced the top of the gunners side armour I got both sides and the weld to the same level with a grinder and filled the low spots with bog, it looks smooth as. You can't feel it but it sticks out in certain light as it's super smooth at the join, thinking about how to hide it if I did it again I might have pressed some coarse sandpaper into the bog too dimple the surface.

Darrin Wright · #64 30-12-12, 11:10

I have finished welding the inside of the front panel where I replaced the 1/2" section of front hull. It is now ground down so that it is flat. Due to grinding upside down at times to get the angle grinder in there, I went and purchased a full face sheild and goggles as the safety glasses were letting sparkes in around the edges. Job is done now.

Borrowed a 2 gal POL tin to test fit in the back right corner, where I welded in the new/replacement strap bracket. Even though I had allowed an additional 5mm it is a snug fit.

Replaced more threaded blocks on the front floor, the Vickers toolkit mounting plate/bracket and the blocks for the cover that protects the linkage from the gunners feet.

Dragged the hull out of the welding bay so that I could have a tidy up, clean up all the metal, dirt, grinding dust from under the hull. Saves tripping over rubbish.
Commenced to strip down the V8, removed the gear box, starter motor, manifolds, distributor, drained the water and oil from the sump and dropped the sump down. The water does not appear to have damaged or marked any of the important bits underneath.

I cut out the rear sheet steel covers that protect the brake rods, something that I had forgot to do before, found plenty of rust under them with lots of red Northern Territory dust/dirt. Cleaned that out of the hull onto the nice clean floor, that tidy floor did not last long.

Darrin Wright · #65 02-01-13, 08:07

With Mum & Dad over for a Christmas/New year holiday (bringing many spare parts of mine) we stripped the engine down, slow going as 3 pistons were seized and this made it quite hard to access the split pins and nuts on the end of the conrods. Managed to hammer down some of the pistons and this provided enough access to lift the crankshaft. When we did lift it, the ring gear got caught on the oil pump drive bolts. After a bit of a struggle using the floor crane to lift, we got it apart. Then it was on to removing the valves and guides, using all the correct tools made slow going but we did not break anything. If you try and pull them out without the correct tools something will break, I only broke 1 guide but stopped before breaking anymore.

Dad stripped down the gearbox and checked everything out, it is well worn and will need a replacement main shaft and most of the gears. The rear mount is broken but have a BGC mount to replace it with. Just have to clean it up.

I continued to weld in replacement mounting blocks in the hull, replaced the blocks for the fuel tank brackets, replaced the strap mounting plate in the front left of the hull, tidied up sections of the hull, mounted the diff armoured cover and drilled most of the holes in the back shelf (also welded on 2 threaded mounting blocks), measured and then drilled the 4 holes for the jack bracket.

Keith Webb · #66 02-01-13, 11:53

Hi Darrin

I have a lot of gearbox internals NOS including the mainshaft (not the cluster gear though)

Darrin Wright · #67 09-01-13, 11:21

Welded in the brackets for the mortar base plate in the RHR of the hull, also welded on the small bracket that secures the tow cable on the top of the air scoop.
Not much done of late due to the 40deg heat.

Darrin Wright · #68 10-01-13, 11:11

I have more machined threaded blocks made and have also collected more steel cut by the lazer cutters.
I have had the steering cam plate cut and the section that separates the tube axle area from the engine bay, figured that it was easier to get this plate cut than to make it myself and drill all the 5/16"holes.
The pic shows the 2 cam plates that were used and the seperation plate.
If there is any interest in these I can have more cut as I have paid for engineering drawings. I can also work out the price for those interested....

Darrin Wright · #69 14-01-13, 11:01

Mounted the RHF mudguard and panel beat it back into shape using hammers and a bit of heat to get it right. When finished, placed on the pile of items to be sand blasted.
I then moved on to strip down the driver's floor plates and remove the linkages and pedal brackets, saved most of what was there and repaired it as I went so that it is ready for sand blasting.

Darrin Wright · #70 19-01-13, 23:16

Finished cleaning up the gear box with the pressure cleaner and then wire buffed it and painted it in undercoat. Measures/inspected the casing/housing and it appears to be useable.
Also cleaned up the engine and removed the last piston in pieces (it was the most rusted in piston).
Pistons measured up to .030"oversize, crank main bearings are standard and the big end bearings have been ground .010".
The block and crank are now at the engine reconditioners to be cleaned and worked on.
Oil pump has been rebuilt.
Also measured and counted all the bolts required to screw into the mounting blocks welded into the hull, will order these soon so that they are in the hull prior to sand blasting.

Darrin Wright · #71 28-01-13, 10:59

Australia Day on saturday, traveled to Melbourne to drop parents off at the Airport, also visited the RACV motorshow in the park. VMVC members there with their Jeeps and some very nice cars. Little bit cool and not as many cars as I remember from the previous years.

Have stripped the started motor and generator and checked and cleaned up. Starter motor has a bent armature and bearings will need to be replaced, but otherwise everything else in it is good to use.

The 2 brush generator requires new bearings and it should be good, buffed it up and will undercoat it and give it a coat of gloss black. Will check in town tomorrow for the bearings.

Darrin Wright · #72 07-02-13, 11:16

New bearings for the genarator have been purchased and it is now rebuilt. Will have to test it later, possibly on the engine running.
The distributor has been stripped and rebuilt using another one. Now will have to read up on how to time it to the engine. The HT lead tubes have been cleaned up and painted.
Ordered a fuel pump kit and engine gasket set from Automotive Surplus. When rebuilding the fuel pump discovered that the shaft for the diaphram was the incorrect length so had to remove the new parts from the kit and place them onto my old shaft, otherwise the rest was simple. It has now been completed and painted.

Ric Davies · #73 22-02-13, 01:08

Good to see another carrier coming to life. Mine took three and a half years but now it's done over 100 miles and I still love it! If you've still got some broken studs or electrical conduit to get apart, while the parts are just glowing quench them with cold water. They will then come apart easily.

Ric Davies · #74 22-02-13, 01:15

Not that good at the photos yet so here is the after shot.

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #75 22-02-13, 06:11

Hi Ric - according to my database your Carrier #4354 is a 1943 South Australian manufacture built under Order No. MOS 170.

Bob

Ric Davies · #76 22-02-13, 14:59

Thanks for the info Bob

Darrin Wright · #77 22-02-13, 21:14

I have been a bit side tracked of late with the engine being at the reconditioners.

I have pogressed a bit more on my Chev truck, that is another story and another thread.

The engine reconditioners have:
cleaned the heads & surface plained them (I now have them back)
block has been cleaned, head surface area and intake manifold surface area machined
block has 3 sleeves in it and the rest bored out to 60" oversize
crankshaft ground
they have purchased all the pistons, rings, bearings from the USA
they have the cam shaft and new bearings for installation
they also have all other rotating parts for balancing

I am expecting it back this week or next, then I will clean it down for assembly.
I have to place an order soon for items from Mac's Auto as I require more valve guides and valves.

Darrin Wright · #78 10-03-13, 22:16

After being sick for 2-3 weeks and not feeling like working on anything, I finally got back down to the workshop and drilled out that last broken bolt in the hull front floor section that holds down the seat mount/pivot. I also then cut all the 3/8UNF bolts to fill the holes ready for sandblasting.
Also played with my C60L, trying to get the cooling system to seal. Just lots of little pin prick leaks, poured in a can (or 2) of sealing powder to see if that helps. It sealed up a few leaks and also the thermostat, after idling for 10min the engine boiled its head off. So I think the thermostat may have buggered up. I did check it when I rebuilt the water pump, so I will remove it and see if that makes a difference.
Have started to pack my vehicles and trailer ready for Corowa.
I have some seat back panels and engine bay divider plates cut during the week in the hope to sell while at Corowa.
I also placed an order for parts from Mas Auto in the USA, this should help put the engine back together. Have not had the time to ring the engine reconditioners to check on my engine, but it should be ready now and may be able to pick up on Tuesday before heading off to Corowa.

Darrin Wright · #79 21-03-13, 11:41

In the last 2 weeks I have been busy with Corowa and work on the BGC.
While on day 1 at Corowa I received a call from the engine re-conditioners that the engine was ready to collect, unfortunately not being in a position to collect had to wait until after Corowa. So during my lunch break this week, with trailer, went down to see them and pay for and collect my engine and all the items and new parts from the states. Got it home and unloaded it straight into the workshop.

Through MLU and a good friend I managed a swap of some items that I no longer required that could be used by someone else, for (what I believed to be) an ammunition cover to suit a BGC such as mine. This was delivered through another friend that travelled down from QLD at the start of Corowa. See attached pics, the cover fits like a glove and allows for the 3"ammunition to be stowed in the right hand side under cover from bullets, shrapnel and tree branches. This cover requires some minor repair to the up-right stay and a sand blast and paint, so I am very happy with it.

One night after work I started to look at and prepare the block for assembly, I did find that the engine re-conditioners left the 2 bottom welsh plugs (4 in total in the bottom of the block) in the block when it went into the acid bath, so I popped them out and cleaned out the silt and rust scale with a screwdriver and compressed air.

The engine is now on my temporary work bench waiting for m to commence on the valves and valve seats.

Also waiting on my order of parts from Mac's Auto and still have to chase up some valves as I was hoping that someone would have them at Corowa- no luck there.

colin jones · #80 21-03-13, 22:01

Hey Darrin, looks like you're moving along very well. I pretty sure that cover is a radio cover. It's in fantastic condition and they are quite rare...ish.
Great job and keep the pictures comin.
Colin.

Euan McDonald · #81 22-03-13, 01:17

Hi Colin,
What Darrin didn’t point out is the radio cover has a return around the cover that protects the radio compared to the mortar cover that is just a flat cover with no return.

colin jones · #82 22-03-13, 04:54

Thanks Euan, we learn something every day. Sometimes even more than one

Colin

Euan McDonald · #83 22-03-13, 06:40

Found a pic from Darrins collection showing a LP2 with convertion to 3" mortar and the armour cover over the mortars.

Darrin Wright · #84 30-03-13, 23:04

The week prior to Easter I dropped off my intake manifold for a clean and surface plain- if required. I collected this before Easter and have painted it and installed the PCV assembly onto it and made a blanking gasket for the oil filler tube/hole.
I also received my order from Mac's Auto in the states, so have now wired up the HT leads, tubes and distributor. Very easy as it is all colour coded, instruction sheet provided and you download the wiring diagram from their website.
Something I did overlook when the engine was at the reconditioners, and they failed to inform me, was that when the block was surfaced plained the machining cut into the valve seats. 4 seats also have rust pitting and I thought I could clean these up with a grinding stone cut at 45deg.
I found out that the valve seats must be hardened as they just wore a groove in by stone. So have discussed it with the reconditioners and will most likely take the block back and get the valve seats replaced and cut to suit/match my valves.

Darrin Wright · #85 04-04-13, 11:39

Took the opertunity today with good weather to get my pile of parts sandblasted.
Loaded up the trailer last night and arrived at the company at 0730ish this morning and dropped it all off.
Collected it this afternoon and undercoated it. Only 3/4 of it was blasted as it took them longer than anticipated.
It is all on pallets away in the workshop waiting for some minor repair and green paint, then I can commence some re-assembly.
Pics are courtesy of my youngest who managed to take photos while on his rip-stick (skate board) around the workshop.

Darrin Wright · #86 22-04-13, 12:27

I misplaced my camera, hence there was no progress report last week.
But it has since turned up, sitting in the Jeep in the workshop.
The other weekend I went to a swap meet and found a leather spare barrel cover and a 1918 dated pick head that suits the stowage brackets/clamp on the back diff cover.
I also picked up some small bolts to secure the '"A" frame brackets that secure the Vickers anno tins into the hull, so they are now in the mount blocks in the front of the hull, ready for sand blasting.

Darrin Wright · #87 23-04-13, 12:05

Tonight I collected a parcel from the general store/Post Office, the last item that I require (until next time I need something) to assemble my engine.
12 split valve guides.
I found that replacing them (4 that I bought previously) removed 60%-80% of the wear between guide and valve stem, so decided to replace them all.
Will check them all out over the weekend to ensure that they fit into the block and around the valve. Must make sure that they do not grab/bind on the stem.
Once that is done I will drop the block back with the engine reconditioners to replace those rusted/pitted valve seats, then can commence reassembly.

Darrin Wright · #88 02-05-13, 13:44

just a quick update, with the last of the engine parts I have dropped off the block to have the valve seats looked at and at least 6 replaced and the remainder possible cut or refaced.
I have also painted (base coat) some items with a khaki green that I had, looks alright but not sure that this will be the final colour.

Darrin Wright · #89 09-05-13, 12:56

for the last few weeks I have been watching the weather reports and having discussions with the sandblasting company about how/when to get the hull to them for sand blasting.
Have to do it before winter stes in.
Well the weather reports are all looking good for the end of the week, so I rang the sandblasting company only to be told that they are booked out until Tuesday next week. Since when did they start to plan and schedule work? Oh well, find a back up plan.
I contacted Dave at Border Sandblasting 0418 578 392, Wodonga, to see how busy he was. I had used him several years ago to blast my MBT trailer and he did a very good job. Luckily he was free Friday to sand blast the hull.
I then rang Raff Fabrications who have a crane truck and organised him to collect and deliver to the sand blasting place; and collect when blasted and undercoated. That should be Friday at approx 4pm.
So today, Thursday, the hull was collected from home and dropped off at lunch time.
Tonight it sits in the blast chamber for an early start in the morning. Dave beleives there is about 4-6 hours blasting. We will see, as I think it would be closer to 8-10 hours. At $200 per hour I hope he is right.

2 pics showing the hull at the yard.
Tonight I cleaned and swept the shed out so that I can paint tomorrow and Saturday, the Dodge now sits in the BGC work bay.

Darrin Wright · #90 11-05-13, 11:14

The blasting took about 8.5hr and it finally came home around 5.20pm.
The crane unlaoded it back onto the dollys and pallet jack.
The underside was undercoated as I cannot get to that part when it is down in position.
Then when ready, we pushed it back inside the workshop and covered it over until saturday morning for painting.