Exciting times. The MVT (Military Vehicles Trust) has moved very quickly in arranging their inspection visit. Just one week from posting off the letter, photos and supporting information I received a call from their Suffolk area verifying inspector. No problems, "..can I visit tomorrow?". So, a phone call made and yes, he can! The up-shot is he visited today, seemed happy and is content to confirm that 519 was manufactured in 1954/55. So his report now returns to the MVT verification people and I await the next chapter, where presumably I get a letter to send to the DVLA accompanied by the V5.
On the brakes front, the rear brake wheel cylinders are done! It has taken a while since not only have the cylinders been relined in stainless steel, but they had to re-manufacture the pistons in stainless steel too as the previous aluminium ones had corroded beyond recognition. Expensive but hopefully a once only job. Just the master cylinder to do now - I could probably get away with it but if a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well. I guess, too, I'll have to get used to paying more to get parts made - unlike Bedford RLs, parts for Q4s seem to be thin on the ground!
Tuesday 30 September 2014
Sunday 21 September 2014
Hose It Down...
A productive day today as I went up to Cheshire to pick up some more bits for the Commer. This time, rather than mechanical bits, these are parts which it would have carried when in service as a hose layer with the AFS in the 1960s. However, as it was only registered in 1964 and the AFS disbanded in 1968, whether it actually ever fulfilled this purpose for real is debatable!
Anyway, I picked up three lengths of canvas 6" hose that a fellow goddess owner had stored. This 6" hose was used when goddesses were relay pumping from pump to pump over long distances. I'm not sure how long this was used for as even the 1963 training video I have seen shows them using plastic hose rather than canvas, hence why I have the distinct feeling that whilst they kept some and regularly inspected it, it was never really used (imagine drying 2-3 miles of canvas hose?!).
The hoses are held together with these neat and presumably original straps:
Evidence that it was regularly tested, here the tag dates from December 1991:
I also managed to pick up a few more toggles / couplings from the same chap - these were used to couple the 6" hose together and the Commer would / should have carried 12 when in service, so together with those I picked up from Vass last year, that's not far off 12:
Then it was on to another part of Cheshire to pick up two collecting heads. These were used to convert anything from one to six normal hose deliveries to one 6" hose and the Commer would have carried three when in service; luckily I already had one from a few years ago which I bought on spec and currently keep stored in my goddess. Ugly but at the same time, a work of early 1950s utilitarian beauty!!
Anyway, I picked up three lengths of canvas 6" hose that a fellow goddess owner had stored. This 6" hose was used when goddesses were relay pumping from pump to pump over long distances. I'm not sure how long this was used for as even the 1963 training video I have seen shows them using plastic hose rather than canvas, hence why I have the distinct feeling that whilst they kept some and regularly inspected it, it was never really used (imagine drying 2-3 miles of canvas hose?!).
The hoses are held together with these neat and presumably original straps:
Evidence that it was regularly tested, here the tag dates from December 1991:
I also managed to pick up a few more toggles / couplings from the same chap - these were used to couple the 6" hose together and the Commer would / should have carried 12 when in service, so together with those I picked up from Vass last year, that's not far off 12:
Then it was on to another part of Cheshire to pick up two collecting heads. These were used to convert anything from one to six normal hose deliveries to one 6" hose and the Commer would have carried three when in service; luckily I already had one from a few years ago which I bought on spec and currently keep stored in my goddess. Ugly but at the same time, a work of early 1950s utilitarian beauty!!
Tuesday 16 September 2014
The Magic Numbers...
Well, more progress and a step back or two...
The hubs are now back with Tony having been primed by Howard after blasting, they have now had a black top coat of some marine-type super rust-proof black paint to keep the rust at bay for a few more years. Smart they look too, ready for refitting!
Part of the Military Vehicles Trust process for dating the vehicle for the DVLA involves ascertaining the chassis number. It's on a plate under the bonnet, which is present and clear, and matches the V5. However, there should be another on the chassis somewhere. But where? On a Bedford RL, it's on a plate on the offside, just behind the cab - easy. On the Commer? Hmmm. I looked at the military parts list and it says that it's on a plate on the near side near to the spare wheel carrier, which the Civil Defence version doesn't have. So, a quick flick through the Civil Defence parts list leads to the following:
"It is also stamped on the top flange of the N.S. (L.H.) chassis sidemember at the rear spring front bracket location."
OK - but is that not where the body sits? Er, yes, as this photo shows....
Anyway, another AFS Q4 has appeared on eBay and the owners said that the chassis number matched and was visible etc. I cheekily emailed him to ask where he found the number on his and he had the following advice:
"Near-side chassis rail just above some rivets, about 12'' behind the rear wall of the cab."
Great, that's where the military parts list says it should be and nowhere near the CD location! But - on the AFS Q4, is there not a locker in the way, as the photo shows? Hopefully it will be visible.
However, some good news! Whilst wandering the web and the DVLA list of vehicle clubs earlier, I came across the Rootes Archive Centre Trust. Despite it saying that their records for military and commercial vehicles were not as complete as the cars, I emailed to ask whether some Commer information might be available. The response was "What's the chassis number and registration mark? We may have some information" So, fingers crossed.
To be continued....
The hubs are now back with Tony having been primed by Howard after blasting, they have now had a black top coat of some marine-type super rust-proof black paint to keep the rust at bay for a few more years. Smart they look too, ready for refitting!
Part of the Military Vehicles Trust process for dating the vehicle for the DVLA involves ascertaining the chassis number. It's on a plate under the bonnet, which is present and clear, and matches the V5. However, there should be another on the chassis somewhere. But where? On a Bedford RL, it's on a plate on the offside, just behind the cab - easy. On the Commer? Hmmm. I looked at the military parts list and it says that it's on a plate on the near side near to the spare wheel carrier, which the Civil Defence version doesn't have. So, a quick flick through the Civil Defence parts list leads to the following:
"It is also stamped on the top flange of the N.S. (L.H.) chassis sidemember at the rear spring front bracket location."
OK - but is that not where the body sits? Er, yes, as this photo shows....
Anyway, another AFS Q4 has appeared on eBay and the owners said that the chassis number matched and was visible etc. I cheekily emailed him to ask where he found the number on his and he had the following advice:
"Near-side chassis rail just above some rivets, about 12'' behind the rear wall of the cab."
Great, that's where the military parts list says it should be and nowhere near the CD location! But - on the AFS Q4, is there not a locker in the way, as the photo shows? Hopefully it will be visible.
However, some good news! Whilst wandering the web and the DVLA list of vehicle clubs earlier, I came across the Rootes Archive Centre Trust. Despite it saying that their records for military and commercial vehicles were not as complete as the cars, I emailed to ask whether some Commer information might be available. The response was "What's the chassis number and registration mark? We may have some information" So, fingers crossed.
To be continued....
Monday 15 September 2014
I'm Painting The Town Red...
Well, the hubs have been blasted by Howard and are on their way back. Very neat they look too! Certainly a huge improvement on what they did look like with almost 60 years of grime and muck on. Howard did mention that they are pretty heavy, though. They're made of tough stuff these Commers!
Looking forward too to a trip out this Sunday to collect some bits for it. Originally, it would have had about half a mile of faked out canvas (later plastic) 6 inch hose in the back. I can't stretch to half a mile but someone in Cheshire has three lengths, so that will do for the time being for display purposes. Also, I am dropping in to see another well know GG owner to buy a couple of collecting heads - these were used to enable hydrants of lightweight pumps to connect to a 6 inch hose; the Commer as a hose layer would have carried three.
Looking forward too to a trip out this Sunday to collect some bits for it. Originally, it would have had about half a mile of faked out canvas (later plastic) 6 inch hose in the back. I can't stretch to half a mile but someone in Cheshire has three lengths, so that will do for the time being for display purposes. Also, I am dropping in to see another well know GG owner to buy a couple of collecting heads - these were used to enable hydrants of lightweight pumps to connect to a 6 inch hose; the Commer as a hose layer would have carried three.
Monday 8 September 2014
Brake My Soul...
So, the rear wheel cylinders are away with Past Parts in Bury St Edmonds being re-sleeved in stainless steel. Now, Tony has removed all four hub assemblies whilst the wheels are in bits in order that they can be cleaned. If you're going to do a job do it properly! They are rather large and heavy and, surprisingly, pretty filthy considering that 519 has only done just over 1,700 miles. Still, I suppose that is over 50 years or so and probably long before jet washers were in common use!
Anyway, they're off to Howard at Rusty Bits in Suffolk to be blasted and painted, ready to be reunited with the rest of the braking system in the next few weeks!
Anyway, they're off to Howard at Rusty Bits in Suffolk to be blasted and painted, ready to be reunited with the rest of the braking system in the next few weeks!
Thursday 4 September 2014
Sealed With a Kiss...
The hunt for parts for the Q4 continues.... Tony has now, kindly, disassembled the front and rear hubs. The fronts are OK but as outlined in a previous post, the wheel cylinders were seized and Past Parts have weaved their magic on them. The rears were worse, the cylinders were equally seized and the hub seals too were beyond redemption. Que a hunt for new seals. Tony tried some trusted suppliers that he knew - with no luck. But, responding to an advert in the back of Classic Vintage and Commercial Magazine, I tried these guys - Oil Seal UK - who specialise in oil seals for classic vehicles. Would they have some rear seals for a Commer Q4, itself now quite a rare vehicle? Yup, they did (an NA883, apparently) and 48 hours after posting off a cheque, two new old stock Payen seals arrived in the post, still in their original boxes and protective paper. Excellent service!
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