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Austin A40 Devon pickup
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peter scott



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 7113
Location: Edinburgh

PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2021 10:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bitumen Boy wrote:
That's looking really good. Nice work Smile


Well the bits I can see look good.

Peter
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1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon
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Bitumen Boy



Joined: 26 Jan 2012
Posts: 1733
Location: Above the snow line in old Monmouthshire

PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 2:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

peter scott wrote:
Bitumen Boy wrote:
That's looking really good. Nice work Smile


Well the bits I can see look good.

Peter


Thats the way it always is with oldies, surely..? Laughing
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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Thu Jun 24, 2021 8:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

After 3 weeks work , here it is all back together and back on the road. Ive been using it all week for getting around.
In the end I stripped the door and wing as well. Gave it all a few coats of epoxy primer and a single temporary coat of green cellulose to make it a bit more presentable. Eventually it will all get flatted down and the various repairs will receive a proper top coat all over .




Ive still got to do the other side (here) which should be the last bit of bodywork, but I think Ill give it a rest for a month or 2 and get a few more miles on it this summer. At least I will know how to tackle it this time.

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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Sat Jun 26, 2021 8:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Today was an interesting day I got to try out 3 new vehicles.
So, In preparation for passenger hauling hopefully starting shortly after the lifting of covid restrictions at the railway:-
1) I was able to try my freshly repaired truck towing a trailer for the first time.
2) I was able to try out the new trailer.
And
3) I was able to get a boiler test and try out my rebuilt locomotive at my club.
The car and trailer performed well. I like it when my truck to has an actual, useful job to do.
The loco passed its boiler test but suffered a slight derailment of the front bogie. So needs a bit more work on the suspension to rectify this problem before going into service.


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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Thu Jul 08, 2021 11:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I stopped at the level crossing in Newhaven last Monday. A pedestrian started the usual shouted conversation. "That's nice mate, how old etc".
Then he said something I wasn't expecting.
"Are you an ex para? "
Me, "err, no, why?"
" Oh, just wondered, cos you've got para wings on your hubcaps, I'm ex 2 para".
Eh??
Then I realised what he meant. I suppose the embossed Austin logos do look a bit like the regimental badge (from a distance if you squint).
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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 9:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Today I thought I would try a little modification to the steering on my truck.
I have read about a conversion that MG and Austin healey owners do that involves replacing the thrust washer arrangement with a thrust needle roller bearing to make the steering lighter at low speeds. My steering isnt at all bad but I thought I would see if it could be better.
The standard arrangement consists of 2 steel washers with a sintered broze washer sandwiched in between at the top of each king pin. These takes the weight of the car on both sides at the front.
I bought the 3 piece bearings from "simply Bearings" for £3.02 each.
Dimensions are 20x35x4 and are the same as the ones in the MG/Healey kits.
The standard bearings are about 8mm thick so a packing piece is required for the needle bearing to make up the difference.
I incorporated an o-ring in the OD of the packing that allows excess grease out but hopefully not grit in. I dont think the bought kits have any sort of seal. But then neither does the original arrangement and they last for years.
I made the packer from bronze, but steel or even alloy would do.
It all came apart surprisingly easily and I did it all this afternoon.
I excitedly took it for a test drive after dinner and......
The steering is hardly any different!
Well maybe its a bit lighter.



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Ray White



Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 6286
Location: Derby

PostPosted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 10:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I replaced the thrust washers with needle roller bearings on my MG TC.

The king pins and bushes needed replacement so I did this mod at the same time.

The only draw back as far as I can see is there is no obvious provision for lubrication.
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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Fri Jul 16, 2021 6:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ray White wrote:
I replaced the thrust washers with needle roller bearings on my MG TC.

The king pins and bushes needed replacement so I did this mod at the same time.

The only draw back as far as I can see is there is no obvious provision for lubrication.


On my arrangement the new thrust bearings are lubricated by the in the normal way via the grease nipple.
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Ray White



Joined: 02 Dec 2014
Posts: 6286
Location: Derby

PostPosted: Fri Jul 16, 2021 12:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Miken wrote:
Ray White wrote:
I replaced the thrust washers with needle roller bearings on my MG TC.

The king pins and bushes needed replacement so I did this mod at the same time.

The only draw back as far as I can see is there is no obvious provision for lubrication.


On my arrangement the new thrust bearings are lubricated by the in the normal way via the grease nipple.


Same as me. After I had done it all some bright spark thought they would make my day by pointing out that the original bronze thrust washers are grooved
to permit greasing and that the Torrington bearings are sandwiched between hardened washers which stop grease getting to them.

Whether or not this is true, I am not changing it now. I take the view that if grease can't get in then the grease already there can't get out... so they stay greased. Wink
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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Wed Jul 21, 2021 10:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ive now driven a couple of hundred miles over the last week with the new king pin thrust bearings.
The steering is definately lighter at low speeds.
Although not "power steering" light as I have seen claimed.
But its a quick, straightforward and cheap enough mod to do (especially if you DIY it), so Im pleased i did it.
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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Sat Jul 31, 2021 8:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Earlier this week I was poking around with a screwdriver at the left hand side of the cab.
I got a bit carried away and now im doing this:





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badhuis



Joined: 20 Aug 2008
Posts: 1390
Location: Netherlands

PostPosted: Sun Aug 01, 2021 1:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Excellent repair. Good to see someone not to be afraid to use the welding machine. Thank you for sharing with us.
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Richard H



Joined: 03 Apr 2009
Posts: 2148
Location: Lincolnshire, UK

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2021 7:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just catching up with this project.
What a lovely pickup you have there, really smart looking.
I’m a big Austin fan, I’ve got two Counties Austins, a Somerset and Hampshire, so a warm welcome to the world of bulbous Austins.
Very impressed with your welding skills too. Some people spend a fortune having welding done, when just picking up a welder and having a go yourself is not only satisfying and cheaper, but you usually get better results too.
(Having seen the quality of the ‘welding’ the previous owner paid for on my Cambridge). It was so bad I’m sure I could do better blindfolded!

I can thoroughly recommend attending the Austin Counties Autumn rally at Tenterden in Kent if you can make it. I’ve moved away so it’s a bit of a trek for me these days, but they always used to get great turnouts.

Regards
Richard
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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Fri Aug 13, 2021 8:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ive been making progress on the cab repair.
Ive replaced most of the windscreen pillar and worked my way down to... whatever this bits called.
Im not clever enough to do proper butt welds so I spot weld the little tabs (that you can see in the pictures) onto one side of the joint which doubles the thickness of the metal and makes it easier to weld. Also helps reduce distortion







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Miken



Joined: 24 Dec 2012
Posts: 544

PostPosted: Fri Aug 13, 2021 8:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here is the new section of gutter fitted and the new metal primed

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