Thread: The Ultimate FC

Some great vids there, cheers

Thanks for the following.
The work is only starting.
Today I started to take a close look at the hull after taking out the flooring.
A quick run of the needle gun found about 100 small holes on one side only and many , many preivous patches and repairs to keep the old girl water tight.
For preivous owners to go to the trouble of patching the hull tells me this thing must have been a swimmer.
These repairs were all done a while a go and with a stick welder.
This rust is not though swimming , but though storage, as rain water collects in the flat area above the wheels.
I am a bit angery as the hull is full of gum leaves telling me a Aussie owner knew of this and the vehicle is no where swim worthy as I was lead to believe.

Note the leaking green coolant and see how it collects and causes rust.




Note where the welding is rough is where a previous plate has been welded in and even some of them have rusted though

This cover plate on the back of the cabin is next to come off as I know there is tin worm inside.

This is looking from the outside near the side gate sealing strip and a preivous repair with a rust hole underneath


Rust on the sealing strip plates means it will have to be pulled out.
The seals would work OK currently, but I think due to there age once removed they cannot be used again.

I suspect to find more holes when I go looking on the other side of the Hull.
This is the cover plate that goes over the radiator.

This is the alloy deck frame of which there is four which I now know are quickly removeable.

A couple of interesting things I have learnt.
The desert sand colour paint on the stolly was painted over the factory deep bronze green.
This means it was used by the army in a dry place.
A few coats of army green are then over that.
I will needle gun the hull on the out side as the paint chips off well and being so many coats and thick it doesnt sand blast well with the equiptment I have.
I tried the crane in anger the other day and it picked up easily 3 tons in the postion where it is only suppose to pick up 2 tons.
The crane is very under rated.
The stolly has no support legs to take the weight side on.
It is supprizing for something that rides so well it leans very ,very little and the legs are not needed in any way.
The crane I expect will pick up 2 tons at full reach and 4 tons or more in close.

Another thing is the gearbox really lays on its side.
By doing this the side PTO which is normal for a gearbox is now placed on top and the gear shift clears the transfercase so it can run to the cabin.(as it is now to one side of the vehicle)
This also allows the gearbox to be mounted low to the floor on its side with the dry sump engine.
I am seeing though the maze of pipes and learning this is a very clever vehicle.
I am finding that access to most components is not a problem if you know how to go about it.
In fact I would say it is far easier that its armoured car cousins.
Dont expect this thread to be a quick one .
Time is not my friend.

It seems you have all the swimming kit still fitted.

Easo