Isuzu C240 powered Series 3

**gromit** · 19th February 2013, 07:45 PM

Because I'm working on Wallit one corner at a time I struggle to get the axle back onto the leaf spring in the correct position.
I've ended up using a ratchet strap round a crossmember or outrigger and over the axle to pull it into position.

Last corner coming back together.

You might notice the shock absorber is different to the other side. I repainted the original shock absorber which seems OK but then decided to fit HD ones I had 'in stock'. The original skinny ones will find their way onto my Series 1 which has a coil-over conversion and you cannot fit the bigger diameter HD shockers.

The axle strap is only bolted on one side at the moment, once I jack up the axle I'll fit the other side.
When I fit the replacement wheel and s/h tyres I'll change the shock absorber on the other side.

While the fuel tank is out I might strain the contents into a couple of cans and clean and repaint it.

Colin

**gromit** · 23rd February 2013, 04:52 PM

Last corner completed...
New brake shoes fitted along with new springs. I often have problems getting everything in place without losing the springs so this time I put a twist of wire round the problem one. The tool I made came in handy and they were fitted very easily.

The tyres that Wallit came with were a Chinese14 ply Light Truck type and had a strange wear pattern, added to that the rims on one side had the raised section around the wheel nuts and the hub studs weren't long enough. On the other side they were the correct rims.
Secondhand tyres were fitted to another set of rims that came with Wallit and I fitted them today making it look a bit better.

The only problem I found with the secondhand tyres was the tubes. The company I used don't fit new tubes so they used my old ones and for one tyre they just used what they had available. Problem is the valve stem sticks outside the rim so I'll have to buy a correct tube and get it fitted.

Lots of bits to buy for Wallit now but I also want to take the prop shafts off and check them out (the rear had some play through a UJ). The tank is being painted, then an overhaul kit through the master cylinder and I can finally check out the LWB brakes.

I stilll need wing outer panels and either door bottoms or I'll weld up the originals.

Once it's on Club Plates and I've checked it out I'll consider a re-spray.

Colin

**gromit** · 3rd March 2013, 07:37 AM

Fuel tank painted, well all except the bottom which I'll do when I get it bolted back in place.

There was a lot of dirt trapped between the tank and the outriggers it bolts to so I ended up cleaning & re-painting them to hold back the rust.

Should get time to re-fit the tank later today.

Colin

**grey_ghost** · 3rd March 2013, 12:16 PM

Looking fantastic there Colin! Keep up the great work - it helps to motivate some of us on here!

**gromit** · 4th March 2013, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by grey_ghost

Looking fantastic there Colin! Keep up the great work - it helps to motivate some of us on here!

Thanks Grey Ghost.

The problem is it all seems to be taking so long, there are still 3 others waiting to be rebuilt plus 2 others to keep on-the-road. Work commitments are taking up a lot of time with Interstate travel, recruitment etc. etc.
I still have a SIIa shorty to collect (if the bloke hasn't sold it) plus a shed to finish building plus a heap of jobs on SWMBO's list (which seems to be continually growing).

This weekend flew by but I did manage to get all the batteries on the Land Rovers charged plus I started & ran 3 of them in between cutting grass, taking out hard rubbish, installing a new dryer, fixing the pool etc.

Next weekend is the Scoresby Steam Rally so that takes up one day, the following weekend is Corowa (for the Military gathering).
Now someone has offered me a Model T Ford in bits. Do I ? Don't I ?

Slow & steady wins the race.

Colin

**wrinklearthur** · 4th March 2013, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by gromit

Now someone has offered me a Model T Ford in bits. Do I ? Don't I ?

Hi Colin

My wife's comment was, Oh ! GGGGG'sssss , don't you ( meaning me ) even think of it !

.

**gromit** · 6th March 2013, 08:50 AM

Re-fitted the fuel tank last night. Great fun on your own, especially when the tank is half full (because I was too lazy to drain it).
Balanced it up on chocks of timber, lifting each end and adding more timber until the trolley jack and a spreader plate could fit underneath. After that it was quite straightforward (well apart from guiding it into place while pumping the trolley jack with one foot).
It's getting dark earlier now so the underneath will have to be sanded & painted another night. I'll probably take the brake master cylinder, booster and pedal box off next because I can work on that in the shed rather than on the driveway.

I still have to speak to the guy about the Model T Ford, he has a few other projects he wants to move on as well. A couple of 3-wheel Morgans (I really can't afford them), a number of FN motorbikes, a 1950's MG......it's all too tempting. Problem is they will just fill up my sheds and it'll be years until I get any work done on them, but I may never get the opportunity again.......

Colin

**chazza** · 6th March 2013, 08:40 PM

I have searched high and low for just the pieces of a Model T and found nothing

Take the Morgans there is a profit to be made in them, if nothing else,

Cheers Charlie

**gromit** · 7th March 2013, 07:30 AM

Originally Posted by chazza

I have searched high and low for just the pieces of a Model T and found nothing

Take the Morgans there is a profit to be made in them, if nothing else,

Cheers Charlie

Charlie,

The Morgans are worth stupid amounts of money.

The Model T has been scattered around his property (in ramshackle sheds) for many, many years. I think there is enough to make a complete vehicle, maybe more than one vehicle.....

I'll catch up with him at the weekend and have a chat.

Colin

**gromit** · 12th March 2013, 05:02 PM

It was too hot to do much over the weekend although I did drop the rear propshaft so that I can check/replace the UJ's.

Instead I thought I'd check out a radiator that came with the Series III Diesel I parted out a while ago. It looked like it had been recored at some point in the past and could be used on Wallit because the fins on his radiator fitted have corroded away.

I turned up a couple of plugs and put a 1/8"BSP tapped hole in them. One is fitted with a Scrader valve (tyre valve) the other has a pressure gauge fitted. These are used on the inlet & outlet of the radiator. The hard part was locating a low pressure gauge at a reasonable cost.
The inlet/outlet connections were damaged so I ground some old waterpump pliers to a radius so that I could get the connections back to shape so that the hose would fit.

I used a bicycle pump to raise the pressure to abouut 10psi. The pressure dropped off immediately so after some more pumping & listening I realised the radiator cap was leaking. Off to Repco for a new cap.
Added some water to the radiator this time before pressurising. Pressure dropped off slowly, rolled the radiator round and found a split in the bottom tank. Depressurised and soldered over the crack. Repeated and found another crack, soldered and repeated. This time the pressure dropped but much more slowly. Turned the radator upside down and found a crack in the header tank fixed this then found another one.
Finally it holds pressure, dropped only slightly overnight.

Problem is, these were cracks in the brass tanks. They could have been caused by the tanks work hardening but could also be because the radiator has been out of the vehicle and dropped/bumped over the years.

If it's because the tanks have work hardened then I'm thinking hard about whether I use it or throw it away.......

Colin

Thread: Isuzu C240 powered Series 3

Thread Tools

Wife conspiracy

Radiator Repairs

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions