Thread: The Grey Ghost - a Rolling Restoration

Thanks Grey Ghost! It's great to see your progress, keep the pics coming

Cheers Simon

Top notch. Ive done these things sporadically and lamented not taking a before shot so I could share the transformation.

Keep it coming! You have inspired me to shoot mine before I start the sodablasting.

c

Good on ya Grey Ghost for taking the time to share your project with us.
How about telling us a bit about it? Do you know anything of the history? It looks like a fairly good one to start from.

Hi All,

Unfortunately I don't know much about the Grey Ghost.

I Purchased it off e-bay from a farmer in Benella (country Vic).

His name was Frank and he's 80 years old, still working 400 acres of sheep.

He was the second owner, and had never had it registered.

He bought it off another Benella farmer and "drove it home via the paddocks".

He was selling it because he just didn't need it anymore.

I took it for a test drive, trying all gears and making sure that it worked in Hi and Low range. I crawled underneath it looking for rust (which there wasn't much apart from surface rust)

I picked it up in March 2011 and have been slowly working on it since.

It's a 1961 Series 2 - with it's original engine still in it.

I discovered that it was a series 2 via a website (Sweedish I think - can't remember now). I also discovered that it was a Series 2 because of the rear wheel master cylinders - mine are 3 bolt, and apparently only Series 2 had them. I've been told that Series 2A onwards have 2 bolt?

That's about it for the moment.

Regards,
The Grey Ghost.

Looking through those pic's makes me want too start another one!!

Looking good T B keep the pic's coming

Originally Posted by grey_ghost

I discovered that it was a series 2 via a website (Sweedish I think - can't remember now). I also discovered that it was a Series 2 because of the rear wheel master cylinders - mine are 3 bolt, and apparently only Series 2 had them. I've been told that Series 2A onwards have 2 bolt?

Grey Ghost,

Looks like you've done a lot of work on it so far.

Did you manage to get replacement rear wheel cylinders, it looks like it from the photos. I've overhauled the cylinders on my '60 Series 2 but only as a temporary measure (pistons are pitted). I tried locally to get replacements with no luck so was considering longer term changing the backplates to the later type with 2 adjusters (2-bolt wheel cylinder) or machining up stainless pistons.

I notice yours has a PTO on the gearbox but couldn't see if it was connected to anything.

Good to see another one making it back onto the road, it'll be a while before mine hits tarmac but at least it's moving and the brakes should be working again soon....


Colin

Hi Grommit,
I got my rear wheel cylinders re-sleeved by a company in Melbourne.
As you can see from the pictures - they did a fantastic job (look brand new).
I did find some replacement units in the UK - for $150 pound, EACH.
I could not find local replacements, despite ringing every company that I could think of.
I also contacted all of the Australian Ebay sellers and everybody said "No Longer Available".
I had read (on this forum) numerous arguments about "replacement vs re-sleeve".
I went the re-sleeve because I didn't have any choice!
I also investigated changing the backing plates - but I decided to give the re-sleeve a go and see how that went.
I haven't bled the brakes yet (which I am told can be fun).

The PTO isn't connected to anything - I haven't even tried it yet to be honest. Another thing to add to the list of jobs!

Regards,
The Grey Ghost

Originally Posted by grey_ghost

I haven't bled the brakes yet (which I am told can be fun).

Hi Grey Ghost

When you do your bleeding of the brake, I would reverse bleed them from the wheels back to the reservoir, this forces any air bubbles upwards and out of the high spots in the brake lines.
.