Latest vehicle work.

During our brief heatwave, it hit 29 degrees here I have only been able to spent about 2 hours on my fleet since the beginning of the month. I just had to pick the hottest day to try and move this project forward.
I have found suitable rope hooks for the 1954 Morris Minor pick-up's tail gate and have fitted the new petrol tank. At long last as you might remember I ordered a new van/pick-up tank but received a saloon one, this was replaced promptly by a van/pick-up one (it's the filler neck that is different between saloons and commercials). The new tank looked alright but when fully un-packed it was found it had been made incorrectly.
I have now fitted the new replacement tank and new sender unit. Slight faults were found on fitting this tank, the outlet union thread were slightly "mashed up" and it was hard to get the threaded petrol pipe union to "start".
Also one of the threads on the sender mounting ring  was stripped. The final slight problem was the breather pipe from the top of the tank to the filler pipe, this copper pipe was in place but the soldering around the pipe ends was poor and hardly held the pipe in. Also if the tank was very full I'm sure it would start to leak as the petrol sloshed about.
Anyway the tank is now in and wired up. I hope to continue with the door repairs at the weekend.

New rope retainers fitted, not that they will ever be used but it does fill up the holes where the missing hooks were.

My one and only "proper" vehicle rally.

On Sunday 19th I was out and about in the J type. Doing my best to get in the way while I drove to the start at Henley on Thames about 15 miles away. We then did a nice road run of about 50 miles to have a static display at a steam railway. I then had a nice little late afternoon drive home of a further 30 miles.
Here are a few of the 80 other vehicles taking part on the day.

Funny, no cars in front of me but plenty behind.

The 1919 Leyland doing 12 MPH, yes we caught it up.

A down hill slope so with the road ahead clear we sailed past.

The best vehicle in the show, what do you think? It just had to be the this excellent J type.

Further pictures from Gaydon.

All on its own with just a rainbow for company.

Somewhere over the rainbow is a pot of gold! Picture by E.D. owner of Jb (704 HCV).

 What have I been doing on the fleet, no time I'm afraid to wield the spanners but I did order a new fuel tank for the pick-up as now all welding has been finished.
I was unlucky to be sent in error a car fuel tank so had to send that back. The replacement tank arrived and all looked good at first till I noticed the outlet pipe, its in the wrong place, the top and bottom pressings have been welded together but 180 degrees out.
So its got to be sent back again, slight problem they are out of stock of these tanks so till another batch are made I will have to wait.

Another van for sale on e-bay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180677211351&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:GB:1123
Quote
"Up for a very rare auciton is my fathers morris j type van. the van was restored less than 12 months ago its paint work is very nice sprayed in a oven for a better finish the van is a 1954 and had lots of new body panels. please dont email me ring him on.07943073246. ask for peter."

Also on e-bay is a postcard size picture of a Martin Walter mini bus. A nice period picture, shame the registration number cannot be seen. Strange place to mount the indicators, in the grill panel.