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.

Calling all J van owners in New Zealand.

Check out this.http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-parts-accessories/vintage-parts/other/auction-378944886.htm
Morris Commercial van. 1954? This is basically the shell. The doors are in good condition. There is some spare glass. The van's side panels at the base are rusted. There is no motor or gear box but it has a diff. Would suit: parts for existing van. A restorsation project. You will need passion, time and money!!! or and how about this. A mobile, tow able bill board for your business. Finally a garden orniment. They are just too cool to scrap. it needs to go as I have an other.
This sold for $151, so cheap.

Could a fellow Nz J owner try to find out its chassis number (if the top radiator cover is still about) and also get some pictures and chassis number of his other j van.


Thanks to Mike Parry for sending me the link to this advert.

Latest news.

Well my many blog sites have been down for a few days now. Not as every e-mail I gained in my in-box suggested / implied / wondered why I had blocked them for some reason. Sorry the whole site was off line to everybody..
Well the blog is back, in a much reduced, in size kind of a way.
The last 218 postings have been lost, well who takes notice of my rantings anyway?
What have I been doing with my vehicles? Nowt is the answer, so you have missed nothing while I have been off air. As some of you know I do over 40 blogs, many for other people and not just vehicles ones. Maybe too many so I have passed some of these on and have closed most of the rest.
See you around.

A nice van for sale in Nz.

Number plate:	MORISJ
Kilometres:	36,000km
Body:	Blue, 4 door, Van
Fuel type:	Petrol
Engine:	4 cylinder, 1622cc, Manual
History:	5 owners or more, NZ New
Registration expires:	Jan 2012
WOF expires:	Sep 2011
Stereo description:	Sony cd player
Features:	Alarm Central locking Towbar

1957 Morris JB Express Delivery Van, Factory O.H.V.and 4 speed model.Reg and w.o.f.Completed a full body off rebuild 7 yr ago and have travelled about 36000 km since then. Motor has been tweaked a bit and is running 5:44 gears in the diff. Brakes have been re shoed and new cylinders during the resto. A few modern additions have been fitted,a heater,a c.d.player,central-locking,alarm, 15'' radial tyres and halogen headlamps.These can be removed if you want the full 1950's experience.(you don't!) It has been a working van so there are a few minor blemishes here and there.There is no rust in the body or chassis.These vans are as rare as a rare thing, only about 500 left world -wide, probably only 2 or 3 in N.Z. Drive around all year with the door open to show how hard you are! 

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Morris/jb/auction-376169555.htm

My thanks to P.H. for the information.

Sorry there has not been much activity with this site over the last few weeks, just so many other things to do and NO time for vehicles. Lots of house painting is on the cards in the coming weeks.

Mr Cool also known as J.B's J.B. blog has been updated and I have just been sent some additional pictures so will add them shortly.