Spoilers.

The recent J van video has been removed, seems we might be in breach of copyright.
As if my 90 people a day viewing this blog are going to make a great deal of difference.
On a nicer note, one of my regular hirers wants my van for two days display indoors, and we can re-use the signs we have used before.
I just had an odd hour to myself at the weekend so I thought I would change the faulty starter solenoid on the van.
Easy job, disconnect the battery, lift up the floor and set to with the spanners and screw drivers.
It was not to be, easy to get the wires off the terminals but the small bolts holding the solenoid to the started motor would not undo.
Nothing for it the starter motor had to come off. Two bolts removed but I cannot get the motor off as the oil filter is in the way, its a screw on modification so that was easy, just annoying. So with the starter motor now in the garage the problem could be attacked, the bolts had been welded to the bracket!
So after a couple of strokes with a hacksaw the solenoid was removed. Two more holes were drilled and the new solenoid was mounted in place. I just need to to refit it. After that it was a good idea to do an oil change and fit a new spin on oil filter.
Well it all works, so that's a good thing but while I was under the van I felt I was not alone. Seems my regular friend wanted to help with the repairs.

Yes its my friendly Robin advising me from the edge of the tool bag that I need a 7/16 AF ring spanner for the starter motor bolts. He got rewarded for his help with a few meal worms, he does work cheap.

Spot the J van, yes behind the land rover. Many thanks Boris for the picture.

Bits and more bits.

Out on location filming, very damp and cold, so it must have been a bit up north.

 A period picture, unknown location. A GPO mail van washes its wheels in some very deep flood water.

 A busy period street snap, three GPO mail vans fighting their way through heavy traffic. I've never seen a GPO mail J type van have a white circle on the off side door, anyone know what it was for?

A smashing period picture, Originally posted by Pete Bullivant to Old Napier FB page. Taken early 1960s in Napier New Zealand

Via the Facebook page, this van has surfaced.
For sale at a recent Bendigo swap meet. The guy sitting against the NSF wheel currently owns it, and was asking $7000 for it. It didn't sell. Bring it over here, he would get double that....

From David Walker "It was in good condition, and complete. All the parts were stored in the back. It could be put back together as is."

An Australian bargain.

A brand new, well old stock it would seem, Morris JB badge. Cost? The postage was more than the badge, won with one bid.
Nobody in Oz wanted it.

1985, a New Zealand museum stock pile.

The New Zealand Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT) had this van way back in 1985, does it still exist?

Thanks to M.P. for the pictures.

A days filming.

Here are a few images from the filming.

Further images can be found if you follow this link to the village web site
http://www.sheredelight.com and flickr pages.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/16111438@N07/sets/72157648518439261/page2/

A new to the market, Morris J van.

For sale in NZ...

Morris J Van. Been sitting in my garage for over 20 years, possibly time to move it on. Please consider this van as requiring restoration, in saying that it is in pretty good condition, there is an area of left front floor that will need repairing. I think the clutch plate has frozen on to fly wheel. Engine is same as Morris Oxford I believe, has 4 speed gear box. Almost 100% there. I will not go into great detail in answering questions, it is not new, at the moment it is not road worthy, it hasnt been registered for over 20 years, it will require work, the amount depends on the finish you are after. This vehicle will have a relatively small number of serious buyers, others, please dont be offended if I either dont answer or reply with a smart arse comment, any irrelevant or dumb questions. Thanks. Currently $5500 NZ

Another Mexican van? Is this number four?

Please note, the on-line down loadable manuals that are on this blog will be shortly removed due to the high cost of web hosting/storage, please download what you want and save them on your computer as they will be gone in a day or two.

News about the side lamp castings.

Thanks to MTR for supplying a good casting, a pattern side lamp base has now been made. A small batch of 8 more castings will be on order shortly once price is confirmed. The cost will be higher than last time as this is a small quantity.

Somewhere in Poplar, east London.

Why take a picture of a scooter?

 Birmingham Post Van.

Further Goodwod pictures from the Burlen & SU Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/burlen.su.amal
Go check out their page.