After many years passionate restoration, and several more when little has happened, I think it is finally time to sell the project. Someone else will have to finish it.
Thursday, 30 August 2007
Replacing the outriggers
The outriggers on the 101 had all but rusted away, so I removed what was left of the stubs and filleting-brackets, removed side rivets and generally cleaned up the area. I then cut along the length of a rather heavy duty, welded seam,square section channel to make a length of [ shape (squared U) shape channel for the outriggers. This was wider than the original, so I had to insert a packing piece, but rather than this being a compromise, it actually adds strength (being a splint) and made it easier to clamp the material square.
After a bit of experimenting, the easiest way to line things up and level it was to turn the chassis over, with a friend's help, and clamp a length of shelf-slotting upright (to provide a level) across the main rails, and then clamp the outriggers to this to do the welding.
The outriggers are actually pretty solid - I find I can lift the chassis off its trolley with them - but I don't want to try standing on them until I have fitted the filleting brackets, which I am going to make tomorrow. Below is what's left of the old one.
Typically, I am going to slightly over-engineer these brackets because they support the step and the cab...and because my sheet steel is slightly too thin and otherwise I just have 4 mil plate, which I got at a scrappy and might as well use. I am not going to try to bend it, but will make it in 4 parts welded together. To give additional support and to reinforce the repair by drawing the old and new parts of outrigger together (in addition to the weld), I'm providing the bracket with the part drawn in orange, which will be drilled on the side opposite the suspension casting's domed rivets. (a belt and braces solution). This is the part of my van which suffered most from rust, so I am determined that the repair will be REALLY solid.
As I am trying to bring the story up to date....rather than just going forward, day by day...I recommend keen readers follow the links (1st one below) at the foot of each numbered posting...or select the numbered chapters of interest from the archive. 1st installment tells how the project started. I will increasingly provide links within the text to help you get around. This is a work in progress.
Austin 101
Good grief! As I winched it on to the transporter, blokes standing around assumed I was taking it to be crushed!
For other metalwork projects, including my car-b-que, click here.
The correct 101 face
Not mine, but mine will be similar
The more astute among you will have noticed that my 101 images actually have the Morris JB front panel. My 101 came with a JB panel and evidence of accident damage, so presumably, as fewer 101 panels were ever in circulation, a JB panel was used as a replacement?
The Austin 101 was a badge-engineered Morris JB, which in turn was a J Type van with an OHV B Series engine and 4 speed gearbox, in place of the sidevalve and 3 speed of the original J.
I now have both the JB panel and an ex-stock 101 one which I bought from a fellow restorer.
The Austin 101 Express Delivery Van (launched 1957)
Pit Crew
John, Me, Carl and Paul (from left)...the day we got the van into a plot of land next to my workshop, having towed it from John's and then manoeuvred it through two gardens because I don't have road access!
I have now activated the comments section so that you can leave feedback, etc. Look forward to your responses. Many thanks to those who have emailed until now. You can still email if you prefer.
Blog Aliases
I agree an alias with anybody I refer to on my blog because I decided to give myself my alias, Tinworm, after attracting the atttentions of a very unpleasant stalker last year. I'd like to be able to call people by their real names, but I really advise against anyone using them online these days. Seems such a shame, not least of all because there are so many I'd like to be able to thank here. Real names (with one notable exception) have been used only with agreement with their owners.
Since writing the above I have bought a microlight which is registered with the CAA, which publishes the register online....making my anonymity impossible to keep. So increasingly I will be less guarded, but I will continue to respect the aliases of others.
Copyright
I assert copyright for the text of this site. You are welcome to copy material for private use but as I am planning to write a book on the project, nothing here may be used in any publication without prior consent.
Some pictures on this site are not mine, but have been found on google. I do not assert copyright over anything I have not written, filmed or photographed myself.
Peter Eveleigh (Tinworm) 2009
"Specials"
Morris sold the chassis and scuttles to commercial users to be coach-built as ambulances, butchers' shops, mobile snack bars, ice-cream vans and, like mine, milk-floats.
copyright of Harvey Pitcher
copyright of Harvey Pitcher
Mine will have looked a lot like the milkfloat above, once.... Except, of course, this is a JB, not a 101.
The Coachbuilder's Autograph
A highlight of the restoration - the discovery of the coachbuilder's autograph in pencil on an upright in the cab, when I stripped some aluminium skin off.
The outriggers on the 101 had all but rusted away, so I removed what was left of the stubs and filleting-brackets, removed side rivets and generally cleaned up the area. I then cut along the length of a rather heavy duty, welded seam,square section channel to make a length of [ shape (squared U) shape channel for the outriggers. This was wider than the original, so I had to insert a packing piece, but rather than this being a compromise, it actually adds strength (being a splint) and made it easier to clamp the material square..JPG)
After a bit of experimenting, the easiest way to line things up and level it was to turn the chassis over, with a friend's help, and clamp a length of shelf-slotting upright (to provide a level) across the main rails, and then clamp the outriggers to this to do the welding..JPG)
The outriggers are actually pretty solid - I find I can lift the chassis off its trolley with them - but I don't want to try standing on them until I have fitted the filleting brackets, which I am going to make tomorrow. Below is what's left of the old one..JPG)
.JPG)
Typically, I am going to slightly over-engineer these brackets because they support the step and the cab...and because my sheet steel is slightly too thin and otherwise I just have 4 mil plate, which I got at a scrappy and might as well use. I am not going to try to bend it, but will make it in 4 parts welded together. To give additional support and to reinforce the repair by drawing the old and new parts of outrigger together (in addition to the weld), I'm providing the bracket with the part drawn in orange, which will be drilled on the side opposite the suspension casting's domed rivets. (a belt and braces solution). This is the part of my van which suffered most from rust, so I am determined that the repair will be REALLY solid..JPG)
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