1956 Red Goddess - No socks for this birthday!

[grifterkid]

This is looking unbelievably good...!!!

I can see the end on the horizon and I am sure these little niggles that are occuring will soon be dealt with and forgotten about...

Keep it going sir, we cannot wait to see the conclusion of this amazing project/build...

[eurogranada]

Oct 14, 2013 8:38:31 GMT grifterkid said:

This is looking unbelievably good...!!!

I can see the end on the horizon and I am sure these little niggles that are occuring will soon be dealt with and forgotten about...

Keep it going sir, we cannot wait to see the conclusion of this amazing project/build...

Couldn't have said it better!! +1

[darrenh]

watch it, watch it, watch it ! the flask, is pulling it, over the edge

[Frankenhealey]

Today finished with me in a much better state of mind than when I started. Both Dangerous and the GAK wimped out with man-flu and that left me with not a lot to do as most jobs need two sets of hands due to size, weight etc. Can't even start the mouldings or the roof without them

Biggest thing worrying me was this



not a lot of wheel clearance left and the rest of the bed plates, compressor, generator, tools and car still to go on. I couldn't wrestle the bed plates on my own so I found the heaviest thing I could and managed to inch the spare wheel under the rear end to the spare wheel winch. The wheel/tyre has to be at least 100 kilos and with all the weight overhanging the rear the clearance was reduced by 3mm. Not too shabby, the springs must be stiffer than I thought.



and bolted up



I'm slowly working through the new bolts and replacing the standard nuts with nylocs and those bolts that are too large (and expensive) for nlyocs I'm using spring pins



no dragging the bed lifting rams down the road for me.

Finally got the tilt frame semi-assembled which gives an idea of how she'll look fully covered.





Next week I shall start on the mouldings with or without the invalids.

[grifterkid]

This is amazing, just perfect! I think that a few more of these should be made...!!!

[Frankenhealey]

Oct 28, 2013 9:59:27 GMT grifterkid said:

This is amazing, just perfect! I think that a few more of these should be made...!!!

Actually.... I've had quite a bit of interest so we mocked up a potential offering

VEHICLE TYPE

Basic Chassis Cab and Standard Engine
Ditto plus Fuel Injection (Megasquirt)
Ditto plus Fuel Injection plus Autogas
Basic Chassis Cab with Cummins 6BT

Sleeper Cab (2 bunks) with above engine options

---------------------------------------------------

TRANSMISSION

Bedford 4-speed (standard)
Eaton 5-speed
Eaton 6-speed

---------------------------------------------------

BED TYPE

Hydraulic Tilt Bed with Ramps
Ditto with powered Ramps (worked out how to do this last night waiting for the roof to come off)
Hydraulic Slide Bed
HIAB (if you've got a scrap metal business on the side)
Basic Flat or Beavertail Bed

------------------------------------------------------

BED ENCLOSURE

Removable Tilt Frame and PVC Tilt (canvas option)
Fully Enclosed Bed to specification

-------------------------------------------------------


ACCESSORIES

Front 12000lb Winch Pack (recover Hummers, small tanks etc.)
Front Air Suspension Pack (will need it on the back anyway to increase the wheel clearance under the ramp slides)
Expedition Pack (more on this later)
Cross Country Pack (Avon Bar Tread Tyres and uprated skid plates)
Road Pack (Goodyear G388 Tyres)
Extended Range Pack (second fuel tank and side mounted jerrycans)
PTO Driven Compressor (for air suspension and tyre inflation)
Tool and Jack Pack (the biggest sockets and breaker bars on Retro Rides)
Towing Pack (would look good with classic caravan or maybe army field kitchen for RR14)
Lighting Pack (quad headlamps, hamburgers at the rear plus roof and running lights)
Safety pack (Beacons front and back, strobes in front grille)

The potential is endless

[grifterkid]

The potential is indeed endless and should really be capitalised upon... I think your work really shows what can be done with something if the right thought, time and dedication is used. It was one thing that had reached the end of its useful life, now it is another thing that is right at the beginning of its life! That is just mind boggling...

[eurogranada]

I just love updates on this beast of a project!

Nice going!

[Frankenhealey]

So today with the boys still hors de comabat it was a bit of fiddle faddle however I got the roof panel masked up for glueing down the EPDM weather proofing next week and the email has gone off to Automint to get their confirmation on my helper air springs to raise and level the back end.

I decided to have a go at the chrome on the Bedford badge as the PO decided on a labour saving clear varnish on the chrome that promptly turned yellow





After an hour and a half of scraping, polishing and getting repetitive strain injury this is the result.



On a side note I think I've found someone to machine me an 'Optimus' badge as the last try on surface finish improvement on the 3D printer was not a success and I also got this off EBay



So moved onto the art deco cab lamp that also had the same varnish treatment





The brass polishes up nicely but this will need a lot more work



I was procrastinating over whether to junk the locker switchbox due to the paint splashes



however when I opened it up it's so awesome that I've got to do something with it



all individually fused and with a bank of spare fuses. Yay!

I then made a decision that I may come to regret. You possibly remember my attraction to twin headlamps as below



So I pulled the newly painted light plates having arranged to get the new hole waterjetted



Then I found that while twin lamps photoshop perfectly they don't fit well in real life





Unless I can find some smaller bezels I shall have the get the larger bezels cut with the waterjet, hopefully brazed and then rechromed.

Stripped out the numberplate holder for spraying



...and finally the blasters found my front bumper and the painters painted

[blot]

Sept 16, 2013 9:45:06 GMT Frankenhealey said:

So we pull engine, deck the block severely (if it will take it) and drag the compression ratio up from it's stone age 6:1.

Found this link to a piston specialist in NZ, As the Bedford 300ci is basically a Chevy engine its interesting to see some Chevy straight 6's and V8's have identical boresize to the 300ci, Wondered whether it may be worth finding out if any of these Chevy engines use higher compression pistons and whether they are interchangeable? Heres the link:

www.bowdenengineparts.co.nz/pdf/pistons.pdf

Cheers.

[Seth]

I think later Mini headlight Bezels are about the smallest in outer diameter for a 7" light. I know there's quite a range.

[Frankenhealey]

Nov 3, 2013 21:56:02 GMT blot said:

Sept 16, 2013 9:45:06 GMT Frankenhealey said:

So we pull engine, deck the block severely (if it will take it) and drag the compression ratio up from it's stone age 6:1.

Found this link to a piston specialist in NZ, As the Bedford 300ci is basically a Chevy engine its interesting to see some Chevy straight 6's and V8's have identical boresize to the 300ci, Wondered whether it may be worth finding out if any of these Chevy engines use higher compression pistons and whether they are interchangeable? Heres the link:

www.bowdenengineparts.co.nz/pdf/pistons.pdf

Cheers.

Big time thanks for the info. Another option opens up

[Frankenhealey]

Nov 3, 2013 22:05:08 GMT Seth said:

I think later Mini headlight Bezels are about the smallest in outer diameter for a 7" light. I know there's quite a range.

Thanks Seth

[Deleted]

I now know what's on the Austin J grille badge I put on the Princess, looks like a previous owner has used the same horrible varnish. Was there a particular method you found worked best for removing it?

[Frankenhealey]

Nov 3, 2013 22:27:01 GMT @volksangyl said:

I now know what's on the Austin J grille badge I put on the Princess, looks like a previous owner has used the same horrible varnish. Was there a particular method you found worked best for removing it?

First I tried some MEK from work but I was starting to lose my fingerprints so gave up on that but it had softened some of it but don't use any solvent anywhere near any inlay paint. Then with a carefully blunted screwdriver I gently scraped away a lot of the varnish and then it was a lot of Autosol and a lot of elbow grease. Repeat about twenty times. Arm in sling tonight.

[flyingphil]

Sympathise with the arm Ian -I've pulled a shoulder with all my gearbox shuffling! But more good work with the Goddess.

[eternaloptimist]

My favourite thread. Top work sir, loving your attention to detail.

[v8ian]

MEK !!!!!! that was banned in the print years ago as a carcinogenic.

I like the tarp option, Fixed roof and cargo curtains could work too, don't forget, when you come thru the tunnel, check your load, 10k per Illegal is a hefty fine, A big PTO compressor is going to make you everybody's best buddy in the pits, a 110/240 genny is always good, complete with a small pocket TiG will get you out of trouble too.

Looking at your headlights, I cant help thinking these!!,I'm sure they can be found much cheaper,
www.ebay.com/itm/1960s-1970s-MERCEDES-300SEL-6-3-4-5-280SEL-SE-4-5-280SE-H-Headlight-bezel-RT-/350893188114?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item51b2dd2412&vxp=mtr

I wonder if these Bezels can be turned 90degs and used
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bedford-KM-Tipper-1973-74-UK-Market-Sales-Brochure-/170990546782?pt=UK_CarParts_Vehicles_Manuals_Litterature_ET&hash=item27cfd4af5e

[Frankenhealey]

Nov 4, 2013 8:13:07 GMT v8ian said:

MEK !!!!!! that was banned in the print years ago as a carcinogenic.

Yep but REAL men still use it! Koff, koff

I like the tarp option, Fixed roof and cargo curtains could work too, don't forget, when you come thru the tunnel, check your load, 10k per Illegal is a hefty fine, A big PTO compressor is going to make you everybody's best buddy in the pits, a 110/240 genny is always good, complete with a small pocket TiG will get you out of trouble too.

Have been offered / promised some retro Hurst rescue tools as well so may need a hydraulic pump as well

I wonder if these Bezels can be turned 90degs and used

Nope the front is curved and scalloped

Hope you're doing well and if I get this up to Kop Hill Climb next year I'll stop by and block your street

[v8ian]

If you intend blocking my drive and go to Kop Hill, you had better be prepared for a long walk,------ I live in Bexhill on Sea, My Docs said last week I don't need to go back and see them till Oct 2015. So, I'm now back on the Job Market, I'm volunteering as an Engineer at the Kent and East Sussex Railway so I can get myself back in the groove.