March 28th

Well I am off up to Bomag's later today to take another proper look at his spare B/H but his pics show the footwells are shot (no worries) and the feet are non-existent.

Now the existing bulkhead is 100% around the feet so it may be possible to make a mutant from both but do I want the hassle? Originally I planned to restore one B/H ready for the major overhaul /chassis swap. But to have to remove one/strip/chop etc. adds a tonne of work.

Still persuing alternative chassis prices (Truck Utility 109" GS RHD combat chassis) other than Richards - which limits it to Designa, but they seem to be a bit elusive? I sent a request out 5-7 days ago via their web page and have heard nowt. So now followed that up with an email requesting a price in galv and black for comparison. The only downside of galv from them is, I believe, they do not clear the threads after galv and they would need retapping? I don't have many BSP/Whit taps.

Probably will have a dabble with the steering linkage later and swap the TRE's ready for them to go into storage and maybe POR15 the little storage box from under the pass wing that I repaired last week.

One complete set of jobs are the two underseat fuel tanks :)

Designa have come back. They no longer manufacture 109" leaf sprung chassis!

March 22nd

Now as a quick diversion I took a good and long hard look at the front rad panel. It isn't good.....now that's no surprise?.

That bottom section is going to be needed to be cut-out and some new material welded in. I have a couple of leads as to whom I can 'drop' this job on so I will have to follow that up later. Pity it is beyond fixing with a bit of 1" angle/Kurust and filler.

March 18th - Start bashing the bulkhead

Well I have taken two days off to have another attack on the GS.

Tanks have had their last coat of paint over the POR15 Tank Seal and will be re-assy'd this weekend. So the next challenge is to look at the bulkhead rust and also flush the engine cooling system right through - again.

Due to the above it gave me a butt kick to get the front wings off so I could get at the side mounted block drain tap. This would also give me better access to the bulkhead and also the offending OS front section of the chassis that needs 'de-worming'.

Here are a few bulkhead images revealed today (good to have some nice weather for a change?). Both footwells need swapping that is a given and easily doable but.... the rest? Oh, why oh, why do I start these jobs?

Not good and I think I have my work cut-out (pun?) here as well as everything else!

March 9th - Start POR15 on the fuel tanks

Decision time! Now anything is patchable but how long will it last if I do? Do I say stuff it and blow a load of cash and do a slow but thorough job first time or patch and fiddle then have to do it again further on down the road? I need to look at costs and availability of a whole new 109 chassis!

After a week or so's investigation I discover that the only manufacturer of 109 chassis is now Richard's Chassis. They came back with a price of £1800 for a galv chassis - delivered. Overall I don't think that is too bad though £10 would have sounded nicer?

Fuel tanks were both POR15 coated inside today and the excess used over the outside of each tank. Shame to waste it after all? Now to leave them until next weekend then they can be painted with black smoothrite, once dry they can be assembled and stored - somewhere.

Smiths heater now reassembled and packed away too.

March 8th

Both fuel tanks currently 'soaking' on POR15 Metal Ready and will be rinsed out tonite then propped in front of the log burner to thoroughly dry out.....then POR tank sealant time. At least once they are complete I have the first shiney pair of parts ready to fit...........to something :wayhey

March 4th

Not a good day today

Managed to get off work early and thought I would get on with removing the front tank outriggers and start Marine Cleaning the two tanks ready for the POR Tank Seal. So while the two of them were having a long soak I thought I would get the chassis ready for the two new outriggers.

Well I finished chopping and cleaning ready for weld when Mr Posty drops the Paddocks parcel off. I then thought I would just clean up the rest of the chassis rails before I apply a coat of Waxoyl (note three passes of the pressure washer to remove all the years of built up graese and grime had been carried out by then).

OMG! Working along one side I found rot on the rear spring hangers/rot in one cross-member/rot in the side of the chassis rail then on the other side a few more holes. Not a happy bunny and it looks like a lot of patches have been applied before (and some over old ones) so adding more may (or may not) be the order of the day? So the decision is whether a rear half chassis should be fitted later....or something more major.

Here's a sample.............

Just goes to show that despite the truck having a current MOT and new outriggers everywhere - they were all a symptom of something a bit more major. Once three passes of the pressure washer and a visit by Mr Hammer it all becomes a bit more obvious :(

Gave up and went for a beer and a curry.........