1966 Ex BRS Austin VAK 100 "Noddy" van. Shack building.

Thanks all, for the positive comments, much appreciated!

Frankenhealey, if I didn't already have my plate well and truly full, I'd be all over that fire engine. The potential there is enormous. I hope whoever gets it doesn't waste the opportunity!

Righto, this is a first. Two days, two updates. 

Risking the wrath of the boss, I took myself up to the yard today to see if the radiator fitted. Armed with my six point 12mm sockets I managed to get the one stubborn corroded 1/2" nut and bolt off to remove the last original rad mount:



I then offered up the new ones. Bob on:



Then I tried the rad and frame for size:



All looking good, except that the bottom hose was going to be really tight to the crank pulley. So, some longer bolts and a pack of washers to space the bottom mounts out a bit:



I had to resist the urge to go home and remake the brackets. This is supposed to be a temporary bodge after all. My biggest fault is not knowing when to stop sometimes...

Detail of the nearside mounting bracket:



And offside, showing the replaced fan:



And, although it's tight on the level switch on the expansion bottle, the bonnet fits on too. Bonus. Well I say "fits", it has always fitted where it touches. I have a better one at home that I will take some time and care to get fitting nicely when the time comes, but at least this one goes back on and I didn't have to fiddle about remaking the bracket:



Now, we all like a video, so here's a short one of the finished rad assembly:



Next I bit the bullet and filled it up with water. I have a steady drip from the waterpump. No surprises there, but at least it's not weeing out. I may try a bottle of K-seal, but at the moment it'll do. I've decided to leave the rad cap off as I don't want to be pressurising the system and tempting fate. I only need to be able to get it moving, not set it up for idling in summer traffic jams. 

Next job was to see if it would move. I was pretty comprehensively blocked in by various bits of machinery though, so was fortunate that my visit coincided with the yard needing to be reorganised a bit. Whilst I waited for the path out of the corner of the yard to be cleared I took the opportunity to do a little more tidying in the back of the lorry and bagged all the last of the junk up in a big rubble sack to dispose of later. 

I then sat and had a think in the driver's seat for a bit. Sounds daft, but it was quite an emotional hour or so with the smell of fuel, oil, diesel soot and easy start wafting around it was like a trip back in time. Nice. 

Once the way was cleared I winkled it out of the corner and had a little play. Especially for the video fans I got it caught on camera:



Next step is get it home. Hopefully in the next few days.

And that, as they say, is all folks, for the time being.

Brilliant stuff. Good work.

It's a fraction under two miles.

I was so tempted to just drive it home. Unfortunately the only brakes I have is the handbrake, and it's not exactly fierce in operation, so I thought better of it. It was also losing water quite quickly from the pump seal so, whilst I'm happy to move it short distances I don't think I should drive it so far. I'm going to see if some K-seal slows or stops the leak, but I don't think I'll fork out for a pump rebuild kit as they're the best part of a hundred quid.

The owner of the yard has volunteered to tow it back on a straight bar behind his big tractor. Hopefully that will work out. I'd like it home ASAP now.

The water pump doesn't need re packing with grease does it to cure the leak?

Yep Darren, first was pretty low, so I went for second. Daren't go any quicker as those machines I was driving around are worth more than my house! That, and the fact that the cameraman was the owner of the yard and I really didn't want to run him over being as I couldn't stop in a hurry!

The starter dog is a throwback to the petrol engine roots of the block. It's only useful purpose is to aid setting the tappets or the pump timing.

:-)

Cheers Shielsy, much appreciated.




No, I'm pretty sure it's a conventional bearing/seal affair. Best part of seventy quid, plus vat and carriage for a rebuild kit.



Thanks! 

Anyway. Big news. Three proper updates in three days....

IT'S HOME!





Don't ask me how it happened. Just accept that it has happened, and that the event took place without mishap. 

With a dose of K-seal the leaky pump slowed considerably (although didn't actually stop). Once the engine is fully warm it idles really nicely and it does run fairly well; so it should mind, with new pump and injectors. It's still coming out though, as it's certainly no ball of fire in the performance stakes. 

Now I really must get on with the decorating before Sarah flays me alive. More as it happens, but it won't be in the next few days!

Tahts a massive step. well done

Not quite.

No moonlight. No tractor.

But yes, her face when she got home from work yesterday was... Interesting....