Old school panel beaters in S.E.

[Retro Pedro]

Does anybody know of any really skilled panel beaters in the S.E. area?
My boss has bought a vintage Commer Karrier flat bed wagon which he wants to professionally restore to use in one of his businesses. Unfortunately, the rust worm has eaten more of the cab than what was anticipated and if replacement panels are hard to find, the last resort is the try and shape new part panels and weld in.
The lorry is housed in a decent large barn so working conditions shouldn't be a problem. Also, for paint purposes, we're looking to remove the cab so that should assist if the cab panel restoration has to be done off site.

[gregster]

Is that the truck they called a threepennybit Pete...only IIRC there is a fella not a million miles from the workshop that had a load of them a few years back, might even have a better cab as a starting point...Cutting out and welding in new metal isnt too hard just very time consuming, but the specialists will charge fortunes I think.
I might even have a nice bonnet badge for one of them somewhere...will have a look...

[Retro Pedro]

Cheers Greg - Not sure what it's called - seen reference to either Bantam or Gamebird online. Looks like on of these, or Garry hopes it will when it's done.
http://www.windsorchair.co.uk/tractorpi ... bantam.jpg
At the moment, it looks like one of these only worse
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Photo-Scrappe ... _500wt_969

It's got the more powerful diesel engine option, I think Perkins, but will have a look. Apparently, it started it's life carrying machinery around Sheffield. He got it from a fella in Devon. Apparently, it's been standing for 10 years being eaten by the rust worm. Dare say plenty of rusted on nuts and bolts, but that said, the chassis looks pretty good.
If you could ask your fella about bits, I'll deffo forward info onto Garry.

[gregster]

Not the same truck mate...

He has ones like these...


Didnt the diesel commer carrier have the ts3 2 stroke diesels with the wade superchargers on em...

I rescued 2 of them engines from a boat wreck a few years back...interesting lumps, 6 pistons and 3 cylinders, horizontal opposed with 3 cylinders running horizontally with 2 pistons in each both moving to the centre...Big old superchargers too...Great for boats as very low down, and unique sound...

Engines look like...

[Retro Pedro]

Is it a Subaru lump then Greg Seriously, I don't know about the engine yet - I haven't worked out how to lift the cab yet.
I remember them opposed piston engined Commers as a kid and they did have a unique sound.
Been asked if I want to get involved in doing the work. For the bits I can do, a big part of me is saying yes. To date, I've only used the Fronty as a tug to maneuver the lorry about in the barn.
Attacking rusted on nuts and bolts will be alot more comfortable in the modern farm building than the norm of out in the road when working on the Fronty