Commer Karrier Gamecock restoration project

[Retro Pedro]

I have previously mentioned in another post a little on going project that's stopping me from getting on with the decorating but for the life of me can't find it. So I've begun a new if peeps want to have a look at what I'm doing.
The full story is my boss bought a 1959 Commer Karrier Gamecock with a TS3 diesel engine in need of serious restoration. Having had his fingers burnt in another restoration project I think he wished he had probably walked away from it and risked the negative eblag feedback.
For my sins, I said that if he bared with me, I would get involved a give him and hand with the preliminary preparation work and re-assemble after the bits come back from the specialist.
So if anybody wants to have a read and view a few pictures, here's the link that will take you to by blog on the progress (or not) to date.
http://commerkarriergamecock.blogspot.co.uk/
If anybody wants to add comments, please be my guest.

[Rifleman]

Brilliant, I love this stuff.
I did a part resto on a Victor FB a few years ago before splitting up with the wife and having to get rid of it.
Keep us informed of the project as it goes along mate.

[Retro Pedro]

Will do Keith - what I'll do is post a heads up on here when I've done a bit more work on the wagon and updated the blog.
My job is to dismantle and then do the reassemble. At the moment the pressure is on to get the cab stripped out and off for the body work man to take to his workshop for fabricating patches, cutting and welding in and then prepping for final painting. He reckons he is going to get the cab light shot blasted in the first instance. Got to admit, I'm secretly pleased my boss as found his own bloke for doing the cab, lets me off the hook if it doesn't come up to his expectations.
We still need to ensure the engine is OK. I have slightly turned by hand as best I could so the signs are good that it's not seized solid. When the cab is off I'll be able to get better access and check for sure. Would really like to prep the engine and see if I can get it started.
On the advise of the cab restorer, the plan for the chassis, axles and leaf springs is to blast, prime and hot coat paint (whatever that is).

[gregster]

Looking good Pete...glad the old beast isnt siezed up. Dont know if I told you, but apparently the crank shafts are a weak spot on them engines, they shear where the blower goes on...(this is what the fella told me that bought my two ts3 engines)...so might be worth resisting the temptation to "see if will start with some fresh fuel", and tear it down first to check everything out.

[Retro Pedro]

[yaki]

Nice write up, brings back some memories having been through several restorations of classic cars many years ago.

Looking at the pictures, items like the gauges, switches, voltage regulator for the dynamo appear to be the same across a wide range of old british motors, might be worth a trip to the Beaulieu auto jumble to see what you can pick up not just electrical but body panels as well. Last time I went we managed to pick up some original panels for a Triumph TR4 and the guy on the stall had no idea what they were for .

There also used to be a company remaking the the old cloth covered wiring looms to order and they had the pattern for loads of old motors, name evades me at the mo but would probably be in the classic car mags

[Retro Pedro]

Cheers Chris for heads up.
Believe my boss as got intentions of using it on a commercial basis in his funeral directors business. On that basis reliability as got to be high on the list so I'm thinking we should modernise the wiring system with relays and fuse boxes and wire into the original dial and gauges. We would keep all the old regulators for show purposes and hide the fuse boxes and relays out of sight.
Have also heard that we can get the dynamo workings change into an alternator system and still house in the original casing.
The basic technology is an eye opener but it's all there - air vacuum assisted brakes with servo, howbeit and big square box with levers coming out of it.
Initially I thought we would have problems with the cab restoration because I thought in parts in is double skinned. Not so, the second layer that can be seen is an acrylic filling material. Have heard that is was common practice to use fillers to perfect the shaping in certain areas.
Getting the cab off is going to take some thinking about. The normal procedure was to disconnect the foot pedals, disconnect the wiring and remove the steering wheel. Then rig up an overhead hoist and lift it off. I need to be very cautious because I'm dealing with a very weakened rust eaten shell. Thinking that once all 4 cab securing mounts are unbolted (3 off, 1 to go) I'm going to have to push one corner at a time just off the mount. Then insert a support in all 4 corner and push it up off the chassis rather than lift it off with a hoist.
That's all for tomorrow, today I have got to battle on with rusted on nuts and bolts.