Heavy stuff, (one for Clive!)

[Brett]

:Thumbs-up

We\'ve been working on the Matador this weekend to correct a head gasket leak.

The Matador is a WW2 heavy artillery tractor/utility vehicle.  Ours started life in the RAF as a generator truck.  After the military service it was sold to a bus company where it was converted to its present spec as a wrecker/recovery truck.  After its commercial days were finished it was restored again and put in the current Billy Smarts Circus colour scheme.  A few years ago my dad purchased it to transport one of his stationary engines, (De Industrie 1B4a, a 2.2ton single cylinder engine) a few historical pics before the current stuff:


Doncaster 7 EDT644J by m3presman, on Flickr


AEC  EDT644J  July 2011 by 500CLT, on Flickr


Industrie with Matador and Petter S by FC3MRC, on Flickr

There have been a few painful parts so far - we had to make a socket to fit the square section head jacking bolts, (0.825" A/F - odd sizing) and getting the back half of the exhaust manifold off required some contortions!

Anyway, here\'s some pics of the work so far, hopefully should actually have the heads off next week - we ran out of time today, and the front head is sticking, so will need to jack it out further on additional studding. (If you want to come and help Clive... :Giggle)


Engine plate by FC3MRC, on Flickr


Cover up by FC3MRC, on Flickr


Fuel pump by FC3MRC, on Flickr


Rocker covers off by FC3MRC, on Flickr


fuel lines 6 by FC3MRC, on Flickr


Front head starting to lift 4 by FC3MRC, on Flickr

A few videos, warts an\' all!







It\'s interesting doing that kind of job, whilst theres a fair amount of space, (I can stand up in the cab and I\'m 6\' 3") it\'s quite awkward to find a postion to work easily or safely - you\'re either killing your knees or in danger of falling backwards out of the cab, which is a 5 foot drop to the gravel!

Over the last 60+ years it\'s clearly suffered from the odd bodge job, about half the nuts are different from injector to injector etc... even the jacking bolts on the rear head appear to have \'modified\' at some stage. (needs must I guess)

I\'ll do some updates once the heads are off. :Typing

[m1tch]

Looks awesome (as usual) also looks rather complicated and I guess with it being such a large engine, finding parts and tools isn\'t the easiest either, but at least its still running!

I do like how the 7.6 litre makes only 95bhp lol but I guess a massive amount of torque!

[Brett]

It\'s not particularly complex, just a pain becasue so many size variations :/

[saanva]

so which one you suggest as the best?