BXProject

[Philhod]

I was thinking the 5 stud hub off the 3.5 Vitesse It was really unbreakable, the racing boys used it in standard form and an awful lot of torque went through it.

[docchevron132]

Dont think my wheels would fit that though, bear in mind this thing weighs 4 tonnes, it may look dinky, but it's a proper lorry chassis underneath!

[catsinthewelder]

I was wondering about LDV 400 parts to keep it in the family so to speak but IIRC they are 6 stud and from driving one fully loaded for the first time the other week they ain't much cop in the stopping dept

[Philhod]

LDV brakes are adequate but that's about all.

How much of that proper lurry chassis is still there though?

[docchevron132]

there should be a few possibilities really, I mean, anything is possible, but externally I'm keen to keep this as original as possible. There were only ever 10 of them, and this is the sole survivor, so ya know, the wheels need to stay really. The brakes were ok on Ferodo AM4 competition linings, but they wore out, I used up the spare set I had and since they are asbestos best NLA. So I had to make do with Mintex M10 linings, bonded on rather than riveted.
They work well, ONCE! The second they get hot, and that dont take long in this thing, they fade like fuck and just smell like burning flesh whilst providing no actual frictional torque.
They were still an improvement over the current pedal to floor, no resistance, no effort brakes though!
Still, now it;s running again I'll keep it that way, loks like the NSR and OSF cylinder seals have failed, again.. I honed the cylinders a lot last time I had the brakes in bits, and they wont take anymore honing / boring, so timefor a rethink over a few beers in the near future!
More urgent is getting the ACR off and rebuilding it since it dont charge, and short of dropping the engine out, it's a massive front end off job to get at the fucker!

The chassis is actually in remarkable nick mate, the rear springs I had made for it 13 years ago haven't aged well, it's gone a bit saggy, but I spent months stripping everything off the chassis and painting it up when I was too young to actually drive it!
Ok, 6 years or more of not doing anything hasn't been kind to it, and it does need a total restoration now, but chassis wise it's the most solid vehicle I own by some margin!

EDIT: I was 12 when I started doing this thing up, it's the vehicle I learnt all about engineering on, BUT, I was very young, and I'm more confident now, at the time the size of it scared the hell out of me, there seemed sooooo much to do, but since I've been fucking about with buses for years this seems tiny, and I've learnt a lot since, so ya know, it doesn't phase me like it once did. I'm arrogant enough to know that I could actually do a really nice job of this now.



got this fucker going aswell
I used to own this, many years ago, didn't actually want it, but I couldn't find an RE at the time and this was going for scrap if it wasn't rescued, infact it was the first bus I ever bought.
It was ok, but didn't really float my boat. So I sold it at a massive loss to Gary, who still has it.

[Father Ted]

We need a "LIKE" button

[Philhod]

Why did the person in red make a swift exit from the motor? as though something was about to come adrift

If all is good beneath Doc. it's well worth completing. However, original is one thing being practical is another. at worst you could make up some stud hole converter plates, so you could vastly improve the brakes with stuff you can replace for future and still keep the original wheels. The worst that would do is widen the track an inch.

[Fish_Botherer]

Congratulations! I haven't watched the vid as things like that chew up the data allowance on my dongle - but is it derived from the BL commercial with a big wrap-around front panel at low level incorporating the rad grille?

[docchevron132]

That was Smiffy in the red top Phil, I think he was worried G might drive over him!

Thats the one Dave, FG's had kerb lite windows and the threepenny bit cab that had doors that opened within the width of the body.

[smiffy]

Yes, the guy in the red top is me, and my arm was getting cramp, holding the throttle mechanism open against the very powerfull springs. as soon as there was enough air in the tanks, Gary who was in the cab was able to use the throttle pedal in the normal way, and as soon as I felt this, I lat go and did say "Thank fuck for that!"

[Philhod]

and did say "Thank fuck for that!"

You need to get the sound sorted then

[jonathan_dyane]

Excellent stuff Chris

Should you wish to repair the existing brakes, the father bought a master cylinder seal kit easily from somewhere last year, and also front wheel cylinders (cheap and easily available). Rear cylinders are hard to find and bloody dear; I think they are shared with the Austin Healey which doesn't help.

The father's doesn't have any servo and isn't too dangerous, (although I do drive more on the gears) but the 2.2 diesel doesn't make for rapid progress anyway...

[docchevron132]

thats interesting, thanks JD!
I forget now, is your dads a 350?
If so, then could I trouble you to ask him where said bits came from?
Didn't know the rear cylinders were shared with a healey, they are bloody tiny! The handbrake mechanism is utter shit aswell, a pair of sliding bits of flat plate moved by chopped down bar.
I increased the angle ont he plates and made bigger round things in mine, means you have to pull harder to get them to bite but it helped with the MoT!

[jonathan_dyane]

Aye, she is a 350. The guy we got the brake stuff off was Ian Wonnacott, who trades under the name 'Classic Spares', who you can get on 01626 891645 or ian@classic-parts.co.uk I haven't hesitated posting his details, as they're on his website anyway.

The handbrake design is pitiful, and on ours requires adjustment outside the test centre to scrape through. I may shamelessly copy your mod

[docchevron132]

ace, I thank you mate!
Time to go spend some more money!

It's not an ideal mod since the angle is steeper more effort is required to get the same amount grip on the drums, but it was the only way I could get an MoT on mine, in standard guise it was always just a tad short.

[Philhod]

Is there any way you could lengthen the distance to the fulcrum? At least it would make operation smoother (and more secure)

[Way2go]

Is there any way you could lengthen the distance to the fulcrum? At least it would make operation smoother (and more secure)

Fulcrum? , didn't that used to be the shopping centre in Staines? Are they offering armed guards now to escort your Xmas shopping home?

Ali G will be proud!

[Philhod]

Fulcrum = leverage point. = force x distance = more distance = less force.

You can do it in a stained shopping centre if you prefer, but I'll stick with me clean workshop ta!

[Way2go]

Turning moments.....

Please,please don't take me back to the other parts of mech eng tutorials like the "bending of beams", life is too short!

[docchevron132]

More distance is bad though Phil!
As is there is too much movement, the main issue was that the sliding plates that act on the brake shoes have such a limited total movement that unless the linings were dragging the drums it just wouldn't apply.
Hence I increased the angle on the plats, which gives more maximum potential travel so the brakes will apply, but obviousley more force is required at the lever to achieve the same amount of force at the drums like..
It was the best compromise we could find really.