Some of you might have seen this one of ours in various places on the forum, but I thought I would start a thread for her. First a bit of history. In the mid 70's Moms brother moved to a small inland town called Bedford. He spotted this car and when we went up to visit we went to look at the car. Old Sergent Smith had bought the car new when he retired, and it had been with them since. He did however say that if he decided to sell it he would call us first. In 1980 he gave us a call and told Dad that, "you boys had better come and fetch your car" I was ten at the time. He asked for the princely sum of R800 and we became the owners. She had about 25000 miles on her at the time.
She saw regular, but pampered service since. Although we are not too scared to take her on a gravel road.
Now she has 75 000 miles.
Dad died in Nov 2009 and now the FB needs to be re registered into my name. That means passing a roadworthy test. So I have had her up on stands for a few weeks and done some jobs.
I had to fabricate and fit a new channel under the radiator. Then the brakes needed attention. I had had the wheel cylinder re sleeved in Stainless years ago , but found that the aluminium pistons often wanted to seize up,especially if not used for a few weeks. So I got bronze pistons machined, new seals, newly relined shoes and a better handbrake cable. Assembeled last night and ready to bleed tonight.
I found the pitman arm was a bit loose. The nut was tight, but I found that the big spring washer was a fraction too small and therefore holding on a step on the shaft below the splines. So a new bigger washer went on and the pitman arm tightened up firmly.
Although not a roadworthy requirement I wanted to fit seat belts. I had done a similar exercise on my red FB (although that one is still in pieces) and duplicated all the parts needed to do this FB. So I kind of had a kit in a box. I will attach the story of the seat belts from when I did the red car. I will get to finally fiting up the belts a little later on but for now at least the mountings are there.
I also fashioned these surrounds for the corners of the parcel ledge where the belt comes through from the reel below.
That's if for now. I need to take her for the test in about a weeks time. Hopefully all goes well and they dont give me too many hassels.
