Since the last blog the cab has progressed well. I am of course fortunate that being an ex-Italian vehicle is has escaped the rust which can be so prevalent with British based T’s, but during the work corrosion has been found on panels which were thought to be sound.

My approach to the cab is one of replacement where necessary but still with the aim of retaining as much originality as possible. As previously described the work is being entrusted to the guys at Allied Forces, and they are doing a fine job. I believe they are using the cab as a source of patterns for future Diamond T restorations, as the rusty sections are strong enough to be removed in once piece. For those of you who know T’s, good replacement cabs are practically impossible to find so the only option is to restore the one you have, and it doesn’t half help if you have patterns to work off.

It is so true that until you strip structures you do not know the full extent of corrosion. It is not the rust you can see which is the threat but the rust you cannot see. The thick layer of high build primer used by the Italian army did a very good job of hiding corrosion, in particular at the lower corners, where the B-post meets the floor, and around the grab handles half way up the B-post.

The rotten sections on the near side have been tackled first as these appear to be the worst, followed by the rear panel.

The work is best described with the photographs below, which come courtesy of Jim Clark.

Some pictures of the cab prior to work. Note the corrosion to the lower edge of the rear section. From inside the cab this is not visible due to it being obscured by the rear cross member. Despite a good half inch gap between the crossmember and the rear panel moisture has collected due to years of compacted dirt. The shot of the underside with the seat bases removed, shows that despite a substantial layer of corrosion the structure still appears to be solid.

Repair sections for the NS rear corner, and below the corner sections fitted.

The old floor section used as a pattern and the replacements in 14 gauge. The outer reinforcing finisher will be fitted once the remaining work has been completed and the doors are hung, to ensure the finisher follows the door line.

Here the new A-post sections and floor are lined up and fitted. The A-posts do not require total replacement, just the lower sections. Although showing signs of pitting the reminder of the posts are surprisingly robust. The captive nuts in the posts have been replaced.

[CENTER]

Cab rear panel. Original and new central sections. The transverse bracing provides a convenient location to join the original structure.


Now the cold snap is behind us (for the time being) work at home is concentrating on completion of the running board, fuel tank cover, wheel arch, battery box, and front bumper, all of which are ready for the top coat of BS.61 light stone. I have been holding off here as after all the preparation I felt it too cold to risk a top coat. Unfortunately my garage is very difficult to heat and therefore safer to await warmer weather.

The bonnet has returned from the shotblaster and it appears to have survived very well, with no serious corrosion around the join or the piano hinge. I was a little sad to get the underside blasted as there were traces of original light stone on the edges but I took the decision to completely repaint in order to preserve it in the long run. I will discuss the bonnet, and include pictures in a later blog.

Adrian