So, all in all a bit disapointing in terms of visual progress due to the delays in the mechanical side that led to RT8 being in the main workshop for three weeks. First the air tank blew out, then all the pipes went the same way, the water pump went U/S, the fuel tank decided to start leaking, the engine decided it wanted to join in sympathy and offered us an oil leak, and after we finally got most of those cured and gave her a good run, the fly wheel has now got a leak! Sadly this will result in the bus returning to the workshop this month and having the engine removed for this to be resolved. On the bright side the gears and brakes all ran really well and the vehicle was driving as other wide you would hope, so in short we have a fly wheel oil leak to resolve and an air system unloader valve..... for now.
But that has not stopped work continuing and whilst the engineering was being tackled body work continued with the bonnet, wing, rear mud guard etc all being prepared to go back on. The faulty fuel tank now rectified has gone back on which allows the rest of the nearside to be panelled up. As can be seen the last of the lower framework has gone in place as have the brackets that hold the life guard rail. Now they are on the rear mudguard can be fitted and then the last remaining panels, which are the current bits being worked on.
A close up of the fuel tank, which interestingly is cylindrical on 2RT2's and not on the post war versions. The 'life guard/dog rail' brackets can be seen in place which are situated a little higher than original but still within the legal limits for COIF, this is a result of seeing the damage modern day speed bumps can do to them and regularly do, not something that was ever taken into account by the 1930's designers.
And the offside has now been pretty much completed, with the last of the beadings going on. The air system inspection panel is currently off as this needs further work, but other than that it only requires garage codes, the half round advertising 'runner' and the panel around the cab to be screwed into place, which for the moment will not be done to make access to the electrics easier. So if mechanicals and exterior can be finished by next month then the summer completion date is still on, lets hope for a smoother month than this has been.
But that has not stopped work continuing and whilst the engineering was being tackled body work continued with the bonnet, wing, rear mud guard etc all being prepared to go back on. The faulty fuel tank now rectified has gone back on which allows the rest of the nearside to be panelled up. As can be seen the last of the lower framework has gone in place as have the brackets that hold the life guard rail. Now they are on the rear mudguard can be fitted and then the last remaining panels, which are the current bits being worked on.
And the offside has now been pretty much completed, with the last of the beadings going on. The air system inspection panel is currently off as this needs further work, but other than that it only requires garage codes, the half round advertising 'runner' and the panel around the cab to be screwed into place, which for the moment will not be done to make access to the electrics easier. So if mechanicals and exterior can be finished by next month then the summer completion date is still on, lets hope for a smoother month than this has been.