1951 Austin Champ

[csmith]

Not a M151 but pretty cool! Might be a good project for someone.

https://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/cto/d ... 77154.html

[rickf]

We need Ken to clue us in a little on what we are looking at here. I do have to say the wording in the ad had me confused until I looked at the pics. I am thinking "what the hell is a trailer motor"? One thing I do know about this vehicle, I has been blessed by the prince of darkness himself, Mr. Lucas. As in Lucas electrical system.

[kmam]

I am in the process of bringing one back to life. It appears to be complete but you need to see the engine and transmission. The wiring will need replacing but that is not an impossible task - just completed that. Could not see if the generator control panel is there (should be on the front passenger seat mount). It has a Rolls Royce four cylinder B40 engine and parts will be hard to obtain in the USso essential to know if it is potentially working. Uses in interesting transmission system - power plant runs the back wheels and then from there is a drive to the front wheels. Has five hears and a revers/forward level. Quite advanced for its age with a torsion bar suspension. The Brits adopted it but dropped it in favour of the Land Rover due to cost - each Champ was the price of three land Rovers.

[m3a1]

NOPE

[rickf]

NOPE

Come on! You always say you love a challenge!!!

[kmam]

A lot of people get scared off by these vehicles - not saying that is the case for m3a1. There are rumours that these are very difficult to work on, etc, etc. I have not found them to be any different to other vehicles: what is different is that they have a different mechanical design and were way in advance of their time. Consequently working on one usually requires developing new knowledge. In my case that is not a problem as I know nothing about mechanical devices and every vehicle I work on requires developing new knowledge

[rickf]

A lot of people get scared off by these vehicles - not saying that is the case for m3a1. There are rumours that these are very difficult to work on, etc, etc. I have not found them to be any different to other vehicles: what is different is that they have a different mechanical design and were way in advance of their time. Consequently working on one usually requires developing new knowledge. In my case that is not a problem as I know nothing about mechanical devices and every vehicle I work on requires developing new knowledge

Not to mention you are doing this in a country half a world away from parts for ANY vehicle!!!

[kmam]

I was hoping you would not mention that, but you're right Rick! Everything costs extra because of that but at least for the Champ there is a guy at the other end of the country with something like 30 Champs which he sources for parts.
Life would be so much easier if I was addicted to fishing or some similar sedentary activity!

[rickf]

But then you wouldn't be Australian now would you?

[m3a1]

Where there's a will, there's a way....

and a William, and a Bill.

Gonna spill the beans on a small up-and-coming project. Not MY project, but Frank's and it will be a project I will have a hand in. To be completely fair, Frank IS a machinist (and a wizard) so...we have that going for us. My job is going to be, not the brains, but the babe....as in, 'out of the mouths of babes'. My job will be to ask stupid questions because sometimes, that sort of thing can take you straight to terra incognita which is the land where many good ideas are still waiting to be discovered.

The project? Frank's WC54 desperately needs a new windshield frame. His has all the usual rot. So, we're going to make one because, real ones are SUPER expensive. The attitude is, if it was made by human hands, we can make one too.

Let that sink in....because it's a very important concept.

You may be new to wrenching. You may have little experience but if you have a can-do attitude and you're engaging in a project chiefly for the experience (it's the journey, fellas....not the destination), including the possibility of having a few negative experiences along the way, his ugly little machine might be just right for you. There are only so many ways to build a truck, gentlemen. How hard could it be? All anyone knows about British vehicles is, the British are notorious tinkerers and most of their designs follow that conceptualization to the letter.

Here on the G838, again and again we have seen people developing and honing their skills. Which is to say, those who show up asking questions and stick around for the answers are developing and honing. For those who spent their time arguing why they cannot do something, my question has been...why did you even bother to ask for help?

In reality, a $7000 project may seem absurdly expensive but that's why we do our homework first, right? I've just gotten to the point where I'm not willing to accept failure as an option so, yeah, this might be a project I'd like to take on (if I didn't already have two MVs I am already totally in love with)...but THIS truck? Not for $7000, and particularly not for $7000 in this present economy. But who knows, I could be wrong about that.

Despite it's unique-ness....well, IT AIN'T....

and if it truly IS....well, there's gonna be a good reason for that. So proceed with caution.

Cheers,
TJ

[rickf]

I built the side panel for my 151 from scratch before Guy was making them. I do not have nay metal forming machines at all so it can be done. Just a matter of time, patience and some body working experience. And welding, and hammering, and fitting and starting over.

[SturmTyger380]

A few observations from over the years, (Disclaimer not meant to upset anyone!)

American Design – Robust engineering, too much at times. Not always elegant, (Only the Soviets had more robust.)

German – Precise engineering, almost over picky. If it breaks, then you were not using it properly.

British – Solid engineering on most major parts, then on other parts things get fiddley and have to be managed carefully to be maintained.

French – Brilliant engineering on unique parts, then muddle through the rest, but first, let’s do a study.

Italian – Look at this beautiful design, now let’s do the engineering to make things fit inside. Sorry you can’t do maintenance on a part unless you take all major components off.

Japanese – Logical engineering, everything fits a certain way with a tolerance. Reliable, need a part, don’t worry.

Australian – Robust engineering, can we borrow some of your ideas, wait they don’t fit – we will make them fit.

[rickf]

Love that last part, "Wait, they don't fit - We will make them fit".

[raymond]

Didn't Mr.D. have a champ at one time?

[rickf]

He had a Healy, I don't know about a Champ. I don't think so.