Well, 326 returned from it's hols in Shropshire yesterday and what a difference! The guys at Fire Engine Services have done a super job! Such a nice drive home, much more pleasant to drive! I sat at 40 but my foot was a lot further off the floor than previously, I did have a quick push to 45 with no dramas.
So what's been done? The brakes have been rebuilt (only one was fully working!) and the fluid changed, also the clutch was replaced and then the underside was blasted clean and sealed:
The front wings and cheek panels were also repainted but not before they were stripped and the corrosion removed before priming. The joints between the wings and cheeks were sealed before painting for good measure.
Once back today, I polished the newly-painted bits and then began the massive job of t-cutting then polishing the rest! Well, having started at 11, I knocked off at 7.30 with the right hand aside behind the cab still to do! There's always tomorrow I guess..... I then refitted the badge and also a transfer with the old Branston fleet number on (G57):
I also managed today to fit the new tax disc holder - a stuck-to-the-windscreen just didn't seem right, so now there is a 'much more commercial vehicle' style holder inside on the windscreen pillar:
The roof was also stripped and recovered whilst it was away, with all the components repainted:
Anyway, the results of today's polishing session.....
The polish I used - Collinite 476s Super Doublecoat Wax - was made in the USA and styles itself as detergent proof (so make sure you it's the last thing you do to the paintwork!!) and lasting a year. We'll see, but really, really easy to put on and leaves a great shine!
I HAVE JUST BOUGHT A GREENGODESS FIRE ENGINE DO YOU KNOW WHERE I CAN GET TWO NEW BACK SEATS AND ONE HOSE NOZZLE FOR THE NOSE REEL THANKS IF YOU CAN HELP. listondave@btinternet.com
ReplyDeleteThinks like the seats do appear from time to time on eBay as do nozzles. Nozzles can also be bought from places such as LW Vass - Peter their fire guy is helpful and GG friendly!
DeleteAlso - have you 'joined' RSOLES? An internet community of GG owners and AFS enthusiasts - https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/rsoles/info
You will find lots of mutual support on there.
Cheers, Duncan.