First job this week was the installation and testing of the panel light. Next, panelling the O/S began with the one l immediately in front of the O/S rear wheel. The next panel is in front of the tank so required some complex cutting out. I reused a round casting from the MW to bead the opening in front of the fuel gauge, but this will need some final adjustment to fit. As I progressed with the panelling I found that a small alignment error had crept in which I should have eliminated earlier, so the final panel next to the driver’s door had to be cut to an odd shape, keeping in mind the cuto out for the foothold and the hole for the wiring to the indicator. However the error in aligning the panels will be hidden beneath the beading so not a great problem, just annoying. Use of panel sealant meant I couldn’t easily remove a panel to correct the error once fitted.
Pnaelling in progress along the offside looking towards the rear.
Work started this week with reinstallation of the wooden section of the cab floor and the steel sections around the gear stick and handbrake, along with the reinforcing bar angle that fits underneath and adds to the rigidity of the cab and strangth of the floor. Also an addendum to the testing was the panel light wiring and the bulb holder itself which needed attention to the connections to make it work. It has a new bulb fitted. Screws for fitting it have been acquired, 6-32 UNC for the fitting and 4BA for the cable clips along with the missing 1/4″ screws for the cab floor. The aluminium sheet needed for the remaining O/S outer panels arrived at the beginning of the week.
The woodwork for the bottom rail was cut, fitted and painted, the short section immediately under the first O/S window was made from the original long piece which was sufficiently good to use again with repair. This has been primed and painted wood grey ready for the outer panelling to be cut and fitted. This completes the repairs to the frame so a bit of a milestone this week.
Final job this week was preparing the wiring ready for the panel lamp to be installed.
Draught seal and cab floor around the steering column.
Handbrake lever painted and wooden section of cab floor installed.
I completed the replacement hinge assembly by adding a 3/16″ shim between the hinge and the base to position it correctly so that the control box will sit square on its base. After that, work has contentrated on wiring the lighting and 24v supply to the multicore cable terminal mounted on the cab rear bulkhead below the floor. Connections that need to be made in the cab-mounted control box havebeen sheathyed and routed into their correct positions ready for reinstallation of the control box. The control box itself has had attention: all the terminals and nuts have been cleaned, the 2BA terminals having new brass nuts. The main battery switch has had its shaft painted black.
All the wiring has now been tested, including the brake light switch, horn and button, and the panel light switch both at the cab end and in the boot where appropriate so I am happy now that its all correct. Also tested now are the starter motor cables, dynamo cables and the starter sloenoid cable.
Restoration diary of a 70-year old AEC single-deck bus and the trials, tribulations and adventures of our 1966 Bristol bus.
