1954 Daimler Ferret armoured car
Discussion
An early start this morning to get to Bicester Heritage for the Pistonheads 25th birthday bash, the little Ferret was parked in the 'Readers' Rides' hangar. Had a great day, caught up with some old faces and also good to meet new pals, it's always good to have another look round Bicester as the almost untouched history there is brilliant too.
A couple of running niggles on the way there and back, as I pulled into the unit the electric fuel pump started whizzing, checked the tank and it was completely dry so I couldn't have timed that better!
Thanks to Joe parked next to us who let me and my mate sit in his lovely SD1 Vitesse, always wanted one. Maybe one day!
How big/connected is the 'Ferret community'?
I only ask as I met the chap who owns this one at the Chalke Valley History Festival...
...which piqued my interest due to the windmill badge. I asked about it and he showed me the service history of the vehicle which had been in and out of various depots, including the AVSD at Ludgershall, in between spells as a "loaner" to units on specific deployments. One of it's periods of service had been with my old squadron, 3 Field Squadron, on a tour of Northern Ireland. His father (or maybe his grandfather) had served in the Royal Engineers so he'd picked that as one to display it as.
He even got me to demonstrate getting in through the driver's hatch, and the next day I went back (we were camping there for three days) and although Bear hadn't ever "crewed" a Ferret (neither had I) he kindly let me get a picture of Bear with our old squadron badge...
Bear was a gift from my wife (then fiancee) while I was out in the Gulf in 1991, so he now wears my miniatures (at my wife's insistence) as "he earned them all the same as you did". I even sewed him a jumper made from an old sock in Corps colours because she didn't want me to stick a pin in the wee fella's chest. He's not doing badly for a cheapo Clinton Cards teddy bear that was only meant to remind me of her while I was out in the Middle East. He ended up coming on every deployment I went on for the next 22 years. He should really have his own FMT600 (military driving permit) with Chieftain AVRE and AVLB, FV432 and FV436 on it. I used to keep him tucked behind the horn button on the 432s and 436s that I drove and he became a fixture/good luck charm with the rest of the crew.
I only ask as I met the chap who owns this one at the Chalke Valley History Festival...
...which piqued my interest due to the windmill badge. I asked about it and he showed me the service history of the vehicle which had been in and out of various depots, including the AVSD at Ludgershall, in between spells as a "loaner" to units on specific deployments. One of it's periods of service had been with my old squadron, 3 Field Squadron, on a tour of Northern Ireland. His father (or maybe his grandfather) had served in the Royal Engineers so he'd picked that as one to display it as.
He even got me to demonstrate getting in through the driver's hatch, and the next day I went back (we were camping there for three days) and although Bear hadn't ever "crewed" a Ferret (neither had I) he kindly let me get a picture of Bear with our old squadron badge...
Bear was a gift from my wife (then fiancee) while I was out in the Gulf in 1991, so he now wears my miniatures (at my wife's insistence) as "he earned them all the same as you did". I even sewed him a jumper made from an old sock in Corps colours because she didn't want me to stick a pin in the wee fella's chest. He's not doing badly for a cheapo Clinton Cards teddy bear that was only meant to remind me of her while I was out in the Middle East. He ended up coming on every deployment I went on for the next 22 years. He should really have his own FMT600 (military driving permit) with Chieftain AVRE and AVLB, FV432 and FV436 on it. I used to keep him tucked behind the horn button on the 432s and 436s that I drove and he became a fixture/good luck charm with the rest of the crew.
Nice story that YJ, and nice to get some updated photos of Bear with a green machine. There is a pretty good Facebook group for them with about 2500 members. It does seem to be getting harder to get the technical advice on certain things nowadays so I mostly just go as I find and use the manual where I might be scratching my head.
On my return trip from Bicester she was still hammering along at 50-55 on the A421 but I could feel a constant slight misfire and on hard acceleration was still breaking up. I mostly just short shifted my way through the gears and then gently accelerated up to speed, not great driving through Milton Keynes in reasonably heavy traffic unsure whether it was going to conk out. This was all starting to feel a bit like Groundhog Day as just when I thought I'd mended it, it'd all go to pot again.
It was time to rethink, so off came the deck armour (heavy by yourself) and after a compression test to check the basics, all were within the 115 to 125 psi range. Not great by modern standards but for a 70 year old engine with a 6.4:1 compression ratio, I'd say that's OK.
It was clear to me I was getting enough fuel, as for a start it seemed to be using it like it was going out of fashion, even moreso than usual. Taking the air filter out made it go like the absolute clappers too.
I thought I'd return to the ignition side of things as a start to ensure it was making the fuel go bang properly, and do similar to what Dan on here had done with his Ferret and convert to standard plugs and leads. Firstly I bypassed the feed to the coil and electronic ignition with a separate wire as this was running on original wiring through the ignition filter, originally in the system to suppress radio interference.
I then bought 6 standard 14mm plugs, and a set of eBay leads, gapped the plugs and installed. My intention was to replace the distributor cap for a new one I had off of an old Rolls-Royce display engine whilst doing this work. Annoyingly the leads connect to the cap in a rather old fashioned and pants way, you have to stab the lead with a tiny delicate prong poking out of the cap in a small channel, and when I went to remove the old leads from the 'new' cap I found someone had incorrectly installed them in the past, bent and snapped the prong without ever actually connecting the wire properly.
Cap with leads running inside to contacts
A close up of the spiked contacts, and the annoyingly broken one for Cylinder 3
Spark plug lead clearly not pierced through correctly
I continued with the old dizzy cap for now praying that I wouldn't break any of the delicate contacts as now I was without a spare.
Thankfully it all came apart nicely, and I found the 'new' HT lead had in fact burnt up inside I suspect where it'd been arcing due to a poor contact. It was a slightly different design of wire to the original being a carbon copper spiral rather than just copper strands, so I don't think that will have helped.
I replaced that, and then very carefully changed the leads. It all looks rather heath robinson in execution but as long as it works well I'm not too bothered for now.
I then went through the fuel side of things again ensuring all lines etc were clear, filter and tap clear and pump unions didn't have any crap in. Everything OK there.
After a test run it was much better, but still wasn't 100% so I had the carburettor off for a look. Anyone that has removed or installed the front carb base nuts on a Ferret will know it is a complete pain in the arse requiring quadruple jointed fingers and X ray vision, I still have my handy cut and welded bent 9/16AF spanner just for that job.
|https://thumbsnap.com/XUGJmLb6[/url
On stripping it and comparing to the old carburettor on there previously, I did find one air bleed jet that was a different size, so changed that. All diaphragms looked fine and appeared to be doing their jobs. I also changed the 'economy valve' (there's a laugh) as that appeared to be set differently to my old carb. Float height and operation looked fine, so it was bolted back on and run up, I sprayed the intake side with brake cleaner to check for air leaks and couldn't find any issues there.
All this in time for one of the highlight shows of the year, the Bedfordshire Steam and Country Fayre. We managed to assemble 5 Ferrets at the show this year, so evidently there are quite a few nutters in the local area. A great time had blasting around the 'play pen' including some exuberant driving after heavy rain resulting in me powersliding a Ferret
[url]]
On my return trip from Bicester she was still hammering along at 50-55 on the A421 but I could feel a constant slight misfire and on hard acceleration was still breaking up. I mostly just short shifted my way through the gears and then gently accelerated up to speed, not great driving through Milton Keynes in reasonably heavy traffic unsure whether it was going to conk out. This was all starting to feel a bit like Groundhog Day as just when I thought I'd mended it, it'd all go to pot again.
It was time to rethink, so off came the deck armour (heavy by yourself) and after a compression test to check the basics, all were within the 115 to 125 psi range. Not great by modern standards but for a 70 year old engine with a 6.4:1 compression ratio, I'd say that's OK.
It was clear to me I was getting enough fuel, as for a start it seemed to be using it like it was going out of fashion, even moreso than usual. Taking the air filter out made it go like the absolute clappers too.
I thought I'd return to the ignition side of things as a start to ensure it was making the fuel go bang properly, and do similar to what Dan on here had done with his Ferret and convert to standard plugs and leads. Firstly I bypassed the feed to the coil and electronic ignition with a separate wire as this was running on original wiring through the ignition filter, originally in the system to suppress radio interference.
I then bought 6 standard 14mm plugs, and a set of eBay leads, gapped the plugs and installed. My intention was to replace the distributor cap for a new one I had off of an old Rolls-Royce display engine whilst doing this work. Annoyingly the leads connect to the cap in a rather old fashioned and pants way, you have to stab the lead with a tiny delicate prong poking out of the cap in a small channel, and when I went to remove the old leads from the 'new' cap I found someone had incorrectly installed them in the past, bent and snapped the prong without ever actually connecting the wire properly.
Cap with leads running inside to contacts
A close up of the spiked contacts, and the annoyingly broken one for Cylinder 3
Spark plug lead clearly not pierced through correctly
I continued with the old dizzy cap for now praying that I wouldn't break any of the delicate contacts as now I was without a spare.
Thankfully it all came apart nicely, and I found the 'new' HT lead had in fact burnt up inside I suspect where it'd been arcing due to a poor contact. It was a slightly different design of wire to the original being a carbon copper spiral rather than just copper strands, so I don't think that will have helped.
I replaced that, and then very carefully changed the leads. It all looks rather heath robinson in execution but as long as it works well I'm not too bothered for now.
I then went through the fuel side of things again ensuring all lines etc were clear, filter and tap clear and pump unions didn't have any crap in. Everything OK there.
After a test run it was much better, but still wasn't 100% so I had the carburettor off for a look. Anyone that has removed or installed the front carb base nuts on a Ferret will know it is a complete pain in the arse requiring quadruple jointed fingers and X ray vision, I still have my handy cut and welded bent 9/16AF spanner just for that job.
|https://thumbsnap.com/XUGJmLb6[/urlOn stripping it and comparing to the old carburettor on there previously, I did find one air bleed jet that was a different size, so changed that. All diaphragms looked fine and appeared to be doing their jobs. I also changed the 'economy valve' (there's a laugh) as that appeared to be set differently to my old carb. Float height and operation looked fine, so it was bolted back on and run up, I sprayed the intake side with brake cleaner to check for air leaks and couldn't find any issues there.
All this in time for one of the highlight shows of the year, the Bedfordshire Steam and Country Fayre. We managed to assemble 5 Ferrets at the show this year, so evidently there are quite a few nutters in the local area. A great time had blasting around the 'play pen' including some exuberant driving after heavy rain resulting in me powersliding a Ferret
[url]]Edited by LewG on Saturday 23 September 10:22
https://youtube.com/shorts/sFiJrqBoThQ?si=evIN_9H7...
Link to how 6 happy Rolls cylinders should sound
Link to how 6 happy Rolls cylinders should sound
LewG said:
Nice story that YJ, and nice to get some updated photos of Bear with a green machine. There is a pretty good Facebook group for them with about 2500 members. It does seem to be getting harder to get the technical advice on certain things nowadays so I mostly just go as I find and use the manual where I might be scratching my head...
Nice to see a "proper" 7.62mm L4 LMG on the Ferret nearest the camera. They seem harder to come by as deactivated weapons than the old .303 BRENs. I think that may be the first one I've seen, even in photographs. I know Ferrets had BRENs mounted earlier in their service life, but by the time I was serving they were all conversions to L4 standard in unit armouries, so to me at least, the L4 looks "more right" atop a Ferret or a 432.
Headed over to the new Caffeine and Machine 'The Bowl' 4x4 meet yesterday evening as it's only half hour up the road. It was absolutely tipping it down on the way there and back, but didn't want to waste my ticket so thought bugger it and went anyway. Not pleasant in the dark with no working wiper and being blinded by oncoming headlights. Thankfully made it there and back in one piece. Not sure everyone else on the roads did however
Glad I went as was really nice to catch up with several mates I haven't seen in a while, my mate Jack was there in his ex mil 109, pictures shamelessly stolen off his Facebook as mine were frankly crap
I suspect it'll be a nice jaunt out on the bike for next summer, it used to be a great pub 10 years or so ago so was sad to see it closed and run down as of recently. Nice to see some new life breathed into the place
Edited by LewG on Friday 13th October 12:50
Small update for the Ferret thread.
Had a badly leaking hub seal for some time on the front RH wheel station but just needed to find some time to attend to it. The bevel box this side has always left a nice puddle on the floor too so whilst stripped I'll do that too.
Some rather damp brake shoes
Sun gear on its way out
You may remember this sight but on the other side station from the first pages of the thread!
Planetary gears and spacer rings removed, along with needle rollers for each pin. 24 needles per gear so required very careful removal and counting to ensure none were lost! Each placed into a small plastic bag for safe keeping
One of the dowels for the gear carrier appears to have backed out and been eroded by the rear face of the planet gears. Lucky this was caught in time before anything catastrophic happened.
Finally down to the stub axle. Backplate and hub removed and cleaned up at work since. Further stripping required to get right back to the bevel box at hull level so that's the next stage. Whilst there I found a few other niggles that need looking at, all steering ball joints very tired and worn through their hard chrome outers inside the joint. Amazingly these parts are still available so that's a bonus, you can definitely feel the slack in the steering with a slight 'chattering' at the wheel over rough road surfaces.
Had a badly leaking hub seal for some time on the front RH wheel station but just needed to find some time to attend to it. The bevel box this side has always left a nice puddle on the floor too so whilst stripped I'll do that too.
Some rather damp brake shoes
Sun gear on its way out
You may remember this sight but on the other side station from the first pages of the thread!
Planetary gears and spacer rings removed, along with needle rollers for each pin. 24 needles per gear so required very careful removal and counting to ensure none were lost! Each placed into a small plastic bag for safe keeping
One of the dowels for the gear carrier appears to have backed out and been eroded by the rear face of the planet gears. Lucky this was caught in time before anything catastrophic happened.
Finally down to the stub axle. Backplate and hub removed and cleaned up at work since. Further stripping required to get right back to the bevel box at hull level so that's the next stage. Whilst there I found a few other niggles that need looking at, all steering ball joints very tired and worn through their hard chrome outers inside the joint. Amazingly these parts are still available so that's a bonus, you can definitely feel the slack in the steering with a slight 'chattering' at the wheel over rough road surfaces.
Edited by LewG on Sunday 14th April 20:34
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