Our new commer highwayman

That last photo is fascinating. I didn't realise that under the skin of a Highwayman lie all the fluted panels of a panel van including the number plate recess. They look to have survived very well. I had just assumed that the body and floor were constructed on chassis rails and outriggers like modern vans.

Keep up the good work! :)
 
back for an update new floor cut and fits but we need to waxoil the floor and insulate first before we screw it down.started undersealing underneath but its a dirty boring job scraping wirebrushing then painting so little by little is best. van going across the base tonight for brakes so lets hope they are all ok. When we took the floor up we found that the fuel pipe was leaking into the cab via the rubber hose so looked a bit closer and it had been fitted with a john bull tractor pipe which had split and was not a good fit but thanks to speedys a new one arrived as promised today and thats now fitted, well I think its done Gary will come home and fiddle just to check!!! will update with news on the brakes tonight, Lynne.
 
had a quick look at the brakes, cylinders appear stuck, but we have found a way to jack up, so all being well we will get it sorted,get some prices for new bits from speedys. drove well even if the brakes were stuck on, not bad as it has not turned a wheel for a good few years. weather forecast is bad for wednesday so we will do more inside if Gary can not work.
 
Which base are you on? Here's my Commer outside the officer's mess at RAF Marham last year.

rafoffmess1.jpg
 
Definitely passes muster - very smart on parade[^]

Best of luck with brake sorting - progress has been so amazing so far, glad you've managed to get a spin out in OKU:)

Bessie - four star commerdation
 
Hi we are at Bentwaters old base, we went over there last night and there was a terrible wobble on the front so gary said he would look at that next morning, anyway we looked at the back brakes and found out how best to jack it up to allow the suspension to drop so we could get the wheels off. anyway we need new wheel cylinders as they are all shot , could not order them as Speedys shut on wednesday so will ring thursday morning. Back to the wobble this morning Gary started with a borrowed large jack to look at the front brakes, anyway whoever changed the spare wheel must of been in a great hurry as all of the wheel nuts only had one turn on them not even finger tight. No wonder we had a wobble, we nearly had more than that, so buyers beware do not presume that a previous owner has left things in a safe condition. we did not think for one minute to check this as the hub cap was on, who in there right mind would be so careless and cover it up with the hub cap .we did know that it was the spare as the wheel is a different colour, but it was very dangerous and somebody could have been hurt!!. Anyway back to the van we have removed the other side panels and it was much worse than we thought all the bottom wood attaching the body to the chassis had completely rotten away, but this is now replaced and we are working our way down that side, its very time consuming as when the wood disintigrates you have nothing to copy.Just to add to it we have now got two leaks on the roof, one at the skylight and one on a seal so for now the ground sheet is back on until it stops raining and drys up so we can add more stickerflex!! yes more, I think we should have had shares in this product.
 
Terrible! Good job you found ut now not on the road, your van would probably have been written off.

I had the "loose wheel nut thing" fully laden coming back from France. The only thing holding the nuts on was indeed the huncap. The tyre fitter had forgotten to tighten the nuts when i had new tyres! You may find you need new wheel studs and/or nuts if the threads are damaged, as in my experience they won't ever tighten properly again. They're available from Speedys and not expensive. Ohnd I told you on about page 4 you'd find another leak!!!

Good luck, Per Ardua Ad Commer!
 
did it once myself :I not recommended on a 350 bhp capri [:0]

"you were only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off no.3"
 
hi tonights update,today we contacted speedys and the new wheel cylinders are £250, yes that what I said what, anyway they are ordered and hopefully will arrive friday, ready to fit at the weekend, we plan to book mot for monday as the first outing is on friday, this is a campfeast at our sons school. we do not want to break a promise, so it many not be finished but if its legal and we can put most of the interior back we will go its only one night and better than having a tent. all the rot now gone and all the wood in the panels replaced just got to cut the new ply and put it back on. then insulate the floor and fix that down, some panels go in before the ply and some after, just like a large jigsaw. used lots more stickerflex today and hope to have sealed the leaks.
 
When I found mine were seized I knocked the old pistons of the rear ones out with a drift. Then I cleaned up the cylinders with some fine emery and fitted new pistons and rubbers. No problems since and that was four years ago. Cost about a tenner each side from memory. Did the same with the clutch slave cyl this year too. The fronts are a bit more complicated I think.
 
I thought the price would be a full set.Keep the old ones for reconditioning :)the repair kits turn up on e bay occasionally.

"SYBHIL" & N0.1
 
hi ya tonights update, the wheel cylinders have arrived and have been fitted, all the old brake pipes have been removed ready for us to make new ones saturday, we purchased 2 new tyres today for it as they had perished as it has been sitting around with flat tyres we think, all the wood in the last side panel stained ready for the new ply sat/sun, we need new wiper blades and we have removed an earth lead whilst doing the floor so that needs to go back, talking about the floor, we had cut new stuff the same thickness as before but we were not happy with the quality as it was bending bad as you walked on it, so today we got some good quality hardwood ply of the same thickness and will cut the floor out again sat, it will be straight forward as we will use the others as templares. we did not pay for the last lot of wood so we have not wasted any money just a bit of time.we will keep other cylinders just incase as advised, thanks for your chat, still keeping us going. Gary & Lynne
 
I stand back in amazment at your enthusiasm I really do. Keep right on going it is inspiring and entertaining [^]

'Harvey the RV'
 
hi today we hae made the new brake pipes and fitted them that was good!! and we have been trying to bleed them but could not get good pressure, eventually we find a leak on a flexy pipe and when we look closer we have left a washer out so jack it up wheel off again to get access(we have to do this as we are old fat bu--ers) and can't get in the gap. we fit back with washer and it leaks more so a new flexy is required as it does not seem to get a seal.This seems so little but we have been busy all day doing odds and ends. it rained this morning and yes still got one leak on a seal how much more stickerflex does it need!!! anyway having an early night tonight and relax we think we need it. wood sunday watch this space something has to go wrong.
 
GOOD MORNING everybody, what time is it , yes its a bit early for sunday I know but last night after a long day we had chinese, not good when your getting on, its kept me awake all night, not Gary he can sleep on a knife edge, anyway want to get on with some jobs but he has left the commer up on axle stands all the wheels are on but I don't think I should get in and work just incase, so I'am sitting here waiting for a reasonable time to get him up. I looked back at some of the old messages and had a great time reading your old tales but nobody else is that supid to be up this time of the morning. I done the ebay thing just checking, like you do just in case. In case of what, do we really need anything else at the moment well thats another story!!!
 
What time is it, is it still night time [|)] Suppose I'd better crawl out if everyone else is up.
Mini brake bleedin' day today - HUGE job. Did the clutch yesterday with a Gunsons Easibleed (works very well), sometime somehow managed to puncture a pin hole in the aluminium reservoir and sprayed brake fluid everywhere when the Easibleed was connected [xx(]

'Harvey the RV'
 
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