Late last year the Club’s Ford 8VA Flatbed Truck developed several worrying problems.

• Firstly, number 1 cylinder exhaust valve guide retainer failed, causing the entire valve, spring and retainer assembly to fail. 
• This in turn caused damage to the valve seat and valve guide pocket.
• After manufacturing a valve seat cutter, and with parts and tooling supplied by “Westie”, the valve seat and guide were repaired and put back together again.

Next up, the ongoing saga of the water pumps.

• The RH water pump has been replaced with a brand new pump. 
• Unfortunately, the LH water pump was much more difficult to source and ultimately had to be rebuilt in-house. A good second hand sedan pump gave up its life for parts which were modified and reassembled in the original truck pump housing. 
• The search for a new LH pump continues.

Lastly, the ignition service has been completed with new HT leads, cap, rotor and points. 

The cooling system has been flushed, new coolant added and engine oil drained and replaced and the Ford is now back in the AVVVA Club shed.

Thanks to everyone who helped me finish the job; Westie for supplying parts and tooling, Jim Donovan for donating the near impossible to find CAM follower (lifter), Ed Fawkes, Ken Hammond, Rod Mitchell and Craig Costello. Thanks guys, could not have done it without your help.

During down time, Ed and I did a quick change over of indicator lights on his Zephyr Mark II Looking good, much more period Ed.