LD8 VENTURES OUT
The 1685 Group’s Midland Red LD8 class Leyland, 4031, has been out on the road. This was to achieve chassis cleaning and painting at Snarestone. Although the bus is mobile, it is not legally roadworthy and thus had to be towed in both directions. This was probably the last job performed by North Birmingham Busways AEC Matador before its sale to Pete Murphy; the 1685 Group gives particular thanks to NBB’s Dave Oughton for his assistance with the tows.
The exercise went without any problems and the bus returned to Wythall a week later. John James made regular visits to Snarestone to see the various stages which included steam cleaning, sand blasting (not so aggressive as shot), scraping and wire brushing of any difficult or missed areas, priming and bright aluminium painting of the entire underside. The result is very good indeed and has moved on the restoration significantly.
The road runs meant it was time to buy the bus its new tyres. Firstly 4031 was jacked up and the wheels removed, shotblasted and repainted. The new tyres were fitted to the refurbished wheels which were then returned to 4031. At Snarestone wheels with slave tyres were fitted while the chassis cleaning and painting took place. Finally the wheels with new tyres were refitted for the home run.Are you all right, jack, after all that work?
There is also more progress inside the bus. Replacement oak floor strips have been made, grooved, cut into lengths and are now ready for drilling and countersinking. The old lino has been lifted from the nearside upper deck; the offside is already renewed.
The chassis cleaning, tyres and oak all equals cost, and this flurry of work has been greatly assisted by the considerable generosity of 1685 Group members. The Group will now move off the LD8 for the time being to do MOT preps on 1107 and 1685.
Malcolm Keeley & John James
Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcs B47 6JX
Tel : 01564 826471 e-mail us
A registered educational charity no 507191
