Berlin Blitzer 1943 IH M5

[Mash]

First time posting on here, so a little over a year ago now, I purchased a "good" runner with no major issues, this was unfortunately done blind due to work commitments and locations. Collection of the vehicle seemed nice and easy as it was dropped off at the port and all I had to do was drive it on the ferry then a short run home, or not as the case maybe.

Refusal to board the ship was given due to the rough running engine (over-fuelling due to a non regulated electric pump) and 3 bent push rods caused by sticking valves, some good old initiative/bodgery took place over the next 24 hours before finally being allowed on the boat.

Once back home it was apparent how much work was needed and I soon ended up with the front end stripped down, head off and a huge parts list growing by the day, moving on to the rear end I was a little short of a gas axe to free it up and get it down to its component parts ready for overhaul.

I will try and add pictures and descriptions in a chronological order (as best I can) to talk you through the process of getting her back up and running, I'm by no means finished and still have away to go until the next event she's booked on.

[Mash]

Initial pictures showed her in a good light and information given all seemed above board, a deal was struck and I became the owner of an M5 ?

The vehicle was dropped off at Poole docks on the 11th of June and what was meant to be a simple drive on to the boat was far from that, as I've said the rough running and occasional backfire (think ports staff assuming a bomb scare as it backfired in the search shed?) so REME expedient repair skills came into play as my old boss and myself set about doing all we could to get this running enough to make it onto the boat (much to the annoyance of our better half's who got to spend the day on Poole docks), we were having great fun. At this time we were assuming the rough running was down to the electric fuel pump over powering the carbs floats (one of which was leaking), a simple override switch was produced allowing manual cut off to the pump whilst retaining the ignition system. This successfully got us on the boat, however a severe lack of power was noticed when driving so a recovery vehicle was used to get from the docks to its new resting place.

A hunt for parts ensued and were dually ordered, a carb rebuild kit, new floats and a regulator for the fuel pump were all on route so I moved onto the cosmetics ready for the "little" jobs I believed I had (those rose tinted glasses really are strong).

Obviously being both British and ex REME and having a vehicle the REME used both during and after the war, there was only one way this vehicle was going to end up. With a lovely coat of BS298 being applied I awaited the arrival of my spares. the rebuild of the carb and fitting of a regulator I optimistically hoped would solve the issues, (there's those rose tinted glasses again), she ran a lot better but it was evident there was a lack of power when test driving it across the field, speaking with a few people far more knowledgeable than myself on these vehicles it is a known fault that valves are prone to seizing up if they are left unused for a period of time.

Time for a full strip down of the head and assess what is required, (for those of you that don't know, the head is rather on the heavy side), Once the head was off I could see the issues I had, the pistons and liners were in great shape
As you can see bent push rods of which I had 3, caused by seized valves.
A very dead fuel pump.
A rather sorry exhaust manifold connector.

This engine was overhauled along with the rest of the vehicle by the Israelis I believe in 1983. (If anyone can translate the rebuild plate I would love to know).

[Mash]

With the head removed, a full strip and clean was carried out. All valves were removed and checked for true on the lathe, cleaned up and lapped back in.

The block was cleaned up, new core plugs installed and all water jacket channels I could get to were cleaned with a magnet.

Oh and I had to do the mandatory red diamond repaint.

[Mash]

Moving on to the rear end, I had to remove several horns from each track to allow them to pass under the bogie wheels, the entire rear end was seized solid, I had no movement in any of the rear suspension. A lot of chisels, large hammers and eventually copious Oxy/Acetylene finally got it broken down into its component parts.
 

[Mash]

Brakes were last overhauled, I assume by the dates painted on them were August 1983, all cylinders including the master were sent away for refurb having stainless steel liners fitted to ensure years of trouble free service.

[Mash]

With the back end stripped it was a good time to get the compressor fired up and the needle gun out on the chassis, all cleaned up after a few hours and several litres of paint gave me a much nicer looking rear end. Whilst doing this all the components of the suspension/drive train were also cleaned and painted.

[Mash]

Knew Id forget a stage or two, so between the engine rebuild and rear end strip I had to move sheds due to storm damage. Cue the Disco and my mates GMC.

[Mash]

Rebuilding the back end, with everything cleaned and painted and now very well lubricated I was able to get it all back together and have loads of movement.

[Mash]

Now at this point I should explain that I was booked to go on Armour and Embarkation, the photos above of the rear end were on the 27th may and the ferry was the 20th of June. At this point I still had a full re-wire to do as the post war bodges were dangerous and I had no lighting, the front tyres both needed replacing (with rims shot blasted and painted), both tracks needed fitting and tensioning, a new fuel tank needed fitting and the windscreen frame needed the Israeli mods removing, primer and paint, with a host of other minor jobs. Who doesn't like a little bit of pressure eh.

Windscreen was a fairly painless affair, the drivers side still had all the retaining studs, however the passenger sides were missing, a few modifications to some bolts gave me a reasonable looking stud to fit, with the extra brackets removed I was able to prime and paint before fitting new seals. (I know the interior still has a long way to go but that is now the slow time aspect of the restoration).

[Mash]

Wheels, well they were interesting, both tyres had significant damage that i was not happy with running on the road so new tyres sourced it was time to have them removed.
To say the split rim bolts were tight was an understatement, considering the manual states to only tighten them up with the issued spanner and not to use any extra leverage, I had to use the Disco and scaff tube on my 3/4 bar to loosen them.

The rim was not separating without a proper machine so they were sent to the local tyre company for removal, it was only once back I noticed one rim was dished in on the flange so it was off to a big press to straighten it out, cue 16t of pressure and I had a serviceable rim again. Final coat of green was applied on the 8th of June so getting close to the event date.

[Jesse]

Nice halftrack!  FYI, “Red Diamond” was the model of the engine. IH halftrack engines left the Springfield Ohio factory in the same blue /grey as the White style engines.

[8683jb]

Nice work!!

[emptyhead]

Very nice work. They always are in worst shape then you think. Keep at it