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FV4005 (SPUD) Restoration Part 2

Restoration of the FV4005 SP 17pdr on the correct Centurion Mark III chassis, detailing mechanical and historical accuracy.

Ask about this video. Answers come from its transcript only — with the timestamp, so you can check them.

Generated from the transcript and can be wrong — check the timestamp.

Key Takeaways

  • Restoring the FV4005 on the correct Mark III chassis is crucial for historical accuracy.
  • The Mark 12 chassis currently housing the turret has significant differences that make it unsuitable for restoration.
  • Safety improvements include relocating the fuel tank to reduce fire risk.
  • Mechanical systems like the engine, transmission, and steering are complex and require careful restoration.
  • The project combines historical research with hands-on mechanical work to preserve an experimental Cold War vehicle.

What the video covers

  • The FV4005 SP gun is currently mounted on the incorrect Mark 12 Centurion chassis instead of the historically accurate Mark III chassis.
  • The restoration project involves adapting the chassis to match historical photos and videos from the early 1950s experimental tests.
  • Key differences between Mark 12 and Mark III chassis include the presence of an extended fuel tank and armor plate on the Mark 12, which the FV4005 never had.
  • The team is working on removing and redesigning parts such as flat components without rubber fittings to match the original vehicle.
  • The Mark III hull was successfully bump-started earlier in the year using an old Foden vehicle.
  • The engine bay layout includes a small Morris 1000 engine powering a generator for the turret and warm water circulation on cold days.
  • Concerns were raised about fuel tanks located in the engine bay due to fire risk and fuel evaporation; a safer ARV fuel tank will be installed near the driver.
  • The vehicle uses a Merritt-Brown transmission with multiple gears and a complex steering band system that operates opposite to the steering input.
  • The restoration process involves careful removal of components like radiators, brakes, and water pipes, many of which remain in good condition.
  • The video includes detailed mechanical insights and historical context for the FV4005 and Centurion chassis.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction and Chassis Explanation
  2. 00:40Fuel Tank Differences and Restoration Challenges
  3. 01:29Component Removal and Redesign
  4. 02:46Mark III Hull Running and Engine Start
  5. 05:32Centurion Bow and Engine Bay Overview
  6. 06:10Fuel Tank Removal and Safety Concerns
  7. 06:55Fuel Tank Safety and Relocation Plan
  8. 07:43Mechanical Systems: Cooling, Steering, and Brakes
  9. 08:22Steering Mechanism Details
  10. 10:13Additional Mechanical Insights and Wrap-up

Answers

Questions about this video

Why is the FV4005 turret currently on the wrong chassis?

The FV4005 turret is mounted on a Mark 12 Centurion chassis, which was used due to availability at Bovington Tank Museum, but historically it was only ever mounted on a Mark III chassis.

What are the main differences between the Mark III and Mark 12 Centurion chassis?

The Mark 12 chassis has an extended rear armor plate and a larger fuel tank, which the Mark III lacks. The FV4005 was originally mounted on the Mark III, making the Mark 12 unsuitable for accurate restoration.

How is the restoration team addressing fuel tank safety?

They plan to replace the current fuel tank in the engine bay with a fuel tank from a Centurion ARV, located near the driver but away from flammable components, to reduce fire risk and fuel evaporation.

Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown

00:00
Speaker A
What we say, welcome back to part two of the FB405 or the whatever you want to call it that everyone keeps reminding me that it's C in the game. A few people are a little bit confused as to what we were doing, and probably I could have explained it slightly better. But obviously, at the minute, the FB4 is sat on the wrong hull. It's actually sat on the Mark 12 Centurion chassis, which has a few key differences here, which the real thing should be on a Mark III, or the original prototype was on a Mark III.
00:14
Speaker A
were doing and probably I could have explained it slightly better but obviously at the minute the the fb4 is sat on the wrong hole it's actually sat on the mark 12 Centurion chassis uh which few key differences here which to
00:29
Speaker A
The biggest difference with that is the back of the vehicle has a great big extended piece of armor plate where it has an added fuel cellar, a bigger fuel tank basically at the back, which the Mark 12 hull doesn't have. So to restore it on the hull that it's currently sat on, that you've all seen outside Bton Tank Museum, would be completely wrong, totally the wrong chassis. That turret was never put on that chassis. Just Bobbington just didn't have anything else to put it on, so that's why it's that.
00:40
Speaker A
where it has a added fuel Celler a bigger fuel tank basically the back which the Mark II Hall doesn't have so to restore it on the hle that it's currently sat on that you've all seen outside bton tank Museum would be
00:52
Speaker A
So we're actually going to mount it to the correct chassis, which I happen to have. We're going to adapt the chassis to be historically accurate to the photos and videos we actually have of the FB45 when they were testing it, when it was an experimental vehicle in the early 50s. Have anything else that what do you think? You think that? No.
01:09
Speaker A
have we're going to adapt the the the chassis to be historically accurate to the photos and videos we actually have of the FB 45 when they were testing it when it was experimental vehicle in the early 50s have anything else that what do you
01:29
Speaker A
[Music] Bored. [Music] I'm quite pleased all of them actually came out really, really well. So, no snapped off ones. So we'll let them cool, we'll put them in a lin bin, and then we'll start lifting each individual one off, put it on a pallet. These are also going to have to be redesigned slightly because on the 45, these are just flat. They don't have these buges, all the rubber bits do. So all of that's going to have to be cut off neat to the hole.
02:14
Speaker A
start lifting each individual one off put it on a pallet these are also going to have to be redesigned slightly because on the 45 these are just flat they don't have these um buges all the all the rubber bits do so
02:33
Speaker A
But that's not a problem. That can be done when they're off. So, yeah, all right, let's get to it. Okay, so those that are new here, we did actually get this M3 hull running earlier on in the year. This is just bump starting it with the old Foden. [Music] On. [Music] [Music] [Music]
02:46
Speaker A
did actually get this m 3 hle running earlier on in the year this is just bump starting it with the old foden [Music] on [Music] [Music] [Music] right are we on fire or is it just burning oil yeah well I reckon we've got
04:54
Speaker A
Right, are we on fire or is it just burning oil? Yeah, well, I reckon we've got a knackered ring. I think we got a knackered ring and liner, probably a knackered piston on this side. Wonder if this side's on the same. No, this side's cool. That side's burning serious oil, serious oil for it to do that.
05:19
Speaker A
so if anyone's never seen the the bows of a centurion this is one that looks like it's been used as a hardcore Heap but this is it with the decks off so got um fuel tank this side right next to a
05:32
Speaker A
Right, so if anyone's never seen the bows of a Centurion, this is one that looks like it's been used as a hardcore heap, but this is it with the decks off. So, got a fuel tank this side right next to a burning heart exhaust manifold, and the other side under a little tiny Morris 1000 engine that works a big generator which powers the turret.
05:46
Speaker A
up first that will then pump warm water around the main engine on a cold day and also it's a big generator so it puts a lot of power in the batteries to help start when they were running these
05:57
Speaker A
And it also shares the same water system. So the little engine, you generally start that up first. That will then pump warm water around the main engine on a cold day, and also it's a big generator, so it puts a lot of power in the batteries to help start. When they were running these things, they had like, well, I think they did have 12 volt batteries of progress, but in the early days they had a load of 6VT batteries.
06:10
Speaker A
the help it needed so under that little donkey engine there's another petrol tank which someone's actually removed yeah uh so that's good this vehicle is only ever running off this one cuz it's a Mark III Hull it doesn't have the
06:24
Speaker A
So batteries were poor, so you needed a big generator like that to give the electric start all the help it needed. So under that little donkey engine, there's another petrol tank which someone's actually removed. Yeah, so that's good. This vehicle is only ever running off this one because it's a Mark III hull. It doesn't have the extended fuel tank at the rear.
06:39
Speaker A
happy we're running tanks in the engine bay they also evaporates the petrol because it's next to something hot which when they use two gallons to the mile as it is you don't need any help with the petrol disappearing or or evaporating so
06:55
Speaker A
When we use Centurions for our own personal, so I always like to use the rear fuel tank for obvious reasons, fire, and that's the furthest away from the fire. You won't be able to do that in this, and I'm not happy we're running tanks in the engine bay. They also evaporate the petrol because it's next to something hot, which when they use two gallons to the mile as it is, you don't need any help with the petrol disappearing or evaporating.
07:11
Speaker A
driver but there aren't anything there isn't anything flammable there to catch five really so I think that's what I'm going to do on this to make it as safe as we possibly can uh so you got your oil cooler for the main engine you got
07:26
Speaker A
So what I'm going to actually do is take a Centurion ARV armored recovery vehicle's fuel tank, which actually will fit nicely in the front here, and there is actually a genuine fuel filler cap ready to accept that. So I know it's near the driver, but there isn't anything flammable there to catch fire, really. So I think that's what I'm going to do on this to make it as safe as we possibly can.
07:43
Speaker A
there weighs about quarter of a ton you've got the cooling fans that run off the main engine and then basically you've got your steering bands so that's that one and that one so when you pull left it actually is opposite so when you
07:56
Speaker A
So you got your oil cooler for the main engine, you got two big oil bath air cleaners, then working your way to the back, you've got a Merritt-Brown five-speed, is it five-speed or is it six-speed? Can't remember. You've got two reverse, high reverse, low reverse. You got a three-plate clutch there, weighs about a quarter of a ton.
08:07
Speaker A
brakes all simple and most of it's going to have to come out then obvious you got your two giant radiators that call both engines and anyway first thing we're going to do is start at the back and then work our way forward taking
08:22
Speaker A
You've got the cooling fans that run off the main engine, and then basically you've got your steering bands. So that's that one and that one. So when you pull left, it actually is opposite. So when you pull left, it's actually putting this one on. When you pull right, it's actually putting that one on. And then you've got your main brake. So when you put your foot brake on, that actually operates that drum and that drum.
09:13
Speaker A
isn't it that easy to get at that's going to be next thing to take out I've took the two water pipes water pipes um those pipes are actually really good condition they're not Rusty at all they are in very good
09:25
Speaker A
So it's all drum brakes, all simple, and most of it's going to have to come out then. Obviously, you got your two giant radiators that cool both engines. And anyway, first thing we're going to do is start at the back and then work our way forward, taking everything out on the way. [Music] [Music] [Music]
10:13
Speaker A
GU good beeping machine on that for isn't it pretty pretty inconsistent that's all I'd say boy I'll tell [Music] think down in the last shower stop [Music] [Music] sing the on and down the last shall it's not quite
11:38
Speaker A
It looks like there's a hell of a lot going on here. What you find? You find any treasures? Uh, no, no treasures so far. Oo, nice. Good access to the clutch now, isn't it? That easy to get at. That's going to be next thing to take out. I've took the two water pipes, water pipes.
Topics:FV4005SPUDCenturion tankMark III chassisMark 12 chassistank restorationmilitary vehiclesarmored vehicle restorationBritish tanksCold War tanks

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