Lock down snippets

[Keith Clements]

[Forumadmin]

[Forumadmin]

Hover over picture to see where seen. Click on thumbnail for better image.

[Forumadmin]

We haven’t yet featured Jupiters

Only 20 something Jupiters were originally imported and since them maybe 3 privately imported and two exported. We believe all but one Jupiter in NZ are now in the hands of Club members. They are probably the most sort after of Jowett models and so are not scrapped, but restored almost regardless of condition. At present there are at least nine at some stage of restoration, but these are another story sometime

[Forumadmin]

[Forumadmin]

Today we look at the late 1930’s Jowett 8 and 10

In New Zealand we have nine examples

John Wolfe 10 Concourse car being put back on road after many years storage

Vic Morrison 10 Good condition, fitted with a Bradford motor

James Tarrant 10 Good condition,

B.C.Museum 10 A going car when purchased by Museum

K Brownlie 10 Ken and Alan have one being restored and also

A Stanley 10 have one pretty much beyond recovery

no pic
James Tarrant 8 Good condition

Ray Win Museum 8 Static display, not run

B.C.Museum 8 A going car when purchased by Museum

[Forumadmin]

[Forumadmin]

Find attached the conversion of the pdf files by Microsoft Word into an editable document. Where Word has a problem recognizing the very bad copy it displays a snippet image to help interpret the text. A bit of work could resurrect the document to something that can go in a searchable archive. Volunteers? We may be able to supply similar copy for those with a preference for another word processor.

Nthrn Branch 464.docx

(796.38 KiB) Downloaded 11 times

Central Branch 465.docx

(930.56 KiB) Downloaded 13 times

South Island 466.docx

(240.97 KiB) Downloaded 10 times

This screenshot shows how I open the docx in Word by clicking on the link from JT and then open the image file in the previous post in the browser and lay side by side for easier correction of optical character recognition.

The images as well as the text can be edited which I have done to the header and first paragraph. Then the edited document can be saved in a variety of formats. Here it is back in pdf format, but it can be put into web archive format which makes it much more searchable and accessible on a website.

[Forumadmin]

The Jowett Story 1.pdf

(3.67 MiB) Downloaded 8 times

The Jowett Story 2.pdf

(440.09 KiB) Downloaded 9 times

[Keith Clements]

Ken Brownlie. Auckland
Removed the steering box on his Bradford and installed a refurbished one The Shed that the Northern Branch use belongs to Ken and he has started his cars and the Club car and a bit of ground maintenance around the Shed.

Maxi Kumar, Waitakere
Has made a couple of local trips to the Shed to get some parts for the Javelin he is bringing back from the dead.

Doug Griffin, Fielding
Before going into COVID19 Lockdown the brakes on the Jowett started to have a few issues and after a call to our Parts Team a replacement Master Cylinder was ordered.
Within a very short time a replacement arrived – now the next mission will be installing it.
Once again great support from our Parts Team

John Godfrey, Taupo
Since I purchased Keith’s Deluxe Javelin early Feb and drove it home to Taupo I have spent time attending to further its pristine presentation and steadily checking the vehicle including accumulating various spare parts one is advised to have on hand. The things you carry in case of emergency but hope you will never use. Terry has been helpful in this regard. When I purchased the car there was no chrome Javelin name plate on the right rear bumper but as I had one which I purchased (for 1 pound) when in the UK for the anniversary rally this has now been fitted with helpful advice from Allan so I feel that the car is now complete.

Due to lockdown restrictions I have not been able to use the Javelin as much as I would have liked so start it every week and run for 15mins to keep things ticking over. I did have a small starting problem in the early days but this was put down to and ignition problem and the slipping of the choke linkage all of which was rectified by trial and error and helpful advice from Vic, so thanks to all.

Looking forward to getting out and about in and showing to the fellow members of the various branches. Look out you concourse entrants!

Graeme Duncan Christchurch
What started out as a door realignment repair ended up removing lots of rotted wood then rebuilding. Then I started on inside of the cab b4 I had to abandon the project (for now) to attend to a family emergency.

image001.jpg (22.22 KiB) Viewed 269 times

image002.jpg (15.72 KiB) Viewed 269 times

Vic Morrison Christchurch.
I haven't much to report as my 4 Jowetts were in good running order before the lockdown but I have built up and fitted a better starter motor to CDR3 as it was sounding horrible when turning the motor over. I then removed the speedo in Maureen's Javelin to overhaul making one good one from two. It now reads right and doesn't stick at 55mph as before. All cars have been greased and checked over ready for new warrants in due course.
More major non-Jowett work has been replacing the clutch and throw-out bearing in my FWD Triumph 1300. Non car work has been gardening (boring) and playing in the caravan (pleasant)
James Tarrant, Christchurch
I’ve been working on the strip down part of my restoration for my 1953 Jowett Bradford Truck. I brought it in November.
Started Stripping it in December. Been working on it on and off.
Now it’s down to a rolling chassis.
Need to reorganise garage to make space again. I will pop a few pictures from when I got it till now.

image004.jpg (19.38 KiB) Viewed 269 times

Brian Tuffey, Blenheim
I have been toiling away on Wally over recent weeks finding time to keep up with basic servicing and interior and exterior detailing. All very enjoyable and my young Grandson enjoys our time spent on Wally immensely.

Greg Holman Whangarei
I have done a few things during this lockdown. I made some garage signs for friends and members of the northland VCC based at the Manu museum.
Ford, Holden, jaguar and most importantly Bradford. The Bradford sign is 720mm X 250mm and the Jowett oval is 420 X 250.
They are made on a small CNC machine that I built a few years ago.

image005.jpg (14.92 KiB) Viewed 269 times

image006.jpg (14.25 KiB) Viewed 269 times

I have also worked on my Bradford truck. Removed the dash and painted it. Wires everywhere and at last I have got the fuel gauge working.
Today I removed the rear springs and gently cold rolled some more curve into them to compensate for the years of sagging.
As for tomorrow, who knows what will happen in my workshop.


Scott Renner, USA
Jupiter 266, ex-Ted Miller (ex-Red Skelton) is back from paint shop and under reassembly. Color is 1954-55 Porsche Jade Green Metallic

Gaven Reeve, Auckland
Progress is less than was hoping given the lockdown but things are coming along.
Just got to finish fabricating the OD mount/chassis cross member and then I think I will be ready to put the wheels on. After that it will be on to Engine/Gearbox refurbishment. Hope all is well with you, looking forward to Level 2 so we can hopefully meet up again at the Shed.

Laurie Callender Inglewood NP

Have done a few jobs on the Bradford including the panel beating of the fuel tank which required a new end plate made and I had this soldered in by the local radiator repair shop. Also they checked my radiator, found a few tubes not able to be cleared but overall in good condition so hopefully should be OK to use.
Spoke to Terry North about fitting a temperature gauge so hoping to pick one of these up next week and fit into the thermostat housing.
Have repaired the cab corner panels I obtained from the South Island so am getting better at rust repairs and spot MIG welding. Currently working on a new roof panel plus the rear panel which I am working on cutting out the rear window aperture.
Also found another photo of Dads Bradford which showed the yellow number plate with black numerals L17.901. I asked the question on the Vintage Car Club Facebook page about this plate and was told L stood for Light Commercial and the plate would have been a 1964/65 era just before the NZ went to permanent plate issue. Hopefully this may help when I go to get it re-registered.
Kelly Green, Tauranga
Hi I decided lockdown was a good time to attempt a job on Sylvia (our Javelin) which I have been putting off. 2 years ago I bought the parts and have been a bit worried about what I was going to get myself into . If I had known how relatively easy it was going to be would have done it long ago.The job involved fitting new window channel and weather strips to all 4 doors.
Looks much tidier now. Checked tappets ready for a run to get a wof which expired during lockdown.

Malcolm Cameron Lower Hutt
My Jowett efforts are minimal as having a Javelin motor that needed to be assembled still needs assembly due to being caught out with a clutch and pressure plate in lockdown at the specialists. So have put together as much as possible with what we have. Actually 2 -3 hours effort. Not bad over a 5 week period.

At the Reconditioners is my CA Bradford barrels, pistons etc. awaiting machining. These will be on the back burner as when he opens the bread and butter customers will be first.

The blue car was stripped and painted, but the lockdown put a hold on that as the windscreen and rear glass needs putting in. Carpets are at the upholsterers and have not seen the finished results as Jason & Aaron are out of our bubble and zone, so tomorrow on can officially travel to Kaitoke and look/inspect plus looking forward to bacon & egg pie lunch, the beauty of a lifestyle block. Also up at Kaitoke Lisa and co. have titivated their Bradford.

The moral of this missive is don't procrastinate, if you are going to do the job do it now, in my case could have been a couple of years ago. So Jowett wise during lockdown 2 – 3 hours.

Other activities are on hold once again due to procrastination. A fence needs building but only have the posts did not get the rails in time before lockdown. The house needs painting; weather has been good, but no paint. Chasing a water-leak in the basement, minor excavations have been done but no rain. Have run out of reading material as library closed. Surprising doing little things can take a bit of time including cleaning my garage, now only have big things to do.

Being cloistered has been interesting as only left the property 3 times all lockdown. etc. flu’ shots, chemist. Son has done the shopping and obviously for him the shine has disappeared and is now relieved of his duties.

Alan Stanley, Auckland
On my 2 Jowetts, only really charged the batteries and started up, drove out of garage and back in. I am building up a new motor for the Javelin, but unfortunately all the bits are up the Jowett Shed
Having been in this house for over 30 years and “stuff” has accumulated so we have worked through all the cupboards and boxes. An outcome from this was perusing piles of car magazines and Jowett Flat Fours and other stuff. Hence the idea of the daily Jowett Snippets which you have been receiving. So these became a daily job for me

Jeanette Bailey, Fielding
Thank you for the Jowett Snippets.
The one with the old Northern Branch Newsletter has personal memory for me. My Mum was in the hospital for Cancer and past 2 years later and of course, it was my brother who locked the key in his Javelin, and he is no longer here. Time passes quickly if we keep having fun in our Jowett's

Neil Moore, Auckland
Had UK guests trapped in NZ for 4 weeks. Bill and Diana Lock Jowett members from the UK had come to NZ for the Jowett National Rally and then onto the Australian Jowett Rally. Bill has a small business sourcing and supplying Jowett parts, so we had lots to discuss. Bill helped me with a tidy up of my shed and stacking parts in my newly acquired container.

Just before lock down I had an “off” during a hill climb. Ripped the sump and battery box off and smashed the oil pump. Should be all fixed and back on the road in a week.


Mark Nightingale Australia
An amazing project

image011.jpg (20.46 KiB) Viewed 269 times

image012.jpg (22.51 KiB) Viewed 269 times

Ian Hingston Paraparaumu
Well just at the start of the lockdown UK Jowett Car Club members, Bill and Diana Lock here for our national Rally in Taihape, arrived in Wellington from Christchurch just as local transport and airline services were shutting up shop. I took them for a tour of Wellington and advised them that their best chance of getting out of the country was to head for Auckland. I suggested they check with the rental agents who may have a car that need to be returned to Auckland. It would be a nice drive for them, traveling through Taihape with a stopover at Taupo or Rotorua. I didn’t expect them do as well as they did though.

I took the spares they had brought with them for Neil and for Richard Homersham in Australia - they were off to their rally also - and are getting ready to courier them to their owners later this week.

I have also been working on my Jupiter wheels which were all cracked with some previously cracked and badly welded. I sand blasted them, had them professionally welded and have been sanding them back in preparation for painting. I have taken the rim of a Javelin wheel - under the red compressor hose in the picture - and am looking around for a suitable 15 inch rim to put on it. I have been told any 1970’s French cars or some Volkswagen ones fit.

image001.jpg (28.05 KiB) Viewed 269 times

Brian Hartman, Cambridge
Brian has been working hard on his Bradford over the past few months. It was involved in an accident and he has reassembled it on a new and straight chassis. He was targeting to have it ready for the now cancelled National Rally, but with hindsight may not have made it.
So over lockdown he has made progress and is finishing up and hopes to have it complete in a few weeks.
Obviously his Jupiter restoration has taken a back seat.

Lorna Johns, Auckland
Wiring loom for Javelin
First, I had to lay out the wiring on the metal holders and then work out the colours. This involved stripping back a lot of wire and guessing. Then I had to trace where the wires started and ended up. The next job was to decide what each wire did. Half way through I decided to play cars – to give me a little incentive….
Now I know where each wire goes, and what colour wire, I have to decide what extra gadgets I have on my car then pretend I know what each wire does. I will have to invent a new game until I can enlist some help!

image001.jpg (19.77 KiB) Viewed 267 times

image002.jpg (21.54 KiB) Viewed 267 times

image003.jpg (19.77 KiB) Viewed 267 times

image004.jpg (19.11 KiB) Viewed 267 times

And daily Lorna has been busy helping Alan with the formatting and emailing these snippets

John Mock, Rangiora

I have just taken the final photo for my lockdown activity so here goes.
I have been pottering away at rebuilding an engine I was given by Keith Buckley, he had it under a bench for thirty five years.
History totally unknown and a lot of parts missing but between the spares at Idlewood and parts I had it is now ready to run.
Total strip down and reassembly, this is the first Javelin motor I have rebuilt in fifty years, reliving my
youth I guess?

Gavin Keats.
Braddy in lockdown.

Squelch, Squelch, Squelch,
Bradfords are not exactly Leaf quiet, but Braddy had never sounded this sick before. I was only driving into the garage but the river of white emulsion on the drive was a crime it wouldn't take a Sherlock to solve. An embarrassment of low compression led to a push request from Porsche driving son to crest a hill with an overload of fire wood a month before. It was time for an overhaul.

The timing couldn't have been better. I had ordered the necessary parts from the club, visited Idlewood for more parts and collected the re-bored barrel and crack tested heads from KC Engine Reconditioners just before lockdown. Luxury to have the time to potter and reassemble carefully. Daphne had been sorting out and labelling the mixed up Austin and Jowett parts in the attic and knew just where banjo bolts and that missing radiator stay that Jane had left off twenty years ago was stored.

image001.gif (47.75 KiB) Viewed 265 times

The Bradford, which we have kept running for forty five years provides a connection between the stages of our life. Teenage years, young family, children learning to drive, house building and near retirement. Every journey is an adventure, always lifts your spirit and puts a smile on your face. The Bradford is a secret treasure, greater than the sum of its parts!

[Keith Clements]

JAVELIN SALOON and SALOON DE LUXE
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
CONSTRUCTION Integral body and subframe of steel construction.
ENGINE 4 cylinder, horizontally opposed, overhead valve unit 72.5 mm. bore, 90mm. stroke, 1,486 c.c. swept volume
Tax-£10 50 b.h.p. at 4,100 r.p.m.
Die cast aluminium cylinder block with wet cast iron liners
Crankshaft mounted in three steel-back lead-bronze bearings
Valves pusbrod operated from central cast iron camshaft
Zero lash hydraulic tappets
Cast iron cylinder head
Twin Zenith carburettors with bonnet-mounted air cleaners having renewable element
Pressure-fed lubrication from submerged oil pump
Full flow oil filter
Sump capacity, 9 pints (5 litres) .
14 mm. sparking plugs
Coil ignition
Cooling by water pump and fan-thermostat capacity 12 pints (61 litre),
TRANSMISSION Four-speed gearbox with synchromesh on 2nd, 3rd and top gears
Steering coIumn control lever
Ratios : 4.86 ; 7.31 ; 11.6 ; 18.9. Rev. 18.9
7.25-in. Borg and Beck s.d.p. clutch
Salisbury hypoid rear axle
“Layrub” propeller shafts with midship bearing. .
SUSPENSION Torsion bars front and rear ; front independent
Woodhead Monroe shock absorbers
Pressed steel wheçls 16 ins. diam,, 5.25 x 16 tyres.
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase-- 102 in.
Trackfront 51in.
Track rear 49 in.
Overall height 6o in
Overall width 61 in
Overall length 168 in.
Minimum ground clearance 7.75 in
Turning circle 32 ft
STEERING GEAR Internal gear and pinion type.
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT 12-voit system with 64 amp-hour battery .
Wing-fitting headlamps with
double-filament dipping bulb on near side and pilot bulbs
Twin tail lamps and interior lamp
Self cancelling trafficators.
FUEL SYSTEM 8 gall. (36 litres) ‘ gear-mounted tank
AC mechanical pump. . . . .

The striking technical features with which the JAVELIN design bristles
are well shown in this cutaway drawing by the “Autocar” artist.
The compact four-cylinder engine is mounted in front of the radiator, the
grille hinging upwards in addition to the bonnet lifting to give accessibility.
The independent front wheel suspension system is clearly shown. The
long rear torsion bars are arranged transversely. The divided propeller
shaft allows a tunnel-free, flat -floor in the rear compartment. Note the
immensely strong main underframe which forms an integral structure with
the steel body. This method of construction permits a low overall weight,
promoting great liveliness and economy.

[Keith Clements]

Distinctive wind cheating style
Smooth between wheels ride
Compact but extraordinary passenger space
Flat unencumbered interior floor
Wide track, generous ground clearance
All torsion bar suspension
Independent front suspension
Telescopic shock absorbers
Direct accurate circular track steering
Low very forward mounted horizontally opposed engine
Light weight, alloy crankcase
Overhead valve high compression
Twin carburettors 1500cc
50 brake horse power plant
4 speed gearbox with positive column change
Two piece drive shaft
Rubber cushioned universals
Unit construction with integral chassis
Refined interior, walnut dash and leather seats, picnic tray, heater, provision for radio
Economical 30 miles per gallon
Excellent road holding with willing responsive handling
Acceleration and top speeds(80mph) remarkable for 1 ½ litres and better than many other cars of far greater capacity

[Keith Clements]

When introduced in 1947 combined many characteristics which had previously belonged to widely varying types of car
Roominess of family car
Comfort of high priced limousine
Road manners of a sports model
Acceleration of big American car
Top speed of over 75 m.p.h.
Notable for economy at 29-33 m.p.g.
Outstanding Competition success
Reputation as a Hardworker
Good performance qualities

Compact 4 cylinder motor is mounted in front of radiator
Grille hinging upwards in addition to bonnet lifting to give accessibility
Independent front wheel suspension
Long rear torsion bars arranged transversely
Divided propeller shaft allows tunnel free flat floor in rear
Immensely strong main underframe which forms an integral structure with steel body
This structure permits a low overall weight promoting liveliness and economy