Reliant TW9 Ant, restoration project.

[fha772]

Hi all,

I know it's not exactly performance, but it is certainly practical, seeing as it'll be my parts hauler when it's done.

I thought I'd start a thread on my TW9, seeing as I'm taking it out of mothballs and starting to get the restoration started.

So far my to do list is:
1, Rebuild the tipper body (being done next week at my mate's fabrication firm)
2, Remove the engine and gearbox.
3, Make a new front crossmember/bumper.
4, Clean down the chassis and paint it.
5, Rebuild the brakes, and fit new pipes.
6, Repair and paint the cab.
7, Check and repair suspension and steering.
8, Fit the new 850cc engine and gearbox.
9, Get it MOT'd

I think that's everything (so far!!)

Here's some pictures I took today...












Cheers Frank.

[Mr Bounce]

Funky little thing Frank. Needs a V8.

[Relentless Rob]

Superb. I'll chase Martin up to see if he sold his or not. Would be good for parts.

[Renrut]

Funky little thing Frank. Needs a V8.

And another wheel

Frank does this mean you're actually progressing some of your projects?

[fha772]

Frank does this mean you're actually progressing some of your projects?

Ssshhhhhhh!!! Don't jinx it!!!

[OilyFingers]

Are you going to get it signwritten or just painted. It would make a great advertising piece sat down the road from the chippie, just perhaps not with bits of old truck in the back!

That garage looks awful bear. Is it yours or is it 'hidden'?

[fha772]

Hi Oily,

That's my plan, I'm having the cab and body signwritten to advertise my shop, and I'm building a top to turn it into a box, and the top will be advertising the Matlock Bath illuminations.

Here's a bit of an update,

I've had an hour on the Ant today, I've got the tipper body undone ready for rebuilding, the bolts in the hinges undid fairly easily, but the pins through the hydraulic ram wouldn't budge. 
So I've had to rip up a bit of the floor, to cut the top pin with a hacksaw blade.  The body is now say on blocks, ready to load onto the trailer.


I've also removed both doors, seeing as the latches are seized solid, it made sense to unbolt the hinges and lift the doors off, rather than risk damaging the fibreglass. 



Now that the body is up, I can see the chassis better, it is in pretty good condition, and only needs a few minor repairs and a good coat of paint.


Cheers Frank.

[fha772]

Not done much since the last post, just cleaned it out a bit, and spent some time deciding how I'm going to go about the restoration.
I think the best plane is to do it in 2 halves.
I'm going to get all the rear half of the chassis, the axle, and suspension done, then concentrate on the on the front half (which where it needs welding), the front suspesion and steering sorted, and the cab.
Once that's done, then I'll get the engine and box in, fit the tipper body, and get the rewiring done.
I think I'll get it done better, and quicker, if I split it into bite size sections.

[kieran07]

Cool project, I don't recall ever seeing one of these before. Is that an A series in it? It looks like a lot of work right there, you'll very familiar with your grinder once your done I imagine!

[fha772]

Hi Kieran,

It is pretty groovy innit?
That's a 700cc Reliant engine, which I'm replacing with a whopping 850cc of raw Reliant power!!!
With a few mods (4 branch manifold, inlet manifold modded, and some port work), I should have a full 35bhp at the wheels!! I only hope I can handle that sort of power

[fha772]

A little bit of progress today, I've had an hour on it and removed the propshaft, which I'm planning to have reconned, as the UJ's have a bit of play in them.
I've removed the exhaust aswell, which I think is a performance exhaust, judging by the massive 1 1/4 bore!!
I've also undone all the engine mounting bolts, ready for dropping it out later this week.

Cheers Frank

[Renrut]

I should have a full 35bhp at the wheels!! I only hope I can handle that sort of power

You could try pulling all bar one of the spark plugs out of any of your other cars, that should get close

[mattfye]

I've just brought one of these to restore in the same sort of condition as yours. Going to be fabricating some things myself or customising parts from other vehicles (tons of old parts in my garage) to fit. Maybe i can share some plans with you or possibly duplicate everything I make. Good luck with the project.

[fha772]

Hi, welcome to the forum!!

Have you got any pictures of your Ant?

[mattfye]

It gets delivered on Saturday. I will upload some pictures then