112-211 2A Ambulance 1963

[Chazza]

Nice work Lionel!

Do you have a pic, or link for the gear puller? Sounds as if it could be very useful,

Cheers Charlie

[Lionelgee]

Nice work Lionel!

Do you have a pic, or link for the gear puller? Sounds as if it could be very useful,

Cheers Charlie

G'day Charlie,

I was going to send you the link to the gear puller on eBay - where I bought it from. However, the link is a couple of kilometres long. So if you go to eBay and type in, "15 ton hydraulic gear puller" it should get you to the right place. It is a gear "hub" puller.

It has worked out to be a very worthwhile investment. If you have rusted on brake drums and everything has been loosened that supposedly frees them and nothing has worked - then the hydraulic gear hub puller makes short work of them. I used ratchet straps to catch the brake drum as the puller worked its magic.  Also, stand to the side when you are pumping the handle. The drums tend to come off really fast once they are loose.

Kind regards
Lionel

[Dodge]

G'day Lionel.

It's been a while now so just checking to see if your ambulance project is still moving forward.

[Lionelgee]

Hello Dodge,

Thank you for the post. Full intentions of working on 112-211, it just had two other projects jump in front of the queue. The rust in the chassis cannot get any worse. I am building up my skill set while I work get on the other two projects. Especially No. 2 project - the 1973 International D-Line ex-Telecom Linesman's van. With the amount of rust in van by the time I get  to the ambulance's chassis  I will be a more confident and far more experienced hand at cutting out and welding rust. Number 1 project just needs the heat of summer to sod off so I can work outside again. The other delay was not having power to my main shed. I just got some quotes from some electricians - so one step closer.  So in short things are creeping forward. The place in the queue is definite because I have come to the realisation that I do not need anymore projects.

How are things progressing on your Bloodbox Dodge? This forum has been really really quiet for a long time.

Kind regards
Lionel

[Dodge]

It's a long story but I passed the ambulance on to the person that was meant to get it before I did. It's in safe hands and he has done a marvellous job with it so it's worked out well. I went to look at another landy ambulance to replace it and the guy also had a inter ambulance . ended up buying the inter ambulance instead. looks similar to yours but single drive rear. After having it for a while I realised I should have bought the landy ambulance instead. I sold the inter and have been playing with other landies but would like to get another ambulance. So will start keeping a eye out. Good to hear you still have yours. Chassis work is always fun. This is what the ambo looks like now. The new owner is a member on here.

[Lionelgee]

Hello Dodge,

Yes - I know where you are coming from. If I was able to get a Land Rover Ambulance when I first got interested in Land Rovers, I would only have one vehicle.

Do you have any photographs of the International ambulance? It would be great if you could post them up. Your old 2A ambulance certainly looks very smart!

Kind regards
Lionel

[Acorn]

I remember they had those ‘blood boxes’ at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville in the early 1980s. 

I got a ride in one one night when I got blind, slipped and rolled down near the waters edge near the barracks dam near the area theatre.  A jogger spotted me passed out beside the waters edge at 02:00 in the morning. 

I have a vague memory of someone calling ‘hands around, prepare to lift, lift up’ and being shoved inside the ‘blood box’.

Next thing I remember was I was being woken at 06:00 in the morning by a medic checking my blood pressure in 4 Camp Hospital.  Had a shocking hang over that day…… ☺️

[Warren Sketcher]

Wondering if you still have your ambulance Lionel?

[Lionelgee]

Hello Warren,

Short Answer:I certainly do.

Long Answer: I am building up my skills in welding and metal fabrication by working on another, more expendable vehicle to get my skills up high enough to meet the ambulance's level of challenge. Years of the old ambulance driving on the beach, without it getting hosed off after every trip had taken its toll. This abuse was performed by previous owners.

I have the motor and gear box are out - both were stuck fast. Both are being stored under cover, so they do not deteriorate any further. Now with the subtropics' early summer - outdoor work will be restricted for the next months. So, work on the more expendable vehicle is delayed, and so to is work on the ambulance. 

Take care, and stay well.

Kind regards
Lionel