I connected the ammeter, ignition switch, dynamo and regulator/cutout as per the wiring diagram. Ran it, let the flamer warm up, increased the revs and watched both contacts open and close. I got just over 7.3 Volts across the battery terminals and the ammeter moved from the D side to the C side.

When it was revving merrily, it blew the vacuum hose off, good job I don't work for NASA.

This is useful to me as a reference, especially in the engine bay area. I can see more clearly the metal heater splitter tube that I'll have to make. Looks like that flamer is running on original wiring .
Like the look of the roof rack too.

https://www.oldtimerfarm.be/en/collecti ... nC6JOfLjIU

Heat splitter tube is only 57 models and onwards till end 59 than they get the modern demister. Roof racks are nice but they will kill the bit of speed you have. A friend gave me an old roofrack. I put it on the 57 and i couldn't get it over 60 Km/H anymore. So arrived at the garage it came of. It's now on someones beetle )

Cheers Fer, the van is 1957, 2 years younger than me .

P1010579 by Robndaisy, on Flickr

P1010578 by Robndaisy, on Flickr

The plunger that allows the gearlever to select 1st and reverse* is OK.

P1010580 by Robndaisy, on Flickr

Not so fine for 4th* though, seized up. Rats! I'll have to take the cover off. One bolt was resisting.

P1010581 by Robndaisy, on Flickr

P1010582 by Robndaisy, on Flickr

Eventually had to heat the bolt head up to a dull red heat with the oxy acet.(blowlamp wasn't hot enough) and quench with WD40 a couple of times. The 12mm. head was corroded but would accept an 11mm. socket spanner tapped onto it. It moved and eventually released without shearing. Corrosion between the cover plate and the bolt was holding it. You have to be firm but not heavy handed and even then it can all go wrong .

P1010583 by Robndaisy, on Flickr

The seized plunger is at the bottom. I'll attend to it later.

* Ken told me what shaft does what in the box, the middle one does 2nd and 3rd.
Someone has been in before, missing washer on one of the four bolts, no gold sovs. stashed in there though.

You know that in the old 2cv gear boxes you can reach 4th only from the 3rd gear. Not from the neutral position...

I know nothing Fer .

P1010586 by Robndaisy, on Flickr

Warmed it, quenched it, got some rotation, used the clamp and suitable washers, Bingo!

Probably never used 4th 'cos it wouldn't go fast enough, use it or lose it .

P1010589 by Robndaisy, on Flickr

P1010590 by Robndaisy, on Flickr

P1010591 by Robndaisy, on Flickr

P1010588 by Robndaisy, on Flickr

4th gear engaged.

P1010594 by Robndaisy, on Flickr

Some lazy flamer had used these useless things at the front

P1010595 by Robndaisy, on Flickr

Thought I'd lost these but they turned up after lot of searching .

Old type handbrake nuts, the newer ones had 2 ears...

P1010600 by Robndaisy, on Flickr

P1010601 by Robndaisy, on Flickr

P1010599 by Robndaisy, on Flickr

Trauma victim, needs the file and the scraper . Three out the four spider joints are worn out.

P1010598 by Robndaisy, on Flickr

I've been told that at full lock these type of joints get lively.