I managed to get the 56er back home with the help of a friend. It was a fairly hard trip in a few days, must be getting old, but we made it. Lots of good parts but it's way past a resto. A shame, from the outside you might be deceived. But door pillars swing in the breeze from the bottom, and sills and doors are eaten out . Maybe not beyond Catshamlet, but certainly past my skill level. However parts of the floor will make nice donor inserts in the 49er and it has a smiths heater for my 53 model and an original radiator and motor for the 49er and the seat frames will restore, plus a very nice front spring and set of 404 wheels and probably a 403 brake setup.
So bits all round, and some very straight guards.
Here are some pics:
Meanwhile back at the ranch the engine rebuild continues. Got the gearbox onto the engine to drop in together, but waylaid because of a failed helicoil on an exhaust manifold stud. Waiting for the next thing up, some solid self tapping thing, that I hope will work. Otherwise next step will be a stepped down machined stud that will be loctited into eternity.
do you recall a bloke standing outside a petshop in parkes giving you a wave as you went past