A was for Austin, but now B is for Bedford

A lot of the blokes with WW2 army jeeps have the same underfloor master cylinder access problem. A popular fix is to drill a hole in the lid and braze vertically a short length of copper or bundi tube to it. On the firewall fit an old Brasso tin (perfect size with a plastic lid that will not corrode and jam) with a hole drilled in the bottom also with a length of metal tube. Join together with clear plastic hose and away you go with easy under bonnet refilling.

One giant step for man kind PDU. 
Yep that's the light your looking for to finally get this sorted. A remote reservoir sounds the best solution. Not sure if one with a sensor in it is needed but our old Hino Lorry had one with a sensor switch.

That is why the jeep people put a clear tube on the auxilliary container.. If the reservoir drains you can still see the level in the tube long before the master cylinder empties.

While you guys were suggesting how I could go about setting up a remote reservoir I was busy drilling a spare master cylinder cap, tapping it to suit a brass tail, blocking the air hole, and fitting some clear plastic tubing.  

Todays efforts were simply to make life easier for Geoff in the cab tomorrow.   He will be able to maintain a good supply to the master cylinder while we purge any air from the brake lines. As suggested it will be much easier just to keep an eye on the tube, whereas previously we had to remove the tube to see into the master cylinder!  

Definitely going to fit a remote unit, possibly in the back right hand corner of the cab where there is a convenient space. NB Today's is only temporary and lacking a Brasso can!  
 

You may find with a remote mounted reservoir, that your brakes might gravity bleed.  That makes life a lot easier.

Brett.

I have come to the conclusion that in my world of possibly self made problems "easier" doesn't happen as often as I would like . . .  

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I had planned to get a remote tank from a wrecking yard but the clear plastic tube sounds a lot better.

Brakes, brakes, I actually have brakes AND a decent pedal too!

Picked Geoff up at 8:00 and dropped him back home at 8:58, both quite chuffed. One bottle of brake fluid unused!  

Other jobs for the next few days, but doubt I will get around to all of them as I want to enjoy some happy time . . .   
1 . While the front wheels are off I have to paint under the guards, missed somehow along the way.  
2 . Replace original master cylinder cap, until remote reservoir happens. 
3 . Bolt the wheels back on, remove axle stands/pavers and get every thing back down on the ground. 
4 . Fit the oil gauge; having now located a suitable adaptor and sorted the oil line (from my '56 Humber Super Snipe spares). 
5 . Refit the RHS engine bay drip tray that has waited for the brake saga to finish.  
6 . Pick up all the tools left laying around and clean the brake fluid spills.
7 . Attempt to drive B for out the gate for test run number two . . . 

UPDATE: As of 4:30pm Friday 1,2, 3 and 6 done. Car wiped down and tucked away back in the shed. 

Fantastic result, hoping for a positive report on the test drive


Paul

B for made it out of the gate,  then I picked up Geoff and we went for a short run around town for about ten minutes or so.

Probably running a bit lean, but improved with just a wee bit of choke, and as we went the jets were probably cleaning themselves out too. The mirrors need to be reworked some more, and the indicators need a tell-tale light inside the cab. Surprisingly the speedo worked (when it felt like it) sticking on 20 mph for a while, then reading okay for several more minutes again before resting!?  It sat on 30mph comfortably, and without the engine working its heart out . . . I would say that 35mph would be within comfortable reach.

Bottom line, it needs another gear in the box, it is just loping along comfortably waiting for fifth gear (or a better rear end ratio)! Whatever, this will have to do for now.   

So in a nutshell, it could have been better, but as a first run (sort of) this was very satisfying.