Funkwagen Kfz 17 with FU 11 SE 100

[volkswagen]

Hey Funksammler saw your Kfz 17 at Militracks we all thought it was superb, I was with Bruce Crompton driving the 251.

Andy

[Funksammler]

Thanks, pitty I couldn't drive along on Sunday. At least it will force me to restore the iginition back to it's orignal configuration a bit sooner than I planned. I prepared a set of original shielded coils, capacitors etc. to go on the car, so hopefully it will soon be back to running on all 8 cylinders!

regards,

Funksammler

Hey Funksammler saw your Kfz 17 at Militracks we all thought it was superb, I was with Bruce Crompton driving the 251.

Andy

[Funksammler]

In the mean time, chassis nr 2 has arrived in Normandy. This is actually the same chassis shown in posting nr 49 but after a little bit of TLC:

<a href="http://s672.photobucket.com/user/Funksammler/media/DSC05793_zpsefe0078b.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/DSC05793_zpsefe0078b.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSC05793_zpsefe0078b.jpg"/></a>

In fact it was a lot of TLC and even getting to this stage has taken at least 5 years. The chassis and all the components have all been completely overhauled, with new bearings and bushes where needed, so it should last at least another 70 years!

<a href="http://s672.photobucket.com/user/Funksammler/media/DSC05797_zps3f631935.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/DSC05797_zps3f631935.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSC05797_zps3f631935.jpg"/></a>

Obviously still some detailing to do on the chassis, at the moment I am installing the cabling, but soon I hope to start work on the body.

<a href="http://s672.photobucket.com/user/Funksammler/media/DSC05798_zps0d4db254.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/DSC05798_zps0d4db254.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSC05798_zps0d4db254.jpg"/></a>

I found a replacement engine which was in far better and complete condition than the rusty and cracked lump left in the car. It has also been completely overhauled and has been test run successfully. I need to complete some auxilaries (and now I need to complete and restore a second set of ignition componenents, as my completed set has now gone to rescue my other car). But before long I should be able to move the chassis under it's own power.

<a href="http://s672.photobucket.com/user/Funksammler/media/DSC05805_zps2f4f6111.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/DSC05805_zps2f4f6111.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSC05805_zps2f4f6111.jpg"/></a>

In any case, I will be working on the car for a long time to come, I expect it to take at least another five years to get it more or less completed. I will post an update from time to time

regards,

Funksammler

Here are the remains of another Kfz 17, in a condition how they are more typically found these days......

<a href="http://s672.photobucket.com/user/Funksammler/media/bef3_zps5c5fae95.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/bef3_zps5c5fae95.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo bef3_zps5c5fae95.jpg"/></a>

This one was found in Norway a couple of years ago. It had been left to rot outside for many years, and the wooden body had rotten and collapsed. If you look carefully at the first picture, you will see the remains of a fitting for a snowplough. Several Kfz 17' were modified as snowploughs in Norway after the war, the 4 x 4 chassis obviously offered good traction...

<a href="http://s672.photobucket.com/user/Funksammler/media/bef2_zps542a7cbe.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/bef2_zps542a7cbe.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo bef2_zps542a7cbe.jpg"/></a>

Not a pretty sight, but at least the chassis is largely mechanically complete (although the engine was already removed when these pictures were taken.

<a href="http://s672.photobucket.com/user/Funksammler/media/bef1_zps37832569.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/bef1_zps37832569.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo bef1_zps37832569.jpg"/></a>

Believe it or not, this is actually a good basis for restoration. Most Mittlere Einheits PKW chassis these days (whether from a Kfz 15 or 17) are restored as open bodied Kfz 15's with a replica body from the Czech Republic. Fortunately this one will be restored back to Kfz 17 configuration.

regards,

Funksammler

[Val]

In the mean time, chassis nr 2 has arrived in Normandy.

IMPRESSIVE!

What type of body are you planning this time? Or is it too early to reveal yet?

[Val]

I don't remember posting this image here.

[Val]

Funksammler, your car is an inspration for the modelers

http://freeforumzone.leonardo.it/dis...d=10327427&p=1

[Yuri D.]

Funksammler, these projects go far ahead of any other radio restoration projects that I've seen. The "no-expense spared" attention to detail is truly extraordinary. If I had one of these, I would be afraid to drive it. And now you are building the second one. What configuration will it have?

Is there a chance of ever restoring a Kfz. 61?

[Funksammler]

I guess it is a bit of a departure from the radio's themselves, being interested in Zubehoer, radio configurations and their tactical use however makes me quite interested in the radio vehicles.

My second project will be configured as a Kfz 17/1. It is essentially the same vehicle, but the antenna configuration will be different. Whereas the Kfz 17 was used for Long/Medium wave radios which required large antennas, the Kfz 17/1 was used for VHF sets requiring a short rod antenna. The Kfz 17/1 was typically equipped with the Fu 6 SE 20 or FU 7 SE 20. The Fu 6 was used in the command network of the Panzer units early on in the war. More typically was the use of the Fu 7 to communicate with the FuG 17 in reconaissance aircraft.

It would be nice to see a restored Kfz 61 or 72, but I am not aware of any current projects. I am also not aware of any orignal suriving bodies, let alone interiors. Restoration will require a complete re-engineering of the body which will be quite challenging.

There are a number of Kfz 305 (Opel Blitz with Funkkoffer) restorations, which are about the same size as the Kfz 61. They are an order of magnitude larger than the Kfz 17, too big for my workshop I'm afraid!

If I ever do another car restoration project (which I doubt!) I would like to do a Steyr 1500A with radio body, essentially the late war successor to the Kfz 17. Similar size, same tactical role and radio configurations. Chassis and cab can still be found, but the actual radio body and interior will be an interesting challenge, as virtually no information survives. I have part of the roof antenna installation though....

regards,

Funksammler

[Funksammler]

Nice clip of the '17 in the mud at 2:45: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73Swc_770sg

regards,

Funksammler

[Asbjørn]

Nice restoration, it's good to see it done properly!

Here are some datasheets that might interest you:

[Holger_Erdmann]

Hello Asbjorn,

these datasheets are interesting. I have seen other sheets like this on another forum. Could you tell me the source of these datasheets?

Regards,

Holger.

http://www.kfzderwehrmacht.de/index.html

[Funksammler]

Radio car special ignition

It has been a while since I posted an update on the Kfz 17. Some of you may have seen that the Kfz 17 attended the Militracks event in the Netherlands earlier this year. This was great fun, running there showed that the Horch chassis is not afraid of a bit of mud! Unfortunately on the end of the first day of running I overheated the ignition and we could not get the car to run after that....

Getting the ignition to work again proved to be a lengthy and frustrating job, the opportunity was used to give the engine a good check and service and prepare the car for running on the road.

The fried ignition was not original, at some point the car had been converted to a transistor ignition, so I took the opportunity to restore the ignition to it's original configuration. As a radio car, the Kfz 17 uses a shielded and flitered ignition, so the various componenents had to be restored and tested. I am happy to report that all the components, including the coils tested OK, and that I have the car now running on it's original ignition.

As I had to remove the intake and outlet manifolds to attend to a small oil leak, I took the opportunity to take a few pictures of the ignition:

<a href="http://s672.photobucket.com/user/Funksammler/media/DSC05992_zps41c6c026.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/DSC05992_zps41c6c026.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSC05992_zps41c6c026.jpg"/></a>

This shows the various components mounted on the firewall and the prominent shielded distributor mounted on top of the engine. Note all the shielded cables.

The special shielded Bosch distributor for the Horch V8:

<a href="http://s672.photobucket.com/user/Funksammler/media/DSC05993_zpsd52b14e9.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/DSC05993_zpsd52b14e9.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSC05993_zpsd52b14e9.jpg"/></a>

This was the component that caused a lot of trouble. The advancing mechanism sitting in the bottom of the unit works on the governor prinicple with weights and springs and this has to be free of dirt and rust to work properly which unfortunately it wasn't....

The ignition is fed via a resistor and a filter unit, a number of these filter units can be seen on the firewall:

<a href="http://s672.photobucket.com/user/Funksammler/media/DSC05994_zpsca6069af.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/DSC05994_zpsca6069af.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSC05994_zpsca6069af.jpg"/></a>

This shows one of the special shielded ignition coils, to the right of it is the filter unit. The two filter units below that are actually for the generator, the large one filters the charging current, while the small one on the left filters the current to the changing light on the dashboard!

The system is duplicated on the right side of the firewall:

<a href="http://s672.photobucket.com/user/Funksammler/media/DSC05995_zpsadc723ab.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/DSC05995_zpsadc723ab.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSC05995_zpsadc723ab.jpg"/></a>

This shows another shielded coil, the filter unit and below that on the edge of the photograph a resistor box.

Another system that needed some attention was the Generator, which I could not get to charge. This turned out to be down to the wrong type of regulator. Fortunately I was able to find an original regulator; even though it looked a bit worse for wear, the internals turned out to be in good condition and after cleaning the relay contacts the unit tested OK. The Generator in the Kfz 17 requires a positive voltage regulator wich my new regulator turned out to be. After further restoration and and fitting it to the car my Generator finally got up to tension:

<a href="http://s672.photobucket.com/user/Funksammler/media/DSC05996_zps1c19095f.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv86/Funksammler/DSC05996_zps1c19095f.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSC05996_zps1c19095f.jpg"/></a>

This shows the newly fitted original regulator. Again all the wires are shielded and both the battery current and control light current flow through filters.

This view also shows the special shielded spark plug connectors. These are held in place by special clips, I had to modifiy the spark plugs to make them fit properly....

All electrical components on the car were manufactured by Bosch, unfortunately they do not make them like this any more.... It was quite a challenge to find all the correct components in working order and especially the fixtures and fittings. But the Kfz 17 is another few steps closer to completion. So now I have to find another set for number two!

regards,

Funksammler

[Val]

Thanks. Does ignition now run flawlessy?
How things are going with second Kfz?

[Funksammler]

Thanks. Does ignition now run flawlessy?
How things are going with second Kfz?

The Engine is running fine, happy with that. Still some brake and driveline related issues to sort before I will be 100% happy though....

Number 2 has not progressed very far, I had to modify my garage so that it can fit through the door once the body is on. This also took a lot of my time!

regards,

Funksammler

[Ton]

Does it run correctly now ?

Not misfiring anymore ;-)

Regards,

Ton.