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Land Rover Mk8 24vFFR Toastie - Tropicalised


Rover8FFR

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On the back of another thread on EMLRA forum I have discovered that the Ignition Filter on my Rover 8/1 is stamped with a 'T' which I believe means 'Tropical' specification.

 

This all then made we wonder as when I purchased old Toastie she had thin plywood planks fitted along her sides in the rear tub above the wheelarches up to the body cappings.

 

These plywood panels were fixed with small depth no 10 countersunk brass screws and were almost invisble under the layers of paint.

 

Not knowing much about the Toastie back then I thought they were a PO addition.

 

Having learned that the ignition filter is Tropical spec and dated 4.63 it has got me wondering if my Toastie was actually this spec at Solihull or would it have been a REME addition like the specialist wiring added before it went into service.

 

I haven't come across any special / different spec Toasties like before.

 

I understood that a special little plaque / data plate would have been fitted to the outside body. However this could have been lost / damaged some years back. I know a similar plate to be fitted to the series 2a Pink Panthers.

 

Wanted to start a thread to see what else is out there on old land rovers from the 60's etc and why a Rover 8 24v FFR would have these parts fitted.

 

When I contacted Deepcut in 2005 they had no B card records for the old girl so anything that can pinpoint her life / purpose would be of great significance.

 

I often hear that more cards get handed over to Deepcut, but would suspect that an old Land Rover built 1963 and cast 1971 would be out of fortune regarding records.

 

Any assistance on tropical spec landies in the 60's would be hugely appreciated.

 

Regards

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I very much doubt if your toastie was tropicalized , for "T" you would avoid wood if at all possible.

 

I would suggest it was in fact a early "winterized" , before the use of Plastazote / Hardura..

 

Anybody who has driven over Shap summit at -15C in a Land Rover will probably add a 1/4" ply liner to the drivers door panel the next time. I would suggest all your tub was lined with 1/4" ply - check your doors for screw evidence too..

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Thanks FT.. I am unawares as to what 'Tropicalised' entails hence the question.

 

The doors were absolutely rotten and I cannot remember if there was evidence of something fixed to inside. I have some other doors and they have the remnance of sand bags / hessian on the inside.

 

An early winterised is interesting.....Why would the filter have a 'T' marking, but my lightweight winterised FFR doesn't?

 

Did they have a winterised land rover 24v FFR in the 60's ????

 

ToastieFilter2.jpg

Old Toastie.

 

 

Ltwt FFR Winterised

IMAG0778.jpg

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As you know alloy is a good condenser & wood is warm. I have fitted 1/4" marine-ply myself in the past & have seen the odd bit of in-service linings but probably a unit or driver mod.

 

===============

 

Early winterization ??

 

Look at the blue-prints here - what do you identify ??

 

http://www.land-rover-lightweight.co.uk/Winterised.html

 

I would have to hunt out the makers drawings and check all the amd. dates - that would be quite definative..

 

-------------

 

Having said that - I don't ever recall having seen any form of S2A winterization - but then I only started to take a interest in RM Rovers in 1992 , so probably did but never recognised what it was all about..

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Thats Disco Daves site, which is very useful indeed, but surely that relates to lightweights only FT??? Although common approach would apply I guess!

 

Would SWB 2a's have had tropicalised parts for Aden I wonder? Maybe not! Unsure of other conflicts / ops in 60s where high temperatures / humidity were prevelant.

 

Apart from the ignition filter and the ply my Rover 8 is a standard looking series 2a FFR. Even has battery box in usual location at front between seats :undecided:

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Read exactly what I typed.

 

LOOK at the blueprints carefully.

 

Do you see the outline of a Lightweight or the outline of a military S2A mark 6,8 or possibly 10 ?

 

Of course! Sorry FT I have now looked and the profile is indeed of a Series 2a. looking at the plan quite possibly a Rover 8 24v as it suggests a toast rack grille / spacer bracket IMHO.

 

However having now stripped my S3 lightweight and viewed the plumbing / legacy of the winterised install I am confident my toastie was not winterised spec based upon the 'Blueprints' for guidance.

 

Interestingly the blueprints do not suggest where the batteries would go on a S2a? Suspect that was a different drawing under electrics?

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The Drg. is also titled up as "1/4 ton" , whereas as you are aware a Lightweight nomenclature was always 1/2 ton (Except for the few Rover 1 pre-pros and they were in fact rated at 1/4 ton)..

 

IMHO - winterization was a progressive project. The Lightweight winterization kits are complete but there is no insulation and it is not detailed on the parts schedule. A letter from C.J. Williams ISTR stated it was Plastazote insulation and not their concern , they stated they only converted some Lightweights at their Aldershot works (mine was not included on the list they had - so done by ABRO or REME).

 

The S3 Lightweight winterized Army,RAF & RM all had a bit of variation on the level of insulation . I just suspect that if there were winterized before Lightweights then the insulation was a bit rudimentary such as ply sheathing.

 

I will have to pull out all the paperwork , it is in the bottow drawer of a 3 drawer filing cabinet ISTR , however there has been a avalanche of stuff from on top of the two drawer cabinet - need a bit of time for a tidy up..

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The Drg. is also titled up as "1/4 ton" , whereas as you are aware a Lightweight nomenclature was always 1/2 ton (Except for the few Rover 1 pre-pros and they were in fact rated at 1/4 ton)..

 

IMHO - winterization was a progressive project. The Lightweight winterization kits are complete but there is no insulation and it is not detailed on the parts schedule. A letter from C.J. Williams ISTR stated it was Plastazote insulation and not their concern , they stated they only converted some Lightweights at their Aldershot works (mine was not included on the list they had - so done by ABRO or REME).

 

The S3 Lightweight winterized Army,RAF & RM all had a bit of variation on the level of insulation . I just suspect that if there were winterized before Lightweights then the insulation was a bit rudimentary such as ply sheathing.

 

I will have to pull out all the paperwork , it is in the bottow drawer of a 3 drawer filing cabinet ISTR , however there has been a avalanche of stuff from on top of the two drawer cabinet - need a bit of time for a tidy up..

 

Whilst I am interested of course in any details / data I hope the suggestion of some G4 time doesn't come at the expense of your valuable down time, unless you really do need a tidy up!

 

I believe that the lightweights of whichever conversion??? had a heavy rubberised internal sheet that fixed to the sides of the canvas to act as insulation akin the outside blinds. I have aquired one side only since obtaining the lightweight. I suspect they may be like hens teeth to obtain?

 

 

rear inside arctic blind.jpg

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Well - on the subject of "Toasties" - have you ever seen a in service photograph of a Royal Navy ambulance with one fitted ?

 

00 RN 23 ambi. conversion by Wadham Stringer , so who is to say that the rack was dedicated to 40A FFW's with rectifier. I need to do a bit of research into when the ambi. conversion was done , or did the sailors just nick one off a Royal Sig. radio truck to give it the distinctive military appearance ?

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