davwill Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 hello all, err, not sure where to start, im new to the world of old millitary vehicles, the closest i come is the converted sankey 1ton missile trailer behind my old series 111 landy (civilian). anyway, i found you all by searching t'interweb because ive been trying to find out info on the fordson thames E4, after scouring the internet ive found 4 pics and a very small scrape of info... dissapointing. my reason for asking is that, after clearing a rather large patch of brambles behind a barn for a friend, i have found one of these beasts.. and become somewhat besotted with it. the chassis and running gear appear in vaugely serviceable condition considering its age, however the steel cab is severly rotten. as i have discovered that it is bound for the scrapyard via the gas tourch, i have started to consider the notion of restoring it... not sure if i should?!:??? anyway what id like anyone to tell me if they can is.. any info on the vehicle opinions on this as a beginers restoration project the weight of it (i have a new style license and if its over 3.5 tons i cant drive it:-( ) was there any other engine than a V8 fitted if there's any questions you'd like to ask, feel free many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Johns Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 (edited) Its post war, not really worth considering restoring if cabs poor, they were all v8 petrol, look on Milweb under heavies, David Crouch has a very tidy original one for sale Edited August 19, 2009 by Nick Johns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 anyway what id like anyone to tell me if they can is.. any info on the vehicle opinions on this as a beginers restoration project the weight of it (i have a new style license and if its over 3.5 tons i cant drive it:-( ) was there any other engine than a V8 fitted There were three versions; 2E Binned Stores Vehicle 1,408 built 3E Ambulance 782 built 4E Light Anti Aircraft Vehicle 2,810 built They date from the early 1950's and were commonly known as "Commer Cab Fords", due to the cab shell being similar to the civilian Commer lorries of the period, front grille being the main difference. The Ford V8 was a later version of the well known engine, it having a vertical distributor. This was the only engine fitted in production, but I believe that Ford 4D diesels have been fitted in later use. I think the weight is going to put you off, details I have here are for the ambulance and it has an unladen weight of 4,950 kgs, and laden 5,580 kgs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davwill Posted August 20, 2009 Author Share Posted August 20, 2009 hmm, as expected, it is a bit heavy. having looked one up its definetly a ford 4d engine in it. im not sure which model it is though, it currently has no back body but a concrete counterweight and a rather substantial looking winch nestling between the chassis rails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REME 245 Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Without having a book at work I thought the Fordson Thames E4 was the truck with the long bonnet used by Civil Defence units post-war. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooky Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Without having a book at work I thought the Fordson Thames E4 was the truck with the long bonnet used by Civil Defence units post-war. That was the ET6, usually powered by the "cost cutter" 4 cylinder engine rather than the V8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woa2 Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 The Ford V8 was a later version of the well known engine, it having a vertical distributor. Later Ford V8s differed only in having different Big End bearings (which were not as good as wartime engines). The vertical distributor was a continental (French or German) modification, I beleive. There was one of these trucks at War & Peace this year. If you need an engine, do not try a SUMB engine, as I don't think it will interchange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G506 Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Davwill, it would be nice if it could be restored, E4's are a very rare truck these days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 The vertical distributor was a continental (French or German) modification, I beleive. No, the E4 definitely had a vertical distributor from new ( parts list in front of me now). These engines had a tendency for valve seats to come loose apparantly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 hmm, as expected, it is a bit heavy. having looked one up its definetly a ford 4d engine in it. im not sure which model it is though, it currently has no back body but a concrete counterweight and a rather substantial looking winch nestling between the chassis rails. The LAA tractor was fitted with a Turner 5 ton winch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowtracdave Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 I think there is a photo of one of the ambulances over on the Libya/Post War British vehicles thread . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davwill Posted August 22, 2009 Author Share Posted August 22, 2009 after alot of considering ive decided that im not really in a place to take this restoration on, finances, spare time and resourses are all in too short a supply im afraid. then the final straw is that if i did manage to do it i couldnt drive it on the roads and this takes all the fun out of it. however i still think it would be a crying shame for it to be scrapped and so would like to offer it to anyone who is interested, its in south cheshire and id have to check, but im sure that it could be bought for scrap price (£500 ish). i can take photos if requested. be it for restoration or spares if anyone is interested please post a reply. many thanks for all the info and time spent looking things up! dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhett Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 Dave, Before you give up on the Ford, check with the DVLA regarding a dispensation to drive an historic vehicle rated at over 3.5 tonnes GVM if taxed as Historic or PLG and used unladen. Also, a vehicle over 3.5t GVM if proven to have been registered or first used before 1/1/1960 needs no MOT or LGV Test, if used privately and unladen. Go to DVLA website: Goods vehicle test exemptions, for appropriate application forms. BTW, although Perkins P6 and R6 conversions were more economical than the V8, the sound just doesn't compare with the music of Henry's finest! Rhett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davwill Posted August 25, 2009 Author Share Posted August 25, 2009 Dave, a vehicle over 3.5t GVM if proven to have been registered or first used before 1/1/1960 needs no MOT or LGV Test, if used privately and unladen. Rhett interesting, its registered h reg, which puts it at 1968 (i think) although this may be when it was road registered outside the army, not first used, need to find out if theres any paperwork belonging to it that might tell me otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
croc Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 I used to do some recovery work with a garage that had an E4 fitted with a jib. It hadn't been run for quite a while but when the historic tax came in I talked the boss into letting me get it going. It was nice to drive on the road but not up to much low gear, low rev work off road. V8s sound alright but you can't beat a big diesel for low down grunt. It was on a Q plate but I went through the process of getting an age related one for the "25 year exempt" tax class without any problems. I can't remember if it was MOT exempt due to recovery use or age but I have a feeling that they stopped production before 1960. I know of at least two, converted for timber work, rotting away in a yard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkie370 Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 There was one parked-up beside the Forfar-Montrose road last time I looked, with a logging frame on the back. Cab didn't look too rotten, despite a door hanging off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smithy Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Here is one in Gloucestershire. http://ccmv.fotopic.net/p60636563.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corbs Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 I used to do some recovery work with a garage that had an E4 fitted with a jib. It hadn't been run for quite a while but when the historic tax came in I talked the boss into letting me get it going. It was nice to drive on the road but not up to much low gear, low rev work off road. V8s sound alright but you can't beat a big diesel for low down grunt.It was on a Q plate but I went through the process of getting an age related one for the "25 year exempt" tax class without any problems. I can't remember if it was MOT exempt due to recovery use or age but I have a feeling that they stopped production before 1960. I know of at least two, converted for timber work, rotting away in a yard. Digging up a really old thread here, but was it this one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh sim Posted August 31, 2018 Share Posted August 31, 2018 this fordson e4 was convert by my grandad for the recovery work in Tighnabruaich this what the old girl look like shame too see her now pic.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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