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John Comber

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    New to me Leyland Martian

    in Transporters & Wreckers (All Nations)

    Posted

    Evening Cosrec, thanks for the reply and heads up on the crane - as for engine we have souced a Cummins 8.3 to get it up and running, just need a flywheel to suit then we are away !

     

     

     

    Thanks Richard.

     

     

     

    Cheers Nick !

     

    Hi Nick , I have seen some interesting engine conversions in Martians in my time , Leyland TL11 and 12's , 10 litre Volvo , V8 Perkins , and a Scania 11 litre 280 , just make sure your proposed Cummins horsepower and torque curve have a similar match to the old B80 and Martian gearbox , in my opinion whilst the Cummins 8.3 may produce enough horsepower , the weight of the Martian and its gear ratio's may disappoint you with a small Cummins working hard upfront.

    Best towing vehicle for 40' drawbar trailer?

    in I may be stupid, but......

    Posted

    I had never come across this thread before now , but for those interested I thought I could possibly offer some sound advice after towing my wife's collection of living vans behind both military and classic commercials.

    First thing to remember on early examples these were all on vacuum brakes , generally to the rear axle only , so once converted to air you still have only one axle braking. If it's a quality wagon on an Eagle chassis this can easily be between 8 to 12 tonnes , so stopping them is a factor.

    Original tyre / wheel combination was generally split rims with 10.50 x 13 balloon tyres , like rocking horse dung today , but even when we could buy them not a practical tyre at over 30 mph , I can still recall a nightmare trip on a hot summers day with two blow outs on the m27 at 28 mph max speed. It was about 18 years ago the British Rubber Company started producing a low loader tyre option on a bespoke spun rim centre , money well spent then as peace of mind ever since.

    Never let the tail wag the dog , so your towing vehicle needs to be ballasted heavier than the trailed weight , that's when loaded with your provisions for your adventure away. I always joke my family can add at least a tonne , when you include water tanks , wine and beer.

    Speed on the road is not really an option when towing a 70 year old shed if you want to arrive with it in one piece ! 40 mph on modern tyres on billiard table tarmac is the best, but more like 25 to 30 and pot hole dodging if you live in Sussex.

    Military vehicles make good ballast tractors , just look at what the showmen used when ex Mod surplus first came for sale., scammells , matadors , AWD , and diamond T's were favourites post war.

    Long bonnets and long wheelbase vehicles are not best suited with some of the modern road layout's , mini roundabouts and ridiculously positioned keep left bollards ! I often leave home at 65' if I tow with the Constructor , but today's attitude with long slow moving vehicles has prompted some eye opening road rage at us , so be warned.

    Cab over motive power , with power steering , all wheel drive and SWB with a rear winch would make a very nice vehicle to use here in the U.K, to tackle tight access muddy show entrances.

    CCKW steering shakes at speed?

    in American Vehicles

    Posted

    Hi All

     

    At between 35 -45mph my 1942 CCKW gets a bad case of the shakes - Violent shuddering side to side. Hitting a expansion joint produces such severe motions that it is difficult to hold the wheel. A side to side motion is the best way i can describe it.

     

    Thus Far:

     

    New Draglink

    Balance & Alignment.

     

    It only occures at 35+ - Below this & the trucks handles correctly and drives true & straight,

     

    Any Ideas?

     

    To rule out misshaped tyres or a buckled rim , swap the fronts with the best pair of equal looking tread you have on the rear end , that then will either prove it's tyres or rims , but if shuddering still persists then it will be mechanical wear.

    which one are you from the following

    in MV Chatter

    Posted

    I have seen most of them, BUT have you considered why some of the happen, for example "arriving late leaving early"

    There could be a valid point why that has happened, I'm sure that most of us have had an unplanned breakdown en-route to a show but made the effort to get there,if not a little late.

    Towing vehicles, again you have to consider the distance,it just may be more practical to do that if its a short show.

    Motorhome, I use one for War & Peace I admit. Its about 160 mile to the show, Ive driven Gmc,Dodge and Jeep there in the past, the last time driving them there was a 14 hr journey........so now we still make the EFFORT but trailer or lorry everything down there. We dont try and park in the "green area" we understand how important for some people to poorly hide all thier modern gear under plastic......we are just proud to say we made the effort.

    We park in the "mish mash" field, yes our motorhomes are there but so are the 70+ year old vehicles. Our vehicles are clean and I think look pretty good, ok they are not marked up "101 or 82" and do not have every option Soldier of Fortune sell hung on them !!!!!!

    BUT WE MAKE THE EFFORT, there are all sorts of reasons people take vehicles to show's, have you asked them.....whats your's ???

     

    Nice reply gas 44, making the effort to go is the most important part , either with restored tackle or unrestored. I have had more interest in pulling an unrestored project to a show often than a fresh restoration !

    I think for true preservationists in it for life ( and I am one of these ) never forget to talk to and encourage the next generation , they won't be able to drive most of today's vehicles on standard licenses in the future , getting them hooked is the key , so they want to get involved.

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