Markheliops

Not too sure about jeeps Rick but the Ward la France siren is operated by foot switch.

Agree with Antarmike on this one. I wouldn't tow a showmans trailer at 50mph. I pull the Brockhouse trailer with the Ward La France and on motorways 40mph will be my max. Stopping is my main concern rather than the top speed. I just relax, enjoy the scenary and check my rear view mirrors to see how far the traffic has built up behind me. Of course I do pull over at suitable points along the B roads. Markheliops

Hi all. I’m happy to report the Ward was completed in enough time for me to travel to the Bunker Bash over the weekend. When I say completed, I mean finished to the stage where I could put the thing on the road. Mike and I managed to find the hours required to do the things which were stopping the Ward from taking to the road. A MASSIVE thanks to Mike who managed to find the time to help me with the project and I know it is no under-statement to say the project would never have got further than an idea without his technical input and top welding skills. The result – I’m very happy with the conversion. Those who looked over the Ward at the Bunker Bash will, I think agree looks no different from when the petrol lump was installed. This was my one concern during the planning phase of the conversion and I was most insistent the Ward would not lose its good looks. The extra power is a god send. Started Wrotham Hill in fourth gear and only had to drop down to third to make it to the top. With the petrol lump, as soon as the truck was on the approach to this god-forsaken stretch of the M20 I was dropping down the gear box to second gear and if towing the trailer – first gear was the only option. Quite scary with artics fast approaching at 60 mph. The ride of the Ward is something I have to look at with the front suspension needing some fine tuning – but nothing to do with the engine conversion. Adjustments will be on-going and continuous tweeting will be taking place over the coming months. More importantly, I am more than optimistic about making it all the way to A&E next month with the love trailer in tow. I intend over the next few weeks to give the Ward a good service and a lick of paint where needed. Markheliops

Thanks Richard - I'll bear that in mind. Anyone know how long the old type one is?

Hi Chrisg - Will try and get a pic tomorrow as I'm back at the farm - If you look at the video you can see the silver pulley at the front of the engine - this is where the boss / adapter will have to be attached to the silver pulley with the Ward La France fan on the other end. Which reminds me - I need a temperature gauge as the one fitted to the Ward is not long enough - ie the cable and sensor will not reach the Cummins engine attachment. TTM said a Jeep one will reach and is the same as a Ward gauge - can any Jeep owners confirm this before I order one or does anyone have a spare to sell me. Many thanks Markheliops

Looks great R Cubed - Is there anything they didn't gas axe!!! Markheliops

Forget to mention NOS - The starter is not the one from the Cummins engine - we had to use a different one due to the smaller flywheel housing. We used a Leyland Roadrunner 12 volt starter motor. When I had the unit overhauled - they initially found nothing wrong. I advised them of the symptoms and they came back to me saying the armature was failing under load. Well okay - an overhaul it is. When we re-fitted the starter and symptoms were worse including the solenoid not engaging we had to re-think. I finally stumbled on the problem when I was giving the solenoid some love with a REME tool. Mk1. When I hit the solenoid metal casing, it sparked!!! Upon closure inspection we found the link between the starter and the solenoid was loose. After tightening it seems to work okay. Markheliops

Hi all. Update on the conversion. Haven’t reported much in the last few weeks so some of you may have thought not much was going on. I’m happy to report the exact opposite has been going on. Mike has been terribly busy what with working in France, lambing season, getting married (fast approaching) and keeping the other half on side. Mike re-built the transfer box and reported to me with the mentioned unit. Now the transfer box was ready I was able to crack on. I took my four days off duty and really got stuck in as Bunker Bash was quickly approaching and the conversion was behind schedule. I basically spent all four days (from 0700 - 2200hrs) getting to grips with the re-build. I finished the install of the transfer box, parking brake mechanism, brake application valves, air pipes, selector rods, brush guard, clutch unit, linkages and re-built the front axle output unit. The cab was duly put back on, electrics nearly sorted, pedals connected, and other associated items put back together. Mike has been backwards and forwards getting to grips with the fuel lines, intercooler piping, a rather nice exhaust system and other brackets and piping. Two minor issues have stalled our progress - well one issue and one moment of stupidity. When we tried to start the Cummins, the starter motor would not turn the engine quick enough to self bleed the fuel system. Then the starter motor became red hot, slowed and then finally wouldn’t turn the engine despite having a booster on the battery. After two days of scratching our heads, trying two other starter motors and endless calls to people who may have known what the issue was we ran out of time. I decided to take the starter motor for bench testing and overhaul as both Mike and I couldn‘t see any other reason for the problem other than a knackered starter motor. I had the starter overhauled by a local company - (5 days / £140). This was the situation yesterday Saturday 1st May. Mike and I met up yesterday, hopefully to fire up the engine. Imagine my shock and down right annoyance when we found not only was the starter doing the same thing as before but now the solenoid wasn’t even engaging. I had a sense of humour failure and we were fast running out of ideas as what could be the issue. Not to be out done we decided to tow start the Ward to see if the engine would fire up. First, we removed the injectors to ensure the engine would spin over without any issues to remove the possibility of an engine defect causing the issue. We removed the ejectors and then moved the Ward in gear with Mikes Landrover - sure enough - the engine span freely without issues. The farmer towed us with his tractor and finally the engine burst into life. Ah the sweet sound of a Cummins actually working!!! This was the first time the Ward has moved under Cummins power since the conversion. Mike was pleasantly surprised that the clutch works correctly without any issues at all. I was just pleasantly surprised. Although the project has come on leaps and bounds - The Bunker Bash is looking increasingly unlikely. I can finish everything I have to do but we have an issue of how to fit the fan to the pulley we needed to use. In short, we want to use the Ward fan but this requires a boss to be made which will allow the fan to be attached to the pulley on the engine and extend past the intercooler pipes. Neither set of bolt holes on the fan or pulley match so this is where the issue is. If anyone knows of a firm who can manufacture such an adapter around the Kent / Surrey area - please can you PM me with their details. Well I haven’t given up on the BB yet so who knows. Mike is in France all week and on his stag-do at the weekend - let’s see what happens? Ah - the moment of stupidity I mentioned was down to me: I was very tired and had been at it for over 12 hours. I was attaching a strop to the cab in readiness to lift it on to the chassis. I threw the strop over the tele lift boom and it came down straight through the windscreen. Oh well - you live and learn! Markheliops

Happy Birthday Bazz - have a cracker. Markheliops

I'm going to enjoy the thought of you breaking down - I'll be sure to salute you as I drive past!!!! Luv ya

E-mail despatched old bean.

Happy Birthday Jim - Have a top time today. Markheliops

Oy matey - What about Ward's?

I have commented on a similar thread before about the SS. First thing, I agree with the other posts in that the SS and Nazis are a part of history and people should be educated about their rise and fall. The thing that concerns me a little is not ALL soldiers and units of the SS were responsible for the war crimes committed during the war. Yes, some units or rather personnel were responsible for some hideous acts as documented. They were also some of the best trained and dedicated troops of the German Army, showing bravery and determination in some of the fiercest battles of World War 2. Everyone associates the SS and The Nazis as one of the same - I'm afraid a study of German history proves this to be incorrect. Unfortunately, the phrase "tarred with the same brush" springs to mind. I am not defending any atrocities committed by the SS during the war but I am sensible enough and educated enough to see both sides of the SS. In a previous thread about the SS my views were thought some what provoking but I felt it right to refresh some peoples minds that not all crimes committed during the war were committed by troops belonging to the SS. We are well aware about crimes committed by the troops of Japan and the Red Army were not known for there dedication to the rules of the Geneva Convention. Allied soldiers committed their fair share of war crimes as well but it would appear these are not so well documented for obvious reasons. War crimes are horrendous and of course any one responsible should be brought to justice but I feel it unfair to tarnish all SS troops with the same stigma. One last thing - none of us were ever in the position of having to do as ordered or be shot by our own officers - As I have never been in such a position, I do not feel qualified to condemn any one - Allied or Axis troops. Markheliops

Thanks for your comments chaps! I see both sides of the discussion but like Loggydriver, I found the wording and tone of Mr B's words a bit on the strong side. Does anyone know if Mr B actually owns his own MV? If he doesn't, I don't think it very fair he comments on the matter of costs, as he wouldn't be in the same boat as us MV owners. I wouldn't mind but he didn't get his facts right nor the reason I am converting the Ward either - (if he is actually commenting on my truck). I have always got on with Mr B and I shall be taking this up with him when our paths next cross. I am also thinking about writing a reply to CMV mag with my response. One final thing to think about - CMV is a magazine brought by us MV owners who own and run MV's. If the editor is going to start slagging owners off for what they do to there own vehicles, I can see sales starting to go down. I would like to see an article in the magazine detailing a good conversion to a WWII vehicle and then the whys and ifs can be debated. I am not the first to convert a vehicle and you can guarentee I shall not be the last. Markheliops

Can't wait to see it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh well - At the end of the day - I own a Ward La France which I have kept running out of funds from my own pocket. I agree it does ruin the originality of the vehicle but then again, I never brought my Ward to stand there and look at it. My enjoyment comes from taking the vehicle out on to the open road and driving it. People like Mike and I get enjoyment from using the vehicle and taking it back and forth to shows. I really don't see too many people sticking their heads under the bonnet at shows checking out to see if the vehicle has it's genuine engine or not. Yes I would have loved to keep my Ward with its petrol engine as it is nice to have a vehicle as it was in the 40's. However, I get far more enjoyment from driving the vehicle and when keeping such a vehicle going costs the owner thousands of pounds of his / her own money I would suggest it is down to the individual owners choice - as stated by Adrian. As fuel prices increase I was left with very little options if I wanted the Ward to remain useable. Another issue is spares. If you own a Jeep or GMC etc spares are readily available should you break something or need to carry out routine maintenance. If you own a Ward La France spares are increasingly difficult to find - especially main components so if something breaks - as happened to me on route to Bolero - the only option I had to repair the truck was purchase another Ward La France. Not very practical is it!!! I suppose the last thing to think about is A&E. I have converted the Ward La France because I very much wanted to attend the show. If the conversion had not been carried out, the Ward La France would not be there and I strongly suspect neither would Mike’s truck be present either. So - is it better to have the trucks at the show so people can look around them and see a piece of Second World War machinery even though they have been converted to a diesel engine - or - is it better no one will see them as neither trucks would be present. Markheliops

Welcome Bil - I am a fan of the 40's event in the historic dockyard. Enjoy the forum. Markheliops

I'll be there - 3rd year running. I think it is one of the best shows on the show calender. Me and Debs go to the Saturday evening ball as well - it's great fun. (Sunday morning was a struggle though).

I haven't seen this snowtracdave - What's the story?

Happy Birthday Robert - have a cracking day - then it's back to the grind. Markheliops

Hi chaps - Update so far. Thanks R-cube for your input - still not 100% sure myself about how damage could occur to the transfer box but as enough people have raised and confirmed the issue - I shall bow to the advice given and remove the spigot in the de-clutch unit. I’m sure Mike shall fill me in with pictures and explanations. Thanks to those who have provided input and explanations. Mike popped down on Saturday 27th March as this is what occurred: After Mike’s last visit an issue with the modified radiator / intercooler revealed itself in that the intercooler pipes were two wide to fit in the space for the radiator frame. This was overcome by Mike raising the radiator mounts so the whole unit sat higher in the frame. As you can now see - the pipe work sits well above the wings and associated bodywork. Job done. Next job was to sit the engine on the rear mounts and adjust the front so it was level to enable the welding of the front mounts. This was achieved by a very simple solution. A spirit level was placed on the chassis to ensure it sat level - which it did. Then a spirit level was placed on the rocker cover It was then a simple case of raising and lowering the engine to get the bubble in the middle to ensure the engine was positioned level. The simplest methods are the best!!! Once this was done, Mike and I set about manufacturing the front mounts. Mike can probably tell you in more depth how and why. I just cut bits of rubber for the engine mounts and cut and drilled plates for the main front mount. The front engine mount involved using the original R22 front mount, the shock absorber mounts and manufacturing an angled support bar. All in all, it looked somewhat complicated to me but I was sure Mike knew what the hell we were doing!!! Once the mounts were completed, I was happy to see the engine sitting, unsupported in the engine bay on its new mountings. Mike and I will be at the farm tomorrow - Sunday 11th - to progress further. By the way - I shall advertise parts at another date but I am acquiring some parts no longer needed including a re-built R22 continental engine complete with Jolly engineering electronic ignition - if anyone needs one. Update as and when. Markheliops

No worries mate - you're buying then. x I don't give a hoot cos my love trailer has it's own power shower and loo but like you, I don't mind paying a fee so other people can enjoy a shower - otherwise there will be a bl--dy long queue outside the love trailer.

Adrian - Haven't mis-read your post mate and I know you don't have a problem with the fee - I was referring to your armoured friends. If they object to the fee due to the fact they won't use the facilities - that's fair enough. But if they are objecting on the basis of costs incurred due to them bringing armour - then I would say it's a boat we are all in, whether we are bringing a tank or wheeled vehicles. No finger pointing involved Adrian - especially at you - cos you're okay - as tankies go!!! XXX. Markheliops

Happy Birthday Mike - Thanks for your efforts for the movement and all the nervous MV owners - Guess you won't have anytime to celebrate then. Markheliops