Richard Farrant

Have you tried this company? http://www.albert-jagger.co.uk/

Hi, I am well acquainted with both Saracen and military spec of oils, having worked for the military when Saracens were still in service, here is the full works; The spec OEP220 is a British Army designation for 80w/90 gear oil, in the full description of this oil it says, I quote "This oil may not be suitable for use in systems containing gears or bearings made from copper alloys". Now as OEP220 was the listed gear oil for Saracen, Ferret, etc, (except in the Wilson gearbox, that has SAE30 engine oil), this tells you one thing, THERE IS NO YELLOW METAL in the Saracen drives, so you are free to use GL4 or 5 without issue. For anyone else, if the army spec was to use OEP220, then there is no issue regarding copper alloys. To further help our US cousins to find the correct oil grade from their local suppliers, the NATO designation for OEP220 is O-226 and the US military designation is MIL-L-2105D 80W/90

Looks like it is off a WD Divided rim (same as CMP's as well), my guess a 13" trailer wheel

The date stamp is when a drawing was copied and issued from the drawing office, someone obviously requested one on that date. If it were a revised drawing it would be written in.

Hi Terry, It would be a bit tiring by the time you got there ..... and you would not have much beer money left after filling the tank umpteen times! Regards, Richard

As we have a fair number of members from Australia now on the forum, there maybe some who will be interested in this; Just a heads up to let you know that the latest newsletter is available to see online at the official Swim-In website, www.corowaswim-in.org look for the link to the November issue of KVE News. All the latest information on our event which takes place from the 14th to 20th March 2016 at Corowa, NSW, Australia. Get your entries in now, to ensure you get a participant pack. Forms are on the website along with booking forms for the Swap Meet on 19th March at Corowa Showground. The themes will be Year of the Tank, and Year of the Chrysler, the latter includes Dodge, Fargo and any other military vehicle built under the Chrysler flag. All types of ex-military vehicles are welcome besides the themes. Those on our database should have received the KVE News by email in recent days, anyone who thinks they should have had it, but not got it, please check your spam/junk folders or send me a PM. A new feature on our website www.corowaswim-in.org is an event calendar for Australian military vehicles and other events where they are invited. The idea was suggested by a member of KVE, as we have links with MV clubs around the country and the website can be a portal for seeking event information. If you or your club are organising an event and would like it put on the calendar, then go to the website and below the calendar is an online form to fill all the details in. Best regards, Richard Farrant KVE committee member and editor

Hi Colin, They are helpful people, have used them a number of times for work and parts.

Hi Tony, Did they come and measure your tanker?

Nick, If it was an early OY (it says 1940), then they were on civvy wheels with dual rears, as were early Austin K3 3 tonners. The body is not original for an OY as it is a dropside, but likely that has been changed in time.

Sounds good!

You say it is a 'civilianised' OWL, that model was in fact built for civilian use and possibly local authorities and could only be obtained under a Ministry of War Transport licence. It had the same bonnet and cab as an OY, but civilian type wheels with duals on rear.

Main reason would be an observer looking out for air attack I guess. You will find these were introduced into production vehicles during 1943, along with sling flanges on hubs .... all appearing in readiness for the invasion.

So the chassis will sit there with a twist on it, good idea (not) :-|

Many years ago, one of my fellow workmates, had to go to a TA Centre in Central London to attend to a Saracen. When the job was finished, he took it on road test .......... down Whitehall. Apparently questions were asked on why an armoured vehicle was going down there, as he said, you only need do it once! That was well before private owned ones were around.

I would say it was probably built in 1943 as I worked on one with a close chassis number to yours, also I think the cupola in the cab roof was added in 1943 to most British trucks.

Hi Bob, The Radio 2 news room were more intelligent, on the 5pm news they actually said it was "the Swordfish" and I think it flew over Yeovil to drop the poppies.

You would be surprised how much special tools and equipment like this was made "in-house" by REME, having worked there for 22 years, I saw a lot of equipment, probably much different now though.

MoD tested in-house, I know as I was involved in testing cranes and lifting equipment in REME workshops, if we made anything like this it was tested and marked by Workshop number.

These sort of items were often made and tested by Central or Base Workshops and supplied to other REME Workshops. The weight is high for an engine so maybe a tank engine. Definitely not for a Rolls B range engine as their lifting beam is different. The second hole could indicate it would be used as engine only or engine & gearbox.

Hi John, Welcome to the forum. Being in Canberra, you are well placed to visit the largest gathering of ex-military vehicles in your country, over at Corowa in March. I am involved with the organising group, here is their website, www.corowaswim-in.org There are a lot of Land Rover owners who participate, anything from a Series 1 to the Perentie 6x6 models. If you friends is a Vietnam veteran Landie, then get him to bring it to the show. best regards, Richard

Nic, I would think it must have been a trial as the front armour has been changed with vents at top, so unlikely to be a unit mod. Maybe this was the test run for the RFC version. It looks more like a snowplough blade on top of the rad housing.

Reckon you could say your radiator was 'egg bound' :-D ......... or clucked :cool2:

Here is a bit more about the move to Lyneham; https://rememuseummanoeuvre.wordpress.com/

OEP220 was once a SAE 90 grade of gear oil, then it was superseded by 80w/90. It might be easier for you to check the US military oil standards, as it is to MIL-L-2105D. I do not think there would have been any problem with sulphur additives as the earlier spec for OEP220 when it was a SAE90 grade, was that it had no deleterious effect on copper foil at 250 degs F.

Trying to match these colours on a computer screen is useless as they look nothing like the actual colour, just tried 298 Olive Drab which I regularly paint with and it looks more like grey. You can only go with physical paint samples.