Richard Farrant

Wrong way around Wally, a RAF vehicle transferred to the army was allocated a BT number

Hi Pete, Yes, to us wartime vehicle people is was like a toy shop, wherever you looked there were crates and a peep into them reveal those parts you were searching for. Never came away empty handed, in fact always took home more than you expected. The recon Dingo engines being partly stripped to sell on to the Daimler car people, Churchill engines in crates, the Humber Pig used as a sand blasting cabinet and always something enticing under a sheet. Always had a good deal with Chris too. Sadly missed.

In my experience working with the army, there were, as in this case, vehicles transferred from the RAF and re-numbered in the BT series. One of the Constructors was used in the late Seventies by the Infantry Display Team, for towing a recovery trailer of a type I have forgotten, think the load was a FV432. The only thing that stuck in my mind, other than it being a BT number, was the name on the front, "Green Giant".

That is Chris Wilkinson's yard at the old railway goods station in St Albans There were crates of tank engines everywhere, a real treasure trove!

Sussex is a bit smaller now

The bloke is on commission I reckon ..... probably sold out a WH Smiths !

When in active service, it would be of more benefit logistically to carry over-pitch sprockets rather than sets of tracks.

Hi Matt, The Australian army Land Rovers were assembled over there and Isuzu were fitted from new in the 4x4 and 6x6 Perentie range. If you are interested, you should go to the REMLR forum, www.remlr.com/forum this is the Register of Ex-Military Land Rovers, an Aussie group. There is al ot of discussion on vehicle as they are coming up at the auctions.

Hi Simon, Georgetown was 61 "B" Vehicle Depot in Scotland. This was the receiving depot of your Champ from Austins. It would have been stored there until issued to a unit. The "RV" number denotes Receipt Voucher. cheers Richard

Wally, An Austin K9 is FV16001

It must not be assumed that all Champs found in Australia were from their army. A man called Archie Marshall imported a heap of ex-British Army Champs along with other vehicles into the country. The Austin built engine had pressed steel rocker and side valve chamber cover, where RR built engines had cast alloy ones.

Hi Mate, It is very much the same engine as the Austin Sheerline and Princess, except you will need to find a K9 sump, which is cast alloy, shallow and wide with fins so that it fits around the front axle otherwise the first bump you will crush the sump if you use a normal 4x2 truck or car one.

Hi Mark, I have only pulled a pack on an Abbot once and that was in the field to replace a starter. I had done it a number of times before on 432's so it is much the same except the pack retaining bolts come up through the bottom of the hull if I recollect. I did not have access to an EMER at the time. regards, Richard

Hi Norm, Welcome to the forum. I was in a rally team over 20 years ago where we took a Series 2a to Aus and right across the centre. Remember stopping at Coober Pedy, the opal capital, stayed the night in an old mine tunnel. Quite a place, looked like the moonscape as we approached. best regards, Richard

Hi Chris, Manuals will often say, split to cam side or opposite to cam, just a way of making the positioning easy for the mechanic. cheers Richard

Camshaft can be either side, it has no bearing on piston thrust

It will certainly give the dogs a surprise when the check out the wheels ... like they do

Berni, To make it simple for you; Stand in front of the engine looking at front pulley, the engine will turn in same direction as a clock (clockwise) The thrust side of the engine will be the left side as you are standing, so the split goes to non-thrust side on your right. So I think your last drawing is correct. regards Richard

There are numerous drain and access plates under the hull and it would be easy to utilise one where it had space above it to get a cable to. These other brackets show were probably added on rework as it removes the danger of damage if the vehicle belly fouled an object, also easier to replace the chain on wearing to.

Clive, The booster coil predates Centurion as it was fitted to the wartime Meteor engine tanks so maybe why it never had a FV number. Ah well, depth of water gauge, that is another urban myth laid to rest

Talking about early 1 tonnes, yes never referred to as a "101" when in service, I recollect the first time I came across one. I started a new job at a REME workshop in June 1974 and on the first day was shown around, in amongst the "B" vehicles under repair was a 1 tonne. Not very inspired by it, I focused on more interesting things like Scammells and AEC's. But I do recollect the chap working on it telling me it was waiting for a new camshaft, it must have been a trials vehicle (possibly had been on what they called User Trials), as it was several years on before we saw them coming into service.

Also fitted to Humber Pig for IS duties !

I think that is a Centurion booster coil that was used to repel rioters with a shock.

Dan, That is a boost for your project. Looking forward to seeing your engine restoration. regards, Richard

Radiator fan cowling retaining screws. Although it is a long while since I have done one, I am pretty sure that is what they are.