Richard Farrant

Hi Michael, As I said in a previous post, the body you show is an Australian workshop body of a 4x4. I have my photo taken at the auction, in front of me, taken from same side, tyres are the same, it has the same bend in the chassis, and the body is the same one, although as you spotted it does not have the cut out. Looking at rest of the body it is the same and I reckon someone had put in some filler pieces in the cutouts to hide the fact it was off a 4 wheeler, and they have since been removed. Even the lettering on the front is the same, no dispute, I see the radiator has been removed though. Is it yours now? regards, Richard

Hi Jeff, You need to get in contact with Cosrec on this forum, he is in the recovery business and has just lengthened the boom on a Foden.

I was at the auction in Newcastle, NSW and posted the photo of it there. Several years later, a chance phonecall regarding a Breakdown Gantry body, I found out that it was in Suffolk area. It had been advertised several times. I do remember the sellers name but will not post it here. Send me a PM and I will pass it on, also I know the UK dealer who was bidding at the auction and seem to recollect him telling me some years later that he brought it over. The one you picture is definitely the one and it has an Australian workshop body mounted on it probably off a Ford F60L or Chev C60L. regards, Richard

I think we have got on the wrong track here. This engine is not fitted with rings as we know on Austin, Bedford and GMC, it appears there are rings fitted to the gaskets for No's 1 and 4 exhaust ports, but the centre siamese gasket for 2 and 3 does not appear to have rings. I am wondering if the gaskets being used are from different sources and centre one is thinner and thus not pulling up tight. Also I would be very surprised if the block was bowed at this point.

Wow ! £52 bid on this booklet to date. Think I will have to photocopy mine

Howard, SWL is 4,000 lbs

Good point Pete. I have had to make narrower ones to suit on a few Bedford and Austin engines after the manifold was faced.

I was refering to the generally available mixed coolants like Bluecol ( a well and trusted product). I would think before using the coolant you are refering to, the engine and radiator wants to be purged right out and that may not be possible with out partial dismantling. you should see some of the old engines I get in to overhaul, heavy crud laying the jacket, even with a bare block and steam / hot water cleaners it takes some shifting, then think of the furred up rad core. all this serves to reduce the coolant capacity and not allow it to get to where its needed.

It should not be necessary to use any sealer on an exhaust manifold face if it is true and has a good gasket. Sealer, especially silicone is the last thing you need on there as it will not last long before a blow occurs. Hope you are tightening the nuts progressively from the centre outwards.

These antifreeze mixtures still contain water and are no different to you mixing it yourself, except it is de-ionised water, which eliminates the chalk for those in hard water area. Mostly useful for topping up. I cannot see that it is "unlikely to boil and squirt out" as you say. Biggest mistake is often filling the rad to high, not leaving any expansion room then thinking there is a problem because coolant is coming out of the overflow. Normally when this happens it finds its own level and no problems.

Thanks Howard, Nice bit of inside information there. I do recollect seeing the odd one on the road back then.

Memory coming back now. Belzona was used in trials to stop leakage around cylinder liners I believe. Engines prepared with this remedy were marked BELZONA in order to monitor if it was effective.

I do recollect it was used as a recognised repair on the blocks, possibly to do with coolant erosion.

Thanks John, I can see now, a similar cab shape to the Mack. Seem to recollect seeing photos of a Ruttles White. My memory of those Fullers started when we first got the Crusaders, and the reversal of the two highest gears on the pattern threw me first off. :-D

Bob, was Frank's truck a Mack?

Electric brakes ? Its been done before. Think some of the wartime artillery had Warner electric braking systems

and I thought he had masked it off to paint the engine :-D

Hi Tim, From the second photo I deduced it was ex-British army ( oil can holder for Wesco can), then the rebuild plate on the dash for a Southern command workshop. Finally the engine rebuild plate for the REME Workshops at Ashford, Middlesex. A nice find, but I wonder why it has newspaper wrapped around the radiator stay bar?

hi Martin, If this is what you mean: http://groceries.asda.com/asda-estore/catalog/sectionpagecontainer.jsp?aisleid=1215109789406&skuId=81495331&startValue=&departmentid=1214921923802&referrer=cookiesDetecting then it looks to be ready mixed, clue is in the word "coolant". A bit expensive at £5 for 2 litres, seeing as how much you need.

According to some original reports contained in the RR Meteor book published by RR Heritage Trust, the Merlin had been run up to 3,600 rpm and acheiving 1,200hp. Obviously reliability can be reduced if run at this speed , but as the vessel is a one-off speed boat and not driving a heavy transmission, then these are risks that are taken in the racing world.

Gary, Got scam written all over it. Why would he ask for US dollars when he is in Scunthorpe and knows you are in Scotland.

Your best bet is Canada, I saw an uncut one come in from there earlier in the year, with tracks and engine, never restored. Needs a lot of work done, but that is normal. Go on to Maple Leaf Up forum, which has a lot of Canadians on it, and pose the question.

I can think of a least 4 in Kent and another which moved over the border into East Sussex this year

They were actually Internationals with Continental petrol engines. I had done some refurbishment on the Honest John launcher now at Firepower and a missile supply truck that they had. I believe the vehicles were passed on to us from the US, not brand new.

4D v. V8 ........ former will give you economy and later will give you speed ......... not sure you will get both with a 4D, doubtful it would achieve the same revs as a V8. The chap to talk to is Tom Bewick in Scotland, he used to drive Ford CMP with a diesel all over the show, not seen him for a few years but I'm sure someone on here could put you in touch with him.