Richard Farrant

Hi Stone, The military MK/MJ cabs have a large removable access panel over the engine..........the civvy TK cab does not have this. If both seats are removed the panel can be removed, many years since I was working on these but definitely worth taking out if you have a water pump to change. Those starter switches have a tendency to work loose and turn as you go to start the engine.

Hi, The small plate with RE and FV number is a Rolls Royce part number (RE). The black engine rebuild plate shows the engine was overhauled by 41 Command Workshop REME, at Strenshall, York........now long gone sadly. The engine number is on a plate, below the exhaust manifold on the side of the block to the front, about 4" long x 1" high approx.

I am going for Matilda 2..........the hatch cover looks right.

Les, By coincidence, friend of mine worked at Western Motor Works in Woodchurch and recently told me a story about the Diamond T (which I have forgotten :-(). When I next see him, will ask if he has any photos, as he is now in France, it may not be for a while.

Mike, A few clues here, it would appear to be British and WW2 era. Also it looks to have a Wilson preselector gearbox.......could be a Matilda (AEC connection ).....but no, there is only one start switch shown ( Matilda had two engines). The only other tanks that I can think of with Wilson boxes are Crusader and Covenanter (single engines).......have to go for one of these, as a pure guess. The hatch control levers have me wondering. And another point.....Crusader and Covenanter were two speed. The gear selector in the picture would appear to be in Neutral, with three other positions......so 1st, 2nd and Reverse ???

Just realised why we have had these pathetic low power bulbs thrust upon us......................it is to save power for all these electric car charging points to be put in. Just imagine it........a motorway service area, everyone plugged in, having a long lunch and hoping the batteries are up before they can continue their journey.

Les, It looks like a cab from a normal control Ford Trader.

All I can say is that after the SA80 went in to service, I was involved in overhauling SLR's by the hundreds and that was in 1989, I'm sure. Think they were going into reserve.

CW, Was the rally on Wisley airfield? Thought the overgrown runway was familiar. Went to Brooklands 100 and we had to park there, a fleet of Arriva double deckers were waiting to take us to the track, had never seen so many d/d buses in one place.

and I have all that to come.......

Is it the old problem again, Degsy ? :shake: :-D

Hi Petop, Likewise, I also have been using the Blue Books for years and do have an early Sixties copy as well, which covers some types no longer listed, so helps when working with older vehicles. Just two comments with your list, OX-320 was a colloidal graphite oil which was used as an additive in tracta housings of certain armoured vehicles. From recollection, the tins showed the maker as Atchesons, who produced DAG lubricants. (Slick 50 is nothing like this product). AL-39 is not a methanol-alcohol type of antifreeze, it is a Ethanediol type.

Don't forget Headcorn aerodrome in August

Now Gritineye has joined us in that elite band of "famous names" :thumbsup:

Sorry wanted to clear it up before I turned in :-D.

There is always someone :nono: :-D

That and the trays were the clues, think it is possibly a bread oven, could be wrong though.

Some sort of apparatus for baking bread

Well done Degsy.........Clive, I got waylaid with a long phonecall, no beans on toast tonight, :nono:

:idea: Right..........before my era, but a wild guess. Is it a cannon ball, which ,when fired makes a screaming noise due to the holes in it.......to put the fear of G.. up the enemy ? :confused:

Graham, He will not win this one, because he does not have a damned clue :confused: :-D

Here you go, 1939 Ford COE stake truck, built in USA http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1930-1939-ford-trucks9.htm COE = Cab Over Engine

I think you will find that the manual says use one hand on the end of the spanner, accepted that could vary in torque between those doing it, but that was the way in those days.

The RAF truck is an USA built 1938-39 Ford COE, probably requisitioned from civvy stocks in Egypt, as it has a "local" WD registration plate.

No Sigs, There was a special cranked spanner supplied with military Bedfords to tighten the head, this would prevent overtightening due to its length. Now, looking at the 1947 Bedford Manual for civilian K, M and O models with the 28hp, they show the head torque as 78 to 83 lbs/ft.