Richard Farrant

Hi Rippo, I think it is probably wise to fit a new rotor arm and cap when you fit a kit, if they look at all aged, cracked or a loose rotor arm. The response to the throttle is amazing, previous hesitation is now known to have been distributor and not carb, as it dissapeared with the kit fitted.

Thanks Snapper, here is today's instalment Forgot to say, the first day's run from Alice to Barrow Creek was 279 Kms. We left Barrow Creek the following day, not an early start, but Dave who I was travelling with, was first away, in order to direct the packets to the lunch stop, which today was to be at Ali-Kurung aboriginal community. This was a bit unnerving as I had visions of Bush Tucker being served up for lunch :shake:. We arrived and got talking to the policeman who was stationed there, a very remote posting. His yard was full of old cars, confiscated for booze running. Alcohol is banned from aboriginal communities. The convoy packets all arrived safely and the meal was a BBQ with salad, and cake afer, so my fears were groundless . Next stop was the Devil's Marbles, but on the way, we had time to stop at Wycliffe Wells, then Wauchope, to sample an ice cold beer. At the later establishment, there was a donkey and goat outside the bar! At the Devil's Marbles, a local guide informed us on this natural feature, they are granite boulders up to six metres in diameter, photo at end of this post. We followed the convoy into the overnight stop at Tennant Creek, which is a small town in a mining area. bit of luxury, stopping in a cabin at the caravan park. We had a layover here on the following day and displayed the convoy vehicles outside the Civic Centre, followed by a parade around the town led by the local police. In the evening, we were invited to an official reception and dinner at the Civic Hall, with transport by bus, so drinking no problem! The second course of the dinner was scones, to represent those given by the Country Women's Association ladies, 50 years before, to the convoy personnel transiting through the town. Next day was another layover in the town, and we took the vehicles to the Primary School and High School. I recollect having coffee and biscuits in the staffroom at the High School. The children were full of interest and were very knowledgable on the history of WW2. Spent the evening in the Memorial Club, made another error of judgement, never drink wine and beer :-D Photos; 1. Ali-Curung, convoy parked 2. Ali-Kurung, lunch time for the "Trackers" 3. Ali-Curung, local kids 4. Wauchope, a few relics outside the pub 5. Devil's Marbles and part of the convoy parked. 6. Tennant Creek, on display at Civic Centre

Hello Rick, I am sorry to hear that Warren is no longer with us, it was good to have a few big trucks along, Macks did feature in the wartime convoys. Any photos you have will be welcomed, please. I spent more time with a video camera.

Neil, That is interesting that you have had trouble with one of these kits on a 6 volt Ford V8. A friend fitted one to his Ford CMP, also 6 volt.......no spark :-(. After checking it over for him , I found that by setting the kit up on the bench with a spark plug and coil, it would spark, put it back on the engine, and no spark,. Unfortunatley he had no starting handle, because I suspected the battery did not have enough power and starter was absorbing so much current, the coil did not have enough. He contact the maker and no real help. In the end the kit was taken off and points refitted. Trouble with the vehicle was that the battery box is not big enough for a greater amp/hr battery. The battery was perfectly alright when on conventional points set up, but would refuse to start on electronic ignition. I fitted a kit to an Austin K2 ambulance and was greatly impressed with its starting and running. I drove it down the road with the normal driver alongside, he said it had never gone so well. A few days later, on their way to a show, the engine stopped abruptly after about 4 miles......the rotor arm had gone to earth, no warning. After renewing the arm it is OK now. This is one thing that worries me, the greater HT voltage might tend to find or create problems with rotors and dist. caps, which on some older vehicles, are getting harder to find.

Ted, I could not make the number out, only L16.. like you. it might be impressed that would fit with the numbers, the third digit might hlep to prove this.

Bit late now, will try and do it tomorrow

Tues 1st Aug 1995 The convoy is set to leave Alice, under strict Army control. We were given a send off by the Minister for Veteran Affairs. But I and my friend Dave, in his Land Rover, were not to leave with the rest. A participant from Victoria with a Dodge 3 tonner had been taken to hospital, not likely to be able to drive, so were were going back to camp to take his wife into the hospital and move his Dodge to a trucking yard for backloading. By the time this was done, we were well behind, so we had a quiet run North, stopping to offer assistance to a Chev C15, he was just checking his tappets! We caught up with the RAEME LAD boys in the roadhouse at Aileron, and thought it rude not to join them for a beer.....and sandwich. From here the next stop was Ti Tree, the convoy had stopped for lunch break there and a school visit. The last MV was leaving as we arrived............so we stopped for another beer ( are you seeing the pattern here ? :-D ). Further up the road, we came across the Army International transporter loading one of the convoy trucks, a Mack, with overheating problems. About 20 kms before our overnight stop, we came across a Jeep and trailer with a generator fault and no power, so towed him into Barrow Creek. This was a place, I learnt a vital lesson, put your tent or campbed up, before you have been to the bar and it is dark :-(. We had an excellent night there, with a good group playing. Trouble was when I decided to turn in, I could not see to assemble the campbed, we were going to have a night under the stars, so ended up in the front of the Landie wrapped in my sleeping bag...... Photos here; 1. My friend Dave's Land Rover 2a 2. Chev C15 - running adjustments 3. Barrow Creek Hotel 4. Kenworth, from the Army School of Transport 5. International S-Liner transporter with Mack onboard

I have more info on this if you are interested.

CW, That car looks like a Packard...........

Bet that bloke on the right can tell a story :-D.

Especially for Jack Before we leave the museum at Alice Springs, here is a photo of Kurt Johannsen's road train assembled, the Diamond T would be "Wog" as it still had the cattle body on it. There are three self tracking trailers on it here. Military content: the trailer bogies were made from Carrier trailers, which were for transporting bren gun carriers. The other photo is of Kurt's car which he used for going out in the bush and desert, it ran on wood. There is always bits of mulga, etc to be found and if gathered up when seen, it could be used as fuel in his gas producer.

Probably using the Navy as cover, and going around checking fuel tanks :-D

Hi Ted, This photo is of a Bedford ML 2/3 ton truck. It has a census number prefixed with "L" so looks to be Army, perhaps it is in use by the Army Fire Service, hence why the photo is titled "towing vehicle".

Did'nt spot that, just checked out Bart's prewar directory to find it

OK, but if this mist of oil is coming from the flywheel housing then it is a leaking flywheel, unless there is lot of water laying in the hull and it is being whipped up when engine is running. Best check flywheel oil level, should be up to filler plug hole........don't drop the plug inside! :shake:

Tim, A White ?

I have a feeling you might have a leak from the fluid flywheel, the oil is ISO10 and looks like water, if the seal has gone, it comes out as an atomised spray. Would it be possible that you have left the gearbox in gear whilst stationary with engine running? Seen this before, it overheats the oil and burns the seal out. Could just be a leaking filler plug of course.

Front engine definitely not original, it has a mounting for an electric starter ! The front of the chassis, makes me think of Sentinel steam lorry :confused:

CW, Did I spot a data plate on that engine? If it showed bore and stroke, it might be possibly to match it with a Leyland. But as it is a DAF, then surely parts are still good for them? Leyland diesel parts are still around, so if identical, that would be helpful.

Looks like a model PV. They made them from 1939, suspended during the war, then restarted 45-53. The front looks very dated compared to postwar models so could be an early one.

Queens crown on the badges

Not a 1940's uniform then Catweazle?

CW, All I recollect is that DAF did not build its own engines until 1957, when they licence built Leyland 0.350 engines, later they developed their own designs. The engine in the boat does look similar to a Leyland, but I am not that knowledgable on DAF.

Well Done Fred ! Pretty quick work selling the Ferret, but you will enjoy the QL I am sure, especially as it is a personal reason for having one. If you need to know anything about them just give me a call.

Hi Mark, Great photos, wish I had gone now instead of working . Now don't ask me about cars, not my line at at all barring the odd one, but I could tell you chapter and verse on the Austin fire engines or Bedford MW :-D That Morris Z GPO van ..........they were in service when I was a kid and the Royal Mail ones, nice to see he has all the bits and pieces in the back, wonderful stuff. I see CW was a CPO then....so much for his smokescreen :-D