T.Watts Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 Finally retrieved the Wot6 from Manchester yesterday, after many phone calls and confusion with haulage firms I decided to run our own lorry up to Manchester to collect it. after a 15 mile detour around Manchester due to road works we got it loaded with the help of the tractor and set off for the 200 odd mile trip back to Rattlesden. The truck now sits in a shed on the airfield awaiting restoration, first job is to remove the cab and find a suitable engine as it does not currently have one. The plan is to hopefully find a 4.2 litre toyota landcruiser engine as it could considerably hurt my bank balance running it with the v8 in it, although it is very tempting!! Right thats all for now and here are a few pics of it, and thanks to Rik for putting up with the hassle of the lorries and helping load it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RattlesnakeBob Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 she looks grand mate..and a Toyota lump sounds a good idea...good torquey engine that :-) ..any idea what the 'table' on the front of the cab of these old trucks above the radiator was for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REME 245 Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 The table as you call it was painted with Gas Detector paint so the driver could see it if it changed colour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian L Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 Personaly I think it would be a real shame not to restore it back to origional and keep the big V8, sound is as important as looks ? good luck with the restoration anyway however you decide to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWade Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 Hello Tom Thats a great looking truck and a real nice project, a word of warning on that diesel conversion, they are a nice engine, but I do know if you fit them into a GMC, you do have to remove the sump and cut it about, this is due to it fowling up on the front Diff. Why not measure up and see if you can put in a GMC straight six Petrol engine, you still get a nice note from one of them, not quite the same as a V8 though.Let me know when you are about and are come and have a shifty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajmac Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 Nice, did that used to be Ricks? I would plumb for an original Ford Flathead V8 with an LPG Conversion, you have lots of spare room in the back to hide the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egdod Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 Nice looking truck.......if you pull your finger out should be ready for Rougham !!!!!!! Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWade Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 Nice looking truck.......if you pull your finger out should be ready for Rougham !!!!!!! Dave David Are you going on the saturday and camping over or just thr sunday for a day trip. Howard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferrettkitt Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 Didn't even realise that it had gone from Ricks drive look forward to seeing it restored Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 great dealing with you tom, a real easy transaction (you'd make a great ebayer) as for the engine that is entirely upto you to decide but the original v8 that i removed from it to fit in my carrier will be available once the new 24 stud is ready to go in somtime around xmas. it's only my opinion but i reckon if you intend to use it regulary then chuck a diesel in, if it's just for going to the odd show then put it back to it's original v8. all the best rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egdod Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 DavidAre you going on the saturday and camping over or just thr sunday for a day trip. Howard Evening Howard, we will be along on the saturday afternoon all being well and a fair wind ! hope the weather`s ok! sunburn or drowning...i wonder!! Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted August 5, 2012 Share Posted August 5, 2012 Current outlook for Combined Ops at Headcorn, going by the last two weekends. Both! Changing every hour, from monsoon to sweat bath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.Watts Posted August 6, 2012 Author Share Posted August 6, 2012 Made a start on the truck today, took the doors off along with the wings and the tin work from the interior of the cab, aiming to have the cab off so that i can start welding it up and get some idea of how much room i'v got for a replacement engine. the V8 is very tempting, but dont think my pocket would stick it, running the GMC alone is bad enough on apprentice wages!!! sorry about the quality of the pics, those pesky americans didn't think about putting in decent lights when they built the airfield Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex van de Wetering Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 (edited) Tom, Very nice to see the truck back on the forum. I have sent Ricks ad to a number of people hoping someone would bring the truck home. When it comes to engine conversions I would go with Ajmac......fit a V8 with LPG; indeed plenty of room to fit the gas tank(s)....and plenty of ways to camouflage it. I you can't find a cheap genuine engine, maybe a french V8 is an option(?) Alex Edited August 6, 2012 by Alex van de Wetering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shane.c Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Nice truck keep every updated with pics and info, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajmac Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 (edited) That's the spirit, dive in! Could you give us a brief round up on the WOT6, I know absolutely nothing about them, when they were made, what they were designed to do and for whom..... Many questions. Air portable.... what....In a glider? What version of flathead v8 were they originally fitted with? 3.6 or 3.9 litre. What an abortion of a paragraph! I must be honest that rebuilding Flatheads isn't cheap, my 3.6litre was in very good condition but even that old girl has set me back over £1200 so far, mainly in parts. That does include purchase price, but even so, if it had needed to be rebored and the crank ground I bet it would be touching £1800. Edited August 8, 2012 by ajmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.Watts Posted August 8, 2012 Author Share Posted August 8, 2012 Took the top of the cab and some other bits and pieces off last night, also found the hand throttle lurking behind the fuel tank!!! ajmac, I know about as much as you!! This is my first british vehicle and I am trying to find out about it as I go along, have only really dealt with American vehicles before Who can spot the B17 parts in the pictures?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 Main Wheel leaning against the shed behind forklift in 2nd photo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.Watts Posted August 9, 2012 Author Share Posted August 9, 2012 yep that is correct!! I thought that the B17 engine was in the photo as well but now I look again it didn't quite make it in, you can just see the bottom of the engine stand in the top left corner of the second photo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted August 9, 2012 Share Posted August 9, 2012 yep that is correct!! I thought that the B17 engine was in the photo as well but now I look again it didn't quite make it in, you can just see the bottom of the engine stand in the top left corner of the second photo All of which just makes me wonder what you are doing with a very British truck :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lauren Child Posted August 9, 2012 Share Posted August 9, 2012 (edited) Have you spotted that MLRS publications do a reprint of the WOT6 and 8 Maintenance Manual and Instruction Book? It may be of help http://www.mlrsbooks.co.uk/bookstore/index.php/prod630.html? Edited August 9, 2012 by Lauren Child Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lauren Child Posted August 9, 2012 Share Posted August 9, 2012 That's the spirit, dive in! Could you give us a brief round up on the WOT6, I know absolutely nothing about them, when they were made, what they were designed to do and for whom..... Many questions. Air portable.... what....In a glider? What version of flathead v8 were they originally fitted with? 3.6 or 3.9 litre. What an abortion of a paragraph! It's a 3.6 litre. Air-portable normally means that the top of the cab unbolts so it's easy to fit in a glider or transport aircraft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RattlesnakeBob Posted August 9, 2012 Share Posted August 9, 2012 just what manner of apprenticeship wages are you on that you happen to also have a B17 (albeit in pieces) in your impressive shed young man????:D:D...I'm knocking on a bit for an apprentice but.....I'd give it a turn:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWade Posted August 10, 2012 Share Posted August 10, 2012 Tom Nice to see you are cracking on with the old girl. David yes I am hoping to get to Rougham Saturday afternoon early eavening. Regards Howard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajmac Posted August 10, 2012 Share Posted August 10, 2012 It's a 3.6 litre. Air-portable normally means that the top of the cab unbolts so it's easy to fit in a glider or transport aircraft. I understood the term 'Airportable', I just couldn't think of an Allied transport that anything that big could fit into! I know it was possible to fit two Jeeps into one of the British gliders, so that must have been the target aircraft, was the Hamlicar the larger or smaller British glider? As it was the 3.6 a 21 stud flathead would be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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