WOT2H Extra Spark Plug?

[Lauren Child]

I turned my attention to the WOT2 today, and for the first time noticed an extra spark plug just below the carb.

 

It's not connected to anything and was covered in grime to match the rest of the engine bay, so it didn't stand out. It's not in the copy of the parts list that I have. What's it for?

 

I'm guessing it's an aid to starting. Would this have been for cold climates?

[Adrian Barrell]

I reckon someone has plugged a vacuum take off hole with a handy item! 14mm is close to 1/4 BSP.

A pre heater could use a plug to ignite a spray but that is normally only on a diesel. You wouldn't want to ignite the mixture before it entered the cylinders......

[Tony B]

In Gavin Lyall's book The Secret Servant a carachter supposedly a member of the LRDG describes bobby trapping a Kubelwagen by inserting an extra spark plug into the fuel tank, wired to the coil. Maybe just leave as is as a coversation piece?

[snort]

Knowing very little about this vehicle...it wouldn't just be a handy place to keep a spare plug?

[woa2]

You have the wrong inlet manifold for a W0T2 and the spark plug is just filling a hole for a vacuum pipe that isn't needed. I think I have a spare inlet manifold somewhere - I will have a look.

A WOT2 carried a spare spark plug in the tool kit.

[woa2]

Just noticed - the petrol pipe going from the change-over tap to the petrol pump needs replacing. It should be flexible to allow for movement, and is obtainable from Ford V8 parts dealers.

[Lauren Child]

Thanks Robert - I may take you up on that manifold. If no other info is forthcoming I'll swap it out and see if I can find any part numbers that would help identify why it's there (possibly, as Adrian says, a quick fix). If it's another period item I'll put it back on as a bit of the vehicle's history.

 

The rest of the engine looks the right vintage for the truck (77E heads) but the fuel pump looks like a later one (no priming lever underneath) so the upper part may have seen some re-work, particularly as you say around the fuel pipe. I need to give the tank selector valve a bit of a clean out as well (it's a bit stiff) so I'll do both at the same time.

Edited September 30, 2012 by Lauren Child

[Tony B]

I have sen a few old engines with a storage place for a spare spark plug, and a bulkhead fitting for storing a spare.