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24th September 1976, Page 92

24th September 1976

Page 92

Page 93

Page 92, 24th September 1976 — hotline • p c show hotline

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Club of on or the UK

by Graham Montgamerie

SAVIEM today becomes the first member of the Club of Four consortium to market the range in the UK. Known as the J series, the range encompasses vehicles in the nine to 13 tons gvw category.

The Club of Four trucks are the result of co-operation between DAF, Magirus-Deutz, Saviem and Volvo who pooled their knowledge and technical ability to design a light to medium range of trucks. The result is that vehicles from the various member companies resemble one another both visually and technically. The major exception is the power unit with each manufacturer going its own particular way on choice of engine.

As far as the UK is concerned the Saviem J series range consists of three trucks — the JN90 at 9 tons gvw, the JP11 at 11 tons and the JP13 at 13 tons gross.

In standard form all three trucks use a naturally aspirated six-cylinder diesel with a cubic capacity of 5.49 litres (335cuin) which produces 112W (150bhp) to the SAE rating of 2,900rpm.

For the 13-tonner a turbocharger version of this engine is offered as an option which gives an extra 15kW (20bhp). The maximum torque is raised from 403 to 480Nm (297 to 3351bft) at 1,800rpm.

The 797 and 798 (turbocharged) engines fitted to the J series have been standard equipment in the Saviem SM7 and SM8 models for some years in France and bott feature the MAN M-type con bustion system. Althougl these engines have been use, before, various modification: were made before installatior in the J-series. For example the fan is now crankshafi mounted and the fuel pump of the rotary type with 2 built-in automatic advance.

All the club trucks share th( same gearbox and axles. Th( ,articular gearbox selected is I five-speed ZF unit, the S5.35, which has synchromesh on all he forward gears. The linkage s telescopic which means it loes not have to be disconiected nor does it need extendye sealing around the lever when the cap is tilted. In this • espect it is similar to the New leneration Mercedes-Benz uTangemen t.

The rear axle is a single-reluction with diff lock options or the JP11 and JP13 models.

Another component shared )etween the various cornkanies is the cap which has )een designed on the hollow )eam technique. The componnit parts — the roof, front end. issembly, sides and rear pan lling consist of panels waged and stiffened to form lollow sections. This technique is claimed to by)ass the need for using multi)1e stiffening members that would increase the weight. The pressings for the cab are made by Heuliez in France from Club-owned tools.

The cabs for the J series are assembled by Saviem themselves whereas the cabs for the other three members are assembled by MagirusDeutz at Ulm. The maximum angle of tilt is 52°.

The braking system is air over hydraulic using a split system, one acting on the front wheels and the other acting on the rear. The brake units themselves are mounted behind the drums on the heavy models and in the frame section on the light.

One of the main stumbling blocks to the marketing of the Club range in the UK is that this 9-13-ton sector of the market is well covered by Bedford, Chrysler, Ford and Leyland who build good trucks at a reasonable price. The Club vehicles, however, tend to be to a more luxurious specification which is why I await the announcement of the J series prices with even greater interest than usual.'