CONVERTING THE FORD FOR BIGGER LOADS.
Page 59
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
A Practicable Outfit Including Supplementary Springs, Body, Cab and Gearbox.
Ainteresting 30-cwt. conversion set for the Ford tanner, which provides a vehicle complete with cab and lorry body, taxed at £16 only, has been developed by Standard Equipments, Ltd., Ashburton Road, Trafford Park, Manchester. The complete outfit costs £184, so that the price of the vehicle, taxed for a year, is £200.
The special specification includes a Fuller auxiliary gearbox mounted just in front of the back axle, giving four speeds forward and two in reverse, and a Warwick truck body with platform 8 ft. 6 ins. long, 5 ft. 6 ins. wide and having 16-in, hinged sides. This body is of British design and make, and the cab is particularly interesting in view of its light weight, this being partly due to the use of rein-forced plywood material. The :openings above the door are purposely made square, so that rigid side curtains can be fitted, making the cab quite waterproof. Incidentally, these curtains ran be provided at an extra cost of £2 Sc.
The Ford frame itself is not lengthened, but L-section runners, which reinforce the body runners, are carried on two semi-elliptic auxiliary side springs designed to carry 12 cwt. and to reinforce the Ford transverse rear springs. These semi-elliptic springs are mounted above the axle just inside the transverse springs, so that the additional load is carried well to the axle ends. They are, of course, shackled at each end. These shackles are of standard Ford make, and the spring eyes are also bushed with standard parts, so that replacements can be obtained in any part of the world. What we consider is of great importance is that the chassis frame is not cut, drilled or in any other way interfered with. This auxiliary load-carrying spring device is priced at £18 if purchased separately.
The Fuller gear is of the sliding_ gear type, consisting of two mainshaft gears and two countershaft gears, the last-named being made in one piece. There is also a splined sleeve upon which moves the sliding gear. The control lever for this gear is mounted to the left of the forward portion of the torque tube, where it is controlled by the driver's left hand. When pulled back, both the regular Ford speeds are lowered 80 per cent., whilst in the forward position the ordinary Ford speeds are utilized. This gearbox, if fitted separately, is priced at £16 16s.
The cab has two seats and is equipped with scuttle dash, windscreen and high side doors, both being equipped with hinges. Under the driver's seat is a locked toolbox.
As regards the body, the framing and bearers are of ash, and new rear mudguards are fitted.
The price of the cab and body complete is 140.
The whole equipment is mounted and guaranteed to weigh less than 1 ton when fitted to the Ford ton-truck chassis, having pneumatic tyres all round, but without lighting and starter.
At present the weight margin is so fine that a van body has not yet been designed to be within the 1-ton limit, but the company hopes to overcome this difficulty in the near future. This also applies to the provision of a tipping body.