Vehicle & Technical > Military

Finally gone home!

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Range Rover Blues:
Is that the original Bantam engine then?  you don't see too many of them over here as the Jeeps often outlasted the engines.

Top Trivia, I have it on good authority that the 'A' series engine (Austin Somerset, Mini etc) was originally designed as a replacement engine for the Jeep and that's what a lot of them still have when you see them at shows in the UK.

lrmike:
Original engine.  Not the original that was in the truck from the beginning, mind.  With the military, that was gone long ago.  It is correct for the truck.  They got a bit confusing, as the early engines had 'WILLEYS' cast into the head, even on a Ford built truck.  The Ford GPW was basically the same just minor differences in the body (the rear lockers, for example)
Don't really know about the Austin engine, but would make sense as many of these trucks were used and serviced in Europe.
To be a concours resto, this would have had to have all 'F' script bolts, and 'Ford' script parts.  Doesn't have the embossd tailgate, but still a correct Ford built unit.

Range Rover Blues:
I understand there are differences in the transmission too, like the Willeys had a biscuit type CV joint in the front swivels whereas the Ford (and was it GM?) ones had UJs.  And something about the 4WD system too, did it have a sprag clutch like the very early series 1 LR?

lrmike:
Yep, you're right about the front driveshafts, the t-case, at least on the 2 I've done, did not have asprag, and I don't remember a reference to one in the parts diagrams or repair manuals.  We are talking a 1 way clutch when we say sprag, right?  or is this going to be a bonnet vs hood, boot vs trunck thing?  :)

The 4x4 is very similar to a series, except instead of yellow knob down, it's left lever forward.  Insides are almost the same.  Can't engage low range unless the front is locked, either.

It is pretty remarkable working with one of these to see the similarities between it and the early LRs.  Very obvious the reverse engineering that went on!

Range Rover Blues:
Yes the sprag is a sort of free-wheel (used on some starter motors too), I wasn't sure if the idea came from the Jeep though, but a lot of the successful elements of the Jeep were used on the original LR.  I think reverse engineering is a very polite phrase :D  but hey if it's not bust don't fix it.  
The original LR was intended to get Rover cars out of a financial hole using the aluminium they were getting in place of the steel they needed and gaining export sales.  It was never intended to stay in production quite so long.

Proves the original formula was a winner though :wink:

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