CMP Diesel Conversions???

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Years back, Brian Kitcher in the UK fitted a Ford 4-cyl (Trader? Don´t know exact type) in his F60S-LAAT. While it was a succesfull conversion, he has since converted it back to Ford V8 (admittedly, a post-war French Flathead).

Have you considered fitting an LPG system?

Yes he did McSpool and a huge job it was as I recall for the Ford D Series lump. There was an amount of new fabrication needed including the engine sump (oil pan) and I made up a 6V solid state regulator for the instruments.

Whilst it ran well, you needed two pairs of ear defenders in series aiding. . . . . . . . . . .

The French flathead proves to be a far "nicer" engine than the original and reports suggest the increased power and torque to be very apparent.

As for LPG, there is not such a huge advantage here since the UK Govt taxes it almost as heavily as petrol (gas); by law you have to fit an approved pressure tank and very few garages dispense the stuff.

I can say that my friends LR101 goes well on propane and it represents a saving, however, the tank is a fairly huge cylinder and affords surprisingly little mileage, probably a half or even less than that compared to the same volume of petrol.

R.

[Barry Churcher]

Preston Isaac has a diesel in his Bofors truck. It seemed to work real well. You could contact him for info. He is in Devon.
Barry

[BEN-RIPPINGHAM]

thanks for all your replies!

I don't want to modify the existing truck or get involved in loads of expense enginnering a unit to fit this truck.
So i could go with a Simca sumb unit i suppose which would be a good compromise as they are plentyfull, does anyone know if both the engine and gearbox will fit in the space of the original unit????

cheers

ben.

[cmperry4]

I spoke with a restorer here in Canada who told me he was equipping a C60X he had with a modern diesel engine. Cummings or such, and furnishing the workshop body as a camper van so he could drive it to shows. No idea how far he got with that. Other Canadians here may know who I mean, and may know more about it.

[Lang]

I have seen three CMP's fitted with 6354 Perkins. These are a cheap, readily obtainable engine of 120hp. Standard SAE bell housings which will fit the original CMP gearbox are easily obtainable but a box out of a Bedford, Commer etc that comes with the engine would be better.

Good boost in HP and rev matching to the CMP axle ratios is also good for a few more mph.

[BEN-RIPPINGHAM]

Thanks for that Lang, i think the engine you've mentioned perkins 6354 is the same motor as the perkins phazor which is used in dodge/renault 50s? You can pick up these dodge/renault 50s very cheap so this looks like the way forward. Have you any pics of the trucks you've mentioned so i can see how they've done this engine/box conversion with regards to mounting and coupling to the transfer box?

regards

ben.

[Lang]

Ben,

Sorry but I don't have any images of the conversion or the various owners names. The vehicles I saw were owned by farmers and commercial people, not collectors. There was a C-15A radio van with a Perkins all done up like a motorhome going around Australia a few years back. I don't know what became of that.

Even a P6 which was the forerunner to the 6354 would be OK. You might get one out of an old tractor but I think they were only 100hp. Ford and Leyland made very similar size 120hp diesel engines but I think the Perkins is the pick of the bunch for reliability, parts availability and cost.

I am a bit of a fan of them having one in my first truck when I was 18 back in the 60's - a Commer semi-trailer. You would be laughed off the highway now with 120hp and 45mph. If you don't have a minimum of 400hp dragging a B-Double and able to maintain 60mph on all but the steepest hills you are not in the game. Have also had several 6354's in boats since.