Carrier Injuns
Sorry for this belated reply, no excuses just have been too busy buying carrier parts on ebay!!! Just kidding!!
Carrier Engines.
I have not come across any documentation or manufacturers details on the fitting or refitting of engines in carriers other than the Ford V8 and Mercury. Apart from all the manuals and the details of the engines fitted to all the makes of carriers, I also have the original specification drawings for the engines for the carriers as well as other documentation dealing with carrier. Loyd as well, mechanics etc. I also find that veterans are fairly sharp when they talk specifically about some item. It usually means something happened which made them remember the fact, like difficulty in setting the points! oh I've been there!! or skinning your knuckles as the plug spanner slips.
So I believe that all carriers were fitted with the Ford V8 when manufactured, and more than likely would have been refitted with the latest Ford V8 when they were being upgraded to a different mark. This way the spares backup is kept efficient.
Now the replacement of engines in the field is a different matter all together and I am quite sure other engines would have been fitted into carriers when there was a more readily available supply of spares or even engines other than the Ford V8s. (It would be great to know which ones were fitted I must admit as the idea of my carrier sitting on its tail as the power goes down from its Beaufighter power pack is fairly exciting a thought!) This seems to be backed up in a DME Modification Circular which concerns the fitting of Ford V8 identification plates. Dated early 1944 it states that "If an engine is replaced by one of a different type from that removed, the identification plate and vehicle records will be amended accordingly." This implies that the mechanics could expect to find engines in carriers other than Ford V8s.
Not much help really but my way forward is to speak with some carrier mechanics. No not present day ones!! The real ones!! I mean the experienced ones!! The Veterans.
Anyone found me a nos pair of sprockets yet? or am I going to have to come over to Canada to find them myself? Now there's an idea! Geoff? Stewart? Clive? Alex?
Nigel
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