Gear ratios & highway speed

[Lang]

Mike,
Do you know if it is possibe to adapt a Fairey overdrive to a Blitz transfer case? If you could do this by even getting a new gear cut it would be the answer to Peter's prayers. Those Landrover overdrives are not too hard to find and probably the perfect upgrading for the Blitz which certainly has more power in reserve to pull a higher gear than the Landrover 4's. A Dodge or any of several other (Nissan, Suzuki, International 1200, F150 etc) remote transfer cases might take the overdrive and be easily fitted in place of the original.

Lang

[Mike K]

lang

The Standard 2 and 1/4 litre Land Rover 4 engine puts out about 70 bhp.

[Lang]

Mike,

The 216 Chev puts out 90hp so should handle the Landrover overdrive ratios quite OK.

Lang

[Pete Solomon]

Thanks every one for your input - I certainly have a few options to consider. Probably the simplest is dropping the front drive shaft, axles and transfer case and getting a longer rear shaft made. That way everything original can be kept and ref-fitted after the trip.

I have considered an intercom and headsets - they are on the wish list, as is a whole pile of camping gear, generator etc etc. This trip is something I am not undertaking lightly - I have sent letters to Legacy for official sanction and will be seeking sponsorship and assistance from the Australian Army any one of the fuel suppliers that wants to get on board, hotel chains, equipment suppliers etc etc - the list is endless.

Im doing this because not because it will be fun, ( ok - a bit) but because it will be so hard - I really want to re-focus Australia's attention on Legacy - in my mind the most important charity orgaisation we have - it seems to be over shadowed by red nose day, daffodil day and pink day and all the others. I also want to try an make our young people understand the sacrifice the diggers (my grandad - your dads and perhaps even some of you - I dont know) and allied soldiers made - they drove these things across Africa in the blazing sun, through the snow of Europe, all over the Pacific for 6 years - getting shot at. I can sit in one with my mate for 4 months Im sure!

I hope to get in contact with all the military vehicle clubs along the way and welcome people joining in where ever possible. The more attention we can make - the more media will get involved - the more money we raise. It's a big job, but with your help I will put it together and pull it off.

Thanks everyone.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Peter

In considering how to make the vehicle and you happier at sustained 55-60 MPH don't forget to consider engine swap. I suggest this for a number of reasons with the gear you are mentioning carrying the 216 will be pulling hard.

A late 50's early 60's 235 or best yet 261Chevy is a reasonably simple bolt in conversion. When properly setup either of these engines has more use able RPMs and far more usable horsepower and torque.

In looking at 235s you want the later pressure crank version.

Just a thought.

Cheers Phil

[Ken Hughes]

Hi again guys,a while ago i used to drive my mates spare C8AX on club outings,it was fitted with a "Blue Flame" Chev engine.
Well it would pull away from my mates other C8AX no trouble at all,could sit on 50-55 MPH
and not be flogging it,it just made all the difference and was a pleasure to drive.
My mates Chev that he drives has the 216 original engine still in it,BUT he sold the Chev with the Blue Flame!!,now he has been scouring arond for another blue flame to replace the 216 in his C8AX.
I must say that the C8AX is faster on the open road than my F30 (as the Ford will do 38 MPH on the flat,)but different weight ratios between the two though.

[Phil Waterman]

Originally Posted by Ken Hughes

...
I must say that the C8AX is faster on the open road than my F30 (as the Ford will do 38 MPH on the flat,)but different weight ratios between the two though.

Good point Ken, just out of curiosity what size wheels does the F30 have?

I ask because the C30 had 16in wheels running 7.16 to 1 gears which should give them some real low end grunt but would cut into the actual road speed. My `41 C60L had the 16" wheels and the 7.16 to 1 and it was impossible to drive on the road, was over revving engine just trying to drive on secondary roads. Changed over to 20" with 11:00x20 tires and it is a lot happier.

As to the Blue Flame engine which version pressure crank or splasher?

Cheers Phil