Road Speed and Modding MVs

[rob love]

For some, a bit more speed is no different than the added lighting and reflectors. Driving a Chev at 40mph on the highway can be dangerous if someone travelling the same direction ends up smackin your rear. (OK let the puns begin). I'm not saying the military vehicle has to go 60mph, but if perhaps slightly larger tires gives it a few more MPH, and still retains reasonable historical accuracy, then OK.

I drive my Jeep to and from work on any day that it's not raining. The highway I travel is posted at 90kmh, which means most are travelling 105. I only take the Jeep to 50-55mph (a bit under 90) so while I consider it reasonable, I am pretty sure the dozen vehicles behind me would rather I found a different route or a different ride.

[The Bedford Boys]

We put a Bedford K crownwheel amd pinion into a friends Bedford MW. The truck will now hit 60mph. Made it into a much nicer truck to drive, not that we go everywhere at 60mph, we really just wanted to be able to cruise at 45mph comfortably.. (35mph original top speed is a bit tedious in modern traffic). Im a bit of a purist myself, but I also think that as long as the vehicle is on the road, then history is still being kept alive

[Lynn Eades]

Rob, there is nothing wrong with being slow on the road. If I'm driving something slow, I regularly pull over to let others go by. If I'm in the car, I like to go as quick as I'm allowed.(sometimes plus a little.... Did I write that?) I then hate the inconsiderate B with 10 cars up his A with no intention of letting anyone through.
It's all about keeping left (or right) and exercising a little respect for the guy your holding up.

As far as modification goes, aside from handling issues, one of the issues with old M.V's. is braking. If you're going to increase the h.p, what are you intending to do about stopping the thing?
Some of these old vehicles were under braked at 30mph. It takes a lot more brakes to haul them up from 60mph. and they don't usually lend them selves to serious upgrading.

When I was in the army I remember seeing The brakes from an RL Bedford wrecker cooked like you wouldn't believe. It had another Bedford RL on a suspend tow. We have some steep hill ranges here. He was on a long descent and although the driver was supposedly trained to do the job he had not followed the rules. He'd let the rig go too fast, and if I remember correctly was lucky not to have been in a major accident.
Many of these old vehicles are fine to drive, empty, but load them up and they require a bit more skill and lots more patience.

[Keith Webb]

When I was regularly driving both the F60L or the C15A sigvan I used to think of the many cars behind as my "followers". I'd always let them pass when I could though.

[Ganmain Tony]

To put it simply - I agree with you. I am a bit of a purist at heart as well.

I have frequently been given advice with my truck on how to make it go faster by completely modifying it.... in my opinion, modification destroys the soul of the vehicle.

That said... it is on 12 volt, has bigger profile tyres, has an after market oil pressure and temp guage and has indicators.

It even has one working headlight which I guess would have been blanked off during convoy work in WW2.

I like to think I did these to improve the vehicle to keep me safer on the road..... in a world of fellow modern motorists with which I have the delight of sharing the bitumen.

My thoughts... as a contribution to the discussion.

[Luke R]

A little bit off topic but as a driver, I get annoyed being stuck behind old dears caravan which is a little to big for the falcon/commodore that's towing it but I don't have a problem sitting behind a classic/vintage truck, car, etc.
But that's just me being an enthusiast I think.

[David Dunlop]

Chris. It probably boils down to the degree of modification and why for me. I tend to look at it from a respect and understanding perspective. Some people simply do not understand what they come into possession of (and don't care even if politely pointed out to them), they are fixated on a personal goal with the vehicle they have and off they go like a bull in a china shop, with complete destruction of the vehicle the ultimate end point. In this area over the years I have seen a very original slat grilled Canadian Contract MB totally trashed by an owner that insisted on dropping a Chev V8 into it along with a power steering setup and adjustable highback modern front seats. A very complete Cab 13 Gun Tractor out in the Shilo area many years ago had the full body ripped off of it and tossed, along with the engine and the frame turned into a giant mud truck with an old pick up body put on it. Similar fate with a COE FWD Tractor here in Winnipeg that had full canvas and all the fiddly bits when found. In fact, right now, just three streets away from where we live, some young kid brought home an absolutely mint Early 30's Chev coupe this spring he bought from the neighbour of his Granddad in the country somewhere. It was a barn find he says he paid $1,200.00 for and it has been sitting outside, at the side of their driveway for three months now getting rained on and covered with bird poop. He plans to 'hot rod it'.

From a personal perspective, I have always thought it would be great to own a Cdn Grizzly or Sexton and also be able to restore the proper RCASC Tractor and trailer rig to move it about with. But I always had it in my mind to find two Tractors: one for full on restoration, the second to carefully repower to get acceptable highway speeds out of. But that is just me.


David