Australian Army F250's

[Brett Nicholls]

Hi Guys,
Well in the wee hours of Tuesday morning my new project finally arrived. Its an Ex-Australian army F250. Still has the data delivery plate on it and I also found the conversion plate for the dual fuel. It appears that the vehicle was fitted while in service with LPG. I have been lucky and also got an original bumper with the extra army made brackets through a seperate purchase.
This vehicle will be my regular ride once I get back on the road which should be a lot more of a straight forward task given that most parts can be sourced "off the shelf" still - even the paint!. It will be returned to the original paint colour. The cut down/hinged tray sides appear to be a army modification and I have access to another rear body so I intend to make some sides the same as the originals with the exception of making them hinged as well.

I plan to have the vehicle on the road so I can take it to Corowa 2018.

As per my original post - If there's anyone who has pictures of this type in service the information would be appreciated. I am hoping to make a small information board to stand with the vehicle when displayed.

Thanks,

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[Brett Nicholls]

The LPG fitting plate.

[Ken Smith]

Congratulations on finding the nice looking truck. They are quite pretty and a F250 is also a good comfortable load carrier.
Look forward to the updates on the restoration.

Cheers Ken

[Brett Nicholls]

Hi Ken,
Thanks. I have always had a soft spot for them. I had two civilian vehicles years ago and sold then when I started a family. Always regreted them being sold . I spotted this a month or so ago and the 'stars aligned' so to speak. Will be a good tow vehicle too so I can trailer my Jeep to Corowa etc and yes it is very capable with loads.

You have a nice collection of vehicles . Mainly into the Blitzes I see. I have a semi trailer Blitz which I hope to eventually restore .

Thanks again,

[Ken Smith]

Brett, I noticed that you say the paint is also available off the shelf. I have been trying to find that colour for years for my ex army Ford D400 that needs a touch up. Every paint shop so far is big on promises but when it comes to the crunch can't reproduce the colour, so where are you going to get yours?
I had a 1970 civilian F250 with the Canadian 240ci motor which kept breaking piston rings at about the 40,000 mile mark. Other than that I couldn't fault it.
My D series which has the same motor seems to break them at about 20,000 mile, at least your F250 engine should be ok.
Ken

[Brett Nicholls]

Hi Ken,
The paint is/was Protec paint 342 Camoflouge green (see the picture). I get the paint local but I am sure there would be someone nearer to you. I will ask my paint shop if they know of someone close to you when I go to get some paint later today if you let me know where you are located. Otherwise I will be travelling up north to Hervey Bay in the first qauter of 2018 and could bring some up with me.

Wow - I thought the canadian motors were a lot stronger than that! I wonder if there is something inherintly wrong with the design or its just that particular motor?.

The F series of vehicles were a particularly robust vehicle and it suprises me that the military didnt use more of them.

This is the paint.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Brett Nicholls

Hi Ken,
The paint is/was Protec paint 342 Camoflouge green (see the picture). I get the paint local but I am sure there would be someone nearer to you.

Protec have branch stores in Bris and Townsville, and also have retailers throughout the state. 342-1166 is usually in stock at the company stores in 1l, 4l and 400ml aerosol. If you contact the factory/head office in SA on 1800 076 466 they can have the paint sent out to your nearest agent.

35 Collinsvale St,
Rocklea QLD 4106
(07) 3717 3800


33/37 Bolam St,
Garbutt QLD 4814
(07) 4775 7933

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Brett Nicholls

Its an Ex-Australian army F250. Still has the data delivery plate on it and I also found the conversion plate for the dual fuel. It appears that the vehicle was fitted while in service with LPG.

Great buy and very interesting to see an military vehicle fitted with a dual fuel system. A hybrid in a sense, many years before today's hype.

I do know LPG is - or was? - popular in Australia, as it used to in the Netherlands. I have owned and driven many vehicles fitted with LPG systems (including an air-cooled VW Beetle), and always liked the fact that LPG burns much cleaner than petrol. Pity to see LPG no longer seems to fit in today's environmental thinking, even though it is a much cleaner fuel than petrol (let alone diesel).

Anyway, I should not distract from your thread. I wish you a speedy recommissioning and many miles of happy motoring!

Hanno

[Brett Nicholls]

Hi Hanno,
Great to hear from you and thank you. I agree with you - LPG is a good fuel source and I think people have been discouraged by misinformation. This is my second dual fuel vehicle the first being a truck. I found the power only marginally less and the advantages out weighing it.

It is interesting that another government department did the fitting of the LPG and not the Army. What I don't understand is why it was done given the defence force are not (really) limited by fuel.

I would like to see LPG make a come-back and totally agree it is far cleaner and much more enviro friendly not to mention the $$ savings.

Again - great to hear from you and never a problem -there's no distraction

Thanks & Regards,

[Brett Nicholls]

Hi Ken,
Sorry missed you reply last night. Interesting info about the D400's. I think you are right about the Gloss olive. I had several batches of the 342-1166 mixed and doesn't come close in gloss yet the tin of Lustureless does which confused me and the paint shop. I will have a look for the F196 paint code when the shop opens again.

I found the Falcon ute of the same era appears to be the same colour which makes logic. I wonder if the F stands for a fleet code?.

My vehicle has the standard spec Falcon 250 crossflow 4.1ltr motor which is adequate but I haven't tried it on gas yet which might be a let down.

Thanks again,