Austin and Morris FFk

The FHK’s were ‘interesting’ to work on to say the least! :unamused: Removing the cylinder head and sump was a backbreaking job, crouching under the nearside wheel arch to get the head between the cab floor and the chassis rail after firstly removing every stud and jacking the cab up slightly it would just squeeze through. We also had a dual steer roadsweeper (steering wheel and controls on both sides of the cab) so removing brake and clutch master cylinders was the first task before any engine work took place. Then drawing the cylinder liners out was even more ‘fun’ after battling with a three piece engine sump, Bedford TK’s were a doddle to work on after that! :wink:

One FH that we looked after was a 160 model coal tipper with a Primrose 2nd steer slotted in plus an overdrive gearbox and two speed axle, owned by W.J. Lawrence of Coley Place, Reading, a right camel of a machine but it did good work assisting at the Aberfan disaster in 1966 though. Its driver really put it through its paces between Reading and South Wales (pre M4) but he sadly drowned while sea fishing and it was disposed of shortly after as no one else could handle the thing like Taffy could.

Pete.