Hi Boden, I did not get involved with the Esso Dodges, and, I must admit my memory is currently far too hazy to remember how they fared. Also Anorak, our confab’s were only occasional usually along the lines of “How do Gardner make x,y or z?” My answer would usually elicit a response of, “We could never afford to do it that way, or, too time consuming, etc.”
boden:
For 5valveAny idea how Esso faired with those V8/V6(whichever) Dodge 16 tonners with Allison auto boxes,Esso engineers must have gone through various specs before arriving at the decision to order 145 of them(according to the CM archives),I knew they bought some but was surprised the order was so big.
While were on about Oil Co.Engineers “dropping bolloxs” with vehicle specs I recall in the early 70’s that Shell Mex and BP bought a batch of AUTOMATIC Austin/Morris 1100 cars for their reps,they only then compounded their mistake by buying Ford ■■■■■■ 1100 Autos !! The Reps that called were embarassed to say the least,when they selected Drive the engines nearly died with the torque the auto boxes required !!But then again it was the Oil cos. that helped to keep the likes of ERF and Foden in business with their bulk orders of “diabolical specced” tractors i.e.RR engines etc.Cheers Bewick.
While we all agree on the merits of ■■■■■■■ engines, I have to say they didn’t do themselves any favours with the 6Bta. I had one in a ERF E6 17 tonner and it was pathetic, having previously driven the Scania 82 four wheeler the difference was immediately apparent. I think it was limited to 56mph but I’m not sure I even reached that, with my past ■■■■■■■ experience I was very disappointed. I recall around 1971 going to the Esso North Shields depot where they had the ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ Dodges, I’m sure these were the V6 engines and talking to the fitters they did have problems with them, if I remember correctly it was a similar situation as AEC had with the Ergo V8, the 500 cab was like the Ergo low and flat floored, therefore the cooling system struggled to cope and as has been said the V6 wasn’t as reliable as the bigger V’s introduced later. Franky.
tankerian:
These are the last handfull, i will try and get a picture of thr spec plate next time.
Thank`s for the photos great to see stuff like that. 
About 5 years ago, I spotted this Racing E.R.F. outside a E.R.F. dealership on Malta.
I returned the following day with my camera. Unfortunately the E.R.F. was parked up to a garage wall ,
making it impossible to take a photograph showing the front of the cab. However , I took this photo, with " ■■■■■■■■
across the back of the cab.
I have no details as to the capacity of the engine, but it looks to be a powerful E.R.F.
There is ( or was ) interest in Truck Racing on Malta, and this is probably one of them.
Just something different to see .
Cheers, cattle wagon man.
cattle wagon man:
About 5 years ago, I spotted thisRacing E.R.F.outside a E.R.F. dealership on Malta.
I returned the following day with my camera. Unfortunately the E.R.F. was parked up to a garage wall ,
making it impossible to take a photograph showing the front of the cab. However , I took this photo, with " ■■■■■■■■
across the back of the cab.
I have no details as to the capacity of the engine, but it looks to be a powerful E.R.F.
There is ( or was ) interest in Truck Racing on Malta, and this is probably one of them.
Just something different to see .Cheers, cattle wagon man.
I wouldnt like to couple up to trailer with the 5th wheel at that height!!..that engine looks a beast doesnt!!!
David 
8LXBV8BRIAN:
tankerian:
These are the last handfull, i will try and get a picture of thr spec plate next time.Thank`s for the photos great to see stuff like that.
Your mellowing in your old age Brian, it’s a ■■■■■■■■■■ not one of those Manchester barge engines 
regards Kev.
Ps. Will we see you next week?? ( By the way I’ve been in touch with Terry Middleton and he will be there)
■■■■■■■ 205 power.
road-ranger:
■■■■■■■ 205 power.
Now that warms the cockles of an old mans heart!!! Lovely way into 2013!!
Why do those Chapman seats squeak so much…and its much kinder on the knees without using the clutch.
Thanks, and Cheerio for now.
Took the words right out of my keyboard! Couldn’t they find a PROPER driver?
I had a S80 Foden with a 220 ■■■■■■■■ I was very dissapointed with its performance , heavy on the old jungle juice, & not a patch of my S36 with the Leyland 680 PP Engine, But having said this I drove an ERF with a 320 & its was a good performer never let me down once. Regards Larry.
Saviem:
road-ranger:
■■■■■■■ 205 power.Now that warms the cockles of an old mans heart!!! Lovely way into 2013!!
Why do those Chapman seats squeak so much…and its much kinder on the knees without using the clutch.
Thanks, and Cheerio for now.
thanks but it is much kinder on the gear box prop and diff when you have done about 5miles with a 10speed.
Saviem:
road-ranger:
■■■■■■■ 205 power.Now that warms the cockles of an old mans heart!!! Lovely way into 2013!!
Why do those Chapman seats squeak so much…and its much kinder on the knees without using the clutch.
Thanks, and Cheerio for now.
It’s the white plastic bushes in the ends of the scissors. The crack & split after a while and the seat starts to nod, fore & aft when the plastic drops out. I once took one to pieces to replace them - and instantly regretted it!!
I seem to recall that the clutch pedal on this very wagon used to squeak as well, which appears to be borne out in the footage.
marky:
Saviem:
road-ranger:
■■■■■■■ 205 power.Now that warms the cockles of an old mans heart!!! Lovely way into 2013!!
Why do those Chapman seats squeak so much…and its much kinder on the knees without using the clutch.
Thanks, and Cheerio for now.
It’s the white plastic bushes in the ends of the scissors. The crack & split after a while and the seat starts to nod, fore & aft when the plastic drops out. I once took one to pieces to replace them - and instantly regretted it!!
I seem to recall that the clutch pedal on this very wagon used to squeak as well, which appears to be borne out in the footage.
the clutch travel is long on this truck? i think that is fitted with a borg and beck not the lipe, so it might be something to do with that, you seem to have a long way to go down. i also think that the remote box is in need of some work, or selector forks as it is stiff and hard to feel into gear.
It’s a bit like poking a stick at a hornet’s nest when you have a situation like this. You start looking into a problem like a stiff gearchange and it could end up being something rather more expensive and serious. I can’t remember whether the RT-610 has a clutch brake - I know the 9509s did. If it has, it might be worth investigating this. Also, has the gearbox oil been changed lately?
marky:
It’s a bit like poking a stick at a hornet’s nest when you have a situation like this. You start looking into a problem like a stiff gearchange and it could end up being something rather more expensive and serious. I can’t remember whether the RT-610 has a clutch brake - I know the 9509s did. If it has, it might be worth investigating this. Also, has the gearbox oil been changed lately?
it is not my truck but i no that the first atki’s with the 205 did not have the lipe, only the 230 ■■■■■■■■ (so the book says), but they did fit a clutch brake to the later 205 /220 and i no there is no clutch brake in there. it has had a newer box fitted since andy owened the truck and it is a RTO610. the oil will not have done many miles since it was changed, so i am unsure what is just rong?
Driver error? 
marky:
Saviem:
road-ranger:
■■■■■■■ 205 power.Now that warms the cockles of an old mans heart!!! Lovely way into 2013!!
Why do those Chapman seats squeak so much…and its much kinder on the knees without using the clutch.
Thanks, and Cheerio for now.
It’s the white plastic bushes in the ends of the scissors. The crack & split after a while and the seat starts to nod, fore & aft when the plastic drops out. I once took one to pieces to replace them - and instantly regretted it!!
I seem to recall that the clutch pedal on this very wagon used to squeak as well, which appears to be borne out in the footage.
Those Chapman seats were crap,both Atki and ERF used them and I could only put it down to cost,compared to the UOP Bostrom.We changed all our Chapman seats for Bostroms and had a few built with them from new,ERF were the worst to deal with regarding the poxy Chapmans,I once took a 6 month old “A” series back to Middlewich Service centre with the seat dropping in bits and they still wanted to argue ! They maintained that the Chapman seats had been tested to destruction with 26stone on them !!I think the night driver weighed 16/17 stone but after they reluctantly agreed to fit a new Bostrom we never had another problem.I asked them why was it that Scania and later Volvo fitted Bostrom as standard equipment! Answer,El Silencio !! Cheers Bewick.
The first suspended seat I used was a Chapman in an Atki and I thought it was the dog’s doo-dahs.
Until I tried a Bostrom!