Chris Webb:
marky:
Trev_H:
IF we get positive proof of this Guy, can we look for a Foden with a Detroit diesel next?
Or a Foden with a Leyland O.680?
Or a Scania 80 with a V8 - just for Harry?
hiya,
Thanks for that Chris i think i might have a go in one of them, it did have a decent shed it was the running gear that let it down, oh’ and a decent cab light so it was’nt all bad, just the main part of it.
thanks harry long retired.
roadtransport.com/blogs/big- … .html#more
are they any help?
marky:
Trev_H:
IF we get positive proof of this Guy, can we look for a Foden with a Detroit diesel next?Or a Foden with a Leyland O.680?
Hiya… Foden man… from leek has a micky mouse 8 legger with a 680 under the bonnet.
John
3300John:
marky:
Trev_H:
IF we get positive proof of this Guy, can we look for a Foden with a Detroit diesel next?Or a Foden with a Leyland O.680?
Hiya… Foden man… from leek has a micky mouse 8 legger with a 680 under the bonnet.
John
The Leyland 680 was an optional fitting in a Foden throughout the 1960’s, we had one at Tilcon, my parts book lists the special repair tools for the engine.
Pete.
I know it was - Malcolm Sample has restored a tractor unit which was supplied with one from Elworth.
I was just waiting for someone to pour scorn on the liklihood - which may still happen…
3 Comments
By gyles Carpenter on January 16, 2010 7:12 AM | Reply Superb shot mate, thanks for posting!
By Richard Stanier on January 16, 2010 7:18 PM | Reply I believe that Guy did indeed put a Gardner straight eight 240 into a Big J chassis. I know several former Guy employees have mentioned it to me in the past, and I have just phoned one of them - Phil Rogers - to confirm. Phil says he remembers 37 of these units being ordered and he saw them being assembled on the track. He recalls how short the propshaft was in a 9’ 6" wheelbase chassis.
The thing with Big Js is that they fitted so many engines that most variations were done at some point, from AEC to Leyland 400 and 500 series, all manner of Gardners, ■■■■■■■ 12 and 14 litres and V6 and V8s, Naturally aspirated and turbocharged Rolls Royces and Perkins V8s.
By Michael J. Ponsonby BA on July 2, 2010 10:49 AM | Reply Hi Brian,
Yes I agree with Richard Stanier, for I too have seen a Guy Big J 4x2 tractor unit with a Gardner 8LXB engine fitted. As with all other UK Mfrs, it had 2 or more cylinders hanging out the rear of the day cab and for all the world looked like it was genuinely a Rain Cooled Diesel Engine.
Kind Regards
Mike Ponsonby BA
Taken from Big Lorry Blog.
he still won,t believe you
loader8:
he still won,t believe you
He believes it alright,but he is strong willed character,who won’t admit to getting wrong .
Cheers Dave.
i don,t know why you are so interested in the 240,s this is an even rarer motor as far as smiths go.
its the only 290 ■■■■■■■ they had,i got caught doing 69 at lockerbie with this one when it was still 40mph on the 74.
It’s Dennis thats interested in the 240 in the Guy Big J,the rest of us have got other threads,this one is Dennis baby.
Cheers Dave.
Bewick:
Bender:
Do you know I can’t help thinking (as a newcomer here) that if/when these pictures and solid proof do appear there will be something missing from this site, a bit like discovering the truth abut Santa, or the tooth fairy.People will be talking about the ‘good old days’…
Yea but you can also claim to be an “old 'and” "Bender"as you can remember the earlier Bewick years,fair play they only tret you as a “grease monkey” but nevertheless you were there looking after my interests at the “other end” like!!!I’m not going to say on the Thread that you made a balls of it!!! But they didn’t take a lot of notice of you did they? Well I suppose you were only 14 at the time!!! having not had a lot on to-day I’ve sorted out another 500/600 photos better than what I’ve been putting on the thread up to date IMO.One of them shows TEC204m without its bumper while it was away being chromium plated! None of our lads at Milnthorpe were allowed fancy bumpers! Cheers Dennis.
I think the Gravesend drivers noticed if I wasn’t there…
I remember seeing TEC 204M for the first time at Corley services on a Sunday changeover, it didn’t have the bumper on as you say, but I remember that first ride home, and how the cab had that ‘new’ smell to it. I look forward to seeing the pics.
Trev_H:
IF we get positive proof of this Guy, can we look for a Foden with a Detroit diesel next?
flickr.com/photos/37322606@N … 591289155/
A foden with a Detroit Diesel
Dave the Renegade:
3 Comments
By gyles Carpenter on January 16, 2010 7:12 AM | Reply Superb shot mate, thanks for posting!By Richard Stanier on January 16, 2010 7:18 PM | Reply I believe that Guy did indeed put a Gardner straight eight 240 into a Big J chassis. I know several former Guy employees have mentioned it to me in the past, and I have just phoned one of them - Phil Rogers - to confirm. Phil says he remembers 37 of these units being ordered and he saw them being assembled on the track. He recalls how short the propshaft was in a 9’ 6" wheelbase chassis.
The thing with Big Js is that they fitted so many engines that most variations were done at some point, from AEC to Leyland 400 and 500 series, all manner of Gardners, ■■■■■■■ 12 and 14 litres and V6 and V8s, Naturally aspirated and turbocharged Rolls Royces and Perkins V8s.
By Michael J. Ponsonby BA on July 2, 2010 10:49 AM | Reply Hi Brian,
Yes I agree with Richard Stanier, for I too have seen a Guy Big J 4x2 tractor unit with a Gardner 8LXB engine fitted. As with all other UK Mfrs, it had 2 or more cylinders hanging out the rear of the day cab and for all the world looked like it was genuinely a Rain Cooled Diesel Engine.
Kind Regards
Mike Ponsonby BATaken from Big Lorry Blog.
At last it appears that a “start at square one” suggestion has been made! I.E. someone from the factory is re-calling the fact that “someone” ordered 37 8LXBs,fair enough! But I wonder over what period they were to be delivered? I definitely find it hard to envisage that Guy could have persuaded Gardner to build/supply 37 8LXBs in one hit when their main customers Atki/ERF/Foden were permanently on their backs for as many engines as could be supplied!Remember that the Gardner production line was “hand build”.IIRC it was explained to me that Gardners allocated “so many pistons” to a particular customer in a given period and he ordered them up as engines in what ever configuration he required.I can’t think that ERF or Atki would pull that much weight at Gardner’s that they could get 37 8LXBs in one hit!! I will stand humbly corrected if I’m wrong though! "they seek it here, they seek it there,they seek the Big J 8 everywhere"Cheers Dennis.
loader8:
i don,t know why you are so interested in the 240,s this is an even rarer motor as far as smiths go.
its the only 290 ■■■■■■■ they had,i got caught doing 69 at lockerbie with this one when it was still 40mph on the 74.
The 240 was a rare bird in the Big J and I was quite partial to running a few 8LXBs at Bewick Transport.On the other hand the 290 ■■■■■■■ needed a fuel tanker following behind! and at 69 mph it would need a super tanker!!! Sorry “loader8” but I needed a 290 ■■■■■■■ like a hole in the “heed”!!! I have never said "there is no such thing as a Guy Big J /LXB 240! All I asked for was a photo of one because I’d never seen one,like a lot of others on the thread.But the whole episode has taken on a life of its own,and you have popped up and stirred the smouldering embers up until they’er raging again!!! Cheers Bewick.
atkidave:
Trev_H:
IF we get positive proof of this Guy, can we look for a Foden with a Detroit diesel next?flickr.com/photos/37322606@N … 591289155/
A foden with a Detroit Diesel
Hey thanks for that Atkidave, thought I’d try for something rare, I know little about Fodens but in the late 80’s i remember one pulling alongside me at traffic lights on the east lancs rd. When it took off it had that distinct DD sound, twin stacks at the back of the cab and wondered if it was a factory job.
I was just fishing ! this thread has amazed me and given me some laughs
Its kind of difficult to know who’s serious and who’s taking the pee isn’t it.
Bewick:
loader8:
i don,t know why you are so interested in the 240,s this is an even rarer motor as far as smiths go.
its the only 290 ■■■■■■■ they had,i got caught doing 69 at lockerbie with this one when it was still 40mph on the 74.The 240 was a rare bird in the Big J and I was quite partial to running a few 8LXBs at Bewick Transport.On the other hand the 290 ■■■■■■■ needed a fuel tanker following behind! and at 69 mph it would need a super tanker!!! Sorry “loader8” but I needed a 290 ■■■■■■■ like a hole in the “heed”!!! I have never said "there is no such thing as a Guy Big J /LXB 240! All I asked for was a photo of one because I’d never seen one,like a lot of others on the thread.But the whole episode has taken on a life of its own,and you have popped up and stirred the smouldering embers up until they’er raging again!!! Cheers Bewick.
Genuine photo of a Guy Big J with a Gardner 240 engine,purchased of Chaddsley Commercials of Kidderminster.
If only Gardner would have put a turbo on the 6 cylinder around 10 years earlier we wouldnt have this thread cos there`d be no 8lxb,the 320 Gardner i had in a 1986 Foden was a fine machine 
ramone:
If only Gardner would have put a turbo on the 6 cylinder around 10 years earlier we wouldnt have this thread cos there`d be no 8lxb,the 320 Gardner i had in a 1986 Foden was a fine machine
And Dennis wouldn’t have worn his typing finger out .
Trev_H:
atkidave:
Trev_H:
IF we get positive proof of this Guy, can we look for a Foden with a Detroit diesel next?flickr.com/photos/37322606@N … 591289155/
A foden with a Detroit Diesel
Hey thanks for that Atkidave, thought I’d try for something rare, I know little about Fodens but in the late 80’s i remember one pulling alongside me at traffic lights on the east lancs rd. When it took off it had that distinct DD sound, twin stacks at the back of the cab and wondered if it was a factory job.
I was just fishing ! this thread has amazed me and given me some laughs
Its kind of difficult to know who’s serious and who’s taking the pee isn’t it.
You probably know a foreman off the production Trev and are just keeping him under wraps 'til we’ve had enough! then you’ll wheel him out and give us chapter and verse on the subject! Dennis.
Bewick:
loader8:
i don,t know why you are so interested in the 240,s this is an even rarer motor as far as smiths go.
its the only 290 ■■■■■■■ they had,i got caught doing 69 at lockerbie with this one when it was still 40mph on the 74.The 240 was a rare bird in the Big J and I was quite partial to running a few 8LXBs at Bewick Transport.On the other hand the 290 ■■■■■■■ needed a fuel tanker following behind! and at 69 mph it would need a super tanker!!! Sorry “loader8” but I needed a 290 ■■■■■■■ like a hole in the “heed”!!! I have never said "there is no such thing as a Guy Big J /LXB 240! All I asked for was a photo of one because I’d never seen one,like a lot of others on the thread.But the whole episode has taken on a life of its own,and you have popped up and stirred the smouldering embers up until they’er raging again!!! Cheers Bewick.
Dennis, the 290’s in the BRS big j’s were even thirstier than one s fitted to ERF, Sed atki etc. these engines were an early version American ■■■■■■■ with a lot bigger turbo out on the catwalk, 6mpg was on an economy drive , night drivers could get them down to 4mpg but at 69 mph they were ticking over, they were very high geared, top gear was a struggle below 50mph and were still pulling when they went off the clock !
People who say Guys never had a heater are wrong, the ones with ■■■■■■■ engines in worked really well, in the Gardner versions the temp gauge never got off the bottom in the winter, even with the rad blanked off and were bloody freezing.
