Lilladan:
the AEC was the non turbo AV 691 11.3 liter , but also was a derated version 11.3 liter 2AV690 for the Dumptruk the Leyland 0.690 turbo was 11.1 liter , yes the roller had sodium cooled hollow valves and could be refaced as normal but only disposed of at end of life in a large water tank because of the danger of sodium escape to air , so dropping a valve( like the Scania`s did )could be dangerous on a Rolls Royce , at 30 to 48 ton in Denmark the Ergo beaver was known for (in English miles ) fan mountings , clutches , at 80 000 miles head gaskets , at 120 000 - 150 000 miles pistons and liners , clutches , temp gauge carpilary tube , oil seals rear axel and gearbox , gearbox failure , so about the same as a Mercedes - Benz of the day ! but the Leyland was much cheaper to buy and the spares very much cheaper and the Leylands back axel tough ,and the Leyland had brakes !
Leyland brakes were crap but I guess compared to a Merc…
Trev_H:
Lilladan:
the AEC was the non turbo AV 691 11.3 liter , but also was a derated version 11.3 liter 2AV690 for the Dumptruk the Leyland 0.690 turbo was 11.1 liter , yes the roller had sodium cooled hollow valves and could be refaced as normal but only disposed of at end of life in a large water tank because of the danger of sodium escape to air , so dropping a valve( like the Scania`s did )could be dangerous on a Rolls Royce , at 30 to 48 ton in Denmark the Ergo beaver was known for (in English miles ) fan mountings , clutches , at 80 000 miles head gaskets , at 120 000 - 150 000 miles pistons and liners , clutches , temp gauge carpilary tube , oil seals rear axel and gearbox , gearbox failure , so about the same as a Mercedes - Benz of the day ! but the Leyland was much cheaper to buy and the spares very much cheaper and the Leylands back axel tough ,and the Leyland had brakes !
Leyland brakes were crap but I guess compared to a Merc…
Well Leyland had no brakes on UK 1950s models (vacuum type) ..but in 1960s came the air brake versions and Comet and Beaver /Hippo had very good brakes , as you say Merc`s … no brakes 
The extra two cooling pipe rows was a popular modification in Israel also with the smaller rad UK models. Israeli assembled Super Beavers and Super Hippos had the large Buffalo rad as below (pic: I. Haramaty); GRP cab and wings were locally developed and built. Allowing the smaller radiator models to get to places like the Middle East, Africa and Oz was typical of the mind-numbing imbecility of the powers-that-were at Leyland. We had the 680, 680 Poweplus and 690 and either Leyland’s own strangely-ratioed 6sp box + splitter or the Wilson 5sp, but people fitted Mack Duplexes and Fuller RRs in them. Chassis and axles were indestructible, engines so-so. But with local import discount those were the cheapest on the market and did a reasonable job.
