kmills:
re the RHD F89’s in oz gear linkage —bear in mind that everything here in Oz at that time was fitted with a Fuller road ranger gearbox - might have made all the
difference■■?This is not 100% true,some Roadrangers would have been fitted,but most probably after the Volvo box had given up. They would have been fitted with SR61’s,Volvo’s 16 speed box.
Here’s some pics of a R/H drive Aussie spec G89,showing the gear stick linkage and throttle linkages
Here’s a pic of a L/H drive UK spec F89 motor and gearbox,showing the air filter.
And here’s a better view of the rear of the cab on the G89.
Now notice the position of the air cleaner housing on the G89,it’s above the air tanks under the L/H side of the cab. With axle being set forward there is now space to mount it there. The air stack has also been moved to the L/H side as per a G88 or F88. Because the air filter has been moved from the R/H side of the motor as it is on the F89 there is space to sneek the gear stick linkage down the side of the engine.
I believe that after looking over a G89 and pictures of a F89 that that’s all it took to make the G89 R/H drive. The motor is still on a lean to the right the same as an F89. This seams to be a very simple modification,I realize that the air cleaner would have to be remote mounted on a F89 behind the cab,as it couldn’t be fitted under the cab,but this is no biggie.
It amazes me that Volvo Sweden didn’t carry out this modification to the F89,the Aussies fingered it out no worries.
My thoughts on this are.
The Aussies only got the 240 horse G88 and the 330 house G89,which were both assembled in Queensland. They didn’t get the 290 horse engine option as fitted to the UK spec F88. Although I believe 50 290 F88’s were imported into Australia,but these are a bit of a mystery. They needed to convert theirs in to R/H drive,they wouldn’t have sold any if they didn’t
I reckon that Volvo Sweden had developed the R/H drive 290 horse F88 and could sell these in the UK as an option instead of the F89. Most operators would choose the R/H drive F88 over a left ■■■■■■ F89. Volvo would have sold plenty of F89’s in mainland Europe,so there was no need for them to convert the F89 into R/H drive.
What are your thoughts?
Cheers Jamie
