Got a call on Sun afternoon, can we move the 2.5 ton mobile control unit back from Aldershot to Southampton. Normally done with dad's 2.8TDI Pajero no problem but its off the road.
When questioned what they have to use instead, we get told they have a Nice Defender 110 V8 4.5 EFI Ambulance, so off we trot hapilly.
Get there and I realise that its not a defender and its not a 4.5 EFI. Its a 3.5 V8 110 with a huge pod on the truck bed. Thinking that is should still work we carry on. Eventually all 8 cylinders fire in a big cloud of smopke and its the least healthy sounding v8 I have ever heard. Once the choke is in its not too bad. Then it goes on the road
45MPH tops, the ambulance body makes it wallow like a double decker and anything bigger than a mini going past throws it all over the shop. Its the most interesting sounding gearbox have ever come accross, changing gear was like stirring a bucket of bricks and it seems to default to 4th or reverse.
With 2.5 Ton of trailer on theback, forget it, did 5 miles and left it at their HQ to be someone else's problem.
Its a great looking bus, just needs some TLC I think. Gearbox is definately going the way of the dinosaurs. Four were built by Landrover Special Vehicles and I think this and one other are the only two left, both belong to St Johns and are still front line capable veichles.
More
here
