Suttons Tony:
Hy Bewick, if you look on the “Sales Brochures” entry, page 1 on the ERF “A” series brochure you will see the cover on the 8 LXB engined motor which ERF calls the fire screen and on the 6 LXB engined ERF you will see that the engine do’es not protrude at the rear of the cab. If you go to Bill Clowes excellent site and go to the Guy page you will see at the bottom a Gardner 240 (8 LXB) engined Guy Big J…Tony.
Hello Tony how are you to-day ? I’ve had a look at the two sites you mentioned – thanks !! I can see the ERF A series was fire screened we had identical tractors in the fleet that didn’t need Fire regs so came without screens ! However the Big Js (180LXBs) came with rear engine covers same ( identical) as the ones on the SOM photos !! I wish we could get a rear shot of the Moss & Lovatt tractor YRE600S and we could see how far the engine stuck out at the back !! this particular tractor would certainly appear to have been a bit special with a reg. no. 600S and I think it will have been one of the final chassis built by Guy with it being on an “S” plate !! Pity we couldn’t get the tractors history . We ran a number of differen’t chassis with Gardner 8LXBs , ERF A&B series ,Atkinson Borderers & Sed Atkys and none of them came with engine covers and the 8LXB was stuck well out the back further than the Big J s cover !! Unless of course Tone you are winding me up and you really know that 600S has just been Badge Engineered and is actually fitted with an AEC 505 engine !!! ( only joking mate ) I am sure we’ll get to the bottom of it or I am going to loose the will to live !! Cheers Bewick.
Hiya …The Moss and Lovatt guy is a 180 it just been rebuilt in memory of David Edwards(Director of Moss and Lovatt) who passed away suddenly a few months ago.The chap doing the restoration is Steve Barlow who has the A series ERF in Moss and Lovatt livery and is their mechanic.
Steve is halfway through doing a 180 Borderer of his own.
Thanks John I’ve just got down off the chair and took the noose off !! Right were’s Tony ?
Suttons Tony:
Hy Bewick, if you look on the “Sales Brochures” entry, page 1 on the ERF “A” series brochure you will see the cover on the 8 LXB engined motor which ERF calls the fire screen and on the 6 LXB engined ERF you will see that the engine do’es not protrude at the rear of the cab. If you go to Bill Clowes excellent site and go to the Guy page you will see at the bottom a Gardner 240 (8 LXB) engined Guy Big J…Tony.
Hello Tony how are you to-day ? I’ve had a look at the two sites you mentioned – thanks !! I can see the ERF A series was fire screened we had identical tractors in the fleet that didn’t need Fire regs so came without screens ! However the Big Js (180LXBs) came with rear engine covers same ( identical) as the ones on the SOM photos !! I wish we could get a rear shot of the Moss & Lovatt tractor YRE600S and we could see how far the engine stuck out at the back !! this particular tractor would certainly appear to have been a bit special with a reg. no. 600S and I think it will have been one of the final chassis built by Guy with it being on an “S” plate !! Pity we couldn’t get the tractors history . We ran a number of differen’t chassis with Gardner 8LXBs , ERF A&B series ,Atkinson Borderers & Sed Atkys and none of them came with engine covers and the 8LXB was stuck well out the back further than the Big J s cover !! Unless of course Tone you are winding me up and you really know that 600S has just been Badge Engineered and is actually fitted with an AEC 505 engine !!! ( only joking mate ) I am sure we’ll get to the bottom of it or I am going to loose the will to live !! Cheers Bewick.
Hiya …The Moss and Lovatt guy is a 180 it just been rebuilt in memory of David Edwards(Director of Moss and Lovatt) who passed away suddenly a few months ago.The chap doing the restoration is Steve Barlow who has the A series ERF in Moss and Lovatt livery and is their mechanic.
Steve is halfway through doing a 180 Borderer of his own.
Thanks John I’ve just got down off the chair and took the noose off !! Right were’s Tony ?
I think Jonny wheedon had that guy and the badge come of a Harrisons A series The guy been rebuilt(LAST 6 YEARS)Has a almost new cab to go on it.
Steve is a mate of mine I’'ll see if i can get a photo.
JOHN
The 2 Guys we had at BRS W-ton in 77 from Guy motors were R reg (AWL857R & 858 R) and were made from some of the last spares, They had 180’s fitted with a 9speed fuller and proper power steering (not the air assisted type) with that rear engine cover fitted. 2years later we had about 15 delivered on T reg’s (RUD—T) but these had been stood for well over 2yrs before being registered had the old brown box and converted air assisted steering (awful !). There is also a B reg on that photo site that says it has no history, but I believe that was bought by Fordhouse transport of Wolverhampton and never registered, when they ceased trading Thomas Ingles transport bought it and had the sleeper fitted to it and registered it in 84. I reguarly went into Guy motors for spares and went to college with a lot of the Guy apprentices and got to see a lot of one off builds they made. Now I am not saying that they never fitted a 240 gardner in one but I never saw one.
I’m not saying it is impossible either after all they shoehorned 335 &350 ■■■■■■■ as well as the Rolls 265/280 eagles in them, seemed to me as Bewick stated that they were the poor relations of the BL group and fitted whatever they could get their hands on.
Trev_H:
The 2 Guys we had at BRS W-ton in 77 from Guy motors were R reg (AWL857R & 858 R) and were made from some of the last spares, They had 180’s fitted with a 9speed fuller and proper power steering (not the air assisted type) with that rear engine cover fitted. 2years later we had about 15 delivered on T reg’s (RUD—T) but these had been stood for well over 2yrs before being registered had the old brown box and converted air assisted steering (awful !). There is also a B reg on that photo site that says it has no history, but I believe that was bought by Fordhouse transport of Wolverhampton and never registered, when they ceased trading Thomas Ingles transport bought it and had the sleeper fitted to it and registered it in 84. I reguarly went into Guy motors for spares and went to college with a lot of the Guy apprentices and got to see a lot of one off builds they made. Now I am not saying that they never fitted a 240 gardner in one but I never saw one.
I’m not saying it is impossible either after all they shoehorned 335 &350 ■■■■■■■ as well as the Rolls 265/280 eagles in them, seemed to me as Bewick stated that they were the poor relations of the BL group and fitted whatever they could get their hands on.
Yow am orite Trev ? Thanks a bunch for the info on Guys !! Our BigJs had 180LXBs and one had ram power steering but they all had the Thorneycroft 6spd gearbox ( I didn’t realise they ever fitted the DB 6spd ) But I wish I could have got the the Fuller behind the Gardner !! We had an ERF A series 180LXB with a Fuller 609 box and it was a cracking little motor performed far better than the ones with the DB 6 spd !! Pity you couldn’t dig out one of those former Guy apprentices I bet they could shed some light on this discussion !! Cheers Bewick.
Regarding different engines fitted to Guy’s, I remember Critchlows of Stoke fitting a turbo to a 180 before Gardner themselves tried it.
After a couple of trips to Scotstoun loaded with Albion axles I asked the driver (len ■■) what it went like, his reply had me in stitches,
"It goes crp like any other 180 except it bl**y whistles "
I think Guy and Seddon was slightly cheeper to buy than ERF/Foden/Atkinson.also off the shelf they would fit watever was going at the right price
Where ERF/FODEN/ ATKINSON was a Build to order.I know Longton Motors would have new trucks on the forcourt for sale to any one.Where if you wanted a ERF you had a few months wait in the seventies, unless you could get a back order In 1972/3 you had hell trying to get a 240 in a ERF/ATKINSON.
where you could get a 270/290 Rolls in a Guy/Seddon easly
John
3300John:
I think Guy and Seddon was slightly cheeper to buy than ERF/Foden/Atkinson.also off the shelf they would fit watever was going at the right price
Where ERF/FODEN/ ATKINSON was a Build to order.I know Longton Motors would have new trucks on the forcourt for sale to any one.Where if you wanted a ERF you had a few months wait in the seventies, unless you could get a back order In 1972/3 you had hell trying to get a 240 in a ERF/ATKINSON.
where you could get a 270/290 Rolls in a Guy/Seddon easly
John
You are dead right there John I remember in 1973 having to pay list price for an ■■■■■■■ engined Atky borderer with 6spd DB box & Seddon Group axle ( what a load of crap ) Plus I had to give the dealer £250 on top of the list !! We double shifted it for 18 months and got rid !! Bewick.
3300John:
I think Guy and Seddon was slightly cheeper to buy than ERF/Foden/Atkinson.also off the shelf they would fit watever was going at the right price
Where ERF/FODEN/ ATKINSON was a Build to order.I know Longton Motors would have new trucks on the forcourt for sale to any one.Where if you wanted a ERF you had a few months wait in the seventies, unless you could get a back order In 1972/3 you had hell trying to get a 240 in a ERF/ATKINSON.
where you could get a 270/290 Rolls in a Guy/Seddon easly
John
You are dead right there John I remember in 1973 having to pay list price for an ■■■■■■■ engined Atky borderer with 6spd DB box & Seddon Group axle ( what a load of crap ) Plus I had to give the dealer £250 on top of the list !! We double shifted it for 18 months and got rid !! Bewick.
Whats happened to all the Guy fans and the old SOM drivers have they died or hibernated maybe !! Bewick
3300John:
I think Guy and Seddon was slightly cheeper to buy than ERF/Foden/Atkinson.also off the shelf they would fit watever was going at the right price
Where ERF/FODEN/ ATKINSON was a Build to order.I know Longton Motors would have new trucks on the forcourt for sale to any one.Where if you wanted a ERF you had a few months wait in the seventies, unless you could get a back order In 1972/3 you had hell trying to get a 240 in a ERF/ATKINSON.
where you could get a 270/290 Rolls in a Guy/Seddon easly
John
You are dead right there John I remember in 1973 having to pay list price for an ■■■■■■■ engined Atky borderer with 6spd DB box & Seddon Group axle ( what a load of crap ) Plus I had to give the dealer £250 on top of the list !! We double shifted it for 18 months and got rid !! Bewick.
Whats happened to all the Guy fans and the old SOM drivers have they died or hibernated maybe !! Bewick
Hi Dennis,
They are all out looking for a Guy Big J,with a 8LXB .
Cheers Dave.
3300John:
I think Guy and Seddon was slightly cheeper to buy than ERF/Foden/Atkinson.also off the shelf they would fit watever was going at the right price
Where ERF/FODEN/ ATKINSON was a Build to order.I know Longton Motors would have new trucks on the forcourt for sale to any one.Where if you wanted a ERF you had a few months wait in the seventies, unless you could get a back order In 1972/3 you had hell trying to get a 240 in a ERF/ATKINSON.
where you could get a 270/290 Rolls in a Guy/Seddon easly
John
You are dead right there John I remember in 1973 having to pay list price for an ■■■■■■■ engined Atky borderer with 6spd DB box & Seddon Group axle ( what a load of crap ) Plus I had to give the dealer £250 on top of the list !! We double shifted it for 18 months and got rid !! Bewick.
Whats happened to all the Guy fans and the old SOM drivers have they died or hibernated maybe !! Bewick
Hi Dennis,
They are all out looking for a Guy Big J,with a 8LXB .
Cheers Dave.
Yea Dave but they haven’t come up with one yet !! One of Smiths lads reckoned to have had one but some of his old hoppos reckon that claim is a bit suspect and even the ex BRS apprentice thought it was highly unlikley ! anyway I’ll keep my fingers crossed that one will turn up ! Maybe Andrew will dig one out and return it to its former glory !! Cheers Dennis.
If anyone’s out looking for a big j with an 8lxb, they’ll be out there a while. Did you ever see one with the early 290 ■■■■■■■■ in 1974 you could pass most things with one of those rockets, you could get as much as 5mpg , if you kept the speedo needle below the main beam warning light .
3300John:
I think Guy and Seddon was slightly cheeper to buy than ERF/Foden/Atkinson.also off the shelf they would fit watever was going at the right price
Where ERF/FODEN/ ATKINSON was a Build to order.I know Longton Motors would have new trucks on the forcourt for sale to any one.Where if you wanted a ERF you had a few months wait in the seventies, unless you could get a back order In 1972/3 you had hell trying to get a 240 in a ERF/ATKINSON.
where you could get a 270/290 Rolls in a Guy/Seddon easly
John
You are dead right there John I remember in 1973 having to pay list price for an ■■■■■■■ engined Atky borderer with 6spd DB box & Seddon Group axle ( what a load of crap ) Plus I had to give the dealer £250 on top of the list !! We double shifted it for 18 months and got rid !! Bewick.
Whats happened to all the Guy fans and the old SOM drivers have they died or hibernated maybe !! Bewick
Hi Dennis,
They are all out looking for a Guy Big J,with a 8LXB .
Cheers Dave.
Yea Dave but they haven’t come up with one yet !! One of Smiths lads reckoned to have had one but some of his old hoppos reckon that claim is a bit suspect and even the ex BRS apprentice thought it was highly unlikley ! anyway I’ll keep my fingers crossed that one will turn up ! Maybe Andrew will dig one out and return it to its former glory !! Cheers Dennis.
Only one’s I saw this way Dennis,had either Gardner 150 or 180 engines,Llanelli Steel who operated from the premises of a firm I drove for,had one with a ■■■■■■■ 220 in,which in 1970 was considered the dogs ■■■■■■■■ around our way.
Cheers Dave.
If anyone’s out looking for a big j with an 8lxb, they’ll be out there a while. Did you ever see one with the early 290 ■■■■■■■■ in 1974 you could pass most things with one of those rockets, you could get as much as 5mpg , if you kept the speedo needle below the main beam warning light .
Hi Trev, Don’t give me a nightmare !! I remember Sed-Atk putting a 6 mth demo 290 into our fleet in the late 70s— what an animal you needed a tanker following it !! Come on Trev can you shed any light on this Big J/8LXB fiasco and put some of us old lads out of our misery !! Cheers Bewick
3300John:
I think Guy and Seddon was slightly cheeper to buy than ERF/Foden/Atkinson.also off the shelf they would fit watever was going at the right price
Where ERF/FODEN/ ATKINSON was a Build to order.I know Longton Motors would have new trucks on the forcourt for sale to any one.Where if you wanted a ERF you had a few months wait in the seventies, unless you could get a back order In 1972/3 you had hell trying to get a 240 in a ERF/ATKINSON.
where you could get a 270/290 Rolls in a Guy/Seddon easly
John
You are dead right there John I remember in 1973 having to pay list price for an ■■■■■■■ engined Atky borderer with 6spd DB box & Seddon Group axle ( what a load of crap ) Plus I had to give the dealer £250 on top of the list !! We double shifted it for 18 months and got rid !! Bewick.
Whats happened to all the Guy fans and the old SOM drivers have they died or hibernated maybe !! Bewick
Hi Dennis,
They are all out looking for a Guy Big J,with a 8LXB .
Cheers Dave.
Yea Dave but they haven’t come up with one yet !! One of Smiths lads reckoned to have had one but some of his old hoppos reckon that claim is a bit suspect and even the ex BRS apprentice thought it was highly unlikley ! anyway I’ll keep my fingers crossed that one will turn up ! Maybe Andrew will dig one out and return it to its former glory !! Cheers Dennis.
Only one’s I saw this way Dennis,had either Gardner 150 or 180 engines,Llanelli Steel who operated from the premises of a firm I drove for,had one with a ■■■■■■■ 220 in,which in 1970 was considered the dogs ■■■■■■■■ around our way.
Cheers Dave.
Hi Dave finally got you roped in eh! yep the BigJ sure was an honest fleet motor although the drivers didn’t reckon much to them but they worked out at just over half price in their latter years when compared to the new generation of motors in the late 70s and a Big J on double shift was a very productive machine !! Dennis
sammyopisite:
Bewick they will be out there fitting one as they are so quiet
You stirring the pot Sammy !! Its like trying to find Rocking Horse D U N G for your garden but some of the lads are certain such Guys were built but I maintain they must have been using Easy Start on themselves and not their motor !! Cheers Bewick.
Well I did ask a mate who worked on Guys and has posted some pictures on the Guy motors site (he had one with a 280 rolls) and he said he had never seen one and doubted that it would go in. We had one ■■■■■■■ 290 unit that was off the road for 2 months waiting for a turbo, there was little clearance between the turbo, the exhaust stack and trailer headboard and with a set back king pin on full lock you could knock the turbo clean off ! This is what makes me wonder about the length of the 8lxb. Maybe they stretched the wheelbase for one who knows?
Trev_H:
Well I did ask a mate who worked on Guys and has posted some pictures on the Guy motors site (he had one with a 280 rolls) and he said he had never seen one and doubted that it would go in. We had one ■■■■■■■ 290 unit that was off the road for 2 months waiting for a turbo, there was little clearance between the turbo, the exhaust stack and trailer headboard and with a set back king pin on full lock you could knock the turbo clean off ! This is what makes me wonder about the length of the 8lxb. Maybe they stretched the wheelbase for one who knows?
Can you imagine Leylands letting Fallings Park tool up to stetch the Big J chassis to fit an engine they would find virtually impossible to source from the manufactures ? Well niether can I mate !! Bewick.
I don’t think Guys were ever that high tech ! They seemed to build trucks out of whatever parts came in through the gates, there was probably over 20 engine options depending on what they could lay their hands on
Trev_H:
Well I did ask a mate who worked on Guys and has posted some pictures on the Guy motors site (he had one with a 280 rolls) and he said he had never seen one and doubted that it would go in. We had one ■■■■■■■ 290 unit that was off the road for 2 months waiting for a turbo, there was little clearance between the turbo, the exhaust stack and trailer headboard and with a set back king pin on full lock you could knock the turbo clean off ! This is what makes me wonder about the length of the 8lxb. Maybe they stretched the wheelbase for one who knows?
Can you imagine Leylands letting Fallings Park tool up to stetch the Big J chassis to fit an engine they would find virtually impossible to source from the manufactures ? Well niether can I mate !! Bewick.
Steady up Bewick me old mate, you’ll have a cardiac arrest !!! have a pink gin !
I’ve asked Bubbleman, he who has pictures of absolutely everything, if he can look up a
Big J 240 8 cyl, a photo, and hopefully with a write up as proof. Told him blood will be shed if he doesn’t find one !!!
, if you kept the speedo needle below the main beam warning light 