One of Biglorryblog's old mates,Chris 'Mullos' Mullett, ex-pat Pom and now fully-embedded editor and publisher of PowerTorque and Delivery Magazines in Mittagong NSW has sent me these terrific shots of a beautifully restored Kaydubya. Chris tells Biglorryblog: "Thought you might like this shot of an immaculate 1969 Kenworth LW924 restored by Murray Langford of Mount Gambier in South Australia. The engine is a Detroit Diesel 12V71." And what a beauty it is. Now take a look at this interior too...gorgeous or what?
Chris goes on to say: "Murray found one of the original drivers and collected valuable photographs of the unit from its early days in work from 1969-1982. It was bought originally to tow crusher plants and other equipment and was rated at 100 tons GCW with a top speed of 50 mph. All in the current issue of PowerTorque Magazine of course!" Hey,was that a plug that just slipped in their Chris? Well you've earned it with these pictures so to find out more visit the PowerTorque website on http://www.powertorque.com.au/
Now click through herer fopr a picture of the man himself--that's Murray not Mullos!
Meanwhile, Mullos promises that "I'll send some engine pics separately. Read the Beardmore piece with interest and remember travelling in a Beardmore cab in London when very young. Cheers, Chris."
Pete Connock and I were lucky enough to meet up with Murray when we were filming in Mount Gambier a couple of years ago. He was working on the KW at the time (along with a variety of other gems) so it's great to know that it is finally completed. Well done Murray. Tasteful job! Chris, is that a 12515 gearbox?
I think that is a 13-speed, not a 15-speed, Martin. You can see the splitter control on the left side of the chrome gear knob. 15-speeds don't have a splitter, the ones of that era had 2 big pull-up, push-down knobs fastened to the gear lever with worm drive hoseclips, one for the range change and one for deep reduction. That knob to the left of the driver's seat looks like a Spicer gearchange knob, so it probably has a Spicer auxiliary box as well.
Vic's right - the main tranny is a Roadranger 13 speed with a Spicer 4 speed auxiliary, or "joey", box as we call them down under!