P erkins' reworked 12.2-litre Eagle _ --- --.1 P erkins' reworked 12.2-litre Eagle
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_ -----.1 800 series engine came in as the most powerful of the five power options offered by Leyland Daf's 6x2 tractive unit, eight months before we tested it in 1987. The high torque of 1,555Nm (1,1471bft), produced low down at 1,100rpm, encouraged the use of high gearing to assist its fuel efficient performance. Our 20.35 equipped with the Interstate cab, about 600mm taller than the standard cab, returned 40.7 lit/100km (6.94mpg) at 71.9km/h (44.7mph) which was about average overall compared with similarly powered vehicles but it performed relatively better when the going got tougher. Uncharacteristically stiff lower gears of the Spicer SST 1410 gearbox proved a particular hindrance on the steeper hill climbs as well as in slow town traffic. Rear taper-leaf steel springs were fitted without air ever becoming an alternative and although mechanical suspension gave a controlled ride we felt that a choice would have increased the vehicle's appeal. Through necessity the exhaust is routed towards the front of the crowded twin-steer's chassis. With the silencer located behind the under bumper air darn, noise was reflected up towards the floor of the cab raising noise levels to around 78dB(A) inside the cab.