TECHNICAL REVIEW Truck engineering gets more
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sophisticated continued from page 45 vehicle as on the Volvo F88. The ZF company is strongly in favour of synchromesh gearboxes and the competition between this type and the constant-mesh system is intense. The use of two-speed axles is now mainly centred on the middleweight range.
Vulnerable radiator
In the on/ off road area of operation the Soviet-built Belaz and the recently announced Volvo NIO are in contrast when it comes to detail design. Considering the tough on-site conditions that the Belaz will have to cope with, I am amazed at the vulnerable location of the oil radiator behind the rudimentary front grille.
The 5 to 6 tons gvw area is mainly catered for by Fiat, Daimler-Benz and Ford. The Fiat 0M55 operates at 5.5 tonnes powered by a 64kW (85 bhp) engine while the equivalent Mercedes, available at 5.7 or 6.5 tonnes uses a unit of similar power. The addition to the Aseries range from Ford grosses 6.3 tonnes and the show -model features a particularly handsome Luton body in polished aluminium by Coachwork Conversions on a 3.96m (13ft) wheelbase.