Thanks very much Mark I will give them a google and see what I can find
Interesting enough I have stumbled across a thread on "Truck Net" forum and there sure are some mixed feelings about Gardner engines but I guess that is common with all things 54 pages of mixed feelings on there LOL Im only up to page 15 and how shall I put it "there is some quite spirited discussion" it would appear that quality control was a problem near the end in the 80's but to be fare quality control was a real problem in just about everything in the 80's or at least thats the way I remember it.
Have learnt L 2 and L 3 was the engine size per cylinder L2 1.4 ltrs and L3 3 ltrs and all cast iron and they were boat motors
LW means lite weight and had the cast aluminium crank case for automotive use
LX was the same only a later model
the B and the C not really to sure what they mean but I think they were just later models of the same thing
C had different injector pumps ???? and no doubt other stuff as well
the 8 LXCT was 300 HP at around 888 foot pounds of torque which sounds like a bit of a goer to me
Interesting enough the Mack Maxidynes and Thermodynes always felt a bit gutless compared to a GM and Cummins BUT if you compare them over a trip they were just as quick most times quicker and fuel consumption was a lot better than a GM or Cummins GM and Cummins would round you up on the flat between hills but the Mack would eat them alive going up the hill
If you have a double decker stock crate or a Van trailer on and are pushing across big open country with no trees and a head wind the Mack eats them alive Im talking about a 300 Maxidyne or 320 Thermodyne compared to say a 8 92GM or a 400 Cummins
People say they lost out to the HP race I dont know about that for sure Mack in Australia 6 cylinders were only making 320 HP in the early 80's and 350 by the late 80's and still sold well
I think like most things there was a lot more at play than just Gardner motors getting behind in the power race they had to have trucks to put them in and with demise of the UK auto industry in full swing by then I guess never helped either
is this the L&H you are talking about Mark
http://www.lh-motorsltd.co.uk/ or maybe this one
http://www.lh-group.com/and I gather this the K&J you mentioned ???
http://www.kjservices.co.uk/machine-sales.aspxThanks very much for everyones help and input in my search to learn about straight 8 Gardners I have another 40 odd pages to read on truck net ????? waiting for rain so I can stop farming for a bit and sit down and read
Paul