Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

crossingpoint · Joined: 20 Jun 2011 Posts: 8

hi, does anyone know which make of diesel engine was fitted to this underfloor-engined van?

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4759 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Hi
Dennis made their own engines for a lot of their vehicles.

The Pelican (nb a Bird name) bus chassis which was also fitted with an underfloor engine had a 5.5 ltr 6cyl Dennis engine.
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

crossingpoint · Joined: 20 Jun 2011 Posts: 8

Did the Stork have 2/3rd of a Pelican engine perhaps? It seems amazing that it would be worth producing a dedicated engine for a commercial built in such small numbers.

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4759 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Hi
The info I found was from a small book about a Guildford independent bus company (YBS) who had a Pelican when I was still at school down there.

The Dennis society site and Dennis wiki pages don't give any further info on the Stork other than that there was a model with that name.

Maybe secretary at dennissociety.org.uk woulld be able to help.

replace at with @ of course.
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

steaming · Joined: 23 Dec 2011 Posts: 3

This lorry had a Perkins P4 diesel modified to be semi horizontal rather than vertical. A special sump was fitted and I recall an extra oil distribution pipe in the rocker cover to ensure the valve stems and springs were lubricated. Probably some other mods but I cannot remember them.
The engine was mounted under floor between the chassis rails and roughly half way between the axles.
Why isn't my recall better? Because I have not seen one for sixty years.

crossingpoint · Joined: 20 Jun 2011 Posts: 8

Thanks for the info, I think your powers of recollection are pretty impressive.
Do you know if the Stork sold in any quantity? It must have been one of the most space efficient vehicles of the time.

steaming · Joined: 23 Dec 2011 Posts: 3

I think the numbers were fairly small despite the advantages of a low flat floor. I worked for Perkins as a service engineer in the early 1950's and I only came across one.

pigtin · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 1879 Location: Herne Bay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1952-1953-DENNIS-STORK-DIESEL-BROCHURE-CATALOG-BOOK-/110176316167

Don't know if this may help?
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Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL

steaming · Joined: 23 Dec 2011 Posts: 3

The Surrey County Council archives have a drawing of the horizontal Perkins P4 engine fitted to the Stork. However I cannot work out how to access the drawing. Jim.