BUGA Community
General Category => Members Rides => Topic started by: Rogue Trooper on August 18, 2008, 11:25:04 AM
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Here is a blurb about my van. I've been a member here for sometime so I'm just transferring over my first email at the old site as it has most of the info about my van there already.
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Hi
My name is Al and I hail from Wellington, New Zealand. I have an 83 CF Bedford SWB and have owned it for around 16-17 years now. I went off on it with a hiss and a roar when I first got it but it has kind of languished for the past 12 years or so. As you can see from my avatar it has been somewhat modified. I have had this done myself as I bought the vehicle stock standard. I have finally decided to knuckle down and finish it so hopefully within the next year or so it should approach something resembling a final state.
I have read some of the posts here with great interest and have posted my first question in the brake section so if anyone is able to answer this for me or provide a little help I'd be very appreciative.
Thanks for viewing.
Al
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Thought I'd add a couple of pictures I took about a month ago when I started putting things back together again.
Here's a better view of the front...
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Vanb.jpg)
And here's a couple of the engine bay which now sits between the 2 front seats. This is a mid-mount 186 but as it's found to be seriously lacking this will be making way shortly for a new donk. You can see in the background that I've partially fitted a VK commodore dash as well but that is now making way also for something new and improved.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Bayfar.jpg)
And a close up....
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Bayclose.jpg)
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The engine is a 186 with a 149 head on it and a 2 barrel Holley attached. It drinks a lot of gas for not much result. I've decided to replace it with a 4.0L EL or AU Falcon motor with multi-point injection and I'll run it off a Link ECU. Plenty of torque and it'll run unleaded as well. I may have to trim the hole a little to make it fit but it won't be too far off.
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Dragged the van out today so here's a few more pics...
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Front.jpg) (http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Rear.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/SideRear.jpg) (http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Door.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Roof.jpg) (http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/SideFront.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/InsideRear.jpg) (http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash.jpg)
So I think you can see why I really want to finish this thing with the work that's been put in so far.
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This is the latest pic I had just before I pulled it all apart again...
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Front-2.jpg)
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great work Rouge, I like it ;D
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luv the body mods great job . Did you do it all yourself? 8)
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What car is that dash out of? Jd
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luv the body mods great job . Did you do it all yourself? 8)
Thanks. No I didn't do it all myself. I have 2 very clever mates, Phil and Rob who have helped me out a lot.
Rob has done most of the panel work as that is something that would just take me a month of Sundays to do and even then I wouldn't be happy. We've done labour swaps mostly. I told him what I wanted and he made it happen. Rob was involved in the NZ vanning scene himself through the late eighties. He owned a bedford called Conquistidor. By the way, it's all steel. Rob's an old-school panelbeater.
Phil helps me out with some of the specialised engineering jobs like creating the splines on the steering shaft for my EB steering column conversion and milling out the discs for the HQ conversion etc. Things that I just don't have the equipment for. We do the labour swap as well.
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What car is that dash out of? Jd
The dash is out of a VK commodore. I split it in the middle to extend it. I have done away with it since these photos were taken and am building my own. Just need to finish mounting the heater unit and blower and I can then start putting together the frame.
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How hard was it to wire in the vk dash?
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How hard was it to wire in the vk dash?
I did it as part of a complete rewire. How easy does that sound? ;)
Have completely stripped the wiring again so once I get the dash sorted out and the new donk in place it'll be complete rewire mk2! 8)
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There's nothing like ripping it all out and starting again now is there... I admire your method! :D hahahaha
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Rogue Trooper, do you have any photos that show your engine mounts ? I'm thinking about mid mounting a LD28 diesel.
Auda
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tried to post a mid mount photo for you but wouldn't upload ....upooad folder too big...it was 19kb ???
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You could email it to me bruce_mc_a@hotmail.com
Thanks
Auda
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Rogue Trooper, do you have any photos that show your engine mounts ? I'm thinking about mid mounting a LD28 diesel.
Auda
I'll put something together. The engine crossmember is out at the moment seeing as I have removed the engine so that makes it easy to take some photos. Might be a day or 2 as I'm pretty flat tack at the mo'.
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Here's a pic of my engine crossmember taken from the front. It bolts up to the old gearbox crossmember mounts.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/DSCF0014-1.jpg)
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did you make that up rouge trooper?? is that just tubing yeh? looks great.
have you got it engineered?
ben
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did you make that up rouge trooper?? is that just tubing yeh? looks great.
have you got it engineered?
ben
It was made up but not by me. I don't trust my welding for critical things like that.
The main cross member is upside down heavy gauge channel. Standard channel is easy to find. The upside down stuff is quite rare. ;)
The braces are boxsection and the mounting points where it bolts up to the gearbox mounts is heavy gauge flat.
If you mean by 'engineered' was it certified then yes.
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Thanks for the photo. I have found a problem with my idea though the motor and box are a bit too long, The drive shaft would only be around 500mm long. A bit short for my liking. Bugger !
Auda
P.S. Are you allowed to say that in Australia ? We can in NZ
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Thanks for the photo. I have found a problem with my idea though the motor and box are a bit too long, The drive shaft would only be around 500mm long. A bit short for my liking. Bugger !
Auda
P.S. Are you allowed to say that in Australia ? We can in NZ
I think it should be "BUGA" on this forum :D
Warren
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Thanks for the photo. I have found a problem with my idea though the motor and box are a bit too long, The drive shaft would only be around 500mm long. A bit short for my liking. Bugger !
Auda
P.S. Are you allowed to say that in Australia ? We can in NZ
Why is that a problem? Mine was only 750mm and I never had an issue.
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Just an update on progress. After giving up on the Fairmont dash due to space issues I have started building my own. Had a couple of things to do recently so the van has languished a bit but with the number of shitty days we've had over Xmas I got up a head of steam and have spent a few solid days on the van.
I have fitted two of the main components for the heater system. The blower unit on the left is fixed to the firewall and I have made and inserted through the firewall a new vent unit. It sits quite close to the bonnet in the engine bay and sucks air from the top to try and prevent water being sucked in if driving in the rain. The second part is the heater unit. I cut the floor and welded an insert into it to allow me to get the heater unit lower than I would have been able to otherwise. That is bolted nice and tightly to the firewall as well.
The next thing I did was to seperate the trans shifter off of the engine cover and build a cage. This is now bolted to the floor as well. Mounting it on the engine cover seemed like a good idea at the time but with use and maintenance it proved to be a major pain in the butt. Fixed now. It will also make it easier to incorporate it into the dash structure. You can see the Fairmont steering column all fitted up to the right. It's nice having a bit of adjustment to the steering position now.
Next things to do are to sort out some vents for the windscreen and fit those. Once that is done the hoses will all be made and fitted (I'm not looking forward to that). After that I will build a cross member that will bolt to either side of the van interior and this will form the main structure for bolting the dash structure to as well as creating another solid fixing point for the steering column bracket that is only currently fixed at the firewall.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/DSCF0018.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/DSCF0019-1.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/DSCF0020.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/DSCF0021.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/DSCF0022-1.jpg)
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Hi Rogue...You are enbarking on some serious mods there mate! Luv the photos. Cant wait to see what the dash will look like when youve finished....keep the pics comming...cheers..Johnno ;D
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Hey Rogue,
Nice work mate and great to see it progressing. Mines back on the road after a year in the garage and the modified interior is almost there. Will post some pics soon.
Hope to catch up and maybe check out your van when we come down the Wellington for the Nationals at Easter.
Keep up the great work.
Garry.
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Thanks guys. It'll get there one day I'm sure. I'm quite looking forward to seeing the dash finished myself ;) The weather has all perked up now so I've spending the time around the section. Giving me some time to think about how to go about the next stage.
Looking forward to seeing the show at Easter and you're more than welcome to pop up for a coffee Garry.
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Hi Rogue - great job - love the pics!! Could you post some pics of your Gull Wing side door set up ie: Hinge system and strut set up - i'd like some idea's on how hard this may be before i make the final decision! Cheers and keep up the great work.
Mezzmo
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Hey Mezzmo
This is the link to busy's site
might answer some of your q's
if not it is a bloody good read!
http://www.munchtech.com/bedford/van11.html (http://www.munchtech.com/bedford/van11.html)
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O.K A little irrelavent, but what gas struts are you guys using to support a side gull wing door???
Ours don't hold the door up!!!
Cheers Brian & Carole
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We used a large stainless steel piano hinge to suspend the door. Were a bit dubious at the time as to whether it would hold up but it has stood the test of time very well.
The gas struts are out of a Mitsubishi L300 but Toyota Hiace would do just as well. Bear in mind that the mounting angle of the struts is critical. If you mount them too low in the door frame the weight of the door will be too much. I think you can just see the angle mine are mounted in the last photo of my signature montage but I will try and take a few photos this afternoon for you.
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Thanks Rogue, look forward to seeing them - Hey Hotrod, you're right about busy's site, it does make a great read - still cant get my head around the hinge set up properly though - maybe its just me!!
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Alrighty then here are some pics...
This one shows the angle of the gas struts and how we mounted them. Note the recess in the side of the door to house the strut when then door is closed...
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/DSCF0019-2.jpg)
And here are a couple showing the piano hinge. The hinge is welded to the top of the door and then the other side of the hinge is screwed to the top of the door frame. Holes are tapped and hinge fastened up with 3/16 machine screws.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/DSCF0021-1.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/DSCF0022-2.jpg)
Hope that helps everyone. Let me know if you need more detail on something.
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hey rouge trooper dont you get annoyed lookin at your van off the road all the time?
ben
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Certainly do but then I can always just shut the garage door too!! ;D
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Well here's a bit of an update. Have had a few other priorities but have been spending some time in the garage when I can. Because everything is designed to be removable it takes a lot of time building brackets and mounts etc.
This first photo shows the windscreen vent panel I've made up. It takes a couple of VK Commodore plastic vents.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/DSCF0001.jpg)
This next one shows one of the vents and a bracket made up to fasten the steering box to the new dash main crossmember. The steering column doesn't move much anymore.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/DSCF0003.jpg)
Here you can see the bracket from hell. This holds the middle dash console to the floor. Discovered my floor isn't exactly straight so had to pack it at one end.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/DSCF0007.jpg)
And here's a shot showing what it all looks like so far. Doesn't look like much but it's sure taken a few hours.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/DSCF0002-1.jpg)
Now I have to work out what I'm going to do about instrumentation before I go any furthur as that is going to determine the finished shape of the top part of the dash. Have had a play around with a Falcon cluster and went on a field trip up to Pick-a-Part today and am now seriously leaning towards a seperate component setup similar to Joel's. Will probably work out more expensive but will give me a lot more flexibility in the long run.
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Wow Rogue...There is some serious welding effort in that frame work mate.! Keep up the good work ,its funny how sometimes i think "I'll just weld up a frame for that ,shouldnt take long" And there goes a day!!! cheers..johnno ;D ;D ;D
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brilliant work bro.. keep it up!!
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yep, looking good, nice work
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Thanks for the comments guys, much appreciated. It doesn't look like much now but hopefully there'll be something a bit more substantial with the next update. Once the main structure is done I'll go back through and tidy everything up patching holes in the firewall and sealing it all up.
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Hey Al,
Nice work mate. Coming along great. Great to catch up with you at the show in Lower Hutt and hope it enspired you to get her on the road. Good to finally be able to put a face to the name. We had an awesome time at the Nats and the show was a huge success. Over 1000 people through the doors so it all worked out well. Few results from the show re big vans. Best Big Van - Jeff's CF, Best Big Van Interior - Jeffs CF (I got 2nd Interior - wrapped with that), Peoples Choice - Vaughan's black CF. All up a great weekend and all had an awesome time.
You need to get that van on the road mate and come along for some fun. Next Nationals, Christchurch 2010. See you there. ;D ;D ;D
Garry.
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Hi Garry.
Yes, had a great time at the show myself. Certainly got the blood pumping.
I'd be absolutely chuffed if the van was going by Easter next year but I'm not holding my breath. Still stranger things have happened. Need to find that rich widow so I can chuck in work.
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Good stuff. When you find her let me know if she has a sister. I could do with being a kept man also.
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Well it's time for an update. Have got the passenger side framework in place. Was a bit disappointed that there won't be enough room for a glovebox but unfortunately with the fan blower unit in the way there just isn't enough room. I might build a pocket into the top part of the dash instead. I still have to build the top front portion but I can't do anything with that until I decide on what sort of vents are going to go in. That will dictate the shape of the curve.
The instrument panel is mounted and bolted securely down. Was very interesting getting the correct placing so that the instrments can be viewed without an obstructed view no matter the position of the steering column. It's also going to make the final dash shape a bit more interesting as well. You'll see what I mean when I get that far.
There's a bit more lateral thinking involved now too as I'm aiming to have none of the fastening bolts showing in the finished product. It's not as easy as it sounds as it all needs to be easily accessible as well for ease of dismantling the dash in the event of a problem.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/DSCF0006.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/DSCF0011-1.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/DSCF0008.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/DSCF0013-1.jpg)
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looking really good rogue , looking forward to seeing it finished. the time and effort pays off in the end , ade.
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Hey Rouge....Great pics mate. Its always good to see your work , gives us all some motovation to continue with our projects.... ;D ;D
Cheers...johnno
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Hi Rouge
Are there any mods needed on the top edge of the cargo door before welding on the piano hinge ?
And does the top edge of the body frame need any reinforcing before tapping it for the hinge to to screw up to ??
Cheers
Rusty
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Hi
No, there were no mods to the top of the door before the hinge was spot welded on. Just bear in mind that my door is about as light as you can go. It is all steel. The original had a window in it and had a bit of poo in the bottom where it had been repaired prior to me owning it. I had the sense of mind to buy a new door skin way back in the days when you could walk in to a GM parts dept and say 'CF Bedford' without the parts person looking at you as if you were a raving loony. I'm not planning on mounting anything else in the door so it works quite well. I would not like to do it with a fibreglass door.
The top of the door frame has a length of steel bar welded into place and the screws are tapped into that. I can't remember the thickness as it was so long ago but it's probably something like 3mm.
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Hey Rouge...Can you tell me what that steering column is out of.? cheers....johnno ;D
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Hey Rouge what's that instrument cluster out of is that falcon or what Cheers Reid
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Hey Rouge...Can you tell me what that steering column is out of.? cheers....johnno ;D
Hi Johnno. The steering column is out of an EB Ford Fairmont. It wasn't a straight forward conversion I'm afraid if that is what you are after. I transferred the original conversion process over from the old site and you can read all the gory details here...
http://www.buga.com.au/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=2&topic=221.0 (http://www.buga.com.au/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=2&topic=221.0)
Hey Rouge what's that instrument cluster out of is that falcon or what Cheers Reid
Hi Reid. The instrument cluster is out of the same EB Fairmont above that I got the steering column out of. Got the seats as well and they are in fantastic condition. Looked like they had had seat covers on for most of their lives. Very much looking forward to fitting those.
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Thanks mate... :D
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Thanks Rogue They look good do you think they will all hook up ok Cheers Reid
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Should be fine. I've already rewired the van once before with a VK Commodore dash and got everything running on that although you had to know at which point the fuel gauge read empty. I never quite got around to sorting out the resistance values.
The dash is out of a six cylinder vehicle and it's a six going into the van so the tach will be fine. I'm also having the Fairmont fuel pump and sender fitted to the fuel tank as a higher volume unit than standard will be required for the fuel injection of the new engine so that sorts out the fuel gauge.
The brains will be a Link aftermarket ECU so the speedo should be fine and the rest of the senders for temp and oil are all much of a muchness.
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Well the dash has moved on a bit although it's taking absolutely forever. You can now start to get a rough idea of what the finished product may look like. The curvy bit around the instrument panel took me about 3 weekends! I guess that's what you get for making it up as you go. I've decided I'm not going to skin it till everything is wired up and running as it'll be really easy to trace any faults as well as add something I may have forgotten.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/DSCF0001.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/DSCF0005.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/DSCF0007.jpg)
This gives you an idea of how I'm hanging things together and why it's taking so long. All these holes have been tapped.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/DSCF0009.jpg)
I threw some props into the mix with these shots to give an even better picture of where it's going...
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/DSCF0011.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/DSCF0014.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/DSCF0015.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/DSCF0016.jpg)
If this lot doesn't put you off building your own dash then nothing will!
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hey rouge you didnt consider just tacking nuts behind instead of tapping threads. thats lots of work!!!
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I've tacked nuts on behind for thicker threads like the 8mm bolts but for the 6mm and smaller it's actually easier just to tap the steel on the brackets as most of it is 3mm thick anyway so there's plenty of meat for the thread. Gives me more flexibility in places I can bolt to as I don't have to worry about having the bolts long enough to protrude from the rear of really large box section like I made the main cross member out of especially if I have brackets mounting on both sides.
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Very cool Rogue. Can't wait to see it on the road. Commin together well.
Keep up the great work and keep us posted on progress.
Cheers,
Garry.
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Thanks Garry.
Work on it is slowing up a bit as I have a bit of overtime at work over the next month or so but the good thing about that is it is bolstering the new engine and diff fund. I'm aiming tp have those in before the end of the year.
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The engine fitting has begun. I purchased the donor vehicle a couple of weeks ago. Got a whole Commodore VN. The body and interior are stuffed but the engine runs really well. Most pleasantly surprised at the power the engine makes. It's currently stored till I'm ready for it.
Today i bought a stuffed engine and trans from the local Holden wrecker out of a car that was submerged in the sea. The block and cylinders were still full of saltwater. This engine I'm using for the fitting. It means that I won't have to dismantle my good running engine. This scrap engine will be used for building the new engine crossmember and enlarging the hole in the floor as well as doing the mount for the trans. This way when I remove the engine and trans from the donor car I should be able to install it straight into the van.
Also removed the fuel tank out of the van today as well. That's currently sitting out the back next to the Falcon one full of water de-fuming. Have an engineer geared up to cut the fuel pump mounting out of the Falcon tank and weld it into the CF one. I'm game to try most things but welding fuel tanks ain't one of them.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/DSCF0001-1.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/DSCF0004-1.jpg)
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so when you making a start on that mate
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good on ya bro !!!
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i just had a brilliant idea!!!!!!!!!!!
take a pourethane mould off your old engine and trany there rouge trooper. then make a mock up light weight baby our of expander foam, fibreglass, plaster whatever you can think of!!!!!
i like it!
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so when you making a start on that mate
Already started. Was hoping to adapt the old engine cross member for the 186 but from just looking at it I'm thinking it'll actually be easier to make a new one.
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Things are moving along. Have done a bit more work on the dash. Starting to get to the fiddly bits now and trying to complete as much as possible on the lower parts before the engine goes in because it's sooooo much easier working on it when you can stand in a hole in the floor.
Fuel tanks are de-fumed so all going well they'll be off to the engineer's this week to have the falcon mounting and baffle cut out and welded into the CF tank.
Something really irritating is that I can't use my Celica shifter. The VN trans is a 4 speed and has an extra postion required compared with the Celica one that is only designed for a 3 speed so I am not happy. I really liked that shifter. :'(
This afternoon was getting the engine cross member into position. Made a cardboard engine block complete with mounting boxes and used that to move things around and help get the cross member in the right place. The next thing is to get the actual mounting made.
Here's a couple of pics showing the position it should finish up in.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/DSCF0022-3.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/DSCF0025-1.jpg)
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looking good mate keep up the good work hey cuz! 8)
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big job bro! doing well:)
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G'day
I welded up the fuel tank in my fathers XR Falcon sedan.
I tied a rope to it and threw it into the dam for a day.
It took me ages to get the yabbies out of it.
If you are going to weld a tank keep it nearly full of water so that if it does go pop then there is little room for a big bang.
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you can de-gas a fuel tank by running a hose from an exhaust into the tank and running it for a while. it's not the fuel in the tank that goes boom, its the fumes. the fuel just burns
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would you say its the same with gas tanks?
ive herd the gas actually gets into the steel and so you shouldnt really cut or weld a gas tank ever but i so wanna build a pot belly out of one!!!
how long would you have your car exhaust running into the tank for busy?
cheers
ben
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The method used by the guy who will be welding mine is to empty it out and then fillit up with water to push all the fumes out. You then slosh some methylated spirits around the tank and this gets into the seams and dissolves any residue. From there fill it up again with water and rinse it out a few times.
I did this and no longer pass out when I sniff the filler pipe so I guess it's done the trick. ;)
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im told that there is a tank inside a tank with gas. like a saftey tank. anyone verify this? i guess ill find out when i cut one up lol.
that sounds as safe as can be rogue trooper! my mate suggest to throw a match in to see if anything left in there lol. i said umm no..
cheers
ben
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When I put the commodore sender in my tank 16 years ago the bast advice around was to fill it with water to drill the new holes to mount the cdore sender then drain the tank re fit and re fill. Which is what I did and it worked, no explosions caused by fumes. I was advised to put some meths in the tank with the fuel to absorb and water left in the tank.
Cheers Jeff
Keep up the good work Rouge maybe at this pace we will see you and the van here in chch at easter for the nats? I'll save you a space in the hall just in case, lol
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hey guys i welded an old ford tank a few years ago.all you have to do is connect your vacume cleaner to blow instead of suck and put the hose in the tank and let it run for about ten minutes.if theres was any fumes the air would have pushed them out.work for me :)
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Ive heard of people taking a hose from the exhaust and putting into the tank, filling it with carbon monoxide, No Oxegen No spark
Warren
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Time for an update. The dummy engine is in place and are currently enlarging the hole where necessary. The passenger side seat mounts had been moved slightly when the 186 was in there and I now have to move the drivers side about the same amount. Very pleased with how the engine is sitting. The power steering pump looks like it is going to require a bit of thinking but we'll get there. The dash is now at a point where I'm leaving it for a while to concentrate on the engine mounting. I'm also playing about with some ideas for the overhead console unit.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Engine/DSCF0037.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Engine/DSCF0030.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Engine/DSCF0036.jpg)
Now starting to think about getting this in as well. Going to be a little while as I'm rapidly running out of dollars but I can get the calipers reconditioned and new discs and pads in the meantime. Also have to get hold of some of the bits I'm missing as well like the handbrake cable fittings.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Engine/DSCF0041.jpg)
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looking good rogue, would be good to see some pics from under asswell, if you get time, love that jag rear, awsome stuff ;D
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that jag rear end looks excatly the same as the jag rear end i just acquired a week ago.
tell me rouge what stud pattern are they? been told same as ford? are you gunna keep that stud pattern or change?
cheers
ben
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looking good rogue, would be good to see some pics from under asswell, if you get time, love that jag rear, awsome stuff ;D
Thanks Steve. At this point it's a bit difficult to take photos of the underneath as the camera isn't that great and it's all I can do to get under there myself but here's a couple of the engine mount through the hole in the floor and from the front of the van. I've used the original VN crossmember and it is bolted up to the original gear box mounts. There will also be another 2 bolts that will be drilled horizontally through the chassis runners on each side too before the donor engine goes in. Each hole will be sleeved.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Engine/DSCF0001.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Engine/DSCF0013.jpg)
that jag rear end looks excatly the same as the jag rear end i just acquired a week ago.
tell me rouge what stud pattern are they? been told same as ford? are you gunna keep that stud pattern or change?
cheers
ben
Hi Ben
The stud pattern is the same as HQ however the studs are a larger diameter. As I have HQ discs on the front the stud pattern will stay the same. The Jag diffs came in varying sizes but they are all too short for the bedford. I am very lucky that a good friend of mine has recently disposed of his van from many years ago and he had a Jag diff underneath that he had had the arms and axles professionally lengthened and he has offered those to me.
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awsome prgress rogue how much ground clearance do you have, i guees its about the same as the front crossmember? i think were gonna be up your way at xmas, would love to come and have a catch up sometime then if your gonna be around? keep up the good work mate cheers stevo ;D
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You would be correct. It is roughly the same give or take 5mm. It should end up being just a little more by the time I'm finished as the front is sitting a little high due to less weight over the front wheels. Once I've got the thing actually on the road I'll have the springs retempered and set so the front drops to the normal ride height.
I'm certainly going nowhere at Xmas. I make it a policy never to go away on public holidays. Too many people on the road who shouldn't be there and everything costs twice as much to do anything or stay anywhere. If you would like to stop in you would be most welcome. Give me a yell when you are sure of your plans and I'll flick you my number and address.
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looking good
is the new cross member about same height as the 6 cly one? ever have any clearance problems with the transmission or anything?
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The Jag diffs came in varying sizes but they are all too short for the bedford. I am very lucky that a good friend of mine has recently disposed of his van from many years ago and he had a Jag diff underneath that he had had the arms and axles professionally lengthened and he has offered those to me.
ok thanks, anyone wanna buy a jag rear end? looks like its up for sale now lol.
ben
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looking good
is the new cross member about same height as the 6 cly one? ever have any clearance problems with the transmission or anything?
To be honest I haven't actually measured the cross member in the car. I had to get the engine at such a height that it wasn't lower than the front cross member but not so high that it interfered with the seat mount. As it is the seats will mount a bit higher than the standard van but I have the Commodore seats in there now elevated higher than normal anyway so it's not an issue. I think it's pretty much now bang on.
Not too sure what you mean by clearance problems with the transmission. If you mean underneath then the sump of the trans sits about the same height as the engine sump and there's plenty of room all around. The trans sits a little furthur forward than the old trimatic I had hooked up to the 186. When driving with the mid mount the only problem I ever had was with judder bars. The front wheels went over fine but then once they were over the far side of the judder bar the judder bar then sat directly under the engine and some particularly high ones did cause a scrape or two. Generally taking the judderbars slowly at an angle solved that one.
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Been working on the overhead console trying to get it mostly done before I start work on the engine bay. The trans mount is finished so we're now fastening it up underneath the van bolting it through the main chassis runners. We'll finish off the front engine mount next and I can then get the donor car up to my place and start finishing off the hole in the floor of the van. Hoping the mounts will be finished off this week.
Got a call from the engineer who is modifying my petrol tank last week. Only about 5 weeks since I dropped it off. He couldn't remember exactly what I wanted done. Haven't heard since. Just as well I'm not in a hurry.
The overhead console has been interesting as there is nothing to fix to at the top so it was a bit of lateral thinking to come up with a way of providing fixing at the top but supported from the bottom fixings. Anyway I'm quite pleased with the way it's coming along and it's quite rigid. The box section I've used is extremely light and that's helped a lot. There is a tiny bit of flexing but that's coming from the bulkhead that runs across the top of the windwscreen. I thought that would be solid but it seems not. It may disappear once the windscreen is back in.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/DSCF0013.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/DSCF0014-1.jpg)
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Well the weather is absolute crap today and the rain is driving into the carport where I do most of my welding so doing some more on the overhead console is out. Decided to sort out the axles for the diff instead. Here is a pic (just for interests sake) of the standard axles from the XJS diff sitting beside the axles that were lengthened specifically for the Bedford.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/AxleDifference.jpg)
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Time for another update because it's been busy, busy, busy!
Did a bit more work on the overhead console and pleased with the way it is starting to shape up however have decided to put it aside for the moment to use as a fill-in if I have to stop work waiting for something else.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/Overhead640x480.jpg)
Got the fuel tank back and quite pleased with the the job there. I had the fuel pump mount and baffle from an EB Falcon station wagon grafted into the bottom of the tank and the top mounts for the original fuel feed and sender units welded up as these are now redundant.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Engine/Fueltank1640x480.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Engine/Fueltank2640x480.jpg)
I made the final cut to the hole in the floor for the engine, enlarging it for the final fitting. I have also moved the two innermost seatmounts on each side. Looking at the height the engine cover is going to be I may actually bolt the two innermost seat fastenings to the engine cover instead. Will see how it shapes up as the cover progresses.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Engine/EngineBayCut640x480.jpg)
Got the donor vehicle up to my place at long last and pulled the engine and complete wiring loom from the vehicle. That kept me occupied for a couple of days. I will only be using part of the loom but doesn't hurt to have everything just in case.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Engine/EngineRemoval640x480.jpg)
Decided that to save removing the engine again I would clean and paint around the entire area underneath that would be inaccessible with the engine and transmission fitted. What a shit of job especially as the last 2 engines I had in there leaked like a sieve. I now have a newfound respect for anyone who has done this to their van. Did five coats of sealer, primer and enamel over a week, racing to get it done in time for last weekend and then it just pissed down so had to postpone the engine fitting. This weekend looked like being more of the same however I decided enough was enough midday Sunday and went for it. 3 hours later we were in!
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Engine/EngineFitted1640x480.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Engine/EngineFitted2640x480.jpg)
Other things I've done is partially fitted the radiator. The top mounts are done however had to wait till I'd towed the remainder of the car to a mates (so he could remove the diff for his project), so I could grab the bottom radiator crossmember as I will be grafting that in. Have also made the mounting bracket for the secondary transmission cooler. Will finish these while I am sorting out the air intake as well as having the accelerator cable made up.
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hey mate, looks good!
You've obviously been busy, and the quality of the work looks high also.
It doesn't look like there's much room for the seats, but nothing some fabrication can't fix..
I tell you what, i'd much rather be doing customisation than body work.. it's giving me the shits...
Anyway, keep up the good work. Achievements are good motivation!
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keep up the work and the updates
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That's going to be one awesome van , Rogue. You are an inspiration.
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hey mate, looks good!
You've obviously been busy, and the quality of the work looks high also.
It doesn't look like there's much room for the seats, but nothing some fabrication can't fix..
I tell you what, i'd much rather be doing customisation than body work.. it's giving me the shits...
Anyway, keep up the good work. Achievements are good motivation!
Thanks very much for the comments guys. Much appreciated.
The seats will sit a bit higher than normal but that isn't an issue as the Commodore seats I had in there previously were height adjustable and I had the drivers one jacked up halfway anyway. The seats should just sit above the height of the engine cover but to keep them as low as possible I might bolt one side to the engine cover. Seems to work Ok in the jap vans. There will be an inspection hatch between the seats for day-to-day things like topping up the engine oil and trans fluid but for anything more serious the seats will have to come out to remove the whole engine cover. Having said that, once the cover is removed the engine is easy to work on. Just a bit tight down the drivers side for the sparkplugs but how often do you replace those.
Something I forgot to mention. When I removed the engine from the VN I swapped the sump over with a later model. The reason for this is that with the original sump, the dipstick exits the sump on the drivers side which was going to make it awkward to check the oil. The later model exits from the front which will be ideal for the inspection hatch. When I pulled the sump off I found a spring in there which turned out to be the remains of the timing chain tensioner. This was in the last week before fitting so it was a mad rush to get the motor down to my local friendly mechanic's. He kindly supervised me while I pulled down the front of the motor to replace the tensioner and then put it all back together including the replacement sump. Was quite lucky as I still had the dummy fitting engine at home so was able to pull the tensioner off that before it all went off to the scrapyard.
Feeling quite good now that it's all in. The first milestone has been reached. The next will be the diff.
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Hey Rouge....I am following your project with great interest as i want to do the same thing with my van as well. Just thought i would give you a couple of tips regarding your motor. I am a member of Street Commodore Forum and have found out some very good tech tips regarding the vn-vp motors. It looks like the motor you are putting in is a series 1 motor,do yourself a favour and fit the "coil pack" off a series 2 motor. Grab the entire set up leads and all. The series 1 coil pack are notorius for giving up the ghost. Plus you can remove the "bellmouth" out of the early vn-vp motors which will help with throttle response(apparently). I have done the bellmouth job on the wifes commy but have not been able to test drive it as yet. If you like, i will post some pics up for you? PS love your work dude ;D
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Hi John
Thanks very much for the appreciation and comments. ;D
I've been keeping up with the JustCommodores forum and picked some of this stuff up on there. I don't think the bellmouth was installed in the series 1 VN. That was an addition to the later models after Joe Public found the early V6's a bit toey. I agree with the coilpack but will replace that once the engine is actually going. I know the engine was running well when I pulled it out of the car so I want to keep any changes to a minimum till after it is running once again in the van.
Something I have found today is that 80mm Marley PVC downpipe works really well for the air intake. The coupler end of the pipe is a nice tight fit over the mouth of the intake. I'll post some pics after I finish the intake so you can see.
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Ah...As i thought , you are a clever bugger Rouge! ;D Will be good to see those intake pics when ya get em.. ;) :D Bloody good little motors those v6s..cheers..johnno
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Hey Rogue, sounds great. My seats sit pretty high compared to where i understand the original seats would be. But the height isn't a problem so long as you're still sitting comfortably in relation to the wheel and pedals.
It's a blessing in disguise when you find remains of broken parts, it means more work, but less in the long run when things catch up..
With the PVC, i don't know what 'Marley' PVC is, but i used a PVC joiner in the air intake of my BA falcon for a week, and it melted in a pretty bad way.. haha
The heat over here is probably more extreme, and my motor was breathing very well, but i'd advise using aluminium and silicon where possible over PVC
Anyway, keep up the good work!
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Awesome stuff Rogue. See, another few weeks work and you'll be ready for the 2010 Van Nats no sweat. ;D ;D ;D
Keep up the great work and look forward to the next update.
Cheers,
Garry.
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Ah...As i thought , you are a clever bugger Rouge! ;D
Ha ha! I wouldn't go quite that far Johnno. I just think about things a lot and I don't have a woman to distract me!! ;D
With the PVC, i don't know what 'Marley' PVC is, but i used a PVC joiner in the air intake of my BA falcon for a week, and it melted in a pretty bad way.. haha
The heat over here is probably more extreme, and my motor was breathing very well, but i'd advise using aluminium and silicon where possible over PVC
I did think about that MaTTe and as you've brought it up as well I might do a couple of tests on the weekend with some offcuts. There are different grades of PVC so I'll see how we go. If the PVC isn't going to work I will still have a model of what I need to get something made up out of more suitable material and it is cheap.
Awesome stuff Rogue. See, another few weeks work and you'll be ready for the 2010 Van Nats no sweat. ;D ;D ;D
Keep up the great work and look forward to the next update.
Cheers,
Garry.
Hi Garry. Sorry no. I think I might have just buggered myself for a while today. I found my dream wheels on Trademe and bought them. It took my last brass razoo so unless there's some serious overtime happening at work soon which is unlikely I think I might be pulling my head in for a little while.
A nice set of SS Cragars mmmmmmmmmm!!!! 15" 275's for the rear and 15" 245's for the front.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Cragars.jpg)
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hey mate, looks good!
You've obviously been busy, and the quality of the work looks high also.
It doesn't look like there's much room for the seats, but nothing some fabrication can't fix..
I tell you what, i'd much rather be doing customisation than body work.. it's giving me the shits...
Anyway, keep up the good work. Achievements are good motivation!
:D ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D :D ;D.....I'm a hearing ya Matte :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( nearly thru thru the towel in the other day.....then did another 8hrs work on her, only to go backwards :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
Looking good Al, keeep up the good work Bro
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What is the size of your SS Cragar wheels? 15"x10 (rear) and 15"x8 (front) with 5x120,65mm (bolt pattern)?
Correct? Please, give me more information. Your wheels is great. ;-)
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They are 15"x8 in the front and 15"x9 for the rear.
No idea of the PCD I'm afraid but they fit Chev\Holden and you will note that they are the model with the slotted stud holes.
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Once again it has been busy, busy, busy. Probably going to have to leave it a weekend or 2 now as I have to catch up on other things around the house that have been somewhat neglected like the cat who seems to have been chewing on my leg trying to get some attention or maybe that was some food. :-\
Anyway I started off with some work building the engine cover. I needed to get this done to get the engine covered up so I can weld in the cab and not worry about hot splatter everywhere. I came up with this...
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Frame.jpg)
The problem with the engine cover was that it made it rather difficult to fill the oil so I've bolted the oil filler from a Subaru Impreza onto the rocker cover and this has moved the filler into the engine cover hatch area. Also reworked the dipsticks for the engine and transmission so they are also accessible from the hatch. Had to cut the throttle plate and kick that down a bit so it cleared the engine cover as well. I should also be able to build a small sub-hatch on the front right of the cover so the power steering fluid can be checked and filled without removing the cover.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Engine/EngineTop.jpg)
This Easter I have been flat out fitting the seats and I'm very pleased with the results. Still a little bit of work to do but they are in now and solid as a brick sh1thouse.
Here's a view from the front...
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Seats/SeatsfromFront.jpg)
And one from the side...
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Seats/SideViewSeats.jpg)
Here is the side mount. It's very solid as is but I think I'll brace it a bit anyway as I don't think the seat mounts can ever be too strong. Thinking along the lines of being in an accident here.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Seats/SideViewSeatMount.jpg)
And here's a view from the back...
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Seats/RearOfSeats.jpg)
This one shows the inside of the seat mounts bolted to the engine cover. The top part of the engine cover they are bolted to is 2.5mm plate and there are 3x 10mm bolts holding that side of the seat down. I've also braced the sides of the engine cover and the cover is held down by 8x 8mm bolts (all hi-tensile of course) so I don't think it is going to go anywhere in a hurry.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Seats/SeatMountEngineCover.jpg)
The next mission is to get the trans shifter located and also the handbrake however I think I might have outsmarted myself with that one so it's going to be interesting.
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just an idea maybe use a torana hand brake the one that goes on the floor its a foot handbrake moreless
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or have a look at how the hq hz works with the handbrake on the right hand side of the floor.. best thing i can see about it is if your vehicle takes off on a hill you can quickly grab the handbrake:) not that that happens very often in my town... its dead flat:)
ben
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hey, whats the deal with the bonnet, can you not open it, or is it some sort of smaller version? i noticed the wiper cog and washer jets are one the same piece of panel, where as mine are on different panels..
looks good tho, its nice when the hard work starts paying off
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just an idea maybe use a torana hand brake the one that goes on the floor its a foot handbrake moreless
or have a look at how the hq hz works with the handbrake on the right hand side of the floor.. best thing i can see about it is if your vehicle takes off on a hill you can quickly grab the handbrake:) not that that happens very often in my town... its dead flat:)
Thanks for the suggestions guys. The Torana is too old now and you don't really see them anywhere over here anymore. Not even in wreckers yards. I've seen the odd restored one on the road but I don't think they'd take too kindly to me if I swiped their handbrake mechanism.
I thought about mounting it on the right-hand side but the seat sits a lot higher than the HQ-HZ so you'd have to mount the handbrake lever higher as well to access it comfortably from the sitting position. Then there's all the work hiding the mount and the cable and it could also make it difficult getting into the drivers seat so I gave that idea away.
I'll work it out. I have several options at the moment but I need to get the trans shifter in first so I know what I've got left to work with. It's amazing what an hour spent up at Pick-A-Part wandering through the wrecks does for the thought processes. It's all part of the fun. :D
hey, whats the deal with the bonnet, can you not open it, or is it some sort of smaller version? i noticed the wiper cog and washer jets are one the same piece of panel, where as mine are on different panels.
looks good tho, its nice when the hard work starts paying off
Yeah it seemed like a good idea at the time but now it's proving to be a real pain. There is no bonnet. It's completely sealed in. You can see it in a bit more detail in some of the pics closer to the beginning of the thread. It wasn't too bad with the first incarnation of the van especially when you have the use of a pit to set everything up under the bonnet and you're not trying to fit new brake boosters and master cylinders etc, but trying to do it off the garage floor brings new meaning to the terms 'contortion' and 'flexibility'.
Current thinking is I'm going to have a small hatch in the center of that will rise up about an inch from the level of the bonnet. This will allow access to fill up the remote brake fluid reservoir as well as the reservoir for the cooling system, horn compressors etc. The hatch will work very similar to a normal bonnet.
Thanks, it is starting to look the part. I'll put the dash back together in the next couple of days so will get a better idea of what the finished product is starting to look like with the overhead console, engine cover and seats in as well. Just working on the interior while I try to save my pennies to get the diff fitted. After that all the attention moves to getting the engine going.
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hey rogue, looking really good mate, I am waiting eagerly to see you mount your shifter and handbrake. Like me you are doing some serious custom work, I am almost customising every single bit of my van. The body will always look bedford but all the mechanicals will be late model gear, my aim is to be able to buy parts off the shelf and not run around the wreckers everytime you need a part. The idea of ringing autobarn when i need a part for my bedford, is something i am looking forward to. Anyhows look forward to pics as you mount the shifter and brake. Are those seats from a VP or simular commodore ? they look like my donor VPs seats.
George.
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Ta very much George. They are seats out of a Ford EB Fairmont and are almost in perfect condition. Now I've just got to keep them like that. There'll be no welding while they're in and I've got a couple of big sheets to drape over them while I'm working out what to do with the trans shifter.
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Geez what is it with you bloody Kiwi's - you blokes are an inspiration - you just keep raising the bar for us poor Aussies!! - love the work Rogue, keep it up mate.
Mezz
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Ditto... looking good rogue, keep up the good work cuz ;D
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wow , awsome job Rogue, ur van and busy,s are my 2 fav custom beddy,s,
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hey guys, maybe one reason we aussies dont do to much custom these days is because of the B***LS***T rules that our transport have. I have just spent months designing a one off very original exhaust system for my van, only to be told an hour ago that you MUST run your exhaust out the back of your van, well now i can flush 3months of work down the toilet. I looked at dozens of pics from the van nats on the weekend, the amount of vans and cars with side pipes and side exit exhausts is amazing, according to transport and some muffler places, they are ALL illegal and and can be defected if inspected. I just find it hard that all these guys would risk having their vans defected, there must be something i'm missing.
George.
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get more than 1 opinion on whats legal George.
some wankers in the motor rego,s take it upon themselves to give their anwsers,
as truths,
i hope he was just a wanker givin u his bullshit 2 cents worth,
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i'm back, i was just looking at warrens gallery with some of his pics from the nats, mystic fantasy and the ford from wa both have side pipes, so what loop hole did they use to get their pipes on, or are they just rebels waiting to be booked, i doubt it, if you spend that sort of money on a van you are not going to drive it knowing you could get defected at any time.
George.
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have a y piece made up in the ehhurst, and a solinoid valve so u can run the sidepipes,(run a small tail pipe out the back 2) when the blue lights flash behind swap over 2 the tailpipe out the back, lol, then when on ur way again out the sidepipes, haha,
:)
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hi Marty, yep i agree, thats why i rang a few muffler places as well, they are willing to fit whatever i want, but they also had to advise me that the only exit spot under qld law is out the back. Transport pdf says the same thing, what transport did say was to have an engineer look at my van and make a ruling. I could take that comment as, an engineer might allow side exit exhaust pipes. As i said above, what am i missing here. Its as if qld trans dont want to say something.
George.
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say u only run it ouit the sidepipes at van shows, rofl,:)l
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thats not as funny as you might think. A guy in yank land was building a replica dukes of hazard car, he wanted no mufflers so he did the same as you said, if he got pulled over for noise he only had to divert exhaust through pipes with mufflers which quietened the exhaust again, cops thought they were hearing things.
George.
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Hey George....I have wide wheels on my truck and only once have the cops asked if they are light truck tyres (legally they should be but they aint .I just luv the look of big tyres on anything). I drive by cops every now and then but never give a thought to my wheels.
I am a true believer in ones demeanor when talking to the boys in blue.
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa315/johnabbott_2007/Newtyres2.jpg)
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i am so used to beauracy marty, that i always have a plan B. In this case if i can not use the design i really want, then i will go with a back up design, not as good but will still have people talking.
George.
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for sure john, its all in the attitude. The reason i am just trying to get a definitive answer, is so my van is all legal when i pull it out of the garage for the first time. Nothing worse then getting pulled over by a cop that is by the book and knows his cars and rules, and you get defected on the way to a show. That could kinda screw the rest of your day up lol. I guess i will just hit my engineer with both exhaust ideas and hope he approves the one i really want.
George.
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move 2 VIC George they let anything on the road down there hahahaha :D
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Yeah don't know who u have been talkin to mate down in vic if your car is too moderfied power and sound wise to a certin point the cat or van or truck can be black defect which means the car is band from the road for 12 months and can't be re reged or sold in that 12 month period and this is true a guy with a vn ss got it. Also in vic if a cop defects ur car or van and declares it a major you must supply a full roadworthy certificate and engineer pappers for modified vehicles. I think your thinking about adelaid and nz they get away with heaps
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nagh mate, the last 5 old vehicles ive seen regoed n on the road from vic have amaised me,
ur right about adelade 2 though , ive seen a few corkers.
every state in Australia should have yearly pink slips (roadworthy,s)
and get the shitboxes off the road, before people are killed.)
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Well George if it makes you feel any better mine will be going out the rear end.
wow , awsome job Rogue, ur van and busy,s are my 2 fav custom beddy,s,
Anyways back on topic, thanks very much for the comments Mezz and Dano, and Marty, yours just made my day. Better make sure I finish it now. ;)
Busy has been very naughty because he hasn't been working on his lately. ;D
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*wheres that raspberry icon* lol. I plan to get back into it the week after next - weather permitting
cheers marty.
Rogue, how about a pull out handbrake, like the older utes and stuff, jags used that style as well and would be the right ratio for your diff.
I used a toyota handbrake and had to mess around with ratio's from jap to jag. I can't fit the pull out type, dash is to low and can't get the pull on the lever.
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That's kind of along the lines I was thinking. Might have to rework a small portion of the dash near the steering column to get it to fit nicely but I haven't skinned any of the dash yet so that's not a major. Need to get the shifter in first so I can see what I've got left to play with.
Interesting about the ratios. I just had a pull-up style lever out of a Mazda previously mounted on the engine cover and was hoping to use it again but the engine takes up a fair bit of room so don't think it'll work too well again. It was a bit of a pain anyway as I always had to disconnect the handbrake and cable before I could remove the engine cover so it might work out better having a firewall mounted pull-out unit.
I've got a Jag wrecker local so might go and have a nosey there first. The guy who runs it is quite funny. He's rather gruff and short when you first arrive and by the time you've got your stuff and ready to leave you can't get out the door. I got the grand tour of his race car the last time I was there. It was pretty impressive too. ;D
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Well I wanted to see what all the work I had done so far looked like and these are the results. I put the dash back in last night. Took me about an hour and a half, couldn't believe it. I mocked up the shifter by sitting my old one in place with a couple of blocks of wood under it to get it to the approximate finished height of the one I am installing. I also left out the blower and heater as I will be doing some welding on the dash after I finish the shifter and it will save me melting the plastic with weld splatter.
I am very pleased with the results. Once the dash is skinned it should really start looking the part.
The first picture is the closest one I could find that shows the bare firewall I started with. This was when I was experimenting with fitting an EB Fairmont dash. The shifter in the picture is the old one as is the engine cover.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/Before.jpg)
And this is what the cab of the van looks like today...
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/Current.jpg)
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far out, thats how they shoulda built them in the first place me thinks, :)
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hey rogue. this is looking great, i thought mine was going to blow the mind, yours is catching up quick. My design is very different to yours, which is what customising is all about, imagination. I can't wait to start posting my pics. Where will your hand brake be mounted rogue, are you going to lift it up, or just keep it on the floor. To me very uncomfortable ? Do you have any better pics of the dash ? Looking good mate.
George.
P.S who needs drugs and alcohol to get high, when you have custom bedford vans. ;D ;D ::) ::)
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Where will your hand brake be mounted rogue ? Do you have any better pics of the dash ?
As I mentioned above I'll look into mounting the handbrake in more detail when I get the shifter in place. It'll either be on the engine cover which is looking increasingly unlikely or as Busy suggested mounted from the firewall. I couldn't put mine on the floor if I wanted to. There are more dash pics during the build throughout this thread but page 8 has a good one and there is more detail on page 6.
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ok rogue saw the pics in 8, looks good. I am assuming you are running air-con looking at the dash, if you are, what vehicle is the air-con system out of. I'm still working out what to use in my van. In my case i will be building my dash around my air and other accessaries.
George.
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Nope, that was discussed earlier too. I'm just going with the standard blower and heater unit. Decided that the cost and amount of effort to install aircon wasn't worth it when I considered how often I'd actually need or use it. We've got a cooler climate over here so generally opening a few windows will do the trick.
I did investigate it however and it appeared to me it would be a lot easier using aftermarket/universal components as opposed to trying to adapt something built specifically for another vehicle. There is another thread on the forum where it is discussed at reasonable length.
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Rogue, another idea I just had, remember the old Valiants, the ones with the push button auto, there is also the late model escargo - shifter on dash.
There is a guy my engineer mentioned when i was working on mine, his hot rod doesn't have a shifter, just has a alarm type remote he uses with a solenoid to go through the gears, down side was he he to cycle from Park to first to find the gear wanted, am sure it could be refined so was up and down with gear selector on dash
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hey busy, i have seen that kit on tv, it has whatever number of buttons you want, you can mount it anywhere you want, and it is run off a computer mounted in the car, you programme it with a laptop. The down side is that if your battery drops below a certain voltage then it will shut the computer down, battery always has to be a certain level or you cant start the car.
George.
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Thanks Busy, the shifter I think is sorted, I just have to mount it. I got a B&M bracket kit that actually uses off the shelf GM parts to convert the linkage connector on the trans end to a cable connection. Saved the effort of making one like last time. The cable sweeps from the driver's side, around the back of the trans and connects up from the rear. Had a chat with the guy from Melbar Cables who makes up custom automotive cables locally and he said the distance shouldn't be a problem.
I then had a browse through Pick-A-Part for a shifter. I couldn't use the one I had previously because it was only designed for a 3-speed auto and mine is now 4. The other requirement was one that could be converted to use a cable that drops vertically through the floor of the van as opposed to forward (because trans cables don't like bending) or back (because some fool put an engine in the way) as most of them do. Settled on one from a Honda Ascot. It also has a flat selector display panel too so should be nice and easy to build a console unit around it.
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Time for an update on the dash. I am now totally over it but it is progressing rather well. Have skinned most of it now. Making the doors for the glovebox and the fuse box was interesting as was mounting the handbrake and the shifter. Overhead console is complete. Discovered the steering column isn't quite as solid as it should be so I'll revisit that when I take the dash apart again.
I'm leaving the dash now as I have now reached my savings target and am starting to prep the rear for the mounting of the diff as well as installing the power steering rack. All going well it'll be off to my engineer buddy Phil's place within the next 4 or so weeks. After that I want to concentrate on getting the bloody thing going. That invloves buying headers and sorting out the driveshaft, mounting the fuel tank, sorting out the cooling system, hooking up the power steering, blah, blah, blah.
Anyway here are some pictures of the dash to date. Sorry some of them are a bit out of focus but I have a newish camera and I'll be buggered if I can get it to focus properly.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/aDSC00226.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/aDSC00231.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/aDSC00233.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/aDSC00234.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/aDSC00235.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/aDSC00236.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/aDSC00237.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/aDSC00238.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/aDSC00239.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/aDSC00242.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/aDSC00244.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Dash/aDSC00246.jpg)
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Excellent job rogue,a hell of a lot of metal work.
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looking good, you can come do mine when your done ;)
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wow takin shape:) do you have a steel bender rouge?
cheers
ben
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Very impressive mate. :)
Will be great when its done. ;)
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wow,
thats an awsome job Rogue
u sure your not building a space shuttle,
its as good as 1,
im not kiddin when i say thats the best beddy dash etc ive ever seen.
u NZ fellows dont muck around.
regards mty
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hey pickmeup did u find them?
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Find em? ???
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looking good, you can come do mine when your done ;)
Considering what you've done to your van Busy I think that's the highest praise yet. Thanks and thanks for the offer but I must decline even if it's just to preserve my sanity, and thanks for all your comments guys.
wow takin shape:) do you have a steel bender rouge?
cheers
ben
Oh I so wish Ben. Nope. Some of the bends like the dash cowling were done by building a frame and then tacking and rolling, tacking and rolling the panel into place. The curvy corners of the cowling were done by cutting smaller pieces of steel, bending them a bit with my pliers and then tacking them into place. I think there were about 9 individual little pieces tacked into those curves. The bends around the shifter and handbrake covers were done by cutting out a 90 degree curve from a length of steel pipe and using that to join the panels and bending box section just sucks.
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AWESOME rogue, what a way to wake up on a saturday morning, it is -3 here now so I dreaded getting up, but seeing your van pics, has made my day. Just one tip though, although all your pics were clear and in focus, you should have an auto setting on the camera, then you can't go wrong. Your pics may be few and far between, but when you post you really do a good job of inspiring. Time to knuckle down so i can keep up with you. :D ;)
george
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Rouge, I remember the days I used to bend box section steel, we used to fill it with sand and then heat it up with the gas set, it bends very well and with ease. But you have done a ellec job, be proud, keep going and impress us!
George, as for the sound of the exhaust on your V6, I'm know expert but was stating with the new systems out there it would be possabile, it would have to be a twin exhaust, maybe a couple of cobbys an turbo mufflers fitted anyone that has a lot of know how on exhaust systems would be able to help out. I have come across a couple of VN's the I had to ask what they were running as they sounded unreal. Cheers
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That's a bit technical Bas. I made a series of cuts along one side of the box section about 10mm apart each. Then I bent the box section to the shape I wanted with the cuts to the outside of the curve. This worked well because I was able to put the bent section in place and confirm it was the shape I wanted and make any adjustments needed. Then I just filled in the cut sections with the mig and smoothed them off with the grinder and then the sander.
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I was young and always did things the hard - long way, but it worked, these days I take the same road as you have............
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Find em? ???
your tools in craigs shed.lol
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Yes he was in the shed when I got there so yes I found the tool! Lmao!
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lmao,
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Here are some pictures for George. Managed to get the scanner at home working. Windows 7 didn't like it so I dragged one out with XP and it was away laughing.
The first few are what it looked like initially as I was playing around with modifying and then there are a few after I decided to remodel the front by picking the largest roadworking truck I could find parked on the side of the road and then driving into the back of it at speed.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/OldVan01.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/OldVan02.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/OldVan03.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Writeoff01.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Writeoff02.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Writeoff03.jpg)
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wow, what a mess. I guess the up side is, if you had'nt smashed it, it would not look as good as it does now. It was a clean and tidy looking van b4 the crash, but is a show piece now. Thanks rogue.
george.
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hey next your remodelling rouge pick a tree rather than a truck. usually cheaper option..
how did you go getting thewindscreen surround right again?
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Hey rogue, do you have pics of the build as you are cutting away all the crumpled steel and repairing the damage.
george.
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Showpiece it isn't but it gives me something to do on weekends. The truck came away with absolutely no damage aside from a few scuffs on the steel tray. I hit it at an angle and pretty much bounced off the rear tyre.
Here are some pics of the rebuild George and after this no more for you today ;). This was all done by my clever buddy Rob. He's in Busy Kiwi's league.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Scan0001.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Scan0002.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Scan0003.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Scan0004.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Scan0005.jpg)
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(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Scan0006.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Scan0007.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Scan0008.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Scan0009.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Scan0010.jpg)
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(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Scan0011.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Scan0012.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Scan0013.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Scan0014.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Scan0015.jpg)
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(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Scan0016.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Scan0017.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Scan0018.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Old%20Van/Scan0019.jpg)
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Fantastic rogue, here is a suggestion, why dont you write a book on the building of your van. You have enough pics, and if you were to get someone to ghost write, i recon it would sell, i would buy it. How long has it taken to get to where you are now. Thanks mate.
george.
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Fantastic rogue, here is a suggestion, why dont you write a book on the building of your van. You have enough pics, and if you were to get someone to ghost write, i recon it would sell, i would buy it. How long has it taken to get to where you are now. Thanks mate.
george.
x2 i love reading and seeing pics of your build and would love to see and hear some of the work on your van george
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Fantastic rogue, here is a suggestion, why dont you write a book on the building of your van. You have enough pics, and if you were to get someone to ghost write, i recon it would sell, i would buy it. How long has it taken to get to where you are now. Thanks mate.
george.
I think most people want to forget their nightmares. I look at some of what I did previously and wonder what the hell I was thinking. Others I just wish I'd spent more time on them. Nevermind, I'm bit older and wiser now so hopefully this time around it'll be done right. It's taken about 21 years so far although about 15 of those were spent just sitting in the garage while I did things like buying a house etc.
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A bedford IS a house ;D
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yea do an e-book mate sell heaps make heaps of money and spend it on ya beddie great plan
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Nice one, Its gonna be spekky when finished
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Hey Rogue,
Cool pics mate. Your clever mate Rob wouldn't be the owner of that dark red van parked alongside yours, in the pic with the gull wing side door open, would he? I have a feeling he was in the vanning scene way back in the mid 70's as his face, name and that van look familiar.
Garry.
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Hi Garry
Yes you are correct. That dark van was maroon and named Conquistador. It was around in the 70's. Rob was a founding member of both 'Southern Confederate Vans' and 'Vandits'. You were having a chat with the both of us in the afternoon at the show for the Wellington Van Nationals. I should be seeing him sometime in the next few weeks and I know he had a ton of photos kicking around. I'll see if I can talk him into letting me have a few to scan for the site.
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That would be cool if you could get some of those old pics. Nothing like looking back through vanning history. Does he still have the van or has it been put to rest?
I see there are some stirings with Southern Confederates that may be promising. They are even hosting a New Years doo in the Hutt this year. I'm still contemplating coming down so I'll be in touch if I do.
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Unfortunately it has passed on. It required just a bit too much work to bring it back up to scratch and he just has too many other projects on the go. It was his diff arms I got for my conversion.
I was chatting with Colin about SCV at the Wellington Nationals and asked me if I wanted to sign up again then but I said that I would have been the only CF in the club which is really no fun for me. That was one of the reasons I packed it in in the first place as all the other Bedford owners had moved away. Heather sent me some details regarding the new website and club plans a little while ago and asked again if I wanted to sign up but at this time I would rather concentrate on getting the van on the road. I may feel different about it once the van is actually going. I see Kane has joined up. He's a bit of a club slut. I think he's still a member of River City.
Definitely sing out if you're coming down.
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Party at Rogue's place
it's a secret though shhhhh
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Damn I better lock up all my parts and hide the cat! :o
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I just sprayed drink all over the keyboard! ;D ;D ;D
Poor cat.
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Here's what Phil and I got up to today. It's all very exciting!
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/Fitting%20Phase%201/12032011002.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/Fitting%20Phase%201/12032011003.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/Fitting%20Phase%201/12032011005.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/Fitting%20Phase%201/12032011006.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/Fitting%20Phase%201/12032011007.jpg)
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(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/Fitting%20Phase%201/12032011008.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/Fitting%20Phase%201/12032011009.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/Fitting%20Phase%201/12032011010.jpg)
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Awsome Rogue, i can't wait to see this van finished, it is going to be an engineers dream.
george.
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Ha ha. I think it's more like my engineer's nightmare! :P
This was phase 1 of the fitting. It's certainly not light. The diff is pretty much in position now and phase 2 is making all the bracing etc.
16-17 years that diff has followed me around and it's finally being fitted. The lengthened axles have done the trick too. The wheels appear to be sitting where they were with the standard diff although it is a little hard to tell with everything jacked up.
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Are you hard mounting the centre Rogue?
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ha ha an I'm just hanging out fa my new wheels Rogue lol
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Are you hard mounting the centre Rogue?
Certainly am. There seems to be a couple of schools of thought around soft and hard mounting. Just hope mine doesn't whine or I might have to put in a louder stereo. ;)
ha ha an I'm just hanging out fa my new wheels Rogue lol
Not far away now Ritchie. I've got 2 of them at home now. Just using the tyres off the second 2 to get the ride height correct on the back and then I'll get them swapped back onto the Tridents and they're all yours! ;D
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Sweet Al, all good anyway I'm not gona have chance to get them on the van till next month anyhow, will sus out shipping to chch as a m8 down there is buying my old set....
Just adding my 2 cents, I would've been inclined to at least put some form of insulation between the diff and chassis, e.g. some form of rubber mount unless you have?
R
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I have to agree with Scimitar on the insulation mounting idea .Having fitted around 50 of these rearends into varios vehicles from rods to 59 corvettes to bedfords I have found if fitted to a monocoque chassis (as in a Bedford) if it is not insulated you will suffer from drivetrain harmonics .And a Bedford being basically a biscuit tin on wheels you will suffer :o :o .I will take some pics (I know how much you all LERRV pics ;D) of my top secret Bedford chassis and post em tomorrow Cheers Neil
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:) just spent the night reading all the posts on your thread ....fantistic photo as well .... awesome looking van, love the look of your dash and engine cover
will think about building a center console into the seat bases i need to make
would like to come up and have a look and chat sometime ...
again awesome van
Russell
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I have to agree with Scimitar on the insulation mounting idea .Having fitted around 50 of these rearends into varios vehicles from rods to 59 corvettes to bedfords I have found if fitted to a monocoque chassis (as in a Bedford) if it is not insulated you will suffer from drivetrain harmonics .And a Bedford being basically a biscuit tin on wheels you will suffer :o :o .I will take some pics (I know how much you all LERRV pics ;D) of my top secret Bedford chassis and post em tomorrow Cheers Neil
That would be very much appreciated Neil if you could. We've tried to keep to the original ride height with this and not intrude into the floor of the van which then presents it's own set of problems.
:) just spent the night reading all the posts on your thread ....fantistic photo as well .... awesome looking van, love the look of your dash and engine cover
will think about building a center console into the seat bases i need to make
would like to come up and have a look and chat sometime ...
Not a problem Russell although it might be a little while before the van is home again.
again awesome van
Russell
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G'Day Rogue just to clarify the pics the diff cradle is solid mounted to the diff and is insulated mounted (nolathane bushes)at the rails as per the pics havent fitted the torque braces yet but am getting there Cheers Neil
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Thanks for that Neil. I've forwarded this to Phil and he's going to investigate a bit further.
He might ask for a couple of more specific photos if it's not a bother.
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This is what I made up for mine
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Man, you love your P10........ ;D
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This is the definition of customizing, great pics guys. I love the tech pics as much as i do the van pics. Keep up the good work guys.
george.
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This is what I made up for mine
COOL!! That's going to help a lot. Thanks!
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Neil
Great work there :D
A couple of questions.
Why the Full length chassis ?
Have you widened the track of the Jag diff ?
Why the rear facing steering rack, won't it place the steering wheel to far back ?
Warren McQuizzative
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G'Day Warren Q1 I am running an LS2 (6litre) mounted under the seat and the Bedford intergrated chassis aren't very strong .I did a tortion test on one once and managed to get almost 150 mm of twist :o :o.Q2 no its standard XJS track ,as im running 18 x 12 rims on the back ituts my track back in spec (all legal) Q3 the rack is the original jag rack and has to go on the back because the Jag control arms sweep back so if the rack went on the front it would foul on the control arms I am running two redirection bevel boxes from a Jap van so the steering column will be where I want it ,also rear mounted rack is the best position for handling/tunability . Hope that clears up your Q,s Cheers Neil
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OOOOoooo :o the stuff you know Neil ....How does all that knowledge stay in that head of yours????? :-\
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earplugs Johnno earplugs ;D ;D :D :D
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hey merlin whilst I have your ear I didnt think we had to have tar and agg readings on the side anymore to get over the pits?
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Thanks Neil
Yep that answers my questions.
Warren
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Rogue, the bushes were pressed in, I just matched pipe and bolt to bush from catalogue, i put up the pic with part numbers showing. I have some other pics of the plates and stuff if you want them
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Yep I be thinkin you right about that Craig
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Rogue, the bushes were pressed in, I just matched pipe and bolt to bush from catalogue, i put up the pic with part numbers showing. I have some other pics of the plates and stuff if you want them
Absolutely fantastic David. I've directed Phil to this thread so he could have a look. Will probably have a chat with him later on today or tomorrow and will go from there. I'll let you know.
Thanks very much!
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Time for an update as it has been a while.
After a few helpful comments from the last update we went back to the drawing board and Phil came up with the soft-mount from hell. It's really cool and there's nolathane for Africa. Unfortunately we've been dodging the weather a lot and have been trying to get the diff fitted all week but it has been continually pissing down so I had enough today and skived off from work for the afternoon while the sun was shining and we got into it.
Here are a couple of pics of the mounting bracket. As you can see it's a pretty solid piece of engineering.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/IMG_2101sm.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/IMG_2100sm.jpg)
And here are a few after this afternoon's fitting effort. I was in such a rush to get into it I left my good camera at home so I had to make do with the phone. I'll post some prettier ones up later. We still have yet to fit the trailing arms.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/14072011.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/14072011004.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/14072011003.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/14072011002.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/14072011006.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/14072011010.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/14072011012.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/14072011009.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/14072011008.jpg)
Unfortunately there was a wee issue when we dropped it down onto the wheels. The springs were too soft and the whole van sank about 50mm lower than the original ride height and the whole thing was really spongy. We are now investigating getting some stronger springs for it. I may have to have some made but we'll see what is available first.
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God Damn... :o :o That is a sexy bit of engineering ::) luv it !!!!!
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just change the angle of the shocks, more upright. I think its about 10-20 degrees
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God Damn... :o :o That is a sexy bit of engineering ::) luv it !!!!!
Thanks Johnno!
just change the angle of the shocks, more upright. I think its about 10-20 degrees
Thanks for that David. That's on our list of things to seriously look at.
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Ok after your sorted it out, let me know and then you can do mine. ;)
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Another milestone has been reached and the diff install is finished. Thanks Busy, you were right on the money with the angle of the shocks. They've been altered and it sits really nice. Took the day off yesterday and spent it in the sun bolting up the last bits and then stripped out the front shocks and springs ready for the fitting of the power steering rack. Really pleased with the length of the axles as the wheels sit nice and flush with the rear panels. Might look at some rims with a larger offset when I replace them so I can fit flares but that's a wee way in the future. It's a shame that once the van gets home it'll be shut away in the garage for the summer because I have a house that needs painting. Anyway here's some piccytures...
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/DSC00758Custom.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/DSC00759Custom.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/DSC00761Custom.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/DSC00762Custom.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/DSC00763Custom.jpg)
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(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/DSC00765Custom.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/DSC00766Custom.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/DSC00769Custom.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/DSC00770Custom.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/DSC00772Custom.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/DSC00773Custom.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/DSC00777Custom.jpg)
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Looking good.
When you take it for a test drive, try "drive it" around corners, if you find the diff walking (rear end wanting to go straight) change your torsion arms (the ones coming out front on the sides). angle them towards the centre or go to the gearbox mount so you create a big V
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Thanks for that. Apparently if it is hard-mounted you have to do the V with the torsion arms but if it's soft-mounted then you can go straight ahead. There is quite a bit of flex in the bushes for those arms so it should perform like the original mounting in the car. It's all been done with advice from local engineers who have done them themselves so we should be good.
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far out thats awsome Rogue,
thAt van of yours is 1 of the best out there in beddy land.
i cant wait to see it finnished.
but its true what they say (all good things take time) it will be well worth it.
cheers marty
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I have mine straight as well, worked out all the psychics of it and reckon I got it within 2mm of all travel but when engineer had a look at it way back then, he suggested I point them inwards as it will "walk".
Need to get my A into G and get it out for a road test
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Thanks Marty!
I'll be interested to hear how it goes Busy. The original mount in the car was straight forward I think so as long as they're set up in a similar fashion in the van I can't see why there'd be a problem.
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Awesome set-up rogue, love it.
george.
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That looks great Rogue, very impressive. My arms run inward but up to the front cross member, i was told that the arms should be as long as possible, but i am no expert on them
James
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Nice work boys, I would love to go for a drive in a beddie with IRS, would love to go Jag ..........reckon they would be awsome.love the photo's too, cheers
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That looks great Rogue, very impressive. My arms run inward but up to the front cross member, i was told that the arms should be as long as possible, but i am no expert on them
James
Thanks James. There's a range of different views on how these diffs should and should not be mounted. Ozrodders for example have all sorts of differing opinions. Apparently you can take the arms straight ahead if you mimic the original setup which is what we have tried to do. The front of the arm has a massive rubber insert that gives it quite substantial flex so all going well I won't experience it 'walking' as Busy described previously. Also it's a bit difficult to get big long angled arms on mine as I have a mid-mounted engine in the way. The furthest I would get is the gear box mount and that isn't that far away.
Here's a pic of the front bush so you can see what I mean..
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Diff/DSC00760Custom.jpg)
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How are yours mounted James? To the gearbox mount or separate mounting?
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How are yours mounted James? To the gearbox mount or separate mounting?
That looks great Rogue, very impressive. My arms run inward but up to the front cross member, i was told that the arms should be as long as possible, but i am no expert on them
James
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The top photo of James's looks like they are mounted under the gearbox mount. Is hard to tell hows it's mounted to the body (the cross member), if it's similar mount to CF it would flex abit back and forwards.
The arms I used for mine are commodore pan hard rods off the diff, falcon are very similar
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The rack is in and works really well and even with it not working under power it's much nicer steering than the standard Bedford one as I found out when we loaded the van onto the tow truck to bring it home at long last.
One of the pics with my big fat hand in it pulling back the boot shows where my rack was extended. Rather than George's method in which he had new arms made up mine had this insert made up and installed between the arm and the rack. It's the bit with the notch out of the top for a spanner for those who have no idea what I'm talking about.
I don't have any pictures of the actual bracket yet but will take some when I yank it out to get it powder coated but here are some in the meantime of how it is sitting in the van.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Power%20Steering/DSC00842.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Power%20Steering/DSC00841.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Power%20Steering/DSC00840.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Power%20Steering/DSC00850.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Power%20Steering/DSC00852.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Power%20Steering/DSC00844.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Power%20Steering/DSC00846.jpg)
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Something I forgot to mention when posting last night is that the reason the rack was extended behind the steering arm pivot point unlike George's was that the theory goes, if the pivot point sits on a line drawn between the top and bottom wishbone mounts this should reduce the possibility of any bump steer. If you take a look at the photo (sorry about the hand thing again Dano) you'll see that that is where mine now sits.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Power%20Steering/DSC00850.jpg)
We also reset the springs before it came home. I'm an absolute weapon at removing and replacing springs now. Nice new shocks too. The springs have been lowered by 20mm. When the engine was moved back the front sat up a lot higher so resetting the springs has fixed that but it's probably now a little lower than normal. There is just a touch of negative camber on the front wheels which is great and the 15" wheels fill the wheel arches really nicely.
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Well contrary to me saying earlier that nothing else would be done till Winter, we ended up with a few crap days over Xmas where I couldn't put any paint on the roof of the house so I started tinkering with the van and have completed the following.
I've had the driveshaft made up. It measures 560mm from universal to universal. Still have to replace the universal joints but that can wait till I have some money to spend on it again.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Driveshaft/DSC00914Medium.jpg)
Made up the radiator mount and that is now installed in the van. I made one up earlier but was never really happy with it so from just having a tinker on a miserable wet couple of days I came up with the following. It looks like it curves at the top in the photo but that's just from the camera lens. I was going to mount the additional trans cooler behind the radiator fan originally but changed my mind as it is more efficient in front. Have positioned the radiator so it gets the maximum airflow from all the openings in the front.
I used the bottom plate from the Commodore VN as it was easy to knock that out of the car with a cold chisel and it had all the rubber bushes for supporting the radiator already in place. Why reinvent the wheel. The radiator just sits inside the new bracket as it did in the car supported by the side rubbers with only a piece of angle bolted across the top of the bracket for retaining purposes.
Will get it all powdercoated when I get a few spare dollars together along with the power steering rack mount. It's been great being able to work on it again as it spent most of last year up at my engineer mate's place.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Radiator/DSC00890Medium.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Radiator/DSC00891Medium.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Radiator/DSC00899Medium.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Radiator/DSC00911Medium.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Radiator/DSC00903Medium.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Radiator/DSC00905Medium.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Radiator/DSC00907Medium.jpg)
I'm now looking to doing the exhaust but will have to collect all my bits and pieces before I get started on that. Have picked out the rear mufflers and tail pipes already and am definitely going to have two. Bought a new MIG over the break (Santa has been bloody good to me this year) so that'll give me a bit of time to practice with that before I use it in anger.
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Awesome Rogue, you never seem to disappoint, great to see a different method of mounting the steering rack, compared to mine. Love the radiator mount, but do have one question, when you are driving, does'nt the cardboard hinder the airflow and cooling. ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D sorry just could'nt resist. lol :D :D :D :D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D can't wait to see it finished mate, it is going to be a head spinner.
george
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Interior update this time.
Was painting the house over summer so only got a chance to work on the van on wet days. Have a serious cash deficit at the moment so have been doing things that don't cost a lot hence working on the interior.
I built a framework in the back and built some boxing around the floor in the rear. The boxing is all removable and the rear section will store tools and jacks etc. Had some wood strips I glued to the roof many years ago when I was young and dumb and there is no way in hell that is coming off without mangling the roof so thought I might as well use it for fixing while it's there. Made a framework out of steel to shape the bendy ply I used for the roof curves. Still have to do the window frames and a couple of other fittings but here it is so far.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Rear%20Interior/DSC00916Small.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Rear%20Interior/DSC00918Small.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Rear%20Interior/DSC00922Small.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Rear%20Interior/DSC00919Small.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Rear%20Interior/DSC00926Small.jpg)
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(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Rear%20Interior/DSC00929Small.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Rear%20Interior/DSC00933Small.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Rear%20Interior/DSC00939Small.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Rear%20Interior/DSC00964.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Rear%20Interior/DSC00966.jpg)
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(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Rear%20Interior/DSC00967.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Rear%20Interior/DSC00969.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Rear%20Interior/DSC00970.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Rear%20Interior/DSC00973.jpg)
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By the time you are finished, you might have to swao that v6 for an 8 :D But looking good
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Bas, you read my mind. Looking good though Rogue. Keep us posted on the progress as I like where it's going.
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dude, you are a freak - great job!
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dude, you are a freak - great job!
Tha Man loves his metal work, that's for sure....... ;)
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Thanks guys. It shouldn't be too heavy. There's not much else going into the back aside from a sound system and some carpet and trim to make it all look a little bit more presentable. The ply certainly doesn't weigh anything. The rear box has the most weight but I can still chuck that around without too much effort. I prefer the steel because it's a lot stronger than wood and takes up a lot less space.
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Thanks guys. It shouldn't be too heavy. There's not much else going into the back aside from a sound system and some carpet and trim to make it all look a little bit more presentable. The ply certainly doesn't weigh anything. The rear box has the most weight but I can still chuck that around without too much effort. I prefer the steel because it's a lot stronger than wood and takes up a lot less space.
You don't sound to sure....... :D one day you may be able to find out..... ;) ;)
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Well there's not a lot of unsprung weight so that's something going for it. ;)
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Been working on the exhaust buying bits as I go. Not overly impressed with the quality of the headers especially as the Y-pipe didn't meet up to the headers properly but I've decided to rebuild the whole Y-pipe anyway as I need the exhaust to sit higher up due to ground clearance issues so doing that at the moment.
Got the rear end of the exhaust system in although it's very much a work in progress and is just tacked at the moment. I think it looks really good so here's a couple of progress pics. All the bends are done with donuts which requires the patience of a saint. Have used my eyeometer for measuring the curves and that's worked out quite well considering. Slow and steady has definitely been the key.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Exhaust/DSC01130small.jpg)
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/Rogue1234/Exhaust/DSC01133small.jpg)
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Looks good mate!
Not sure I have said patience ;)
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Looking good Rogue. Keep up the great work.
The Nats next year are again in Wellington at Easter so hope you can have it mobile to bring along.
Garry.
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Thanks guys.
Yeah Garry, I saw that on the SCV site. That came around again quick. I was only going down to the show for an hour the last time and in the end I spent most of the day there. No way in hell the van will be running by then I'm afraid. As soon as the weather gets good again I'm back to finishing off painting the house so the van will be taking a back seat again. Was hoping to try and start it around Xmas but the goal posts have moved back again. Nevermind, it's still moving forward. 8)
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so even if its not finished there will be alot of people out there that would love to see it
you should come along to the nats as a vanner and bring it
i know id love to see it :) :)
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Will you promise to keep working on the van if it rains? ;D
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looking good
trailer it to the nationals if you can't drive it, lots of fun and great folks
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No, the van is staying in the garage till it can move under its own steam. There is no windscreen or rear side glass and there are bits all over the place which is not likely to change soon plus the expense of hiring a trailer and finding a vehicle to tow it (because the poor little WRX won't like that) is just far too much hassle and there's not really that much to look at right now anyway.
Yes Jeff, that's how I got the rear lining in. During showers. ;)
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really impressive - as always
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Time for some more updates me thinks, I'll bet you have been a busy beaver and have been keeping us in the dark
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Ha. Busy yes but not so you'd notice. I just got the exhaust finished on the weekend bar the paint. Thought I had it finished a few weeks ago but after being sick and not being able to look at it for a couple of weeks when I did look at it again with fresh eyes I was not impressed. Have spent the last couple of weekends straightening it all out. It's a bit hard keeping things straight when the work is about 2 inches from your nose the whole time. Looks good now though. I'll take a pic or 2 when I pull it out for painting.
Working on the transmission shifter now converting the linkage on the trans to cable.
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Hey rogue, want to see plenty of pics when you do the transmission / shifter. Because i am doing a custom set-up with my shifter, i was told i should go with a cable, but some tell me that cable can break over time, other say no, cable done the right way will last as long as linkage set-up. What do you say, can you post pics so i can see how it converts from linkage to cable. Thanks mate.
george.
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I'll sort you out George. The shifter is a bit of a custom jobbie using the shifter out of a Honda Astor as I didn't like the B&M or Hurst shifters which are really designed for hot rods where ascetics take a back seat.
The only reason a cable wouldn't last is if it has too many turns and twists in it which creates more friction and makes it harder to shift which in turn puts more stress on the shifting components. The more straight the cable the happier everything is.
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I see, look forward to seeing how yours looks. I to am looking at using the commy shifter, for the look. Thanks rogue.
george
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been about 8years now since something was posted ae Rogue, any chance of an update on the van, was recently talking about it with a few vanners down here in Christchurch n would love to see how much it has progressed
Cheers
Scott