BUGA Community
Technical => Campers => Topic started by: eddy on October 22, 2008, 06:14:38 PM
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The missus booked us into a caravan park late Dec and covers New Years partys at the Nagambie Caravan Park, funny thing is that she spent a week with her sista and her kids from Shepparton (the hubby had to work) at Echuca a little while ago in their caravan and thought that it would be nice to spend some time with them again over xmas. But wait heres the good bit .... we ain't got a caravan!
So we only got a beddie campa and she nows says that I have to get the beddie mobile and registered again so we can spend time at the Nagambie Lake Caravan Park ;D
So now its decision time, lets just say that I had a 253 and trimatic and 9" diff in the campa and to get it registered I have to now get the mods passed by an engineer yeah? ..... okay, thats not saying that I have had those mods for a while and didn't adhere to the legal obligations and register it with the V8 while it was fitted so lets not say that. Lets say instead that when it was registered it had a 6 motor, and that whammo! I went out to the van one weekend and some one had stolen the 6 and put in the V8 (and may I add that person did a sterling job if I may say so myself).
Okay, so moving on, ....... after road testing the beddie I have found that the valves need replacing (that is after I paid $400 for a carby rebuild and $400 worth of twin exhaust) the motor I am told was duel fuel and the lpg frigged up the carby somewhat so I am now wondering what other parts have been frigged. The motor is a bit tired and lacks punch through the bottom end and is very very thirsty :-[ not to mention that I paid to service the trimatic but it thumps between gear changes ???
I have a black efi 6 and tri box in the garage thats been sitting for about 4 years and was intending freshening that up and replacing the V8 with it. Missus quote, "I don't want a gutless 6, how we gonna pull a caravan with that, we need a V8" (smile creeps upon face).
What do I do? either way I will have to remove the V8 to freshen it up and replace the valves, maybe source another trimatic and then theres the cost of an engineers report estimate: $1200 and there is the frightening prospect if the engineer suddenly tells me that he has to pass all of the other mods (seats, diff, etc.) before he will certify the vehicle ....
or freshen up the 6 and fit it myself running standard manifold and carby to get us going over xmas estimate $800? then the cost of rego $500? won't even consider lpg this side of xmas and those estimates don't even come close to covering the cost of painting
ummmm ...... hmmmm .... dunno dunno
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Tell her she's dreaaaammmmmiinnn......Ha Ha. Have you thought about maybe trying to hire a caravan just for that time away? dunno what the cost would be, but gotta be less stress! cheers...Johnno
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hey Johno .... don't mention caravan hire, that makes too much sense ...... her offer is an opportunity to get the beddie back on the road, we currently got two car regos and her argument is that we can't afford three regos when really one car will do both of us .... so I fully intend to take the opportunity ..... take the opportunity my friend, grab it with as much gusto as a fledging duckling takes to the water, like a new born grabbing that first breath, then when you have that opportunity in your grasp, run my friend, run like you never have before! run like the wind, and keep running untill your legs fail you, then crawl my friend knowing that each effort will take you towards your ultimate goal ..... towards beddie heaven ,,,, or at the very least a roadworthy & registered beddie ;D
uhhh sorry ... please pardon the exuberant explanation .... what do you reckon? the V8 or 6? actually I think I'll surf ebay see whats the cost of a standard 6 ???
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woops over shot the mark .... any Melbourne folk got a holden 6 in reasonable condition for reasonable price available?
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take the opportunity eddy go the 6 for rego then change to V8 when its regoed, ;)
u might not get the go ahead again for yonks, :o
this is the perfect opportunity to get it back on the road.
with the missuses ok. ;)
hope she doesnt read this post, lol. ;)
i might have to change my name,
marty
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Oh Eddy, choices, choices ;D
I'd start with how much money an time do you have ?
Xmas is not that far away, do you have to tow a van this xmas ?
Seeing as how the V8 is in there already (I want one of those garage fairies) and you say it has reasonable, if not exciting preformance, and your only going to Nagambie, I would talk to the engineer and see what he's asking to do his report, and if you can get that done, do it, reg it, and do the engine rebuild later.
Just my two bobs worth
Warren
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thankz boyz, walked into the garage this morning still wondering which engine? an engineers will cost in the vicinity of $600 just for the engine cert alone, don't reckon I'll have it all done this side of xmas. I read Chris Ryan's post on 202 grunt and it was really interesting since I got the efi 202 already but again I don't reckon I'll get anyone to do the internal work this side of xmas, probably cheapest option is to put the 202 in and run a standard manifold and carby set up till next year, my only thinking is that come the end of the happy hollies the minister for finance (who is also the minister for defence) will say that the beddie gets no more pensioner assistance from the budget ... if yous knows what I means .... I will have to spend money on the 202 for bits and pieces and an exhaust system and thermo fans, apparently just removing the fan gives more horses. And to make it more intriuging ... I have to work Saturday after which I am owed 5 days off, so I thought take a week off and at least get the V8 out and finish painting the bonnet and go and get my V8 diff back from the mate who is supposed to change the centre and redrill the stud pattern to suit HQ (shee-ite I forgot about the diff!!)
buga .... all that to do and today she says "It would be really nice for us to spend some valuable time together my sweetness and flower of my life, we will go away for those 5 days to Adeliade, it is such a wonderful place on earth to visit and what better surroundings to invigorate our love for each other " (not actual words but you get my drift) .... waaahhhhhhhhhh !!!!!!! WHAT ABOUT THE BEDDIE !!!!
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Well Eddy
If the purse is open NOW, strike while the iron is hot, get the engineers report, get it rego'ed, go to Adelaide, do the schmoozing thing, and do it good, so you can keep the finance department doors open ;)
If not I have a spare 202, with trimatic, on a front end that you can borrow.
What internal work do you have to do for the EFI 202 ?
I'm happy to help out if I can.
Warren
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Wow, thanks Warren, I have to work this weekend but will definately call you, just about to go out the front door on my way to work, either way I have to take the V8 out cause I can't remove the rocker covers to get at the valves, haven't planned when I will take the 5 days off yet, have to check my work calender but it be in a coupla weeks,
cheers eddy
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Hi eddy,
about having to get everything engineered at once. Look at getting just the obvious engineered first up. Most rego places don't and won't hit you up for eveything but they have to hit you up for something, especially if it's an old car or they're asking for a posible inspection on themselves. Whe I got my seats engineered the engineer wouldn't certify the seat belts, so on his report he stated that the original seat belts were still fitted at time of report. This enabled me to get my seats certified as they passed with flying colours. Since I was only hit up about the seats for the blue slip I was sorted!
I would say, that if at the end of the day you want a V8 in your van, jump on it now. If you want to see a hot 6 under your bonnet, then take this opertunity to to fatten that 6 up!
As you said in your first post. You gotta be ready to pounch! ;)
Good luck!
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well after working long hours on the weekend I started the beddie yesterday and the V8 roared into life ;D thought "cool, this is great think I'll take her for a little spin around the block" .... 5 minutes later the motor spluttered and gurgled and stammered and .... you get the picture, "frigging motors, I'm gonna turf this pile of shite" >:( thinks me as I 'm starting it for the 10th time cause it keeps dying on me .... and I can't get her up the driveway. I eventually park her in position outside the garage door so I can erect the gantry so shes ready to be worked on next weekend. Get told today that me two boys are moving back home in the next couple of days :'( cause they are between rental properties and now I gotta move the frigging van again so I can get the box trailer out for them to use, missus is still keen on getting the beddie on the road again and me now thinks I willl go the 202 route, but now remember that the shifter for the trimatic is iocated on the wrong side of the box, now means more work and thats not to mention me diff who me mate has and who has now shifted somewheres with it and me not know where hes gone, come back diff! and sanity !!! I am keen on getting the motor out this weekend though, at least its a start in the right direction! :D I gotta start work at 5.00 tommorrow so off to beddie byes byes for me ... nite all ;)
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Eddy, are you saying your going to take a V8 out and put a 6 back in!!! WOW that wouldn't be my choice, I have had a beddy campa with a six in it and while it was great n the flats on the highway it just fainted at the sight of a slight incline!! Seeing that the V8 is already in there why not just pull it out rebuild it and change the gearbox to a turbo 700, the shift can then be put anywhere as it is cable operated, you could even put it on the dash if you wanted to for more room to step through to the campa!!
I really reckon you will regret takin an 8 out and putting a 6 in! I wouldn't have even considered bringing this camper of mine to mackay if it was just a six. rebuild the 8 and put in a good gas reasearch lpg system and all will be well.
Well thats my advice anyway.
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I'm with Clance! But then again I could be considered biased!......
I got a completely rebuilt T700 waiting pick up in Sydney (as it has been for 12 months now....), and a cable operated shifter that will be mounted within a couple of inches from the steering wheel. As Clance said, more room for walk through to back. I've got a make shift template for the shifter so it's already mounted where I want it to go. I'll post pics if you want once my dash is back in. which should be over the next week. .......or two.
I currently have a 4 speed manual, but I'm expecting the T700 to drop the revs even more when in 4th, giving me better economy on the highway while also dropping me back to the base or my torque curve, so I'm always ready to launch! He, he! ;)
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hey clance and tweaker you need to get a conversion bellhousin to mate up the t700 to holden v8 yeh? do you have a rough idea of how much it costs?
cheers
ben
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I don't, but I'm sure Dellow could help you out! 02 97 744 419 or www.dellowauto.com.au
I've got a chev so this is not an issue for me ;D
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thanks Clance and Tweaker, I'm hearing yous! what I've decided to do is get take the V8 out put it aside and fit the 6 for the xmas trip, that way I get the best of both worlds, I can rebuild and reinstall tye V8 later if I choose to, as it will be a simple bolt in process, I know what you mean with the power of the V8 I had a swb with a hot 327 & turbo 350, 9" etc, and it was like driving a sedan, however, it did cost big $ to build and maintain so me thinks that if I put a 6 back in at a moderate cost and hopefully build it to specs then the missus will agree to the V8 rebuild down the track ...... then again .... maybe she won't, anyways the important goal is to get the beddie mobile again, .... brrrmm brrmmm ;) I feel a road trip coming on ......
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Yeh road trip to mine for a barbee. Seya in a couple of hours;)
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hey benn my little brother from another mother, no I am out the door to look at the van in bayswater ;) p.s. did your undies get dry on the drive back to Victoria?
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Ha ha. Thanks for sharing that with everyone eddy. And nah it did not work as well as expected lol. Have fun with looking at black beddy. Would suit you owning another van. If has had it for sale for a while so should be able to get a decent wak off the price. Good luck
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had a look at it and nuh, asking too much for the condition its in :P
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Woops sorry benny bro, let the undies slip didn't I, I was only asking cause Robyn was wondering wether it worked, our clothes dryer just gave it up after 20 years and she is keen on getting clothes dry, I reckon if your method worked that maybe she could drive around with the laundry hanging out the windows ;D
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Nah not hugely successful. Sorry. But it was a bit of fun thou:) just try it for the looks:*
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he he he he, you just gave me this mental image of big bloomers hanging out the van windows and filled like big sails each side of the van now thats a beddie picture I never want to see :D
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Good on you eddy, glad to hear you've got a plan! ;D
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well. today I thought that I would start thinking about changing the engine or at the very least remove the V8 and ...... its frigging raining and then I got a frigging cold and feel like crap and now ..... the bloody young blokes are moving houses and have filled the garage with their junky furniture and crap and I can't even get into the bloody garage let alone see the work bench, wheres the justice?????? oh well back to the couch :(
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Bugger! :(
I have to work on outside allso! I started re-wiring back in June. Northern Rivers, beautifull one day, torential rain the next, followed by 2 days to dry out the mud.
Try some Codrel, that stuff a ripper! ;D Just don't have too many or you'll find yourself working in the rain :o ::)
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Hey ed i cut the lip off those lwb flares yesterday;) looks mad as cool;) will take photos when i work out how to transfer them or i get the cable off my mate i bought this phone off;)
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well nothing happened this weekeend apart from watching lots of tv Aussie -vs- NZ games, friggen flu has me by the balls and I'm looking at the van parked outside the garage door and the huge pile of crap that me boys have shoved in the garage ..... hopefully be feeling better in the next coupla days to get the V8 out :-\ dunno how I will go though cause the missus still wants to go away for a few days ......
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Hey eddy whats going on big bro. Sounds like progress is on its way. Have you got your diff back yet? Maybe your mate realized how much your diff is worth and sold it on ebay he he. Look forward to more pics;)
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hey benny brother from anudda mother, nuh she at a complete standstill, the two boys moved back in this weekend and to top it off they have filled the garage with crap so high you can't even get into the tools, today is drizzling again and I'm feeling a little (not much) better so I have to move their crap around to make some room. I got the whole week off so hopefully willl at least get the engine out tommorrow or the next day or the next day or the next day etc etc ....... ???
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oh and just so they keep my frustration levels high, we now got 5 cars, a skiff, a catamaran, a box trailer, a 6x4 trailer and a camping trailer to fit in the drive way and that doesn't include the beddie, hehehe gonna get some paybacks, when the beddie is hoisted up on the gantry she ain't going nowhere no how till the engine transplant is done (could take a month) hehehe (evil laugh) wahahahaha .....
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woops forgot to add the humungus catamaran trailer in that little list as well and the young blokes motor bike coming and goings, shes a bit cramped ma >:(
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well, got some gumbo back today and decided to get the V8 out, took me 2 hours to move crap around the driveway just so I could set up the gantry, after a little bit of grunting and mumbling (swear words under my breath) she popped out like a pearl diver coming up for air, easy peasie, I will look at the efi 202 thats hidden in the back of the garage tommorrow before deciding what to do next, gotta keep the misuss happy with her offer of pensioner assistance to me so can't spend big time, I have put some pics in my gallery of the event.
I added up the costs of the V8 and realise that I spent $360 on rebuilding the carby and about $400 on the twin exhaust and thats not including all the other little bits and pieces that add up so she owes me a coupla quid and probably not worth throwing away, I'll push her into dark corner of garage and decide later what to do with her ... she needs a rest cause shes a tired old girl (the motor not the missus!!!) ever had one of those days when everything just falls into place and there is no rush or stress? ..... well I'd like to say today was one of them days but I won't cause the boys huge pile of crap in the garage is still freakin me out man!!!! I can't find the 202, its buried up the back somewhere!!!
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Well done Eddy.
I had a good day in the garage as well, nothing beddifile but getting it all sorted after the move so that I can start those projects Ive been slaCK ON :D
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On ya Eddy! ;D
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got the V8 into the garage and then took a look at the efi 6, it came with a huge box of bits and pieces, the mate I bought it from stripped a VK Calais of everything that wasn't painted on and threw it all into the box, so now I'm bemused ??? I like the idea of the efi but think that I would rather go the full hog and convert the dash (comes with electronic dash) and steering column etc. BUT it seems like a HUGE job in front of so in order to get the van mobile this side of xmas thought it would be better if just replaced the sump and pickup/stick .... throw on a mechanical fuel pump and carbie and inlet manifold and got her running. I will keep the V8 radiator in place if I can although I have the the VK one and a huge transmission cooler, the clutch fan protrudes too far forwad so can't use it, think I 'll throw on the one off the V8. I also need to adapt the transmission linkages or how about just moving the gear selector across the way to the passenger side of the cabin? The removal of the efi and attachments seems fairly straight forward does that mean that I just block all lthe vacum ports?
So now the heat is off we are going out for a luverly drive in the country tommorrow so we can spend sum luverly time together just me and the luverly wife and dream of luverly togetherness while listening to luverly sweet Marvin Gaye on the luverly stereo ....... hey Ben might pop in your way, you home tommorrow? Nuthing important just thought I might be able to source some red 6 parts from your beddie collection, might even drop off those rear door window surrounds if you like ......
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sounds like a big job Eddy,
good luck with it ,
i hope it all flows smoothly n ur on road again soon.
marty
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Hey eddy if your coming down ill be around for sure! Cool. Oh i even washed the van yesterday. Looks like new almost ha ha
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hey Marty, had another look and more discussion, some boisterous some uncouth and same just plain silly talk, probably won't be done before xmas I'm telling her, she/he/we decided that rather than rush the job may as well 'lax a bit and make sure we get it right 1st time so the carby idea got thrown to the claphouse and we are going to concentrate on getting the efi in properly. She even agreed that because it will not be ready for the xmas break at Nagambie Lake that we will take the camp trailer with the catamaran on top and get this ...... (she who despises camping) agreed to take the tent and not the beddie so the pressure is off woo hoo, that means I gets to keep my hands clean for the next cupla days.
Yo Ben bro, see ya tommorow, if I remember I'll bring the window surrounds, you haven't got a red sump/oil pickup and dip stick floating around the yard have ya?
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yeh man all the holden 6 parts in the world here!!! cant wait.. dad will be around tmmorow too !!
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cool. its nearly 10.00 gonne leave in about half an hour, see in around 12.30 ;D
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Hi Eddy, have a worked 202 and 3 speed trimatic with overdrive, had a 3.2 diff in it power was ok at both ends but then lowered the diff to 3.8. Wow real grunt down low rus out at 80 ks flick on the overdrive revs drop and can get her up to 160ks with out a problem., even goes better on LPG.
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Kia ora Baz, had a look at your gallery and was surely impressed by your work. I have a 9" under the rear at the moment but will exchange that for a borg warner diff, don't know what the ratio is for the b/w but sat on 100 kms at 2300 revs when it was behind the V8, the current 9" has a far better ratio, how does the trimatic overdrive work? is that standard or have you modified the box?
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yeh whered you get the trimatic with overdrive box? sounds cool.
ben
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Box is from GM in the states, runs a ford overdrive on it bedford patten rear shaft, they were made and fitted to the Ambo's in N.Z from 82 onwards as they ran out of cresta diff heads so left the bedford diff in behind the 202 and had this special trimatic fitted with auto cut in at 80ks. gear shifter comes out the passenger's side of the box being from the States and converts to right side with adaptor rods.
Auto's are a rear find these days with the overdrive but ha, turns the 202 into a real grunter with the low diff head.
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Ha Eddy, where is the 34th Van Ntas taking place over Easter 09 as will be in OZ this time wouldn't mind a drop in! ::) ::)
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Bas,
I would love some more info on your gearbox, sounds sweet! What vehicle could i source one from - from the states ofcourse ;)
I have a 3.89 Borg Warner centre in my LWB van - that overdrive would work a treat!
I love the pick up that the 3.89 has - a lot of grunt but once you get to 80 klm/hr the thing is screaming it's head off!
As much info on your gearbox as possible - please!
Jock
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Ha Eddy, where is the 34th Van Ntas taking place over Easter 09 as will be in OZ this time wouldn't mind a drop in! ::) ::)
The 34th Van Nats is Geelong Victoria
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Jock, will get back to you tomorrow night a mate has one of these auto sitting at his house waiting for a transplant into his van. Will grab some photos and any markings on it that may help trace to where it comes from.
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hey Bas that would be great if you could get to Geelong, there is every indication is that BUGA would be well represented, and a Kiwi visitor would be most welcome, where are coming to in Oz?
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yo eddy you wouldnt belive what ive decided!!!
this black 202 i have here is oing to craigs.. well rebuild it and vk inject it and goes into the black beddy!!! wahoo!!
ben
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Hi Eddy, we fly out to Germany on the 10th June (my Wifes from there) but I told my son that we would do a short flight to OZ so he can get used to the plane before the long flight. Wife wants Sydney due to friends there but been there to many times so must sweet talk her into Geelong, plenty of flowers etc should do it. Dates it take place, Cheers
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OK pictures of Trimatic with overdrive witch is a ford unit. It says Laycock engineering Ltd, Shepfield England, J Type noramville system. This is the overdrive unit, no markings on the box as to what it is but when I had it rebuild they said it was Trimatic and replaced a couple of bands with Trimatic bands. If I take the overdive unit off the tailshaft on the standard Trimatic bolts straight on so it is the same patten, BELLHOUSING IS 202 PATTEN, as you can see from photos every thing is the same as trimatic but the shifter comes out the left side, picture of the kit needed to convert to right hand side. Dive shaft from bearing back is standard but front shaft is shorter due to over drive. Box has markings B 1029444 ATP.
OK pictures added now .
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OK FIRST SET OF FLOWERS GIVEN TO THE WIFE TONIGHT, VERY IMPRESSED :D
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Hey Bas, keep at her with the flowers. tell her you have the opportunity to see how ozzies do their bedfords, the Nationals only happen once a year and next years Nationals may not be as accessible for you, Geelong is an hour from Melbourne, I am sure we could organise a ride for you, oh and by the way there will be a few kiwis there ;)
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Ok good news, my son is on my side Melbourne it is. Have done a couple of nationals in OZ when I was young, lived there for a couple of years.
Hay we do have Nationals here / check it out at http://www.vanz.net.nz/
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well we have ......... (I mean the minister for finace, war and land acquisitions) has bought a caravan in Mackay, the deal is now that I get to choose the tow vehicle ..... hmmm ........ took a lot of thinking about (all of about .5 of a second) that we will rebuild the beddie campa to tow her luxurious 21 footer caravan to readily accessable strange places all over the east coast in April, to where unknown so ...... now gotta be more careful with my engine selection, efi 202 and 253 still sitting in garage ......
anyone gone the Rover V8 mods? I would be most interested in any feedback regarding suitability as a tow engine, cooling issues, weight, adaptors etc, is this motor suitable for Oz conditions?
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Ed for towing you need the V8. The VK 6 has the same power as the 253 but it's all above 3500rpm whereas the 253 will have more torque down low. Better still would be a 308 with more torque to make the job easier.
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thanks hammers point taken, I gotta couple of options, the VK 6 is out of the equation leaves me the 253, I have a mate with a blue 253 that he put a lot of work into but hasn't run for 4 years apart from the occasional start up and oil change, reckons hes redone the bottom end and set it up with gas heads but is asking top dollar for it unfortunately it comes with a troublematic, the other option that came up today is a work mate with a rover v8, don't have a 308 lined up ...... will have to look into it
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anyone know if any modifacations need doing 2 the holden 6 cyl red motor engine mounts, to fit a 308?
i think a v8 should slot straight in with a cut here n there (eng box modafication)
like in a HQ 2 WB holden.
the SWB might get a late giftmas pressent, lol.(308 auto.) plus disk brakes would be nice. at least i know i can stop then ,
be briliant for towing then 2,
,marty
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hey marty, the 253 uses all the standard mounts, assume that the 308 would be the same ...... ;)
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i have a bue 253 you can have at a very reasonable price ed. but not too sure of condition. its at hammers place and comes with trouble matic too lol.
ben
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Yesterday got back from Mackay towing the newly purchased u beaut everything that you could need to live life in comfort caravan, after 6742 kilometres, used 791 litres of fuel and a conservative 89 hours of driving. What an adventure that was, got caught in the arse end of the cyclone in Mackay, blew the transmission in the middle of no where, stayed at lots of caravan parks all along the east coast and met lots of interesting people, battled with big trucks and gale force winds and all the time kept dragging that frigging huge sail behind us, suffered the highest recorded winds from Gundagai to Wodonga, visited relos along the way, travelled with the hells angels and had a blast Now gotta get serious about a beddie tow vehicle cause as comfortable as she is the VS station wagon just doesn't cut it as a long distance tow vehicle :-\ I'll post some pics in my gallery later ....... woohoo ... mummy and daddy is gunna run away from home boyz, youze moved back in so we're moving out ... so you all have to find it yourself, cook it yourself , live in your own mess and pay for it yourselves cause mummy and daddy bear is gunna be Miss adventure and Mister meanour .... wooo hooo adventure before dementia !!!! ;D