BUGA Community
Technical => Campers => Topic started by: eddy on February 17, 2009, 05:21:31 PM
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well, the campa is about to get turned out to pasture, I found a beddie that I intend to turn into a tow vehicle, have posted some pics in the gallery, lots of potential, windowless swb, 253, 4 speed, salisbury diff, disc front end, HQ stud pattern all round, duel fuel, straight panels, welded rear, side door, hayman reece tow bar, needs a lot of work but is achievable, ...... will make updates as I go, ;)
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Hey Eddy
I had a look at the pictures of the new van, sweet, the only thing missing is the smoke haze comming out of the windows :D
Warren
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sheeses, never mind that brother, I'm more concerned with the black smoke coming out the exhaust ...... :o
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Eddy, don't mind about the black smoke that's easy to fix, but you would have a problem if it turns to blue, but overall it looks pretty good. :D
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had a bit of a fiddle with the van tonite after work, had to because the powers that be are sending me back into the fire zone tomorrow, 12 hour shift in the Bunyip State Forest, then I get sent back in again on Saturday for another long shift, this time I get a 4x4 to use rather than the sedan we used last weekend (try driving around a disaster zone in the bush in the middle of the nite in a sedan and to top it off the gps didn't work nor did the radio comms, we got lost for two hours in the back blocks in the Gippsland fire zone watching the spot fires all around us, was a bit of a worry) so sad that the firefighter from Canberra was killed today like its not as if the fires haven't claimed enough lives.
I found that this van was previously painted a dark metallic blue, maybe some one in Melbourne recognises it, the engineers cert was made out to a guy in Clifton Springs.
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scoooooooooooooooooooooooooore....!!!!!
far out man. find of century!!!
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was wondering about the diff, keeping in mind it has to be strong enough for towing, I have three options, 1: keep the one on it, salisbury diff off a one tonner with HQ pattern but way too narrow 2: use the 9" with HQ pattern under the campa but again a bit too narrow 3: retrieve my beddie diff with borg warner centre which would require a new centre and restudding to HQ but will give me a wide wheel base so I can fit flares, which is the better option, if I go the 9" I'm back to finding deep dish wheels to fill the flares or changing the cragars I already have .... hmmmm which way to go ???? any advice/thoughts gratefully accepted
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any advice on widening from 8 x 14 to 10 x 15? I have a spare pair of 8 x 14 cragars, how much to change the rim size to 10 x 15 and where can I get it done, and how much for tyres (heavy duty for towing)?
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put a coupla pics of the van with cragars fitted in the gallery, take a looksie and you will see why I am bothered by the diff options, the front tyre is about 30 mm out from the front guard so will require a flare kit, the rear tyre is about 60 mm in from the wheel arch so a flare will make it look even more unbalanced .....dooh
I had Sunday off so I stripped out the inside, found some untidy rust over the rear window in the gutter channel, been bogged up so will need to treat the inside panel. Adjusted the driver side door so it closes, adjusted the bonett so that closes tightly. This weekend (if I get it off) hope to strip the flooring and look at the electrics. I intend to redo the interior to better fit and support the cut and tuck panelling. I will be using the white polyester batts in the walls but am considering the rubberbacked foil insulation for the roof, I found a newspaper in the cieling that dates back to 1993, so that indicates how long the panelling has been in place. The interior of the van panels are pretty good rust wise so I am pleased with that and the underside looks pretty good too from underneath just a whole heap of surface rust. I guess I will find the true extent of the rust if any when I rip out the flooring :-\
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Eddy, why not just get the red wheels chromed, they look like they fit proper like aybro ;)
Warren
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hey eddy i cant use my 10 x 15's blanks i boght off ebay.. i so dont want to get rid of them but i am way too inlove with dragway 5 spoke classics.. and these blanks are meant for the pro indie and centreline dragway seris..
so if its any help i could sell you these rims..
http://www.buga.com.au/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=2&topic=601.20 (http://www.buga.com.au/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=2&topic=601.20)
cheers bro!!
ben
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cool bro but they are a different profile to the cragars so mite cause some engineering dramas (RWC Cert) does anyone know who does wheels in the east suburbs of Melbourne?
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Eddy, I had some wheel built years ago by a guy on Ringwood or Nunawading, but I cant remeber where, I rhink some one esle posted about it in another thread, I will have a look.
Warren
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Hi Eddy not to much up on the rims but can tell you the Toyo brand tyre is one of the best on the market for the weight side of things, I have been though a few on my van due to the size and weight. Have used Bridgestone - BF but nothing comes close to these mine are 275x 60 x15, you can also get them in a 295x50x15 that might suit you better. will post a close up picture if you like, they are also a directional tyre.
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thanx a heap boys, any advice greatly appreciated ;)
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By the way Eddy, these tyres are classed as a light truck tyre.
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i put a set of these on my camper. Hankook 215 x 75 x 14" rated at 1100-1200kg each. they do a 15" as well.
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really 1200 kg each!!!! thats insane good!
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Hankook are good up to 225s after that their rating drops eg: 275s 850kg the Toyo still rate at 1150kg at 275s and 1050kg at 295s
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I got toyo (295) on my custom van, on other vans have used bridgestone etc but found they aren't that great in the wet, once they go they go. mind you the width has something to do with that too.
I've used toyo on daily driver and they were great, wore well, quiet and reasonable price
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toyo sounds like the go! have to check em out. probably dont make 14's any more thou ay?
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Yep Ben, just got 215x75x14 for the front 1150kg weight single axle. In NZ all the Toyota light trucks -150kg - 200kg come out with them on they are commerical (semi) but you can get them up to 295s - 310s and provide a very nice ride and very quiet on the road and handle well in all weather.
Barry
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^^ spot the TOYO rep :D
Warren
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was looking for these tyres a while ago but had no joy :'( what is the "tyre" name, anyone got a link pls?
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Hey Eddy,
I thought of you when i saw this so i hope you enjoy.........
Might send you into dreamland tho!!!
Nice big vans too
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2VwhEgxWPQ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2VwhEgxWPQ)
cheers Lewy
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freaking heck lewy, you just made my day, that is freaking awesum !!!!!!! :o
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haven't been up to much with the beddie tow project, was the misusses 50th this weekend and we spent both days dealing with her pain, woops I mean joy ...... had to work a half day today but found time to strip the rest of the innards and shes looking more promising only a couple of rust holes that are of concern but otherwise she is good as gold, I'll rip into her this weekend grinding out the rust and treating same, then start brushing under body bitumen sealer on all the internal panels and floor pan before insulating (thats work on the the tow van not the missus!). Today I invited Ian and his missuss over to check out the beddies. hes from up Gympie way and found me through the chappie I bought the tow van from, another beddite has been uncovered, he tells me he had a stinking huge V8 in his but it was way too big cause the air filter finished being level with the dash !!! geez cuz, thats one big motor !! keep on vannin ..... Eddy MAC
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gutted the innards today, scraped, grinded and then blew out the interior, didn't mind a bit of heavy rain coz it showed up all the leaks and where the waters been getting in. Found wet spot up above the rear window where previous owner done patch job in gutter, water getting in under the filler, found a hole in the floor right rear side where water getting in from rear wheels road wash, found that the sunroof is leaking from the rubbers so will replace that one with another from the garage, windscreen rubber needs replacing as that leaks as well, so far not too much trouble with rust. Took out the radiator and replaced that with the 3 core from the camper as well as the bigger alternater. Hope to have it ready for the van nats but may not happen due to running out of time, most of the recent weekends were tied up with the bushfires so shes gonna be a rush job, next big job will be to change over the diffs and throw the 9" under and change the single to a double exhaust at the same time. If I do get it to the nats it will be without any interior improvements, no stereo, flooring or side panels and crap seats! By my reckoning only got 4 days to do it all in and that includes roadworthy and rego so shes gonna be a bit tight for time, :-\
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end of day two, swapped the passenger front door glass, the original was all scratched from someones over zealous use of a sander, the glass had grind marks all over it lucky for me I was able to remove a reasonable glass from a spare door I have, ended up having to trim the door rubber channels as both sides were folded back onto themselves and made opening and closing the window almost impossible, now opens and closes like a dream. Then put the door trim back on and made up a bottom panel from checker plate, door came up alright but will cut a slot in the bottom of the door behind the checker plate so I can fish oil the insides of the door.
Next started on the driver door, took hours of frigging around with the door handle, doesn't open or lock had some dramas till I checked the beddie manual and realised that a gasket is missing to hold the locking mechanism in place. so tommorrow after work its get the grinder out and cut a slot in the bottom of the door to find it, more than likely has come loose and fallen to the bottom of the door, again no probs as it will give me a chance to fish oil inside the door and I will fit a checker plate over it same as the other door.
The radiator exchange has come to a bit of a standstill, need to buy the long skinny bolts that pass through the radiator to fix the thermos before flushing the block and fitting the 3 core radiator then its fill em up with coolant ....... heres a question, premixed or mix your own?
oh and the last job was to put those ugly red wheels back on, don't like the thought of the cragars being stolen as the van is sitting out on the road (that frigging caravan takes up all the room in the driveway)
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Hey Eddie....I always mix my own coolant. I usually buy a couple of small tins of the concentrate and use that rather than use that useless
premixed stuff. Sounds like you are really pushing ahead with the project. good work....johnno ;D
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john you use concrete in your radiator? well that sounds like a good idea. never thouht of trying that.. i guess it would work much better than coolant because heat disapationg properties..
wouldnt it give the water pump a bit of a hard time? maybe you should be installing a concrete pump instead..
ill let yo know how i go..
ben
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Oh Benny Benny Benny....Your a worry... :-\ :-\ ;D Ha Johnno..
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bor bro bro ..... its concentrate not concrete :P
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Ben you should concentrate on what people are writing in relation to the concretions you put in your radiator
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oh must have been late at night when i read that one.. or after a late night.. hmmmm anyway lucky i havent put the concrete in my radiator yet. may get into a little pickle.. if ya any good at seeing into the future..
ben
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another good day on the project, replaced the drivers door window with a better glass only took 20 minutes so off to a good start, cut a hole in the drivers door so I could find the gasket for the door handle lock, woops wasn't there, so fish oiled the inside of the door no rust at all ;D did the floor pan of the van with fish oil till the can she a run out then started on the radiator, mounted the thermos and made brackets for the 3 core radiator to fit in, flushed the radiator and block and put the grill back on, replaced the right side wimpy standard headlight with a H4, took the sunroof out and resealed it no rust ;D swapped the drivers seat over from the camper as the existing custom seats were too low to the floor.
Then tried firing her up, drained the battery until I located the stupid set up installed to switch from petrol to lpg (its a frigging choke cable >:() and then spent hours tracing wires till I located a frigging kill switch complete with botched up wiring >:( once that was sorted she fired up 1st turn of the key ;D the petrol tank is very very interesting it is not standard and has a return line that is not used looks like its out of a big sedan of some sort its a lot bigger than the standard beddie tank but it works very well heaps of fuel pressure ! was gonna do the bad boy thing and take her for a spin around the block but it was getting dark, turned on the head lights and ........ nothing at all, no electrics >:( so packed up the tools locked up the van and went inside for tea ..... all in all a good day in the beddie, got some wiring dramas to overcome but pretty confident I can get it sorted,
was thinking 'take some pics eddy while its stripped out and the radiator is out' .... but got too busy to stop and before I knew it the front was all back together again :-\ next job on Monday is to do the other headlight, put concentrate in the radiator, FIND A DRIVERS SIDE LOCKING DOOR HANDLE ( Ben? ) so I can finish the drivers door ... mount the passenger seat so the seats match, play with the electrics then swap the diffs over the 9" off the camper (poor old camper shes getting hit a bit hard for parts) while the diffs out take out the two into one exhaust (gotta a coupla holes appearing) and bolt up the twin exhaust from the camper.
not confident I will have it ready by Easter but will be close, gotta work tommorrow (Sunday)
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another beast of a day on the project spent half the day getting her into the garage, clearing crap up to make room, then about 1:30 started pulling the 9" from under the camper, what a frigging job! not because it was a drama but mainly because where shes parked had to crawl around in the dirt and up against a frigging big mound of dirt she calls a garden, then started on the one tonner diff from the tow van and had to remove the springs with the diff cause bright spark someone else welded the leaf pin to the u bolt top brackets, so had to take the springs off the camper again lying in the dirt, finally got the 9" under with no drive shaft or handbrake cable or shockies and pushed her in the garage and closed the door :), had to cut two leaf spring bolts to get the leaf springs out so will have to buy new ones and the one tonner diff is sitting in the driveway ...... but another day closer, I reckon gotta spend all tommorrow morning to bolt the 9" up proper before I start work at 11.00 ..... looks much better with the 14 x 8 cragars on the 9" is 100 mm wider than the one tonner so the tow van rear now looks pretty good, wishing I had bought the pair of 15 x 10 cragars with tyres for $420 offa ebay now :-[ they would have filled the rear up and coulda put a flare kit on ...... never mind still looking for a suitable wheel combo ...... happy vannin
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had to work Saturday on a multi cultural event I initiated, bloody good turn out and we raised close to $3000 for the Dandenong street kids and the bush fire victims from the community of Callignee ;) Sunday I fitted the 9" good and proper then frigged around with adjusting the handbrake and fitted running boards, tried mounting the twin exhaust and stripped heaps from under the van to get the exhaust in place only to find that the exhaust manifold is on a different angle so the twin pipes won't fit this van, cragars are now all round so shes looking alot better than with the frigging red wheels, tonight I insulated the side door and mounted the lining a bit better, still way too much to do so I am certain that I won't be driving it to the Nats ....... still she keeps getting better, the fish oil has dried in the places it was sprayed and now the vans even smelling like its being worked on, had a crappy smell when I first got it from wet and mouldy carpets. heres a question, are the sunroof rubbers readily available, I resealed where it meets the roof but the rubbers that the glass sits on is perished and leaks, the sunroof is the type that has two glass windows with a light strip dividing the two ......
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just a thought Eddie ... try the self adhesive foam stripping from most auto shops or Clark rubber (they have quite a range of auto seals actually I'd put some money on Clarks) or worst case bunnings?? weather for windows etc...
any drama's give us the dimentions and profile pic , and I'll see what I can doooooooooooooooooooooo ;)
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hey ed i meet a bloke the other day that said hey is that "whats his names" van.
i said nah but did a bloke from ringwood buy it and was it sitting in a shed for 5 years or so. he said yeh thats the one.
so i meet a bloke that knew your van.
and i meet another bloke the other day that reconed they used to own black beddy in 94'
but i dont think he did, must have been a very similar van cause he said it had the xc grill and everthing. but you fitted that ay?
cheers big bro!!
ben
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hey lill bro, yeah matt black beddies are common ( I know coz I got one as well) hey yeah I fitted the grill so won't be the same original owner, I bought it from a mechanic near Seaford .... bit of a worry for you bro, with people reognising the van, hope I didn't owe these blokes any large amounts of money :P I often took it up to Shepparton and parked in K Mart got heaps of strange looks from shoppers, so had to tell that no I didn't have their tv and valuables in the back of the van ;D
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fitted the seats from the camper into the tow van, they even match the interior colour and I worked out the swivel bases so now the seats swivel sweet as, fitted off the side door panelling and it looks sweet as too, sooo close to having it drivable by the end of the week but gotta work Sunday through to Friday so resigned that it won't get to the Nats, never mind we will arrive in the liddle Mitsubushee on the Sunday ........ ::)
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no nats for eddy!!! my heart goes out to you eddy.. im so sorry.. pass my condolinces onto you rob and the 2 beddies..
ben
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Sounds like Eddy will make it Ben, but his best mate the Beddie won't as he used the word (it not I.)
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Photo's pls Eddie, love to see the swivel seat bases, desperately trying to get started on the vans just can't get in to it :-[ still in house mode me thinks.... :'(
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oh benny ...... message to self ..... do not get job as proof reader, do not get job as poof reader, do not get job as proof beader, do get not job as poof breeder, do not get job by proof reeder ...... ;D ..... hey Dano sure will bro soon as I can get some time off work during daylight hours ::)
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hahahahahaha oh yeh.. well yes thats definatly not the first time thats happened is it!!!
well good cant wait to see ya all there then!!
ben
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I know that we have touched on the side mirror issues before, however, I need some advice, I must replace the existing aftermarket mirrors with something that works and looks the part, I have been looking at Toyota ute 1986 - 88 bolt ons and they do look the ducks guts, I don't want to go the mirrors on frames as they vibrate and give blurred vision ..... and I have to surface mount the mirrors to cover the screw holes that the existing mirrors have made, I really like the look of the 1970s chevy van mirrors but cant find any. I recall a post that stated these mirrors could be imported from the States ..... I also have to consider that I will be mounting towing mirrors onto them as well so they have to be solid.... any hints? or better still, anyone got a pair of chevy van mirrors .... Eddy ;)
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changed the radiator to 3 core, flushed and added new coolant today, but ....... what is the best way to ensure that I don't get air pockets in the system? had the motor running with the radiator cap off during the refill, ran at ide till the motor warmed up, the heater hoses going into the heater are warm but the hoses coming out are cold is this a problem? I can't work out how to turn the heater on or off so can't tell whether its on or not. A mate said to drill a 3mm hole in the thermost housing? I mean whats up with that? and do you seal the hole later?
The other big job was the nightmare wiring, removed the dash and urggghhhh = MESS !!!! I do have a wiring book but "Oh Mr Hart what a mess!!" eventually will get it sorted then pinch the custom dash outta the campa van ...... poor old campa keeps getting raided for parts, I feel real guilty pinching good parts offa it :( would have been better off with another wreck.
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I know how you feel Eddy...auto electrics scare me silly sometimes :-[ :o keep chipping away at mate...cheers...johnno
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howza goin Johhno ... well I sat in the drivers seat for a coupla hours studying the wiring book and reckoning that this goes with that and that goes with this, cut off the extra wires that have been spliced into the existing and tidied her up a bit and nearly got on top of it then .... me mate rings up coz its his birthday partee tonite and he wants us to come along .... gotta go coz we've been mates for past 20 years, I know waz gonna happen, a couple reds and a couple more and a long nite, come home and forget everthing I spent today finding out about....... then get up in the morning ahung over and try and start again, ...... oh well its a mates thing and when ya gotta go ya gotta go! ...... tell ya all about it tommorrow arvo and if the weathers bright even should get some pics up ..... take care bro ... oh well into the shower and off we go do dah, do dah, ;D ;D
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Eddy, try the sticky tape and paper trick
Write on a piece of paper what you think the wire is, the cut that off and stick it to the wire with sticky tape, then when you get a "Red Head" the next morning you just read what you wrote on the note :D
Warren
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played around with the wiring before heading off to work, the good beddie book states that the white and blue wires that are on the windscreen harness is the accessories junction (plug and socket connector type), is this correct and should I therefore be able to run a wire from this to a fused switch panel for extras?
the good book also states that there are two inline fuses in bayonet type holders incorporated in the instrument harness and are accessed near the steering wheel support bracket ..... hmmm me no see any in line fuses is this now the norm or ya reckon I should be putting in line fuses in?
mounted the custom dash from the camper but have to make it fit better and also mounted an overhead console over the weekend, now I gotta put all the wiring back in place as well as work out the additional temp, voltage, tacho and now an extra fuel guage ???????? then theres the stereo and amps ???? then theres the extra lighting ????? then theres the CB ????? then theres the solar panels to run exhaust fans out of the rear ????? then theres the ..... ya know what I mean ... then upholster the consoles ...... and panel the walls ......
by the way whos used what in relation to insulating the roof? the wall panels are no worries as I am using acrylic insulation but I am concerned about condensation in the roof
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oh sorry one more before I head off, I will be mounting a fused switch panel, whats the preferred type, I have been looking on ebay at the marine panels but they appear to be the good quality made in china brand, are these reliable?
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built an overhead console this weekend and found time amid the wet and cold on Sunday to cut and mount a 3mm roof panel in the cabin around the sunroof, came up nice and I think I will varnish it rather than trim, should be taking some pics so will do on Wednesday morning, by the time I get home from work its too bloody dark !!! any advice/discussion on the switch panels ?
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Eddy.
What are the switches for, where did you plan to locate them, how much current will they have to draw........as we discussed over the wekend - there is more than one way to skin a cat.
I'm happy to discuss and help with wiring, Ive got a very good crimping tool and half a clue :D
Warren
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thanx bro, 6 switch panel (if it will fit) mounted on the overhead console, for heater fan, rear spottie over tow bar, fridge, interior lights and additional fans, stereo and running lights .... I got no idea on currents other than make sure you swim between the flags to avoid being dragged out to sea :P I like your idea of running directly off the battery but I will have two batteries and of course a dual battery switch so may turn off the accesories when I want to use them ..... ???
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Ok Buddy, run the accesories off the second (deep cycle battery) so that the starter battey is issolated when the ignition is off - cant be flattened by running things over night.
If as we spoke about you use the switches to trigger relays for the high current devices then you can use mini or micro switches, saving space, and wire.
Best thing to do is write a list of all the power requirements, lights, stereo, power to the block of flats, ciggy lighters, fridge........everything, then we can plan how to run the appropriat cables relays etc
Plan it out run and label the cables before you put in all the lining, then finish of after the paneling
Warren
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gosh, how can something so simple make so much sense, thats what I be doing and that will no doubt give me a starting point, Im thinking maybe that the switch panel should be mounted on the wall behind the drivers seat above a cabinet containing the fridge and wire in a 240 volt fuse box as well for the days I get kicked out of the caravan by the missus in the caravan parks. Then I can take the tv and video player with me!
Regarding wheel size, the tyre placard reads 14 - 10, I am aware that I can go from 14 to a 15" rim and standard width as far as I am aware is 7" so I can go up to 8" but can I go 15 x 10" and still pass roadworthy?
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Well Eddy if the plate says 14 * 10 then I would suggest that you could go 15 * 11, I would go 15 * 10 then argue the point if someone pulled you up on it.
I'll have a captians at my plate aand see what it says.
Warren
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thanx bro, had a squizz on the Vic roads web site but only states allows increases of 25 mm for rim width and 15mm for diameter? I'll ask around at work today, was gonna take some snazzy pics of the roof console and panel around the sunroof, took them out to varnish them and then thought woops, can't put them back in till the varnish is dry duhhhh. so will take pics over the wekend ;)
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15mm for dia seems silly, who makes wheels and tyres in half inch sizes :'(
Warren
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Yep Eddy, if you come back to NZ you can go 15 x 10" and still pass roadworthy.
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Thanks Waz, me thinks the same.
Hey Bas, 15 x 10 tyes would still not be big enough to keep the beddie afloat to drive back to NZ :D
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15mm for dia seems silly, who makes wheels and tyres in half inch sizes :'(
Warren
Hey Wazza, my 14" Armolites are 9.25" how outta whak is dat :o
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15mm for dia seems silly, who makes wheels and tyres in half inch sizes :'(
Warren
Hey Wazza, my 14" Armolites are 9.25" how outta whak is dat :o
I can understand 1/2" in width, but not in diameter, unless McEddy McMuffin got it round the wrong way :D
Warren
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Wazz, I did the roadworthy course about 10 years ago and at that time we were instructed 1" increase in width and diameter was allowable for vehicles manufactured after 1972, however as time changes so does legislation as 16 and 20 rims are now common so I will do more research at work, I would like to know the current legislation for my own purposes and will give an update when I get one, I researched the Vic Roads site a coupla days ago and was understandably suprised by the 15 mm statement. Also suprised that modifications to seat bases (in my case agricultural swivel seat design) have to be engineered as well. I intend to have the tow van in roadworthy condition as it will have an impact on the caravan insurance should we ever run foul of interstate laws. ;)
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say goodbye to your swivel seats then ed ay.. engineering what a pain..
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Ed technically anytime you modify any part of a vehicle away from it's ADR state then it needs re engineering. So any engine mods, suspension, brake, chassis, seats etc need to be certified. I've been in the auto industry for over 30 years and seen many not just crap mods but some that are just accidents looking for somewhere to happen. I know it's a pain and it costs too much for certification but without them the roads would be full of sh$tboxes. Not that you have to worry as I think your's won't be in the sh$tbox class. lol
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In QLD the rules are pretty simple in regards to wheels and tyres.
The overall diameter of the tyre must not vary by more than +15mm or -26mm.
The maximum tyre width for a car or car derivative must not be more than 1.3 times the vehicle manufacturer’s widest optional tyre.
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In QLD the rules are pretty simple in regards to wheels and tyres.
The overall diameter of the tyre must not vary by more than +15mm or -26mm.
The maximum tyre width for a car or car derivative must not be more than 1.3 times the vehicle manufacturer’s widest optional tyre.
Now thats a sensible set of rules
Warren
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I thought Beddies were classed as commercial vehicles & there allowed 50mm overall diameter increase cheers Reid
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I thought Beddies were classed as commercial vehicles & there allowed 50mm overall diameter increase cheers Reid
Negative. The only exception to the above rules is the tyre width of offroad passenger vehicles. "for an off-road passenger vehicle fitted with front and rear beam axles, the maximum tyre width must not be more than 1.5 times the vehicle manufacturer’s widest optional tyre."
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Well gave the project a bit of a kick along today, took the overhead console I built last week down and pre wired the stereo, (freakin nightmare but came up tidy and soldered all wiring joins) then insulated inside the console ( on hot days the stereo literally bakes as there is no insulation between the roof metal and the console and I don't like the idea of cds melting when they are being played) , I went out and bought a roof mount audio aerial and spent a bit of time sealing the mounting hole as it sits in the roof directly over the stereo and the last aerial leaked into the console, after mounting it didn't look quite right so I pushed it a bit towards the rear and the busturd broke!!! $20 down the gurgler (that cash coulda been spent on me personally) now I can't mount the console back up to the roof till I get a new aerial ......... anyway I did buy some lengths of furring channel (plaster board channel for suspended cielings) and fixed four of them them length wise of the van (to the roof braces), carefully lining them up with the tuck buttons so I could get a good fix on the upholstered roof panel. Once I had the furring channel up I put acrylic batts between the roof and the channels for insulation then screw fixed the upholstered tuck panel up to the channels, wow .... looks freakin great !!! now I gotta cut and trim timber around the roof lining but it does look superb !!! waz thinking all day ,,, take some pics ...... take some pics ..... but you guessed it never did, bummer. Anyway looks like we are off to the caravan show tommorrow as the boss wants to have a squizzy at the new vans features .... waz gonna go to the wreckers and find me another aerial but shes the boss !!!! anyway I am quite pleased with todays effort working out in the drizzle ........ ;) keep vannin Ed
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that sucks breaking new stuff.. no warrenty on your aerial??
well i bought an air cut of angle grinder thing from aldi today of all places!!!!!$25 thou was laughen..
ben
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don't knock the Aldi tools brother, probably better than whats sold at the weekend markets and sounds like the price is pretty good. I got the overhead console fitted after a trip to the wreckers where I picked up a great roof mounted aerial off some european car i think it was peugot, I did see a pair of chromed surface mounted electric mirrors (on a BMW) and may revisit to claim them but they aren't wide enough for towing so then may not. Fitted off the roof panel properly in the back and more than impressed by the quality of the finish but still no pics cause the boss can't be bothered finding the camera and charging it ...... pretty cool now that I got stereo sound in the van to work to ;) next job is to finish all the roof timber trim then wire in the amps and subbie so I got even cooler sounds to work to .... keep vannin ... Eddy ;D
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posted a couple of pics that I took when I got home from work tonight but was a tad dark but still .... I did say that I would do it, hopefully get some better shots during daylight hours, ..... keep vannin .... Eddy
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woops ... they are in my gallery in the tow van album ;)
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Hello beddie lovers, we are wondering if anyone can tell us if there is anywhere we can actually buy bearings for our 79 bedford from Ness
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Hey Ness, welcome aboard, are you after wheel bearings ? front or rear ?
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for the rear at the moment but will no doubt wany the front before travel ...Ness
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there are a few beddites who have replaced bearings, I will start a new post for you, cheers .... Eddy
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many thanks eddy, from Ness
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Ness I have replyed to your pm :) :) :)
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hey ness the cheapest option by far at the moment would be to buy a second hand beddy diff with good axels and bearings (ant the right type.. there are 2 kinds for the swb) and just swap over..
otherwise your looking at $250 each side.. then probably close to another $100 to get the old ones riped off and the new ones pressed on!!!
$600 for 2 bearings is insane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! craig (hammers spanners) is looking into modifying the beddy housing to fit a different bearing.. but that is on his list of things to do.. which is pretty darn long....
ben
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finally finished the cabin 'over head' panelling and its all varnished and shiny, finished the overhead console wired with power and timber trim varnished and completed, very pleased with the results so started on the custom dash, was doing all good till I broke the choke cable and then the light switch (bbaahhhh) I will fit a small fuse panel as I am currently running the stereo from the accessories lead direct from the dash. I am powering the stereo memory direct from the battery (constant power) and will need to run the front interior lights off this as well and position the fuse panel so I can replace fuses without taking the stereo out.
Was thinking of doing another raid on the camper for the light switch, before I do can anyone suggest a compatable light switch (must be the pull out type same as the original cause I got a hole in the dash where the light switch would have gone if I hadn't broke the bustud) :-\
I gotta work the next two weeks then I got 2 weeks off to get the tow van completed, roadworthy and registered, I will be replacing the 9" diff with the borg warner centred beddie diff, I also want to change the stud pattern on this diff from beddie to HQ. I also need advice on a ratio suitable for towing, the tow van has 253, Ozzie 4 speed and 14" rims. I need someone to do the work, any suggestions for diff in Melbourne?
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you got your borg wagner diff back eddy!!! nice work!!!!!!!!! i thought it was gone forever that diff..
well i think transdiff quoted me 100 bucks a side for stud pattern change.. but they are pretty expensive i think.. so not sure.
ben
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hey bennie liddle bro, ya got a head light switch and driver side locking door handle? I don't need the key as i can swap the barrels over
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Hey Eddy, had a look for a door handle, but could only find the left hand side ones, sorry Bro
Warren
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No worries Waz
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yeh should have..
ill try get them to you this weekend.
ben
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Warren and I had a big afternoon today putting another motor into the campa van, Warren bought the campa van after I thought it better that it goes to a new home rather than I keep picking at it for parts (oh ...... and coz I need the cash for the tow van) managed to get the motor in and the van lowered without too much drama, sorry Waz for keeping you so late. ;) I put a couple of pics in my gallery, nothing too extreme ;D we just got beaten for time by the sunset ....... (the missus is rapt coz the campa is gonna be out of the drive way this week and I took the gantry down after 4 months of her complaining about looking at it in the driveway... she reckons the neighbours mite start talking to her again ;D)
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Yes well we did get a lot done in a short time, thanks for all your help and hospitality bloke :D
Oh! a Roast was waiting for us when we got home as well :o so all round today has been a great day.
And Im starting to get exicted about having a new beddy as well - I'm just hoping I don't start collecting them like Benny does.
Warren
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been a while since I updated the tow van project post , in between working on the caravan over the past week theres been a few improvements made on the tow van and each task has come with issues & frustrations but in some cases success.
.... dash: fitted fuel, volts and temp guages and heater controls to a panel, fitted tacho to a panel. not wired but ready for fit off
.... sourced Nissan Nivara mirrors from the wreckers as well as a Toyota truck mirror thats fitted to the rear window to help reversing up to the caravan. The side mirrors have been adapted to fit and look good (the mirrors that came with the van were shite),
.... adjusted the front doors so they open and close well but still need to find a locking driver door handle before I can panel the door.
.... fitted the flares and front spoiler but yet to finish moulding them to the body.
.... fitted bumpers but have to finish side bolts
.... Decided to keep the 9", thanks to Warren for welding the shockie hangers to the diff and brazing the leak in the exhaust and welding a bar to the tow bar for added strength
.... had a poke around the rear right panel and found RUSTED PANELS WITH HOLES APPEARING covered over with BOG, nothing too drastic so temp repair with fibreglass bog and fill for RWC, will look at it when the trip is over
.... no horn and light switch is all mucked up so started on that today and found WIRING PROBS !!!!!
....
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sooooo ...... the lighting switch has dramas, plenty of power coming in from the constant, got parkers but when headlights are on the tail lights go out, go hi beam and the headlights go out, no dash lights, push the horn control and a fuse breaks, no alternator light coming on at ignition, bloody confusing .... the headlights are H4 and are run through a relay which is engaging, there is power going to the horn control but none coming from it, shes a typical beddie wiring system ..... blah :-\
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They don't call it Electrickery for nufink :D
I'll have ta teach you how to use one of those dohicky metery things hey ???
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Hey Eddy I had trouble with the big rubber conector between the blinker switch & the harness all the pins get a coating on them & loose contact I had to pull it apart & clean all the pins up That fixed up most of the probs but the fuse block is worst of all I think it is best to throw it in the bin & get the newer stile fuse block from Autobarn they come in vairious sizes Cheers Reid
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yep NIGHTMARE !!!!!! beep the horn and the fuses burn out, put in an aftermarket light switch with a fuse but the probs are still happenen ??? well me thinks gunna have ta crawl under the van and start from the rear lights and work my way back to the switches ..... can't find the horn wire though stripped the loom where I could but looks like I will have to take the dash out completely and start tracing the wires ...... BUMMER !!!!!! and ya reckon Gordon Ramsey can swear !!!! it was cold wet and frustrating today :-\ might change the fuse box Reid but I'll see if I can track down the short tommorrow
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Was hoping that the tow van would be on the road by the end of this week but the wiring has shafted me, searched and retraced nearly every friggen wire in the van, and tidied up as I went, still about 200 kms of wiring to trace but still no sign of the cause of the short problem. Anyway found copious amounts of relays and additions like twin thermos, cut out switch, electronic ignition, electric brake wiring and lots of additional wires going to nowhere coming off the back of the fuse box and wheres that bloody horn wire gone to >:(
Sorta resigned that we will be towing the caravan north in a couple of weeks using the VS stationwagon again. Probably better than rushing to get the van on the road only to be let down somewhere on the side of the road in the middle of no where. BUGA was looking forward to the extra room and the V8. Oh well grin and bear it and move onrwards. 5 weeks in Hervey Bay is starting to sound okay, I won't have the van to potter over so I'll do some carving instead ....... I'll try to get some pics of the tow van next weekend, its a long way off being completed but is getting closer ........ bummer back to work tommorow for 2 weeks :-\
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Hang in there ED....I have always found that by rushing to get a car finished in a hurry and not road testing it for a few days is one way to ruin any holiday. :-\ Let the commy do it this time and when you have sorted out the beddie bugs, use that.cheers.... ;D
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yeh i had flippen a few fantastic nightmares getting black beddy on the road..
all good now thou :))))))))))))
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thanks Johnno ;)
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Hey bloke dont despair, what do you need to get working ?
Sorry I havent been able to get over and help, kids have kept me busy this weekend.
I will come over on the weekend and see if we cant sort out the electricory stuff for ya.
Hopefully I will have a rebuilt carby by then and we can do a bit more on the campa as well.
Warren
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Thanks Waz, I'll put the jug on ;D hopefully the weather will be better this time round. ;D
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Dont forget Eddy.....We would like some pics of the A team working on ya van....cheers...johnno ;D
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hey Johnno, thanks brother, your right I was slack when we were working on the vans, I'll make dubbly sure I get some pics this weekend ;)
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beddie brother warren let the cat out of the bag with his most recent post 'What have you been up to on the weekend'
so to fill you in ... we worked extra vigintly on the beddie wiring till late saturday and all day Sunday and nearly nearly had the problems sussed, then about 4.00 p.m., there was a little POP sound followed by a worrying cloud of blue smoke and unmistakable smell of burning electrics :'( that set us back quite abit, Not to worry, tis better that shite happens at home rather than on the road so no dramas. This arvo after work Warren came around and we sussed out the problem. the ballast resistor that feeds the main line from the alternator was perished, what a relief :-[ we also realised that the wiring looms in the engine bay is totally different to the original wiring loom in the cabin, we also found that there are four active links into the right side indicator ??? so we will remain with elec problems until sorted down the track
what we found was that the colour coded wires of the new loom did not in any way match successfully with the original loom inthe cabin, so it may well be that later model vans have different or updated versions of the electrics looms . oh and to reiterate the cause of the POP .... don't rest the fuse box near the accelerator pedal if your pedal is not covered with a rubber pad
so we have made a few little changes to enable us to have the basic electrical requirements its gonna be ultra tight that the tow van is ready by Monday next week but I will soldier on regardless. A HUGE THANK YOU to Warren for all his help !!!!!! thanks brother I learnt heaps from you again ;D I still have a big list of jobs before the van can face up to a roadworthy and one of those jobs was to take pics during the work , sorry I didn't get to doing that got focused on getting the job done and missed out again
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I think we're all starting to wonder if there really is a tow beddie - all this work and no pics - you gotta snap some shots bloke, feed our hunger, satisfy our cravings - there can never be enough pics!!!
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OK, there is a tow beddy, and if you look real close you can see Eddy adjusting the passanger side front brakes :D
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Or what about this tidy wiring set up ::)
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Looks like me and Eddy went to the same wiring shop!!!!!
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nuh mezz my wiring shop is directly outside my garage and manned by my beddie fever friend, thanks to warren ;D its 10 p.m. and time for nigh nighs so closed the garage for another nite. Sorted out the slave cylinder probs and remounted it in the drum but got too wet to fit the brakes all back together so ..... sorted out the driver side locking door handle, filed away at a washer for an hour to make it fit onto the spindle and .... ta daaa ! now got a door handle that operates !!!! so was a couple of productive hours in the garage .... and still no pics ... drats !!! ;)
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well, I'm convinced to give the tow van one last go at getting it on the road by Tuesday, booked in for the RWC on Monday morning. Today I put the driver door handle on, refitted the dash and tidied up the wiring. Warren came round later in the day to offer support, bled the right rear brake then fired her up, shakey start but no probs. once I worked out that the power to the fuel soleniod had come off. ::)
Took the missuss round the block and the right rear drum thudded when activated, so gotta play with the adjustment but she goes ! ;D
sticky finicky gear shift so gotta play with that too. Swapped over the alternator and now the dash light comes on okay. gotta visit the wreckers and get some seat belts and a couple of bolts. still gotta replace the top right ball joint and bushes for the torsion bar, too much fumes comin into the cab so think I'll put the twin exhaust on but means I gotta swap over the mainfolds, still gotta mould on the flares and seal all the holes in the cabin, and ply the floor and panel the walls and carpet ....
flattened the battery starting her up so thats on the charger BUT THE FREAKEN BUSTUD LIGHTS ARE PLAYING UP AGAIN !!!!!!! ONLY THE RIGHT SIDE PARKERS COME ON ....... >:( AGAIN YA BUSTUD, THE LEFT SIDE IS DEAD !!!!!!!! NO PARKERS NO TAILLIGHTS ON THE LEFT !!!!!! think I'll cheat and crimp a wire from one side thats working to the other side that ain't, and the freaken gauges all go hard to the right when the keys turned on >:( YA BUSTUD >:(
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uuhh forgot to mention, met Tony today who builds 4 x 4 beddie vans, nice bloke, he built the green 4x 4 that was on the web site a while back, and Craig he wasn't the original builder of the van you have, the one he built had a rear lift up hatch ;) gunna catch up with him down the track and visit his business and his home, he has 7 beddies parked up so will be a good beedie buzz ;) hopefully I'll get some pics of his builds
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gotta cupla jobs out of the way today, played with the gear selector and that seems to be working better now, took out the broken reverse light switch while I was down that away, gotta get another from the wreckers, moved a return spring on the carbie so the motor doesn't race now when idling, replaced the bolts in the swivel seats to lock the seats in place, took her for a drive and the rear bakes still thumped .....
so back to the driveway and took the wheels off AGAIN ! :-\ after a coupla hours replaced both slave cylinders, had to make a couple small modifications so they seated correctly, good score $20 for the two slave cylinders from me mate down the brake shop, frigged around with the right side brake cause the shoes weren't sitting right and found that the right side hand brake cable had seized solid so whipped her out, a full can of penetrene down the cable and an hour later finally loosened her up, whipped her back in with a couple of modifications then it got dark so will do the other side first thing in the morning,
finding that the 9" hand brake cable is not compatable with the beddie diff so will modify the other side same as the right hand side and see how that goes, bleed the brakes adjustthe handbrake and hopefully move to the front end tommorrow. Sorry boys no pics cuz I' is workin on the van as fast as I can. ;D
but the frustrating side is still the freaken electrics, still no power to the left side and no power to the trailer outlet >:( there are two number plates lights the left side one is not working replaced the globe then the right side one goes out ???
now find that I got no hazard lights ??? and no brake lights????????? and the worst thing ....... No Stereo !!!!!!! FERKEENG ELECTRICS .... MAN YOUR FREAKEN ME OUT !!!!!!
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Just as a suggestion, rather than checking for power you may find that a lot of the problems could be down to earthing or lack there of.
Just a thought but that can lead to all sorts of issues too.
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have to bite the bullet :'( no beddie tow van will be making this trip ... too much to do too little time, but not through lack of trying ...... looks like its the crummydore station wagon this trip BUT I'll be back, next trip is Nagambie lake over xmas shell be goin by then 4 sure
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Hi Ed - mate of mines just bought the Murchison Pub - might see you up there over christmas
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yep, sounds a goer, we will be there from 28 Dec for a week including new years parteeee, had a great NY nite last year by the lakeside, but bro thats only if you don't park your flash looking van near mine ;D I finally put sum pics up in my gallery of the tow van, Nearly, nearly had it ready for RWC, no probs with the motor sounding nice but the wiring ... oh well thats another job for another day .... oh so close :-\
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Keep practicing on that wiring - you know i'll be calling!!
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well chaps and chapettes, we are just about ready to drive off into the great unknown, caravan loaded and hooked on, crummydore stationwagon loaded with bikes and boards and very soon we will be hitting the frog and toad, wuz gunna leave early in the morning but decided to head up to Shepparton to the inlaws then get a start after brekkie tommorrow, Booked in at Hervey Bay for 3 weeks but all up we got 5 weeks away. Really looking forward to the break to mellow out from the bushfires. Speak to yas alls in 5 weeks !!!! wooo hooo ... is that the sound of the road calling ??? ...... on the road again, I just can't wait to get on the road again .... dum de dum de dum de doo ....... bye bye ;D
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hey eddy, if ur goin to river heads n wanna place to put the van for a nightor more ,
if u wanna stay a week or so just drop into the counsil n get a camping permit,heaps cheaper than a van park
my mobile numbers in the realestate add if u need me to ok it with the hervey bay counsil.
73 Ariadne st riverheads.its the double block directly oposite russel drive.
anyone hassles u say ur related to marty mcgrath. say ur my beddy brother. :)
http://ruralworld.com.au/properties/herveybay02/ (http://ruralworld.com.au/properties/herveybay02/)
thats the link to where it is.
marty
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That is great brother, thanks so much for the offer !!!!!!!!! ;D
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lol, thats cool thats what family do for eachother, ;)
its 1km from the boat ramp/car ferry across to frasier island n theres shops 20 foot away from the block 2, :)
its for sale 2 by the way, lol.
marty
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Hey bro, I'll PM the missusses mobile number so we can make contact ;D
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got the number sent u a message from my mob,
a camping permit couldnt be any more than $40 i wouldnt think. for a few weeks.
let me know if u find out.
marty.
p.s. u couldnt mow the lawn for me while ur up there . lol ;D
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been a week on the road and we have decided to stop at Kirra beach caravan park in coolongatta Qld, not gunna travel up to Hervey bay or Yeppoon, arrived here on Friday night and its taken us a few days to set up, haven't even touched the salt water yet!!! saw a beddie campa towing a caravan stopped outside Maccas on NSW Qld border the way and no bluddy camera handy! had some dramas with the auto in the stationwagon so the missuss gave me strict instructions (continual nagging) to put more trans fluid in the auto so topped her up and we spat out fluid all over the rear of the commydore and the front of her luverly caravan ..... so when we stopped sprayed degreaser all over the van and left streak marks on the paint work so now gotta polish the damn thing !!! snuk away from the van to use thie pay as you use internet at the caravan park so haven't got time to post pics .... cor tell yas what no more time
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good to hear everything is going good big bro!
ben
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went fishing at hasting point and fingal point today, biggest waves ever on the gold coast so no nudie bathing at coolangatta for us, have been staying put at kirra caravan park but found its full of grey nomads, pretty unsettling in the shower block in the mornings (please great one don't let me turn into one of these old people) no spotto beddies .......... damn wish the tow van was going cause its got way cool over the plastic vans the surfies are driving ........ no class with the jap vans but isn't it amazing what they can do with plastic these days :P ....... hope all the beddie brothers are well ;D
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good on ya Eddie .... hope your wearing ya BUGA T shirt!!!!!!!!
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arrived home last Thursday night :'( all butts and pieces accounted for, except I believe we left the sun behind us somewhere near Port Macquarie, left Kirra Friday morning after brekky and a great farewell from 6 elderly (well older than us anyway) couples from Vic, I know, I know, yes I said I don't want to become a grey nomad but they were all genuine good folk and always on for a yak I think we added a little more to their lives as much as I learnt to respect theirs, we travelled in good spirits as they occasionally sent us texts asking where we were and if we were doing all rite.
Stopped overnite at a roadhouse between Coffs Harbour and Port Mac and got a free loaf of raisin toast from the bread delivery truck, not many dinkum blokes around much now so was grateful when the driver smiled and offered the loaf as we crawled out of the caravan in the early morning to visit the shitters. Then thru Sydney,
stopped in Canberra, pulled up at the Firies station in Fyswhick and asked if we could park in their drive way, which they kindly obliged, excepting we were parked on an angle so we slept with our feet higher than our heads, next day had a look around the Capital, just as cold as i remember when we lived there about 22 years ago, then stopped in Gundagai overnight and in the driving cold rain I ran across the main bridge over the Murrinbingee river, something I've always wanted to do trouble is i went too far and ended up running on the freeway in dark with no reflective clothing. anyways we were stopped overnite at the Gundagai riverside caravan park (needing a shower and battery charge ups) when the power to the van kept going off, missus went and asked the manager if he could help and he told her that there was nothing wrong with the van park power pole and to pack our van and piss off. needless to say that wasn't gunna happen at 9.30 p.m. and its a good thing he spoke to her instead of me (because I may have teared up and got sulky .... not) so wrote a letter of complaint and called into the Council Info Centre ... sorry dude but if your gunna piss off the missus then expect sumthing back,
Lunch at the at the Hume weir in Albury and thought about an overniter at the Glen Rowan roadhouse but was too bitchin COLD so drove onto the outlaws in Shepparton for a few days, went MTB riding in the Barmah and got two flat tires so was a fair walk back to the house. Friday was unpack day and already planning the next trip. Back to work Monday :'(
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Did manage to get a beddie fix over the weekend, used metal studs to frame in the rear walls and refitted the rear panelling, looks much better and all panels are soid backed. even managed to frame around the rear window. the roadtrip has made us more determined to get the beddie tow project completed before the next trip to Nagambie in December, although the pressure is off us for a few months so might start stripping and painting the undercarriage next ;D keep vannin brothers ... by the way anyone driving the grey undercoat windowless beddie van in Echuca in Wednesday last week ? that was the only van we saw on the whole trip, I asked the missus for the camera and we very quickly walked over to where it was parked, got half way and the bugger drove off right past us !! bummer man, I think I got a pic of the rear only. uh sorry we also saw a brown van in a garage on the Pacific Hwy near the northern rivers in NSW ... was that yours ? sorry couldn't turn around and visit cause we were towing a village behind us ;D
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juz relalised something, which shows that I must be a real beddie nutter ...... we're into our second week of being home from the roadtrip and the experience is fading into memories .... but ..... the first weekend back home spent two days on the beddie relining the side panels ...... then this weekend I sez to the missus that I was not gunna work on the van and spend some time with her ..... so ...... Saturday spent all day fitting a flash rear vision mirror and framing the side door latch and planning to carve a door handle, then Sunday ...... spent the morning fiddling with a radiator hose before she dragged me away to do a day trip to Nagambie ...... whats all this mean you may say ...... weeellllll ... I still haven't unpacked the caravan !!! ::)
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haven't had much time on the beddie, but have managed to frame and refit the rear interior panel, wire up an internal light and fit the flare kit, came up a treat all shiny and nice fitting 'cepting I used satin black instead of matt black and they are glossier than the rest of the van. Not much happening with the project as this month and next month I will be working weekends with minimal time off, hopefully get into her agin in November in time to have her tow the caravan up to Nagambie over Xmas hollies, I'll post some pics when I get mojovated.
I have twin thermos on the radiator and there is a thingy ma jingy temp sender that comprises a copper wire with a cigar shaped senser on the end that sits in the top radiator hose and goes to a switchy thingy that isin turn wired to the relay that switches the thermo fans on. I cannot tighten the radiator hose clip enough to stop it leaking, the other thing is that the fans come on anyway when the ignition is switched on. I have disconnected the fans to save the battery upon starting then when the temp gauge shows warm I open the bonnett and reconnect the fans, I would like to get rid of the copper sensor altogether but what should I replace it with that is external of the radiator hose so I dont have the leaking problem yet maintain the sensor to switch the thermos on, I don't want to add a manual switch coz I know tha one day I'll forget to turn the fans on after Ive started her up :-\
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eddy you could try the temp gauge sender, but your better off to find something to assist with the sealing of the correct sender, I used to have some "rubber" tape, like a thick isulation tape, thant you could work into any shape you like and it would bond with itself and anything it came into contact with, cant remeber the name off it Engineers and plumbers use it.
Warren
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The switchey thingy that sits between the sensor and the relay should be the manually adjusted thermostat. It's probably not set right yet and that is why the fans are coming on when you start the van assuming your relay wiring is correct. Turn the knob or shaft of the thermostat right round in the opposite direction and that will stop the fans starting then when the engine gets to the temperature that you want the cooling fans to engage at slowly turn the the thermostat shaft back till you hear a click and the fans start. Watch your fingers during this process. if you start getting nuisance switching with the fans constantly turning on and off at operating temperature just set the thermostat a little higher.
When I had this setup with the old 186 I used some urethane sealer similar to the stuff the auto glass guys use to help seal the hose. I put the sender in position and then coated the surrounding area with the urethane sealer. Then I eased the hose over the top and tightened up the hose clip. You will need to leave it overnight to allow the sealer to set and then you should be good as gold. Makes it a bit of a sod to remove the hose later on but it fixes the sealing problem.
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thanx guys that is ace advice' I'll give it a try this Saturday (gotta work Sunday :-\) thanx again