BUGA Community

G'day

Welcome aboard even if for a short time. I will put my hand up as being interested. I await more photos and info.

Regards

G'day
After a few years of driving other vehicles I am really wanting to get back into a Bedford.
I know it is going to be a task so here goes...

I will need to replace and update a few things and I noted the discussions about Kia Carnival seats.
I have been looking around and even though the Carnivals are dying, I have not been able to find one until this morning on Facebook. A dead one for $200. Trouble was another bloke was after it and he had first refusal. By chance we both showed up at the same time and I told I only wanted the back seats and seatbelts. He didn't have a trailer and I offered to take it to his place for the parts I wanted. Deal done! so I went home and got my Range Rover and car trailer to do the move. I had just replaced the 3 belts on the front of the motor but on the way into town the new alternator belt snapped. BUGA!
A 2 hour task turned into a 4 hour task but I now have the 2 rear seats out of a 2005 Carnival.

Some new posts:

http://www.bedfordcf2van.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/world-van-dies-july-1986.html

Wouldn't you love to get your hands on the dropkicks at GM who thought that dropping the CF was a good idea.

GM certainly has a long history of shooting itself in the foot.

G'day

I am back, well for a while anyway. It looks like I will be involved with a local solar farm project.

I should start a thread "What have you been up to this year".
The economy has been very quiet around here so I have been traveling all over the state for work, and am into my 5th vehicle for the year due to kangaroos, trees, engine failure, and lack of rego. I have been staying in pubs and swagging it. While I have been away most of my stuff has been vandalised and bits pinched which has taken the edge off the money I made.


So what have I been up to this week?
I have just purchased an ex-bakery Suzuki Carry van in Junee as cheap transport. It is a 2004 model with only 50K kms. I have already put on a pair of 16" alloys to gear it up and an Ignis tacho dash with red LEDs and a Baleno dimmer. While I was away I picked up a set of Mazda 3 bucket seats and a lot of other goodies so I will be busy for a while.

In Japan the Carry van can be got as an optioned up luxury people mover...
DA64W SUZUKI EVERY WAGON PZ TURBO SPECIAL.
But we cant get it here because we have to support a couple of old dinosaur makers.

So interesting parts are available in Japan at ridiculously cheap pricing. I just got onto Yahoo Actions and purchased a complete electric power steering tilt column, with controller and wiring for $54 that will be an easy fit into my van... 
http://page4.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/d131098973
I don't speak squiggly stuff so I am doing it through a buying agent...
http://www.noppin.com/

There are at least 3 car makers in China who make a Carry Van knock-off with one of them selling over a million so far. So there are lots of replacement parts and hot-up bits available at very ridiculously cheap prices...
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Changan-star-6363-6371-6350-after-rear-light-assembly-steering-lamp-brake-lights-reversing-light/1004467185.html.
I have just ordered some very interesting bits.

I was looking at putting in some Phillips Extreme headlight bulbs and priced them in a shop for $149. I have them coming from the UK for $35 delivered...
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PHILIPS-X-TREME-EXTREME-VISION-H4-HEADLIGHT-HIGH-MAIN-BEAM-BULBS-/330759576294?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4d02ce9ae6

The Internet is dramatically changing the way retailing works. I just had a discussion with a local large retailer, who had a go at me about my buying practices. I asked him how he was getting he IT support done now, and he replied "via the Internet".
So it is OK for him to cut me out of work but not OK for me to cut him out of profits!!! Go figure?

Here is an example of a Carry van out of Hong Kong...


Vanning is not dead.

G'day

For those that are geographically challenged or cannot get to a newsagent due to whatever:
http://avaxhome.ws/magazines/car_bike_boat_transport/just_cars_january_2013_australia.html