Hello from Betty, '77 lwb camper

[Betty Bedford]

Hi all - been a guest for a while but time to join up as we got our project underway today - varying degrees of towing, refuelling, and jumpstarting and we finally have Betty to the mechanic's to get it underway.

Just have to remove some rust, minor we are told...
and probably just recondition the slant 4, to get us on the road, for now...
and do a tidy refit of the interior including some extra seats and belts for a family of 4

Can really only look to do the interior work ourselves, would love to tackle the rest but no experience yet in this adventure.
The forum and members seem dupe helpful, so look forward to getting another Beddy back on the road with your help.

Cheers
Sam   

[Sammy]

you've definitely come to the right place if you need info and advice on how to tackle things yourself!

[wendyh]

Welcome to you both and Betty! 
hope to see more pictures 

[Betty Bedford]

Thanks all - Its a very welcoming community here, which I could tell from sifting around as a guest for a while, so already getting help from nearby members already sourcing the few parts that I know I need already...am sure that list will grow soon.

Pics from our one trip out so far - a cosy night at Mt Holdsworth. Ran out of gas the next day of course as the gauge didn't work properly.

Bit more of a full intro ramble.

Have had 'Betty' since november last year after about a year of getting obsessed about owning a beddie - no one could start work on it before xmas, and been slow making it happen in the new year but now taking the plunge.

Its in at panel shop now - getting work list and estimate tomorrow...will get them to take some pics during work if possible, otherwise will be out to check on progress but its happening a good 1.5hrs drive form where we live.  Fixing the rust only, going to keep all the panels in their standard shaped glory.

I think we have our eyes open going into this and money spent is for the joy of a classic & unique van (that you can sleep in!) vs boring modern motor full of too much technology, but wondering it if gets a bit spency (as zero experience in this have no idea how much removing supposedly minor rust will be) is it in someways better long term to dig a bit deeper and upgrade the drivetrain vs fixing whats there? I say this as it is all stock, 2.3 4cyl 4 speed manual(ZF I think), standard diff (unsure of ratio, have receipts showing it was worked on, all new bearings, but no change of ratio).  Engine is blowy, runs but needs rebuilding.

As our plan is for a weekender and holiday camping machine, but long term plan is for a small J series bus, but this is a far off dream. If however we get there not sure we'd want two campers, and so wondering is money spent on upgrading the drivetrain
all well spent, if you had to move it on? Or is it all going to be just money spent, and enjoy it for use, which is want we want to do?

So anyone out there want to offer some basic drivetrain advice - i'll try and set a few parameters. Unlikely I can do any of this myself, and just learning the technical side of things) and none of my mates are really into cars.  Want it to be a good cruiser, be happy at 90-100kms, and if the economy can improve or not get worse. Unlikely can't afford to change everything, maybe nothing, but if we can...

To get some better open road cruising would anyone advise changing the diff first, keeping it behind the standard box and motor for a while? Or will the standard motor and box not suit the highway gearing, when it comes to hill climbing etc?

Change to a 6cyl with a good overdrive manual box, and keep standard diff - hold out maybe get lucky and find a Cresta gear set. As we have to spend money of the engine as is will try and get that estimated, plus wondering with the ZF box these have some resale value here don't they?  202's don't seem to pricey, but guess money is in the box and the fitting? Any advice on a budget for this?

A V8 will mean changing everything?  Plus staying manual sounds a problem, don't think I'm up for that, but as I grew up reading Street Machine there is definitely a part of me that dreams about it...

And so, next step, will post a build thread an whilst bodywork is underway take in all your wise advise.

Cheers
Sam

[BusyKiwi]

If you change the engine you'll need to change the diff, you could go cresta but then you're limited to what you can have in the future. If you put a commodore or falcon centre in your bedford diff you have no limits to ratios and are strong enough for a V8 while keeping the CF axles/stud pattern (which can be redrilled to HQ pattern if wanted).

The ZF gearbox is a high demand box - they use them in stockcars. They come in 2 ratio sets thou but you should easily get $800 for it on trademe

The 2.3 will be very under powered for a camper, you said if you go V8 you'll have to change everything, you'll have to do that no matte what engine you put in it. Look around for a dereg or damaged 6cyl holden van and swap the running gear over. If your lucky enough to get a Aussie assembled one you wont have to cut out anything. Even look at mk2 cf as the crossmembers are the same (just the mounting points differ) but they never came out from OZ with the 6 in it.
The other option is to buy a complete donor car, example a VN commodore and swap EVERYTHING over.

Bedfords are great but do have their issues, wiring is one, rust can be another, power another but if you can get past that they are the biggest, strongest van out there with a sexy look and usually a head turner

[Marishka]

Nice lookin poptop sam, welcome
Like Busy said, the bedford vans are the strongest and best lookin
Out there.
You can do so much to them in every respect.

[Gordon]

Hey Sam, good to see another Kiwi getting into the mix.

All the best with your project. Sadly Bedford vans don't command the asking prices of the older VW buses so whatever you invest in terms of restoring / upgrading your van don't bank on making a profit when you sell the van. Busy's advice is the best in terms of keeping a look out for a van that has already had a mechanical transplant done. Its a fairly easy exercise just to swap everything from one van to another and you can always sell what you don't end up using.

I ditched my old Vauxhall mechanicals for Chev V8 power and my fuel consumption isn't much worse, power and driveability is much better and the auto box makes driving a real pleasure. All the best.