Day 1!!!!

[kimbosound]

Well the restoration began in earnest today......dismantled and removed the tray....next job - remove driveshaft and tranny. Oh and Craig....you were right....it made me bleed.....just like old times!!!


More Photos in my Gallery -

http://www.buga.com.au/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=8&g2_itemId=14197

[able]

if you take it for a spin without the tray on, remember not to brake to hard! 

very weird looking at it compared to a swb... it looks like a photoshop chop.

[ben]

looks like its nice and green down your way!

ben

[kimbosound]

you wouldnt belive it Ben.....was sunny enough for about an hour today....then pissed down!!!! only took and hour to get it off. Will make it easier to get to the driveshaft and diff bolts......the chassis is really clean under the tray....found all the bits under the seats as well today.....cheers.....lots still to do....i hope to hear back about a good trimatic on Monday thats in Perth so looking forward to finding if i can get it......will prob pull the whole front end out and stip down as well soon.....will keep you updated.

[John Abbott]

Hey Kim...Did that tray have floorboards on it? And are you going to put that tray back on /   

[kimbosound]

Yeah John....it had floor boards but they were pretty knackered.....firewood at best....i will be salvaging the tray....i am gonna shorten it slightly and add a alloy checker plate floor on it [but that is a long way off]....i am going to need a trimatic auto and a standard beddy diff to suit to get it up to drivable first.

[ben]

you didt want to just put wider offset tyres on the back?

[kimbosound]

cant do that Ben......front and rear got to track equal on the inside.....the rears can sit wider on the outside but they need to track evenly from front to rear.....   see my roughy drawing below

[ben]

if you have a look at any standard bedford van the rear actually tracks in a little bit from standard. not as much as your truck kim

from what ive herd there are a few reasons for this.

it partly involves the lateral movement of the beam with rear suspension travel, and I think it's common practice on most cars with a solid axle.

typically the rear wheels are in further to clear the wheel wells on stock springs when you have a lot of weight on
basically, it's to allow clearance for the rear to sag excessively with a heavy load (or trailer) without rubbing the fenders.

and a wider front track also helps counteract understeer.

im just concerned your gunna be cursing when you get a standard ratio diff in it. 4.2 or 4.9.

have you talked to your roadworthy man about this have you? 

it wasnt gunna be a problem here. but thats my mate thou.

cheers
ben

[kimbosound]

hey Ben......i get your drift.....i know a company that grafts 9 inch centers into standard beddy diffs.....it's a little costly but you can choose the ratio you want and everything lines up perfectly.....i did it on my last van. Getting the roadworthy is still a long way off by i am keen to get it driveable as close to original as i can.....

Will talk soon regarding a custom cab dash.....lol this is the first beddy i have had that does not have a fuse box under the dash!! does it have one at all? i havent really looked that hard......got the wipers going and a few other things......its house cleaning day today so the tranny is gonna have to wait til this afternoon....

Cheers

Kimbo