Confused New Member

[monkeyman87]

Hey BUGA folks...

Name's Monkey and I have a dilemma.

I found a '76 CFS for a decent price, but it's packing 400,000KMS on the clock. This makes me want to change the engine, but I don't know what would fit in place of its current one. I've been craving a Beddy for ages (it's the only van I'll settle for!) and I don't want to pass up the opportunity to have one of my own.

Any ideas?

[Dave]

A bedford with a working odometer what a find.

There are plenty of Holden red motors around, and thats what they came with so it is the easy option, but depends what you want, I am happy pottering around at below 80kms so havent changed the motor or diff, but would like a v8 one day just to keep p with the Jones's.
cheers
Dave

[restoreid]

Hey Monkey most off these big decisions revolve around how much money you have to spend & how handy you are with the tools I would stick with the holden 6 either red blue or black there is plenty off hop up parts out there & no engeneering hassels & no cutting up off floor sections & engin cover A v8 would be nice but a lot off trouble if your not handy with the tools Cheers Reid

[monkeyman87]

I'm not mechanically minded   so it'd be mostly up to a mech unless I can find a mate who can give me a hand.

What would be a good price for a decent reco'd Holden 6? I don't want to overpaying some slick dealer for an engine I could have gotten for  half the price if I spoke to the right bloke.

[restoreid]

The BUGGA members around Melbourne should be able to point you in the right direction

[Dave]

I took my red motor to a engine reconditioner and had it reconditioned several years ago for about $1,800 from memory (including fitting which he wasnt happy about as it took him longer to do a bedford than he thought it would). 
I dont know what I should have paid but judging by the way it runs now that it is out of warranty a bit more than I did.

In my pre bedford days I have had a few motors reconditioned and they were all great, and I would probably do the same next time.
I am guessing you have a holden 6 in your van and it wouldnt hurt taking it in and getting a quote from whomever does them in Melbourne.

Dave

[monkeyman87]

Thanks to you all. I'll make some calls now that I have some idea of what to ask about. You've been a great help 

[Marishka]

id go to a wrecking yard and look for an old holden wreck with the newest lookin red motor i could find, a recond one if possible.
(thats if its a red ur after)

and then check out the exhurst pipe of the wreck
( clean grey tinge) =was running well.

(black  and wet or heavy with deposits) =not running so good.

ud be surprized sometimes an old car gets a heart transplant then gets smashed or doesnt pass rego so its scrapped.

ive got a few good motors that way over the years.

or buy a complete wreck, (didnt pass rego or was smashed)
get ur good motor then ebay the rest of the good bits and you will prob get ur motor for free and make a bit 2 boot.   

[Warren]

Drive it till you KNOW the motor needs replacing and then do it

400K could mean that it has had a reco motor 50K ago.

What does the owner say ?

When you do have to put another motor in crounge around wreckers ebay trading post etc, you will be suprised what you will find


Warren

[TOOLKING]

Hey Im with warren, why replace it if its working fine
only replace it when it has had it. and holden reds are a dime a dozen, good motors and cheap to fix