G'day from Port Macquarie new member

[Appsy]

Hi All

My name is Mick and I am new to Beddys I have always admired them and now have the pleasure of owning one, my old girl is a 72 model with the XC head lights and grill 308 and a very tired trimatic gearbox (looking for a turbo 400 if anyone knows of one for sale). Great to have a site dedicated to Beddys with the knowledge and know how you all have will make fixing the old girl up a lot easier, looking forward to getting to know you lot and learning from the informative threads.

Cheers Appsy

[hotrod]

Gidday and welcome
That would be the van from Briz vegas
dare say there was a few on here watching it's progress on ebay
what did it end up costing

[Appsy]

Gidday and welcome
That would be the van from Briz vegas
dare say there was a few on here watching it's progress on ebay
what did it end up costing

Yep it sure is Joe who I bought it off couldnt beleive I travelled all the way from Port Macquarie to buy it, paid $3200 for it not sure if it was a bargain or too much but either way I am still a happy camper figured that all the engineering ETC would be worth that alone

Cheers Appsy

[BlackBedford]

Hi All
 a very tired trimatic gearbox (looking for a turbo 400 if anyone knows of one for sale).

My advice is to look into it before buying a T400.  The bolt pattern is different so you will need an adaptor plate and then shorten the tailshaft or move the motor forward. The other alternative is to redrill the back of the block which is a job in itself.
There have been several magazine articles about building bullet-proof trimatics and it is not a major job. I would suggest by the time you buy the T400 and do the conversion, a rebuilt Trimatic is a viable alternative.

Regards

[Appsy]

Hi All
 a very tired trimatic gearbox (looking for a turbo 400 if anyone knows of one for sale).

My advice is to look into it before buying a T400.  The bolt pattern is different so you will need an adaptor plate and then shorten the tailshaft or move the motor forward. The other alternative is to redrill the back of the block which is a job in itself.
There have been several magazine articles about building bullet-proof trimatics and it is not a major job. I would suggest by the time you buy the T400 and do the conversion, a rebuilt Trimatic is a viable alternative.

Regards

Thanks for the advice did'nt know that what about the T350 is that the same bolt pattern ?? does it match ?? I have never rebuilt a auto how hard is that to do ??

[Zeeman]

If you're planning to do many highway miles, and keeping the van for a while, get a Turbo 700 (4 speed auto).

You will soon get tired of the high revs at speed with a turbo 400 or trimatic.

[Appsy]

If you're planning to do many highway miles, and keeping the van for a while, get a Turbo 700 (4 speed auto).

You will soon get tired of the high revs at speed with a turbo 400 or trimatic.

Hi Zeeman thanks for the advice and yes it here for the long haul and it will be doing HWY K's, couple of questions what about the electronics on the T700 and is the bolt pattern the same for the older 308's I think it is an early commodore red motor

[Appsy]

If you're planning to do many highway miles, and keeping the van for a while, get a Turbo 700 (4 speed auto).

You will soon get tired of the high revs at speed with a turbo 400 or trimatic.

Hi Zeeman thanks for the advice and yes it here for the long haul and it will be doing HWY K's, couple of questions what about the electronics on the T700 and is the bolt pattern the same for the older 308's I think it is an early commodore red motor
 Sorry correction black motor

[Zeeman]

Get a T700 from a V8 Holden - should bolt up to your 308, although check with your Holden experts.. Think VN - VP is the one to get, I'm sure I will be corrected if wrong. Check or reco before installing, 4th gear can burn out if they have been abused.

The earlier ones don't need a computer, later ones can be fitted with a small computer unit that interprets the motor signals for the transmission.

The conversion will probably cost 2 - 3 grand all up. But it makes the van a hell of a lot easier to drive long distances, and fuel consumption will be a bit better, depending on your right foot..

[ben]

if you have a 308 with trimatic behind it you have the wrong bolt pattern for the T700. you can get an adapter from CRS like $450!!!! or just get another trimatic for 150:) id go another trimatic. t700'S  are very sort after.

ben