NSW/QLD....

[wendyh]

hahhhaah mine will do 130 no prob but prefer to cruise the freeway on 120 ...thought it better to  should say at min the legal speed limit  ...cant over work my beddie too much !

[Fres@SXV]

Hey Guys, just wanted to gauge the amount of interest out there for a overnight stay up at Bathurst next year. As one of only two van enthusiasts from NSW to have subjective themselves to the "torture" of co-ordinating a Van Nats twice (some people never learn), I need to head up that way before flying over to WA for the 2012 Van Nats south of Perth. There is a small possibility that the event could be staged at Bathurst in the future.

My philosphy on vanning is to get as many vans in one place, at the one time, at least once a year. That is why you will always find me at the Van Nats every year - with or without a van. Maybe its time for that philosphy to be applied at the state level.

After being around vanning for many years, I used to think I knew what most van enthusiasts wanted. However, now I am not so sure.

Appreciate your thoughts.
Fres

[wendyh]

yep sound kool by us !

[Worby876]

If it was SEQ or Northern NSW I,d be keen for a meet n greet or  camping trip.
But like my friend from Lismore my beddy camper is flat out doin 85 km/h

That's why I'm looing at getting a Celica 5 speed  box any one near Brissy know
How to do the conversion at home or is it a project for a mechanics workshop?

Do I need an engineers cert if I change the gear box from 4 to 5 speed?

[wendyh]

we can still have  buga weekend at south west rocks like already in the planning stage...the van nats at bathurst sound like fun to go along to too

[willo]

If it was SEQ or Northern NSW I,d be keen for a meet n greet or  camping trip.
But like my friend from Lismore my beddy camper is flat out doin 85 km/h

That's why I'm looing at getting a Celica 5 speed  box any one near Brissy know
How to do the conversion at home or is it a project for a mechanics workshop?

Do I need an engineers cert if I change the gear box from 4 to 5 speed?

Hi mate,
Sounds like we are already setting up different groups if and when we get away.  Those of us who are happy ay 80k and those of us who are happier at 100k.  We'd need a bit longer to get there

I wondered about a 5 speed manual and may go down that path but mine is a factory auto and I can easily walk through to the back past the gear lever.  If I went manual I'm not sure where the gearlever would sit.

I'm keen on a VN-VP 4 speed auto for mine. 

I wondered about gearbox or diff ratios but then i started to look at how much power the motor actually had and how much weight it was pulling and where the problem was.  I can get off the line easily with the low (high number) ratio diff but it revs it head off at highway speeds.  Hence I have decided on another gear in the gearbox and will see how this goes first.

Re your engineers certificate question... In the old days the answer was a clear 'no' but in this time of rapid fire litigation and insurance loopholes I would ask the question of the authorities officially and if they advise you that you do not need an engineer's certificate I would get their response in writing and keep it safe 'to be sure. to be sure'.

I wonder how a Holden 5 speed box would go for you.  Being a camper it is not going to be drag racing so a normal holden 5 speed manual may hold up OK.  If you just changed the box and kept it all standard holden then this might negate any need for any engineering as it all bolts straight in.  IE same gearbox mount and cross member and the same tailshaft.  The Celica box requires new mount to be fabricated and output splines are different so new tailshaft front yolk needs to be manufactured as well.

It'd be interesting to chat more about this.

Neil