1976 CF 'on top of' a Ford Falcon.....

[yoeddynz]

The owner/ has managed to source not one but two pairs of lights so that's all good. Now we need a decent bonnet....

Been back on this at work after getting back from two months away. Last friday we took it for the first test drive. I took a small vid on my phone...

Bedford CF on Ford Falcon chassis

Very happy with how it drives. Very smooth ride and not too loud considering it has no insulation, no exhaust, no sound deadening etc. brakes are fantastic, steering good. in fact its like driving an AU falcon...

I'm now busy removing rust.. of which there is quite a lot but luckily the underside is very very solid making the repairs so much easier.

[ShaneJ]

Very nice mate, well done. Tell me though, how die you get the steering to connect up?

I'm planing on installing an AU engine in my van also. No going to as much trouble as you though. Have thought about using the steering column but theres no way it will connect up without some kind of gearbox arrangement.

[Vandee]

Bevel box is used

[petrolhead]

Check out Ben's bonnets I think they are the dux nuts

[Bedfordcrazy]

Awesome job guys, cant wait to see it done. One thing though, although you know your van building, the camera work is well, lets say it maybe a good idea to get someone else to do the camera while you guys stick to custom vans. Maybe a longer video,i never get sick of seeing a beddy on film.

george

[yoeddynz]

Hiya,
 The steering is done with two opposed bevel boxes from mitsi or Toymota vans. Worked out well but took some measuring and looking for bits to suit because we can't weld any steering components for certification.

The camera work.. Well I didn't think we would be driving it that day so it's all taken on my old Nokia n95 phone. But then when I edited it on Imovie it compressed it heaps for you tube.  But hey you get the idea. .
When the van is more complete I'll take better vids.

I'm now having a much waited for break over Xmas and keeping busy fitting a quad cam Mazda v6 into my hb viva....

Alex

[yoeddynz]

Long overdue update 

I have been working away on the beddie but not full time and also I have had time off working on my Vauxhall Viva HB which is now fitted with engine type number four.

The Bedford is not far from going for a wof test. Once it has been tested and hopefully only failed on the lack of certification it will then get inspected by the engineer who has been following it through since I started it. Hopefully it should all be good and get a cert

Then its off with all the paint and many layers of filler that is weighing it down. There are many big dents and the roof is caved in on one area and filled with bog. It looks like the van at some point was driven under something that was a bit 'lower' than the van... plus we found out that the van was rolled onto its side many moons ago and hence the back is all a bit un-square...

The rear end has had a big makeover I think since last time I posted. Instead of having side opening doors it now has a custom made top hinged door- ala Japanese vans.  This was the owners choice and it works really well- he now has a lovely cover for camping when its raining. The plan is that at a later date a set of sides can be made out of canvas and turn it into a nice little sheltered area :-)

The old front seats, we think were possibly Torana items, have gone and instead I have fitted captains chairs with a swivel base on the passenger side.

The back 'stressed' seats have been fitted with the appropriate mounting points to suit the cert requirements. These are all removed now for the final interior steel fabrication jobs to be finished.

A set of 15" steel Falcon rims have been sent away to get widened out to 7.5" They will be fitted shiny hubcaps and with decent modern tyres once back. The idea is that it will look nice and stock/period.



Here is a another cool CF on the oldschool.co.nz forum for your viewing...

http://oldschool.co.nz/2011/forum/index.php?/topic/39698-1979-cf-bedford-bey-thats-mean-as-van/

Here's my own ongoing, constantly evolving Viva project..latest engine...


 
If you're interested in the Viva then you can read about it here...

http://oldschool.co.nz/2011/forum/index.php?/topic/28896-yoeddynzs-1968-viva-now-has-a-mazda-v6-lurking-in-engine-bay/

[atk1]

Sweet, cheers for the update, any pics of the rear hatch thingy you mentioned?

[restoreid]

Hi just checked out your house truck thred Now that's what I call a motorhome AWESOME Beautiful work & love your cats That looks like a great life you's live Love the v6 viva too love that sort of work wish I were 20 years younger Cheers Reid

[yoeddynz]

Hello all. I have not updated this in a while but here we go...

So Van has just come back from upholsterers and is looking pretty sweet inside. They have down a very neat job. I think it would be sweet if the seats were re-covered  in leather but at least they match the scheme quite well. So a just the rear door to paint,some wiring/stereo to finish,  under seal the underside and then its going up to Auckland to get the Cert committee to say yay or nay to the steering arrangement. Hopefully it'll be fine- It should be..because it is.. but if not I have worked out an alternative arrangement if not.

Photos I grabbed yesterday when I had popped into old work and saw it...











Cheers all,

alex