diesel in a beddie?

[eddy]

any clues on putting a diesel in a beddie?, been looking at Trademe NZ and there seems to be a few Cf vans with diesels, missus is looking at  a caravan in Mackay so shes getting fairly serious about hooking up a caravan to the beddie and high tailing it out of here for a few months, still shy about getting the 253 back into the camper keep worrying about overheating, would like the 202 efi but I don't think it would last the distance, a V6 is another option but isn't that the same as the 202 efi just a bit fancier, we drove a diesel camper last trip to NZ and by all counts they seem reliable and strong and I suggest more compatable to Oz conditions ? The other prob I have with petrol is finding a gear box strong enough for the conditions and tow ball wieght ...... any suggestions, oh its a 21 ft caravan .... 

[BusyKiwi]

modifying the van is a pain, you have to add a return fuel line to the tank and all the wiring (glow plug timers) and stuff.
I started with an LD28 nissan which had option of 3 spd auto, 3 spd auto with overdrive or 5 spd manual - problem is overdrive option means removing the gas tank to make a trans mount.
They need a lot of cooling so a good radiator is needed, the diff ... a 9in would give you more options, the cresta option (I think you have them there) is to high ratio.
with diesel you have to service them regularly and diesel oil, plus the fuel filter and oil filters aren't cheap and if you ever cook the motor you're in for big bucks to rebuild the motor.  I ended up going back to 6cly holden with lpg

[TOOLKING]

hey if it comes down to towing a caravan then the 202 and the 253 would both do it easily.
if your going to do some changes, it might be easier to put in a larger radiator like a WB 3 core and twin thermo fans.  the gearbox should be fine if it is serviced but otherwise see if a let model commodore gearbox will fit as you might be able to get a 4speed auto

[eddy]

thanks for the tips Busy and TK, okay looks like a toss up between the efi 202 and 253, bigger radiator shouldn't be a drama, and I got a choice between a 9" and a borg warner, still not sure about a gearbox though, what are the thoughts of the 202 efi and toyota 5 speed to tow long miles? the old crusty.... I mean rusty .... I mean shirty .... no its tha trusty trimatic is always a worry so I feel it appropriate to turf it,

I also need to consider air con and power steering cause the minister for land and taxes aint driving the beddie without creature comforts (I put a vanity mirror on her side of the roof console, isn't that enough?), any advice on which of these motors would better suit the add ons? 

I was thinking of a small roof mounted air con but I don't think theres enough roof space in front of the pop top on the roof, thought about the under dash model mounted to the cieling of the cab but I want to maintain head room so I can get into the rear of the van from the drivers seat with out raking my back, no side door on the campa, only access is via rear doors or front doors .

I have made a bigger engine cover so the under dash mounted air con may not work, not enough room don't think I can mount an air con on the fibreglass pop top as I may have some troubles lifting the pop top I also want to put roof racks on the pop top that rest on the gutter when the pop top is closed .... crapeola batman might have to buy that 4 x4 (not), and yes I know that a big mutha of a V8 with a turbo 350/400 would be preferable but I already got the two above mentioned engines so trying to build with what I got to keep within budget 

[Tweaker]

Hey eddy, check my Gallery as I've posted up pics fo my aircon setup. I have a Chev and it fits no prob

I used to tow a large caravan around with an HQ 253 trimatic with no problems at all. If I was setting up for towing I myself would go with the auto as it makes the drive all that much more easier and more comfy

The only times I have heating problems is when stopped! As in traffic, but never while moving! I will fix this one day with Thermofans and an electric water pump, so when I turn the motor off the pump can keep cooiling the motor.

Again, my thoughts on the 253 is that it is an easier fitment into the van and can handle all the weight including the extra drain on the motor when you're going up hill with a caravan and the air-con is on.

I know a 6 can do all this also, but my thoughts are. The enging that works less will last longer!

My mate has a 4 cyl. It's great on economy, except when you put the air-con on. We might as well be driving my 4.1L Fairmont.

All the best eddy, I hope it all comes together for you in time!

[BlackBedford]

G'day
There is a CFL cab chassis for sale up the road with a Toyota Hilux 2.4L diesel motor and gearbox fitted. It is a very messy conversion as they have fitted the Hilux wiring harness dash and other bits. Takes up a LOT of cabin space and while the motor was reliable, they had lots of problems with the peripherals, to the stage it got parked. The current owner thinks that it can be got going very easily and is worth a lot of money. And no, he would not let me take any photos.

Regards

[beddiediesel]

any clues on putting a diesel in a beddie?, been looking at Trademe NZ and there seems to be a few Cf vans with diesels, missus is looking at  a caravan in Mackay so shes getting fairly serious about hooking up a caravan to the beddie and high tailing it out of here for a few months, still shy about getting the 253 back into the camper keep worrying about overheating, would like the 202 efi but I don't think it would last the distance, a V6 is another option but isn't that the same as the 202 efi just a bit fancier, we drove a diesel camper last trip to NZ and by all counts they seem reliable and strong and I suggest more compatable to Oz conditions ? The other prob I have with petrol is finding a gear box strong enough for the conditions and tow ball wieght ...... any suggestions, oh its a 21 ft caravan .... 

Hi Eddy,
About 12 years ago I installed an ED33 nissan diesel (4 cyc) and a 5spd g/box with a splitter box bolted on the back of the main g/box(they also call it the 10spd g/box)- which came out of those Nissan civillian buses.
The ED33 is non-turbo (3.3ltr-96HP@ 3200 rpm),however the ED33 have loads of power when climbing hills but it sometimes has a struggle to maintain cruising speed on flat roads-it will do 90/95 or 100 kmph on flat or slight down hill-it depends on road conditions and wind.

However at the time i couldnt get hold of a FD35 turbo (3.5ltr-130HP @ 3200 rpm),there is also a FD35 non-turbo (3.5ltr-105HP @ 3200 rpm) so i'll have to wait till ED33 wears out!.

Then get hold of a sump that is from a nissan ED30 which is out of a 1977/78 nissan caball light truck witch has a box like sump at the rear end of the sump,so that it will clear the bedfords main front cross member.
Also use the nissans front engine mounts and sit them on 100mm box steel tube- laid them on their side & weld them long ways on the bedford front cross member.

Anyway make sure you get rid of the bedford radiator because they are too small-get a radiator from a 1983/84 or 85 ford trader truck and grab hold of the Vac tank for the brake booster as well.

Do Change the exhuast system & muffler otherwise you will stuff up the injectors,these engines dont like back pressure, and do fit a engine brake too because you will need it on steep twisty roads,so you wont cook ya brakes.

Most nissans comes with a 24volt starter & alternator and glow plugs which is what mine is,then you can run the bedfords wiring system on the house batterys-meaning you will need two alternators-one is 12v the other is 24v-just make up a bracket for the 12v-its easy-dont use the old lucas 12v Alternator-i use an 80amp bosch Alternator from 1982/88 merc.

I'm happy to post up photos of my diesel conversion-but can i still use photobucket on this new beddy site-if so how?...

[beddiediesel]

BTW Eddy-my beddy still has the Original diff (Dual wheels) -the diff ratio is 5.1.222 which is the same ratio on the single wheel ones.The ratio is alitle to high which is fine by me, so when the ED33 decides to kick the bucket-i just bolt in the ED35 turbo.
The other thing i did is i built a rear anti roll bar witch it sure helps to stop the roll on corners.I have shown photos to Johnno on the old BUGA board.

[Warren]

Beddiediesel

You Can use the insert image icon to add pictures, or you could make an albumn and post your pictures directly on this site.

If you post them here they will be available all the time unlike what sometimes happens with photobucket.

Warren 

[eddy]

thanx for the info beddydiesel, I spoke to an ex mechanic work mate, he recommends going the 308, I was reading apost quite a while back that mentioned that 308's came out of the Holden factory in beddies and that an engineers wasn't required, is this true?