new owner introduction

[bb]

Hi All,

My names Brenton and I've been silently floating around this forum since '09 with the hope of buying a Bedford. It's taken some time to find a beast and for a while there I even put the idea into the too hard basket due to price and scope of work required after seeing what some of you do.

Fortunately late last year I managed to be lucky enough to buy a good project 70's CFS (I think) that was last on the road in Adelaide approximately 15 years ago. I have a feeling this van came from the eastern states though. I think it was driven by an enthusiast at the time so maybe someone might remember it.

It seems straight enough and hopefully low on rust. It has no interior or electrical but the running gear has had some effort put into it as a 302 (or 351) as a ford conversion with a c6 trans and 9inch diff. The under body is all clean enough to eat on with disk brakes all round and is registered as a v8, so while this is my first time attempting this stuff with a long way to go I figured it was a worthy cause.

There's a few areas that I don't even know where to start but that's part of the reason I'm here, to join the group and ask a million questions. I have some body work to do at the front with some wheel arches to be fixed and maybe even a fibre glass spoiler needs to be purchased. It has a custom frame on the front to mount up a lot of XB ford pieces like a grill and lights that has come with it. It also has a modified XB bonnet with the scoops ready to go which is pretty cool. Inside there is a custom frame with XB seats mounted already but your looking at the engine so there's a console/firewall that needs to be sorted out. Also has forward rack and pinion installed with a steering column that isn't mounted to anything yet, kinda floating there and I have no idea what bracket is required to secure it properly. Anyways...

I would have quizzed the original owner on some of his intentions but he's not around anymore to talk to so I just have to run with his original ideas and combine it with my own. All part of the fun I'm sure.

Picture attached on the tow truck, more to come

Cheers
Brenton

[John Abbott]

Welcome to the fun house Brenton Sounds like you have a pretty good base to start with and you might find out a bit more history on it from a few of the keen vanners on here.Keep the pics comming because we luv em...
cheers..johnno

[johnxb351]

Hi Brenton.  you got the good drive line is she a cleveland or windsor engine.  if shes a cleveland  i would love to see photos of how the engine sits in there. i never seen one in a bedford close up. best of luck with her.

[bb]

gday John,

Cleveland 2V geelong version as far as I'm aware at this stage, im still learning but i'll tag photos with some questions I'm going to post soon. I've got a feeling some of my design issues are going to be solved more through creativity and suggestions from buga members.

[johnxb351]

cool  i love the old clevelands . am sure the lads on here with help you out with info. mate what diff ratio in your 9''

[Marishka]

Good score Brenton, nice lookin van.
Welcome to buga.
Cant say ive ever seen it around down my way though.
Awsome combination 351 cleveland C6 n 9 "
Ive got a fully recond JG33 gt 351 cleveland, recond C6 just sitting in the shed waiting for a purpose in life.
Id be interested to see the engine mount setup you have.
Ive heard the conversion is less floor stealing than a holden 308.
Cheers marty

[Dano]

Love it BB, looks like a really cool Van, love the custom work already, and the Simmons ...are they  18" ....awesome bud welcome aboard.. Dan

[wendyh]

hey Brenton interesting your beddy bug sat dormant for so long...very persistant bug it is hey !
WARNING u will never recover now hahahaha
looking forward to a lot more pics of your van! 
Cheers wendy & ray

[bb]

cheers for the replies all

marty- interesting to see you have one of these already. I'll be keen to know if this engine is what I think it is, weekend is the time for some more pics.

Dano-  unfortunately I didn't get to keep the simmons mags, they wanted to sell them at a pretty high price. They were something crazy like 40-50cm wide. I dread to wonder at the tyre prices let alone trying to get that kind of offset registered after going over the pits, they stuck out as far the guard flares on the rear...

wendy/ray - cheers, I think the restoration time was meant to be a slow mission with no corners cut, which has now become my project