Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,790
Club RR Member Number: 34
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low commer- ive done it.Dez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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Apr 15, 2007 14:18:38 GMT
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not totally finished yet, but i just had to drop it down and see where it sat  ive still got to fit some (shorter) front shocks, which is easy as they're the same mounts top and bottom as a bug so muchos choice. on the rear ive got to finish off the new axle saddles i fabbed, and notch the chassis rails for clearance, as its very tight back there. ive already cut a round hole in the floor for the diff, which is covered by a hubcap. the front is cut springs (ive taken pics to do a cuttting springs how to later as theres been a few people asking), trimmed bumpstops, low profile tyres (195/50), and itll be getting firmer shocks as mentioned. rear has been converted from spring over axle to spring under axle, which has dropped it about 5.5-6". i fabbed all the new saddles and shackle plates myself from 1/4" plate, and used landrover U-bolts. the rear shocks on these are lever arm with droplink, mounted on a bracket that sticks down 5", so all ive go to do is remove the bracket and bolt them to the chassis X-member instead, and theyll work like stock. the rear rides as stock, front is a little firmer due to the uprated spring rate from cut coils. drop is approximately 6" all round.     total expensiture so far- £15 for the fornt tyres!! ive still got to buy shocks, but thats it. ive obviously put a lot of labour/fab time in though. i got the narrowed look for free  |
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low commer- ive done it.BenzBoy
@benzboy
Club Retro Rides Member 7
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Apr 15, 2007 14:22:02 GMT
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Winner! Looks awesome. What are your plans for the rest of it?
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,542
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Apr 15, 2007 14:25:20 GMT
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the rear rides as stock, front is a little firmer due to the uprated spring rate from cut coils. drop is approximately 6" all round. Fab!  I think you should convert that to mm so that all these euro type guys learn what lowering is really about  Can I make a suggestion? Paint the bodywork behind the grill matt/satin black? I always think the large expanse of body colour paint behind the grilles on these takes away from the styling of the grille itself  |
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable. |
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Apr 15, 2007 14:27:00 GMT
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wowsers - hovercraft look FTW
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,790
Club RR Member Number: 34
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low commer- ive done it.Dez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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Apr 15, 2007 14:33:13 GMT
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plans are do the few little jobs for the mot, which is mostly finish sorting the bodywork, then use it. its never been welded before in the past, and needs comparitavely little now, which is nice. until i can find a donor 740/760/940/960 vulva with a 2.3 16v turbo lump for this and a 4.10 ratio lsd rear axle for the merc 6" is 150mm. proper lowering! my split was done more like 10"(250mm) though both mercs were 4-4.5", and naomis bug about 6-7" yeah, i like em low!!! I'm going to do something with the grille, i don't like it either. might not just paint it though, might get all custom on its ass............we'll see |
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Apr 15, 2007 14:34:23 GMT
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Again, one that soooooo suits that look.
You have done well.
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Apr 15, 2007 14:37:31 GMT
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WOW! thats the tits! a lowered bumper mount would look ace, so the bumper is close to the ground, so it just clears speed bumps, i love commer campers!!! looks ace low, i bet it'll ride well on stiffer dampers too! good work there fella!
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Mini 998cc grp bonnet & boot, lightend shell, 6-point cage, soon to have a turbo on the 998 engine (t2 frm a r5gt) rs turbo intercooler, hoping to get 120ish bhp?
father is building a Mini Van 1330, 45 weber, 100bhp@wheels
'RIP' 1.8 Metro GTi, 15.23 1/4mile
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Marc
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,037
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Apr 15, 2007 14:41:34 GMT
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Looks ace!
I love these things, remember loads of them rolling about as BT vans in the early '80s.
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Apr 15, 2007 14:43:39 GMT
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should i get a commer camper or a dub? arrrhhh i'll decide after the summer its only parts supply that puts me off a commer
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Mini 998cc grp bonnet & boot, lightend shell, 6-point cage, soon to have a turbo on the 998 engine (t2 frm a r5gt) rs turbo intercooler, hoping to get 120ish bhp?
father is building a Mini Van 1330, 45 weber, 100bhp@wheels
'RIP' 1.8 Metro GTi, 15.23 1/4mile
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,790
Club RR Member Number: 34
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low commer- ive done it.Dez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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Apr 15, 2007 14:47:51 GMT
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ive building up a good stock of parts myself, repro panels are available too. commers are a real parts-bin special, so all the mechanicals are easily avaialable, you just need to know what to look for. and if theres something you cant get, you could have it hand fabbed from caviar by naked virgins for less than the vw scene tax ;D |
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Graham
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,282
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Apr 15, 2007 14:48:32 GMT
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that will looked wicked when done love the commer look
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Maximum signature image height: 80 pixels
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Neil
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,485
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Apr 15, 2007 15:04:23 GMT
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That looks the nads!!!  What's the story with the 2cv?? |
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,790
Club RR Member Number: 34
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low commer- ive done it.Dez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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Apr 15, 2007 15:11:45 GMT
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it naomis, (technically her dads) and I hate it!! its a french turd. cant stand em. i defy anyone to design a worse car, then instist on inflicting it on the worlds population for 40 odd years. but thats the french for ya woefully underpowered and idiosyncratic. (i am used to driving something of at least 2 letres, preferably 4L, thats capable of blowing away modern traffic not struggling to keep up with it though) its got 12months test and tax and is for sale once the commers usable. well you did ask |
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Last Edit: Apr 15, 2007 15:14:41 GMT by Dez
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Neil
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,485
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Apr 15, 2007 15:20:13 GMT
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it naomis, (technically her dads) and I hate it!! its a french turd. cant stand em. I defy anyone to design a worse car, then instist on inflicting it on the worlds population for 40 odd years. but thats the french for ya woefully underpowered and idiosyncratic. (i am used to driving something of at least 2 letres, preferably 4L, thats capable of blowing away modern traffic not struggling to keep up with it though) its got 12months test and tax and is for sale once the commers usable. well you did ask  |
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Apr 15, 2007 15:55:59 GMT
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Oh dear Ash - I don't think we'll be converting him to our cause! ;D
I do question why it is so badly designed just because it doesn't have 40000bhp. Find me another retro that'll do 30mph over speed humps, deliver fun handling at serious pathetic speeds, carry a household door (well, with the roof off!), deliver 40+mpg, that takes part in a 24hr race every year (Snetterton coming up folks!), that has easily removable seats for picnics/load capacity, that can take being driven flat out everywhere (because you have to!) and that is capable off road.
But, then they are an acquired taste and we are all different! Long may we remain so.
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org |
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Ether
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,450
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Apr 15, 2007 16:31:04 GMT
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Brilliant Commer - these are fast becomming the new bays/splitties, and rightly so! Great info, too. I shall be checking this thread when I get mine Great work. |
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Apr 15, 2007 16:34:01 GMT
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Loving that Commer, looks great with its factory fit narrow front beam |
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Apr 15, 2007 17:15:40 GMT
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Ooh that's nice. Proper low. I'm with you Dez on doing a custom grille. I don't think the standard one suits the shape of the vehicle.
How about some pics of the fabbing of brackets to compliment the spring chop? Rmad and I showed a spring cutting 'how to' a few years back (gulp! that long!!) so it's about time another one came along.
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Peugeot 307sw - Suzuki SV650S - MX5.
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,790
Club RR Member Number: 34
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low commer- ive done it.Dez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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Apr 15, 2007 17:19:46 GMT
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i knew id get lynched by the 2cv geeks of rthat comment agreed it does do 30mph over speedbumps, its about its only good point. leading link front sus is the work of the devil though!! i agree you don't need power to have fun- ive had as much fun in the past in my 50hp and 100hp cars as i have in my 500hp one.(and much more hairy moments!!) like you say, horses for courses |
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,790
Club RR Member Number: 34
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low commer- ive done it.Dez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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Apr 15, 2007 17:27:14 GMT
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Brilliant Commer - these are fast becomming the new bays/splitties, and rightly so! Great info, too. I shall be checking this thread when I get mine Great work. commers are better than splits or bays as a practical classic camper, and ive had experience/owned all of em. a commer is, much, much bigger inside, and isnt restricted on layout by a front bulkhead behind the seats, or a raised rear floor. they're more powerful as stock too. the suspension is of a better design, especially the front. if youre talking camping conversions, most of the british companies converted both commers and bays. if youre talking modding them, you have massive choice when it comes to engine, gearbox and rear axle, unlike a vw which has few options and all of em are expensive. they're also already water cooled which saves a lot of work. oh yeah, and mine cost me £5,601 less that i sold my 13 window split for, and the commer is miles better equipped and in better condition. talk about no scene tax!! so i bought an all steel '28 model A sedan with the change |
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I think you should convert that to mm so that all these euro type guys learn what lowering is really about 
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