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 17:31:27 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. i can do some pics of fabbing brackets, and welding them on, but my worry is it will encourage people with tinpot machine mart welders to attempt safety critical mods on 1/4" parts that require good welds that there welder isnt capable of. i suppose if i put big 'know your limits' warnings though, it may encourage people to approach a mod like this from the correct engineering 'belt and braces' standpoint, and actually discourage them, so it may be worthwhile....
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Apr 15, 2007 17:38:14 GMT
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Brilliant, it's about time!! My dad had a '68 Autosleeper which succumbed to the dreaded tin-worm a few years ago. Now he's got a '61 which was apparently converted by Commer themselves, just need to persuade him to drag it out and get it on the road.
Late ones with the 1725 can be improved for modern motorway use by stuffing a Hunter overdrive box in and changing the diff for one from a Humber Hawk. Dad did both mods to his '68, after which she'd sit at an easy unstressed 75 all day if your wallet could stand it!!!
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archieboy
Posted a lot
Volvo Amazon 2 door
Posts: 1,168
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Apr 15, 2007 18:07:35 GMT
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That looks ace!
Looks like its hoverin' ;D
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Apr 15, 2007 18:10:07 GMT
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Slapped Commer? .......... The dogs conkers!!!!
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Ether
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,450
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Apr 15, 2007 18:32:35 GMT
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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 Couldn't have put it better myself. Trouble is, because they didn't have the following of VW's they tend to rot away. It's a real shame.
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Apr 15, 2007 18:55:50 GMT
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Outstanding work!
I really want to see a commer so low that the wheels are nearly invisible, they lend themselves to it so well with the inherent 'tuck'.
Who was asking about getting bits for one? Mechanical stuff is all available off the peg from speedy spares, only a few bits are hard to get, like the gearbox tailshaft (ask russell), body bits are more of a challenge mind - some inventive fabbing might be needed.
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Apr 15, 2007 19:00:34 GMT
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That looks stacks better than a VW IMHO,
They didnt make a Volvo 740/940 16v 2.3 turbo, although there was a 2.0 16v turbo made for the italian market. The steering column in RHD cars fouled the turbo, apparently. Theres plenty of donor 8V turbos about though, get a 740 2.3 turbo and its 190 odd BHP straight from the box.
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1987 Maestro 1.6 HL perkins diesel conversion 1986 Audi 100 Avant 1800cc on LPG 1979 Allegro Series 2 special 4 door 1500cc with vynil roof. IN BITS. HERITAGE ISSUES.
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Apr 15, 2007 19:33:12 GMT
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fappin ace dez, that looks great . is it staying biege? hunter gls engine FTMFW!!
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"quote hairnet"
I'm not paying nine pound for a pi$$!
[/quote]
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Apr 15, 2007 19:42:42 GMT
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6 inches??? you girl! you have let yourself down! with built in skirts and factory narrowed front i expect the height to be in negative figures!! good effort, looks the dogs, i knew it woud only be a matter of time you do realise i am letting you figure out the mods and parts supply before i get one please please tell me you are bringing it to big bang with you, i need to see it in the flesh
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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 20:18:47 GMT
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Brilliant, it's about time!! My dad had a '68 Autosleeper which succumbed to the dreaded tin-worm a few years ago. Now he's got a '61 which was apparently converted by Commer themselves, just need to persuade him to drag it out and get it on the road. Late ones with the 1725 can be improved for modern motorway use by stuffing a Hunter overdrive box in and changing the diff for one from a Humber Hawk. Dad did both mods to his '68, after which she'd sit at an easy unstressed 75 all day if your wallet could stand it!!! this is a 1725, and i was planning on doing that curse word at first, twin strombergs, manifold, o/d box etc, buts its a 35 year old motor to start with, and its rootes group which doesnt inspire me with confidence for it. my thinking behind the volvo is they're way overbuilt, much better on fuel, and designed to push a big heavy peice of turd around that has the dynamics of a housebrick, that usually loaded to the roof with antiques, dogs or car boot sale stuff. just like a commer
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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 20:22:44 GMT
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Outstanding work! I really want to see a commer so low that the wheels are nearly invisible, they lend themselves to it so well with the inherent 'tuck'. Who was asking about getting bits for one? Mechanical stuff is all available off the peg from speedy spares, only a few bits are hard to get, like the gearbox tailshaft (ask russell), body bits are more of a challenge mind - some inventive fabbing might be needed. theres potential for more low yet.... its now spring over so I can throw up to 4" of blocks on the back if I notch the chassis accordingly!! the front is the problem, its at about max drop as it is, but I think I could fab up some tubular chromoly uprights to replace the cast ones- theyd basically be 'dropped spindles', giving about 4" drop. either that, or when I do the engine swop notch the front of the chassis and slide the entire bolt-on fornt X-member which houses all the suspension, steering and the front engine mounts up a few inches oh, nd as for parts availability, theres a guy repopping body panels now, msoty the ribbed bits- full sills, door skins, etc. and hes working on producting the rest too.
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Last Edit: Apr 15, 2007 20:24:27 GMT by Dez
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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 20:26:04 GMT
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That looks stacks better than a VW IMHO, They didnt make a Volvo 740/940 16v 2.3 turbo, although there was a 2.0 16v turbo made for the italian market. The steering column in RHD cars fouled the turbo, apparently. Theres plenty of donor 8V turbos about though, get a 740 2.3 turbo and its 190 odd BHP straight from the box. thatll be why i cant ifnd one then it seems they were available in europe though.... a 7402.3 turbo sounds the way to go, maybe with the gearbox and rear axle too... that would be nice!!
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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 20:27:51 GMT
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6 inches??? you girl! you have let yourself down! with built in skirts and factory narrowed front I expect the height to be in negative figures!! good effort, looks the dogs, I knew it woud only be a matter of time you do realise I am letting you figure out the mods and parts supply before I get one please please tell me you are bringing it to big bang with you, I need to see it in the flesh alright steve, yeah its a tame one for me this it should be at big bang, providing we get a green ticket at the mot....ive got quite a bit to do before then though!!
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Apr 15, 2007 21:37:04 GMT
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Dez its looking sweet.
You going to pretty it up and polish it?
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Apr 15, 2007 21:40:51 GMT
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chrikey, as the commer following grows the parts should be as much of a prob, i know alot of rootes stuff is interchagable, just body panals, its a tough call as i love commers wanted one since i was about 4 asa neighbor had one :Os
if i can find a really good one towards the end of the summer then i may be swayed to commer ownership
fuel consumpsion puts me off a little, the 1725 is a lil thirsty for a daily driver, thats the other thing, it would be my daily hmmmmmm
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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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Apr 15, 2007 22:07:03 GMT
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Brilliant!
Much more interesting that a Splittie and a teeny proportion of the price. That's my motto - see something cool, apply it to something else and stand out whilst saving money!
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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 22:07:54 GMT
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Dez its looking sweet. You going to pretty it up and polish it? eventually. wont be for a year or 2, once the engine swop is done, body 100% mint, etc. its currently brush painted in a satin yellow/beige by the P.O.!
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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 22:09:47 GMT
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Brilliant! Much more interesting that a Splittie and a teeny proportion of the price. That's my motto - see something cool, apply it to something else and stand out whilst saving money! exactly what i did. i wasnt even planning on buying another camper, id just gone and bought the model A and was keeping the change to buy parts, then this cropped up for next to nothing.
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eventually. wont be for a year or 2, once the engine swop is done, body 100% mint, etc. its currently brush painted in a satin yellow/beige by the P.O.! Thats cool,.. be nice to see some more fully kitted, straight ones out and about,.. look so much more practical than a VW.. Can you get roof racks for them??
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LowStandards
Club Retro Rides Member
Club Retro Rides Member 231
Posts: 2,713
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One from NZ Thats low! Loving yours Dez, fancy doing Chloe?
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