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1972 Commer

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	1972 Commer Dez @dez Club Retro Rides Member 34
	Apr 21, 2007 18:10:13 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	so, I sold my split bus last novemeber, got 6k for it, buggered off next day and bought a steel '28 model A sedan. but thats a different story anyway, I had about a grand change, wasnt particularly looking to buy anything else, wasnt after another camper either. but then this came up on ebay, starting bid £399. '72 dormobile coaster camping conversion commer PB. it was an mot failure, but looked resonable, and theyd listed all it had failed on on the auction, I stuck a £400 bid on not expecting to get it, but no one else bid and won it!! bombed down to brighton to pick it up (they lived right on the front and I had to load it onto the trailer on the seafront!) it had all the shizzle with it, hob/grille(with 2 full gas bottles!), sink with leccy pump and 3 water bottles, toolkit, fuel can, a big box full of genuine chrysler uk spares, chemical toilet (no thanks...) tacho+extra gauges, a cassette headunit with a genesis tape stuck in it, brand new weber carb, new clutch, unused roof hammocks, and a big wodge of recepts for all the stuff done to it recently, which was a hell of a lot, theyd spent a lot of money mantaining it and replacing parts over the last few years. suprisingly for one of these, it also came with very little rust, and had never been welded. some pics of it when we collected it- overall, not too bad condition, needed tidying up, some welding and bodywork, and a clobbering with the stick
	Last Edit: Oct 17, 2007 18:35:12 GMT by rmad 1928 Y-block powered ford model A sedan All my other Junk

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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	1972 Commer Dez @dez Club Retro Rides Member 34
	Apr 21, 2007 18:18:01 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	the mot failure list was- offside inner front trackrod end worn. offside front steering pivot worn(greased it and its taken the play out) some rust within 30cm of rear nearisde spring mount- inner rear valance was shot. both tyres knackered, sidewalls gone. rusty sharp edges on offside rear wheel arch. rusty shap edges nearside cab door bottom. brakes imbalanced parking brake inefficient. nothing too major there really. so whadda we do first? lower it!!
	1928 Y-block powered ford model A sedan All my other Junk

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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	1972 Commer Dez @dez Club Retro Rides Member 34
	Apr 21, 2007 18:28:35 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	now, commers aint that easy to lower. the fronts not too bad, chop the springs, throw on some low pros (195/50R15 instead of the stock 185R15), and source some shorter shocks. funnily enough, the shocks have the same top and bottom mounts as a balljoint beetle, so I have plenty of choice there. so I did some of this- to get me about 5.5-6" drop on the front (2" from the tyres, and about 4" from the cut springs). the back it where it gets a bit tricky, as the commer is leaf-over axle, it other words you cant use blocks to lower it like most leaf spring rears. the option were loose some leafs, or flip the axle on top of the springs. as option one generally makes your car ride like a bag of turd and bottom out all the time, I opted for option 2.
	Last Edit: Jun 9, 2007 20:55:24 GMT by Dez 1928 Y-block powered ford model A sedan All my other Junk

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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	1972 Commer Dez @dez Club Retro Rides Member 34
	Apr 21, 2007 18:40:51 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	the thing with going from leaf-over to leaf-under is there is a minimum amount of drop becuase of the depth of the spring pack, axle tube, and spring saddle. it this case it was about 7", maybe a touch more. not thats thats a problem to me but, it does make it more work. ive had to heavily notch and re-enforce the chassi rails to stop the axle hitting them, and cut a hole in the floor for the diff. the rear wheels will no longer come off easily, I'm going to hinge the side of the body to accomodate this(!). ive also had to make all new axle bracketry and spring mounting hardware, and source some new u-bolts to hold it all together. its not a job for someone who doesnt know what they're doing!! heres my notched chassis- the axle sits into the notch by about 1/2" at ride height, which means ive got 2.5" travel before it bottoms out. ive still got to add some bumpstops back in yet.
	Last Edit: Jun 9, 2007 20:55:59 GMT by Dez 1928 Y-block powered ford model A sedan All my other Junk

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Rob M Posted a lot Posts: 1,915 Club RR Member Number: 41	1972 Commer Rob M @zeb Club Retro Rides Member 41
	Apr 21, 2007 18:41:38 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Sir, You have class.


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coggers North East Posts: 3,372	1972 Commer coggers @coggers
	Apr 21, 2007 19:13:00 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	lower the out of it before the boring jobs - that's the spirit love the front of these old commers , really cool


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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	1972 Commer Dez @dez Club Retro Rides Member 34
	Apr 21, 2007 19:42:13 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	soo, I knocked up some bracketry. all 1/4" plate cut, drilled and shaped and then welded together. heres the saddles in place after I cut all the old brackets off, I made them about 1/2" taller than the shortest they could be for a touch extra drop drop it back down and it sits like this- it sits about 2" lower than in previous pics ive put on here, which means ive got some reverse rake going on at the mo! ive got the wheel where I wanted it though, the arch cuts across below the centreline of the wheel me diff now lives here though
	Last Edit: Jun 9, 2007 20:56:56 GMT by Dez 1928 Y-block powered ford model A sedan All my other Junk

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coggers North East Posts: 3,372	1972 Commer coggers @coggers
	Apr 21, 2007 19:55:28 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	dez said: love it ;D ;D


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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	1972 Commer Dez @dez Club Retro Rides Member 34
	Apr 21, 2007 19:57:23 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	coggers said: dez said: love it ;D ;D yeah, sits quite nice don't it
	1928 Y-block powered ford model A sedan All my other Junk

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coggers North East Posts: 3,372	1972 Commer coggers @coggers
	Apr 21, 2007 20:03:33 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	it does that ! super work ! so have you any major bodywork plans for it or just tidy the rusty bits up ?


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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	1972 Commer Dez @dez Club Retro Rides Member 34
	Apr 21, 2007 20:12:40 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	yeah, sort out any 'issues'. maybe some minor smoothing, the rear 1/4 bumpers have already gone, and the front one may be going too. i wonna play around with the grille as well.
	1928 Y-block powered ford model A sedan All my other Junk

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grizz Probably posted too much REZIN ROCKIT......🚀 Posts: 28,504	1972 Commer grizz @grizz
	Apr 21, 2007 20:41:42 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	And I Baptise thee: KerbCrawler.
	1966 Chevy C10 V8 REDNECK EXPRESS. (Restoration now) GRIZZ-POD Build Thread grizzmakes.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-birth-of-grizzmakes.html IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM MATE. .

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slater Club Retro Rides Member Posts: 6,390 Club RR Member Number: 78	1972 Commer slater @slater Club Retro Rides Member 78
	Apr 21, 2007 20:59:41 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	You sir are a legend! cool motor


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coggers North East Posts: 3,372	1972 Commer coggers @coggers
	Apr 21, 2007 21:31:12 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	dez said: I wonna play around with the grille as well. remove it completey ? or fit something smaller perhaps ?


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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	1972 Commer Dez @dez Club Retro Rides Member 34
	Apr 21, 2007 21:46:09 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	coggers said: dez said: I wonna play around with the grille as well. remove it completey ? or fit something smaller perhaps ? dunno- depends which way the rest of the car goes... at the mo its either gunna be bagged/juiced with wires and generally pimped to hell, which means itll get something chrome, or kinda track style with a turbo motor, discs all round, 200+hp, etc, which will mean it gets dechromed so the grille will go. so its whether i spend the money i get from selling some of my other cars on juice or a turbo volvo donor.... descisions, descisions!!
	1928 Y-block powered ford model A sedan All my other Junk

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coggers North East Posts: 3,372	1972 Commer coggers @coggers
	Apr 21, 2007 22:24:03 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	what a terrible decision for you.. ;D


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xbo11ox Posted hell of a lot Literally 'an embarrassment' Posts: 6,985	1972 Commer xbo11ox @xbo11ox
	Apr 22, 2007 9:17:52 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Are there any worries about the strength of that chassis leg now its lost all its depth? Looks cool mind you.
	1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 Mazda 929 Coupé 1986 Mazda 929 Wagon 1979 Mazda 929 Hardtop 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 1989 Subaru 1800 Wagon 1982 Hyundai Pony 1200TL 2-dr 1985 Hyundai Pony 1200 GL 1986 Maserati 425 Biturbo 1992 Rover 214 SEi 5-dr 2000 Rover 45 V6 Club 1994 Peugeot 205 'Junior' Diesel 1988 Volvo 760 Turbodiesel Saloon 1992 Talbot Express Autosleeper Rambler 2003 Renault Laguna SPEARS OR REAPERS

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Deleted Posts: 0	1972 CommerDeleted @Deleted
	Apr 22, 2007 12:04:58 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	Oooof! I want a Commer.. Oh, and on the subject of frame cutting: ok heres the deal with c-notching j-boi. it is not a good idea to notch more than half of the frame without making reinforcements above the notch. if youre going to notch it more than half the thickness then youll need to add that material back onto the top of the frame rail. just think about getting rear ended and having the entire thing crumple up to the cab. here is a rough illustration. Taken from hoodride I dunno if thats all of your frame rail visible, but anywhoo.... don't want the car breaking in half now, do ya! ;D
	Last Edit: Apr 22, 2007 12:05:28 GMT by Deleted

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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	1972 Commer Dez @dez Club Retro Rides Member 34
	Apr 23, 2007 0:40:44 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	got quite a bit done today. centred the axle, made sure the springs were parrallel, set up the diff input flange angle (made sure the nose was the same angle as the diff tailshaft), then welded the axle saddles on. fitted the rear shocks, fitted the prop. notched the crossmember that the diff input shaft was hitting so no more clonks when the suspension works. some pics. setting the diff angle- the new axle mounting setup all up and together- ive gotta change the rear tyres and make up a coupla new brake pipes and I'm about done under the back. I think the kinked pipes was the reason for the brake imbalance on the mot. and yes, the chassis is heavily re-enforced on the topside pics of that once ive finished it off.
	Last Edit: Jun 9, 2007 20:58:10 GMT by Dez 1928 Y-block powered ford model A sedan All my other Junk

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Ether Posted a lot Posts: 4,450	1972 Commer Ether @streetrules
	Apr 23, 2007 13:28:05 GMT Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
	This thread rocks. Fine work, Dez. We also seem to be identical car twins - well, you've got a Merc and I want a Commer...


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