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Anon
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The resto begins

Ok, well you may have seen a couple of pics and info on another thread, but to re-cap. 1977 CF 250, 2.3 engine, auto trans, 69,000 miles showing but who knows... Started life as South West Thames Ambulance transport, coverted I know not when, but has seen many colour and use changes in it's life. The pictures show main areas to sort before MoT. I then intend to use it for at least some of the summer before stripping it down and working on it again. Drivers side of the cab is the worst with rot in the floor, 'A'post and inner wheel arch. Door step is history as are both doors (although they could stay for a while, not decided yet). Engine has good compression and no smoke. Wiring looks like it will be fun. All chassis is perfect as is the rest of the metal work. Although there is work to do on the passenger side of the cab,it is much better than the drivers side so I will leave that for now. I have cut out the drivers side floor already and started panel making but hope to get an 'A' post from a doner CF along with a door step.

What the hell have you bought...


Floor before....


Floor after....


'A' Post remains


Inner wheel arch


This is an ex door step...


Always finish on a bright note. Not much to do here..


So, we will see how it goes. No doubt much more work will present itself over time, but it's all part of the fun. Isn't it...? Thanks

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Thu 20 May 2010 @ 12:58 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Damn fine looking vehicle you've got there (some may say I'm biased). I feel sure that you'll get great enjoyment out of restoring this vehicle & even more when it's on the road.

Rae & Ann

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Thu 20 May 2010 @ 19:45 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Dunno if youve found this yet- might be useful!
http://www.bedford-cf.co.uk/br/br24.htm
but- I know of a damn fine chap in Derbyshire who is scrapping one- Ive bought a few bits already and the bodys chopped a bit and kitchen unit has gone, but water tank, gas bottle holder and cab floor (i Think) are still available- would you like me to put you in touch?

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Thu 20 May 2010 @ 20:35 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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love the shape of these vans, good luck with the resto defo be reading up on your progress

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Thu 20 May 2010 @ 20:50 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Hello Mikeyboy, yes please. Any parts available would be useful I am sure. Thanks.
Thu 20 May 2010 @ 22:42 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Well, spent most of the weekend welding and trying not to catch fire. All was going well until I came to weld a floor closing panel. I knew the metal was thin at the top but the hole was dissapearing up into the foorwell and I was beginning to worry the cab would fall in half I taken out so much metal. I ended up chasing the hole around the cab with the welding gun. I had the MIG on the lowest possible setting, and at one point I even tried to take the floor by suprise by pretending to give up before suddenly striking an arc, but it was wise to me and just rewarded me with an even bigger hole. I got there in the end, but what was a good looking bit of welding now looks like my seven year old did it with his eyes shut standing on his head. So the question I ask myself, (again) looking at all the very thin reddish bubbling metal laughing at me, is do I give up any thought of using it this year and do the job properly, or patch it up and MOT it so we can use it for a while, and then do the work later? I don't normally like to do half a job (honestly Guv) but I really want to get her out on the road. And then probably break down. A lot.
Tue 01 Jun 2010 @ 23:23 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Well if it gets through the mot it's fine for me & do the finishing jobs at a later date after enjoying ones self on the road this year ... iv'e just finished tarting up my step by riviting it on first then welding ,i was sick of stepping over it

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Wed 02 Jun 2010 @ 07:24 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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To me this all looks so familiar;) Hope you didn't have a "Mr Bodger" as a previous owner though:% Best of luck with it all, she's a fine looking vehicle and worthy of all your efforts.;] Cheers, John.

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Wed 02 Jun 2010 @ 09:42 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Thanks. There has indeed been a man with a brazing torch fitting plates over rusty steel at sometime in the past. I reckon a fair while ago though.
I think (although this changes on an hourly basis) I will do the drivers side welding and then MOT it. (I say that with such confidence don't I? As if passing is a mere formality). The weather is looking up and I want to get out and have a fry up on the coast (that's bacon and eggs, not the engine overheating). Does anyone have a suggestion for front seats? I thought I would see what was in the local scrappy but then I thought there are propably 100's of them to choose from, so if anyone can recommened something from a relativly recent make of car that they have fitted easily and are comfy, please let me know.
Wed 02 Jun 2010 @ 20:21 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Welding continues. One thing that always suprises me; no matter how much I read about it or experience it, I am always hugely dissapointed when a small rust bubble the size of a pin head, turns into a hole the size of a dinner plate. I think maybe hypnotism might help.
Changed the cam belt, generally serviced the engine (plugs points oil etc etc). Oil in the engine was quite clear which is good. Briefly touched the bottom hose connection which immediatly cracked at the joint with the radiator, which was not so good. I think even a hard stare would have had it falling off anyway. Sat in the living area for a while and pretended I was on holiday which galvanised me into checking out the interior lights. At this point two interior lights worked. By the time I had finished none of them did, although one light switch did now helpfully operate the inside water pump. Two steps forward, one giant leap back. You know the score. Nil desperandum.
Tue 15 Jun 2010 @ 23:51 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Progress.

Floor welded up drivers side. Ground down and now just a skim of filler to smooth it before painting/rust proofing etc.



Wheel arch and 'A' post welded and skimmed



Inner whell arch seam sealed waiting for underseal etc for whole area



Some of what has been removed..



Welding wise it should be ok for the MOT, so now I need to go through more of the mechanicals. However, it has only done 17 miles since it's last MOT (although that was 2007) so wear should not be too much of an issue. The drivers step is as rotten as a pear, so I hope this is not part of the test. Anyone ever failed for a rotten step? I don't want to do this until we have had a least one outing in the van.

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Sun 29 Aug 2010 @ 20:28 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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That looks identical to mine,72 ex glc ambi.

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Tue 07 Sep 2010 @ 11:30 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Quick update. Painted cab area, changed hoses, flushed system, renwed various bits and bobs. Refitted most of the cab interior and refitted steering column. I need some ally bits for the engine but Phil Bradshaw is very kindly sorting that for me. Drove it!! I had no idea if the gearbox worked or there were any horrific noises etc. Luckily all is fine except the small matter of brakes. I.e there were none to speak of. Took all four drums off, freed up everything (all adjusters needed a lot of heat to do that). It was nice to see that the linings and cylinders are all new (or new three years ago when laid up) with no real miles on them. Bled out the oil hydralic fluid and refilled. Drove again and the footbrake is brilliant. The handbrake however despite looking like it is doing all it should is rubbish. That will need looking at again before MoT. Also changed the propshaft centre bearing as the old one was in bits. I paid £70 for one off the internet which was fine except the mounting holes were out, so I had to slot the holes and use large washers. Still seems so much to do and we want to use it next week during half term, even if just for one night. We shall see. One thing that is driving me nuts is having changed the timing belt, the timing cover now ALWAYS catches somewhere, resulting in a noise, the effect of which is much akin to the road to madness. No matter how I fit it or space it out or shout at it, wedge it or re-align it, the noise comes back. Not straight away. No. It waits for a minute or two so I THINK I have solved it then.....whhirrrrr. The only permenant solution seems to be to stand and hold it with your hand. Might impeed forward motion though...

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Sun 17 Oct 2010 @ 22:52 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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This is why I wanted a new thermostat housing:


And this is why I fitted a new prop centre bearing:


The cooling system has been fully flushed and cleaned out now. I was looking for the engine block drain, and found what I thought it was. I undid this plug but zero happend. Wrong plug I thought. But looking all round the engine provided no other suitable openings, so I took the mystery plug out again and poked some thin wire inside. After some resistance, BINGO. Out came a trickle of crud. Much adding of chemicals and back blasting with a hose later, all runs clear. Although I don't doubt there is still going to be some solid muck inside the waterways. I'll drain and clean a few times over the next few months and hopefully that will be enough. Now I just have electrical issues. At some point the side and headlight switch has been changed for a toggle switch on the dash pod side. The mainbeam flash doesn't work at all,(connections and action of the stalk is all good) and main beam is on when the column stalk is down, not up. I am rubbish at electrics so this could be a sticking point. Hope to tackle tomorrrow.

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Sat 23 Oct 2010 @ 20:11 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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On the stalk switch dip/main is supplied by the lighting switch via the blue cable in the stalk switch harness.

Main beam flash is supplied by the purple cable; this cable should be permanently 'live'. If you're getting battery volts on the purple cable at the switch then suspect the switch contacts: disconnect switch wiring at the harness plug then pull a strip of fine grade emery cloth or wet&dry paper through the contacts to clean them.

Best if the switch is left on the steering column so that you can flick it up for flash while cleaning the contacts. Contacts are the ones facing you if the stalk switch is mounted on the right hand side of the steering column (no wipers stalk switch fitted), facing away if the switch is on the left hand side (wipers stalk switch fitted).

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Sat 23 Oct 2010 @ 20:49 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Hi with regards to the driver side doorstep being rotten if the seatbelt mounting is within 30cm then its a fail as I had an iveco that failed on that although it had a proper chassis so Iwould check the measurement if I was you.
Dave

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Sun 24 Oct 2010 @ 09:02 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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cambelt cover

Our missing cambelt cover allows easy belt inspection every time the bonnet is opened;)
Sun 24 Oct 2010 @ 11:45 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Update on todays electrical work. Aaaaaaarrrrrgh!!!!
Thanks for your info Phil. It looks more bogerific than faulty parts. I will look again later but not in the mood now.
Seatbelt mounting is not close to any rot thank goodness, so hopefully will be ok.
Yes, I agree. Cambelt cover looks to be coming off!!

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Sun 24 Oct 2010 @ 13:35 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Looking good!

Hell of a good job beast!

:D

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Sat 20 Nov 2010 @ 20:15 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Thanks. As always there is a never ending list of things to do. And now it is winter and apart from weekends I am not at home during daylight now until March. Still, lots of evenings to plan and dream......(and spend on parts to fit at a later date no doubt).

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Sun 21 Nov 2010 @ 16:43 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
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