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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
BACK AXLE ...FIRST IMPRESSIONS CF diff ratios range from about 4.5:1 to about 5.2:1. My temporary work CF has a 4.5 and is powered by a 3.3litre Holden six. It has more power than I need, but is screaming, and gulping petrol at top speed of 100kmph.Boudica had a Chevy 3.6:1 powered by a 3.3litre Holden. Quite a nice balance, but I wanted to lower the revs for better economy. Somewhere along the line, I went stupid and indulged in a 4.2 litre Holden V8. Before fitting the V8, I wanted to evaluate the new diff (2.75:1) with the six cylinder motor. I got Boudica back tonight, and apart from a bit of a knock in the LHS brake, I am very happy, and she looks good with the 235x14 tyres all round. Unfortunately I have no rev counter fitted yet, but the revs will have dropped by 30%. Firstly the van seemed to have heaps more torque. I was told to expect this as the torque converter copes better with lower revs, which the Holden likes too. I think I probably need to set up the auto so that I can engage top gear earlier than it is set for; currently 70kmph. On a steep hill she starts smoothly, but on a very steep driveway with a heavy load, I'm not too sure about. She accelerates quite well up to 100kmph, but then tapers off sharply. I have spoken with someone in Aussie who has the same setup, but with a manual gearbox and he has to slip the clutch to get moving, but the auto handles that very well. If there were no doubts about the six, I would probably keep it, as it's a nice smooth motor and would be more economical than the V8, but the larger motor gives me reserves of torque, and I should be able to run on lower revs. But most importantly, I LOVE the V8 sound. ---------------------- |
 Tue 24 Jun 2008 @ 10:46
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
hi jeff the costs not long building up is it,im already over the budget i set for mine and ive still got the interior to do hate to think waht thatll cost:C steve |
Tue 24 Jun 2008 @ 14:45
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
Update LOL.. Yes Steve the cost is frighteningThe knock in the rear brake is I think, in the diff. I took it back, and he said to run it for a few days. I did that, but still there. I'm sure he will fix it without a problem, but it'll have to wait. I need to swap these motors before we move house again. ( Women!) I spent Saturday afternoon on Boudica and almost removed the old smoky six; Sunday we have the worst southerly storm this year; severe gales straight from the Antarctic. So nothing more done. Did some more research today, and found several people who claim that their 253 V8s are slightly more economical than their old 3.3 sixes, if driven quietly. Great ....This is what I thought may be the case, but didn't dare hope. All doubts are gone now, and the V8 is definitely going in. I'm going to offset it about four inches towards the LHS. This will allow me to not have to alter the engine cover beside my left foot, but it does mean that the passenger looses 8 inches. This can be alleviated by building the new cover in two pieces. the lower piece only rises about 8 inches, before covering the cylinder heads, and then the top piece can be narrower. Some times I think this project has become a custom job, and maybe should be in the custom forum. *shrug* doesn't really matter. ---------------------- |
Sun 29 Jun 2008 @ 12:41
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
Slow progress Another stormy weekend, and I only managed half a day out there.The motor and gearbox are ready to lift out now. I might get it done tonight and annoy the neighbors again. I'm starting to get a bit tired of being too considerate! ---------------------- |
Sun 06 Jul 2008 @ 07:04
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
The property boom is over, and New Zealand is in recession now. People are scared to spend their money, and work is quiet. Today there was no work for me (scarey), so I decided to put the V8 motor into Boudica. I finished removing the old six, and slid the new motor and auto gearbox up a ramp from the front. I tied a chain hoist onto the tow bar and pulled the lump into the front of the van. It fell off the ramp twice, but using levers and jacks I managed to get it all into place. I will need to cut off the engine mounts and reposition them; a job I should have done earlier, but thought I might get away with not having to do. I have cut a massive hole in the floor to make servicing easy, and will fit removable plates over the edges. (Some conversions require access from underneath to change the spark plugs.) The last photo is not Boudica, but is the same motor in a CF. I'm a day or two away from getting it all back together. 
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Tue 08 Jul 2008 @ 12:47
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
I had a half day today.:# I cut one engine mount off the crossmember, and set the motor in the exact final position, which turns out to be 2.5 inches left of centre. The motor sits well back from where the one in the photo is, and it is all inside the cab. I was very careful not to cut any further back than the existing hole, but I now realise that I need space behind the motor for air flow. Making the engine cover will be a long tricky job I think. Next job will be to cut off the other engine mount, trim them both up and then weld them in their new positions. And then drill new holes for the gearbox mount. I wonder if I can have her running by the end of the weekend...... ---------------------- |
Wed 09 Jul 2008 @ 12:37
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
well that is one very different way of lifting an engine in , lol. well done on your inginuity. you know it makes sense to v8 it , the muscle van lines call for it. looking good jeff . keep it coming ---------------------- |
Wed 09 Jul 2008 @ 20:11
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
No Progress After my time off work, I had to work Saturday!Sunday was spent attending to the other cf, who was throwing an oily tantrum. Boudica is so close now. I so want to get her done. ---------------------- |
Wed 16 Jul 2008 @ 10:41
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
Love the phrase 'oily tantrum'! I now know how to describe what the Mystery Machine has every now and again.:D ---------------------- |
Wed 16 Jul 2008 @ 12:13
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
Boudica is now a V8. Hi Stumpy, and ScoobyDoo. Thanks for your comments.Arc welding looks so easy when others do it. Lucky I have a friendly vehicle certifier, as all welding is really supposed to be done by a certified welder. lol...Not me! I'm sure the welds are strong, but they're not too pretty. I spent all weekend lying on cold wet concrete, finishing the two engine mounts and the gearbox mount. The passenger side one was trimmed up and rewelded in place, while I had to weld up a box spacer to pack out the other. It was only a matter of drilling two more holes in the gearbox cross member. I hope all the driveshaft angles work; they look OK. I need to make my secondhand exhaust system fit, next. It may be two more weeks before she is running, depending on how much time I get. Boudica is now a V8. ---------------------- |
Sun 20 Jul 2008 @ 11:35
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
keep us posted jeff , i know the feeling of working in the rain and lying on wet floors. not nice. arc welding aint the easiest to do , lol. mig welding can be awkward unless you have a decent mig welder to hand . mine used to look like pidgeon sh 1 t until i purchased a £500 ( aus $1000) mig welder by kempi. now the welds look sweet. hang in there it will all come right in the end. could be worse , you could have to fabricate a complete front end from scratch like me. lol ---------------------- |
Sun 20 Jul 2008 @ 19:12
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
Getting there I have just come inside to try to warm up, and have some lunch. We have had week after week after week of cold wet and windy weekends.The motor is in, but I had to build up the gearbox mount to get a better angle for the motor. I have built two hoops to stop the front of the driveshafts dropping onto the road if the front universals give way. I have fitted the twin exhausts I bought off TradeMe. They are off a holden V8 so I knew they would fit the motor, but expected to have to bend and twist them to fit the Beddy....Not so.. a perfect fit. all the bends just where they need to be. (well something had to go right) I have wired them up as a temporary job until I can make a couple of tail pipes and get suitable mounts. I am about to do the wiring and plumbing, and then fit the larger radiator. Boudica could possably be going by tonight, but don't hold your breath. I will do a photo update when the weather improves and I can move her from her puddle. ---------------------- |
Sun 27 Jul 2008 @ 02:34
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Bob Hillier Honourary Member Posts : 1147 Location : Co Meigho/Eire Status : Offline 
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Sorry to be a party pooper Jeff, but my neighbourhood green clad Fiends of the Earth (no mistakes) suggested to me that your weather would improve if you removed the V8 and fitted pedals. He guaranteed that you would notice a difference in abouyt 50yrs give or take. 
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Tue 29 Jul 2008 @ 16:51
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
Thanks Bob; LOL... that may well be good advise, but this something I need to get out of my system. Yes, in 50 years I will really appreciate nice weather....I'll be 112. ---------------------- |
Wed 30 Jul 2008 @ 01:45
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
Motor running Boudica got about 10 hours work on her this weekend.Incredible amount of time to do fiddly stuff like connect up the throttle, and rewire the ignition; I still cant find the wire I disconnected from the coil. The pipe to the auto fluid cooler had a split, and the motor wouldn't start till I had cleaned the points. But she is running!!! YEE HAH!!! The water pump is very noisy and probably leaks...will need replacing. Seems to have a miss.....Plug I hope, as she was sat for 2 or 3 years. Needs fluid in the gearbox in order to move though, and our car port is near the neighbors bedroom, and she is a cranky old bitch who goes to bed early. So will put some fluid in and test run the van tomorrow. Anna and her daughter are away for a few days and have taken the camera, so photos still coming. ---------------------- |
Sun 03 Aug 2008 @ 09:48
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
Blast Off! It was a fouled plug.The gearbox must have been bone dry.....It took six litres of fluid! Gearbox took a while to settle down and blow all the bubbles and spiders out....working well now, but don't trust the patched up hydraulic lines to the cooler. Motor is so noisy....squeaking water pump, stuck hydraulic tappet,exhaust finishing under the van, and no engine cover, It's Hell in there!;D I have a new water pump on the way, and lots of spare tappets (same as the old six), and finishing the exhaust will be quite simple. The engine cover will be slow as I want to make it easy to remove in sections. ---------------------- |
Mon 04 Aug 2008 @ 10:34
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
Boudica goes to work My other Cf that I have been using for work blew a manifold gasket last night, and I was lucky to get home.This morning I threw my tools in Boudica and off we went, with no engine cover. She is still running rough and I can see a valve grind coming up, but quite usable for a short while. After work being so quiet, we are flat out now, and I have to work all weekend. Boudica can work for me for a change, which was the intention all along. She is looking quite smart, and drawing lots of attention....Hussy. ---------------------- |
Fri 08 Aug 2008 @ 07:05
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
OK it's long past the time when I needed to update this thread. I find this hard.....Boudica Has gone; probably wrecked. My workmanship was not that good, and I used a lot of bog to get her looking nice. The bog sunk over time and started to crack. Also I took some bad advise when I put the V8 motor in and the diff ratio was too high.....Gutless and thirsty. Boudica needed a lot of work and a few more thousand dollars to make her right, and I had no money left. We had moved house and had nowhere to park her. Someones trailer took off in a heavy wind and dented the side in. She was still not legal. Anna hated her and all the time and money wasted. The economy crashed and my work and income halved, and I was very worried that things were looking like they might get even worse. We went into survival mode; sold Boudica and the other Beddie for peanuts, and bought an old Nissan van for work. I must say that the Nissan is an ideal van, and cheap to run (diesel). As things turned out I could have put Boudica into storage, and picked up the the project again about now, as work has improved again, but I didnt know when that would happen. I still look at CFs and know that one day I'll do it all again, but smarter , even if it does mean a near divorce. In the meantime I still have this...... 
1979 VAS3 PFK1 Bedford with an Isuzu 6BD1 5.8 litre diesel engine. 7.8 meters long ex school bus. We have been working on it and expect to be using it as a camper by January. ---------------------- |
Tue 13 Oct 2009 @ 12:28
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Bob Hillier Honourary Member Posts : 1147 Location : Co Meigho/Eire Status : Offline
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And all that work gone to waste . I could cry for you Jeff, been there tho`. Still, it`s an ill wind that blows nobody any good. You have a decent set of wheels with a house on top, good luck with it.;D
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Mon 19 Oct 2009 @ 20:36
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Anon Deleted Posts : Location : Status : Offline |
Thank you Bob. I've had a year to get over the pain, and I have. But the addiction is still there. ---------------------- |
Sun 25 Oct 2009 @ 11:52
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