Another Bedford

Hello HCVC Team,
Back up and at it again!
Have a few life problems to deal with, my darling wife of 35 years decided she wanted her tennis ball sized brain tumour removed, me me me!
Long story of: chemo juice, COVID, ICU, chest infection etc. But she’s back in the game now.

Done a few things over the hospitalisation, to try and keep my sanity.
Completed most of the rust repairs.

Small crack repair to the passenger window trim.

Welded up the openings in the header rail above the screen.




Edit: Oops! Sorry can’t see them in the pic.




Think they were access holes, not sure what for.

Questions:
Compression test shows couple of cylinders Dow, probably valves.
Anyone recommend an engine rebuilder in or around Brisbane?

If I opt of an engine swap, anyone had good options or stories to share?
Thoughts on a Ford straight 6 with auto box into the Bedford?

Front screen trim, I have the two that run up the internal of the A pillars.
Was there a trim that runs across the top interior of the screen?

Did the truck originally have fender/guard/wing welting where it touches the body?

wee-allis wrote:

Come on Colin, what made you think you cold put up 3 pictures of your beast and not have to give us the full story? It's a "Need to Know" basis and I need to know.
Steve.

Sorry Wee-allis, wasn’t ignoring you.
Not really HCVC friendly, but car was built as a tribute to the 60’s Show Cars.
Carved body from plaster & covered in fibreglass.
Did everything except the chrome, upholstery & blowing the bubble- a roof skylight.
On a VW Beetle floor pan.











Mad as a box of frogs, but fun as hell to drive!!

Please delete the pictures, if considered not appropriate for the forum.

No good about the cook been crook, hope she's on the mend now

I new a bloke many years ago that put a Ford 250 cross flow into a Bedford van and it went okay

If I was doing this I would look at a late model Ford Barra motor, they seem to be all the go for hotting up these days

Dunno about everything else sorry
Thats a wild little hot rod you've got going on there

Paul

Hello Colin, keep up the good work on the Bedford. Yes it did have welting or black plastic trim between body and guards. Buy it by the metre at any good parts place or swapmeet.
I hope your Wife is out of danger now and she will soon be back at home telling you what you have done wrong!

I read on here some time ago that a good repower is a diesel from a Coaster, Dyna etc. with a super smooth overdrive box, or get one from a Landcruiser or Patrol and just leave the transfer case on it unused. However, unless you find a good one really cheap, I would find out exactly how bad your existing engine is and how much it is likely to cost to fix it. Think about how often you plan to drive the Beddie and whether it is worth spending several thousand dollars to stop it blowing a little smoke.

Pleased to hear your wife has recovered through those trials Colin.
The Beddy motors respond well to a valve grind, cylinder hone, ridge removal and rings.
Bearings only if needed.
All the best, Paul.

Very pleased that Mum is on the mend.
You are doing a great job on the rust repairs with nice gaps around the jambs. Look forward to more progress as it happens.