1963 Bedford TK Restoration

Great to see there are still people out there for a bit of adventure and having a go. Some years back in VTC magazine the TK was featured, aimed at modellers however all changes were covered as well as paint colours etc. There was a change in cab details which is marked by those Butler park lights which were deleted in the later version.
To help with confusion Bedford had a total change of model codes from about 1968. So for example the TK became E.
For spares I think it is ASW in Victoria if they are still in business.
Aussie assembled Bedfords didn't always match the catalogues printed in England so if I said Perkins was never offered as factory I could be wrong. If you find a build plate the code will tell you what it had as original.

Thanks @Lang, I have already downloaded that one. Used it to do part of my research before the purchase.

Cheers

There are some manuals here that definitely would have your wiring diagram.
www.motorbookworld.com.au/brand/bedfordvehicles/
 

Over the weekend I was able to beat the original guards into reasonable shape and have come up with concept to make a "console" to hide a UHF and Bluethoth radio. Need to deterine what heater/demister I will put in to finalse the design.

Sunday I took a drive out to near Cootamundra and picked up a 74 TK cab, ex Crystal soft drink delivery truck before its farm life. We salvaged the front and side windows, two doors and engine covers, both guards (front and rear), the horn/indicator electricals, the speedo, the complete wiper mechanism including the motor and the washer bezels. The rear guards were both damaged and will take a bit of beating and welding to recover - the ones I already have are in better condition. The doors are in average and slightly less then average condition - so pretty much the saem as what I have so I need to make a decision on which ones I will restore and which ones get some attention down the track. The engine covers are slightly different (driver's side also hase a vent for the air intake) so I will have to repair the ones I already have and keep the others as backups.
The cab itself was shot - more holes in roof than steel so after taking some gutter cuts just in case she was off to the tip. So still on the lookout for some better doors and engine covers, but if they don't fall into my lap I'll cut out the rust sections and weld in a new section.

Cheers n Beers
Jolls

Look forward to more reports and some pics in the future. I know when Im looking at body work and I have a choice between panels my first choice is to repair the ones with the least amount of rust. Knocking dents out is easier tahn ongoing rust repairs in the future especially after painting is done. If treating rust cut wide margins and weld the replacement parts in then coat with a good rust treatment system.

Hi Team,
I am searching for a heater for the TK as it is pretty cold down here in Murrumbateman. I know it is a long shot but any ideas on where I would find an original heater for the old girl?
Cheers
Craig

The best ones if you can still get them are the beehive type that came out in the Miniminors. Smiths made one that was almost identical. Nice and compact and very efficient. Only 2 speeds though.

Re: the console.

Before you do, please consider if you want to keep it 'original' or turn it into something a bit different.

Brakes: The trouble with Bedford's is lack of use and the way the slaves pull the bisectors.    Best to stainless steel sleeve everything, replace the pipe with new stuff and they remain good.  Mine are now 13 years since being sleeved. No major problems. I still do a quick bleed every years or so before heading off in the bus for a big drive.

ACW in Boronia for truck parts.  ebay UK and a bloke in Cypress has lots of parts too. (sometimes, you need to use the ebay UK site and not the Aust site to see them)

The only thing you'll have trouble getting are brake drums.  There is a mob in NZ that makes them. Near impossible to find new ones here.

I was going to suggest a Smiths beehive heater, I gave one to my neighbour, he has a few  Thames 400E vans.  You would have to plumb it into the Perkins, which might be an issue. You might need two heaters considering the size of the Bedford cab. 

I have seen the beehive heaters at swap meets, but people ask silly prices for them because they were a common aftermarket item in early Holdens.... 

 

Jolls.     Just pulled apart a 1990 Ford Trader for spares.
Wonder how hard it would be to adapt one of these newer heaters into a Beddy.

It's yours if you want to pick it up. NE Victoria.