WTB: Turner 5 Speed

Hey all,

I'm chasing an overdrive turner five speed to slot behind the 300ci lump in a sixties cabover Bedford.
Am currently in Victoria, but will be heading back to SEQLD at the beginning of July, so can pickup from anywhere in between.
Might also be chasing a 'highway geared' (5.2 I think?) two speed diff for the same beastie if anyone has one.

Trentie

If you can get hold of a 6 speed (Commer Knocker) box you will be much better off. I have one in my Perkins Commer and the difference between that and the 5 speed is very pronounced.

I have no trouble keeping up with traffic on the highway, something you could not do with the 5 speed. The boxes are the pretty much the same except for the 6th speed overdrive section.

Lang

Thanks very much for the insight, Lang.
Does the Commer 'box bolt straight up and are they hard to find?

About 10 years ago a friend (who has since died) did just that conversion. I actually picked up the Commer 6 speed gearbox for him in Dalby.

I am pretty sure it is a straight bolt-up as Dave got the box on a Sunday and the Bedford was driving the following weekend all done in his shed, not a commercial workshop.

The gear stick comes out in the same place for both boxes so there is no bending or floor cutting.

You might do a few investigations with the gearbox blokes but my money is on a bolt-up.

First stop in your search would be Prices in Dalby.

Lang

Bribaree truck wreckers used to sell them for around 1200 smackas

About 10 years ago a friend (who has since died) did just that conversion. I actually picked up the Commer 6 speed gearbox for him in Dalby.

I am pretty sure it is a straight bolt-up as Dave got the box on a Sunday and the Bedford was driving the following weekend all done in his shed, not a commercial workshop.

The gear stick comes out in the same place for both boxes so there is no bending or floor cutting.

You might do a few investigations with the gearbox blokes but my money is on a bolt-up.

First stop in your search would be Prices in Dalby.

Lang

I have a love/hate relationship with Price's.
Love that they have absolutely everything when nobody does, hate having to donate a kidney for some of the stuff.

I'm currently working down in Victoria, and have a lead on a fellow with a Turner five speed for six-hundred around halfway back, but shall definitely give Price's a call regarding the comer 'box.
Are there any specifics on that box or were they all the same?

Bribaree truck wreckers used to sell them for around 1200 smackas

JESUS.

I paid that for the whole truck!

Trentie

Therein lies the problem.

NOBODY has ever made money on a truck restoration even if they value their thousand hours of labour at nothing. We all have to decide if the finished product is really what we want and write the cost off as a hobby.

A lot of people would not reckon an old Bedford was worth the money or effort and Swishy would certainly tell me restoring my old F86 Volvo was a useless effort.

It all depends how much time and money you want to p--s up against the wall in pursuit of happiness. You could quite easily be paying $3,000 golf club membership and buying a $7,000 buggy to whack a ball into a hole or blasting off $300 worth of shotgun shells in a couple of hours every Sunday morning.

Having fun and rational thinking are totally unrelated.

Lang

Trentie

Therein lies the problem.

NOBODY has ever made money on a truck restoration even if they value their thousand hours of labour at nothing. We all have to decide if the finished product is really what we want and write the cost off as a hobby.

A lot of people would not reckon an old Bedford was worth the money or effort and Swishy would certainly tell me restoring my old F86 Volvo was a useless effort.

It all depends how much time and money you want to p--s up against the wall in pursuit of happiness. You could quite easily be paying $3,000 golf club membership and buying a $7,000 buggy to whack a ball into a hole or blasting off $300 worth of shotgun shells in a couple of hours every Sunday morning.

Having fun and rational thinking are totally unrelated.

Lang

You are exactly right.
That is why I don't restore them, I make them fully serviceable, and sell them on for a profit.
This Bedford I'm keeping for myself to haul old cars and trucks around with, so it'll get a little bit of extra attention.

Anyhow, mildly back on topic:
Is there much hassle in fitting a two-speed diff centre to the bigger Bedford, or is it a matter of plopping the centre in and doing the necessary electricals?