'68 Commer Wanderer - new owner

S

StuntmanAd

New Member
So my wife and I bought this yesterday! I've wanted a commer for years and the wife finally showed some weakness by expressing an interest so I pounced!

It was 130 miles away and that journey took just 2.5 hours in our 'modern', the return journey took 4 hours and meant we got home at midnight! As some people noticed in the for sale pictures of the engine bay the alternator was at a crazy angle, I thought it was just a photo taken when it was under going some maintenance but oh no that's how it was! Belt still on and everything! I agreed a sale with Matt that resulted in me using his tools to mount it a little better. One of the mounting lugs has snapped and there wasn't a bolt in the second lug. I made it work though.

Plans for the van are just a general tidy up in the back adding some units, sink, cooker, fresh flooring, curtains etc and possibly an engine and gearbox swap. I'm not sure how you lot feel but I think they are border line dangerous with there lack of oomph!

Before I start anything I'm looking for answers to the following;

1) What do these vans weigh? I'm guessing sub 1600kg

2) What diff ratio do they run?

3) How is it best to remove the engine, will it go out from underneath?

4) I'm running 15" wheels with some horrendous looking tyres that need binned. What load rating do I need?

5) How big is the fuel tank?

That's all I can think of for now but there will be plenty more!

It joins my fleet of a 1987 Saab 900 turbo and a 1975 Reliant Scimitar GTE which is fitted with a Saab 9000 2.3 turbo engine, I do like a tinker!

Adam
 

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Ah you got that one, nice and welcome. Loads of help here.

I’ll try answer best I can.

I think they’re 2000kg so tyres to that load, van tyres generally are used

Diffs are 5.12 in these ones, the later Spacevans had 4.77 so better but rare

They used to remove the windscreen to get engines out, won’t come out under unless dropping whole front assembly out. However they will squeeze out the door just (Ive done this couple of times)

Fuel tanks I think 10 gallon but not sure. Many now have a TimCommer alloy tank due to snakeskin where the paint peels inside due to ethanol In modern fuels blocking fuel lines.

Many mods to do off the shelf can go on forever but most common ones tend to be elec ignition, SU or Weber carb upgrade, fuel tank, manifold swaps to 4 branch, overdrive (or Lexus 6 speed), elec fuel pump, diff swap to 4.77. Others out there being developed are oil cooler, disk brakes and more lately martins done head and valve work and a reprofiled cam to match the 4 branch
 
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Hi guys and welcome to the Madhouse - I think you'll fit in very well:)
Fuel tank is 9 1/2 gallons
No need to take the screen out you can extract the lump through the passenger door using an engine crane
As for tyres go for commercial rated van ones, not too expensive either.
The old iron lump can be made to do a lot more than you would expect and more than enough to test the brakes and running gear so don't start ripping it out just yet. A simple carb and exhaust change can work wonders, and combined with an overdrive gearbox makes for a very pleasant drive - but don't expect to be hammering down the fast lane at 80 all day;)
Nice collection by the way
 
Oh and by the way,that was pretty much our experience when we got ours. It gives us pains but well worth it sometimes
 
Welcome to the Madhouse. When you get a Commer no one ever gets home in daylight. Hope you have a great time with the van. Have taken the engine out of a few vans and find taking the gearbox out then the engine comes out the side door no problem.:):):):)
 
Welcome to the Madhouse. Great idea to video your trip - could be useful evidence to play in the future to remind yourself how you ended up in this situation! Haven't been able to view with the sound on so have had to make a few assumptions. These are: 1) The Commer performed faultlessly; 2) Bits just fell off the Beemer; 3) You arrived home in the dark because the Beemer let you down and you needed to eat! ;)
 
Howdy and welcome. I managed to get the old iron lump to run much better with just a good ole decoke, valve lapping and a new head gasket:)

My Commer is a '68 too and sports a 5.125 diff. I worked it out using this simple method:-

 
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Nowt wrong with that engine, it's just begging for an SU conversion and an overdrive:)
I always say the lack of full accelerator travel is an economy device;)
 
And unlike others who film the speedo while thrashing the nuts out their vehicle on a public highway you won’t get a visit from the police lol. Great vid :)
 
Alway great to have new enthusiasts on board. Absolutely love your videos. Jimmy sits at around the 60mph mark although I have had more. Saying that he is totally stripped out and rust weighs considerably less than metal. Overdrive is the best and I thought all the 1725cc versions came with it? It looks like your handy with the spanners. My only advice is to get a good grease gun as there are loads of greasing points.
 
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