Betty the Commer Pizza Truck Project.

Little sneak peak for you guys

Won’t be anymore updates for a good few weeks now as I’ve got other stuff to do on the running gear and getting it running again, engines in, just need to do the timing and firing order and stuff again now I’ve got the electric ignition in.
 

Attachments

  • 65793D37-2532-49F3-9D9A-39EAE49BAE36.jpeg
    65793D37-2532-49F3-9D9A-39EAE49BAE36.jpeg
    223.1 KB · Views: 14
Guys she’s Alive! Fired her up today with no exhaust or rad or anything connected and she’s alive.

I have a question regarding the heater and heater matrix, is it needed? As my old one was knackered, am I ok to just loop back into the system rather than having a heater ? Or would I benefit from that extra radiator to keep engine temps down? Having a mare as I don’t really want to go drilling holes in the van if I don’t need to. Will it over heat if I have no heater or will I be ok?
 
As long as the rest of the cooling system is in good shape then it should be fine, give it a good flushing through to make sure. If you do find she's getting a bit warm then you could plumb in a motorbike rad, and mount it underneath, using the heater circuit. Alternatively you could fit a Mini heater unit and just have it as a recirculating heater so no drilling and cutting into the front panel.
 
Yeah I just don’t want engine heating issues, I’ll see how it runs without at first then if I want to plumb something in later down the line I will.

Fitted a new fan belt so that should hopefully help
 
Just adding mine from a ktm250. Doesn’t get super hot but gets high 90oC’s on step slow climbs when it’s this crazy weather and the last thing you want is to put the heater on!
Need to make a black grill to match the radiator pattern and will be adding a second valve so it’s controllable. Think it’ll look pretty cool ;)

IMG_0142.jpeg
 
Yeah this does look cool, I was thinking of shoving one in behind the lower grill before I put it all back together but I never had temperature issues in it before I fucked the old engine so I assume this one will also be ok temperature wise, aslong as I don’t get sat in silly traffic in silly heat!
 
Fantastic :cool:
Don't be tempted to put the number plate in the middle below the bumper, I know it would look nice, and not cover up your gorgeous new front panel, but it would block some of the air flow to the radiator and you don't want that .
 
You don’t have to worry about that, it’s going underneath the letters and above the bottom grill. Pretty sure that’s where it is on most Commer’s.
 
She’s currently doorless! She’s working though, for some reason I’ve only got third fourth and reverse gear atm so need to fix that, also get an air leak at the exhaust manifold flange which needs addressing.

I have a quick question about the radiator, this van had a big rusty bit of metal that was really close to the radiator, my assumption it was for protection from stones?

It also has the curved air scoop part currently none are on the van do both need fitting or just the scoop? As I’ve already got the radiator in and that thing I thinks for stone chips won’t go in once the radiator is on, unless I’m being dumb
 

Attachments

  • IMG_9899.jpeg
    IMG_9899.jpeg
    160.5 KB · Views: 7
  • IMG_9898.jpeg
    IMG_9898.jpeg
    195.6 KB · Views: 5
  • IMG_9828.jpeg
    IMG_9828.jpeg
    169.7 KB · Views: 4
  • IMG_9866.jpeg
    IMG_9866.jpeg
    116.8 KB · Views: 4
  • IMG_9868.jpeg
    IMG_9868.jpeg
    149.5 KB · Views: 4
  • 0AA3784B-2FFE-4706-A293-6A107B194D67.jpeg
    0AA3784B-2FFE-4706-A293-6A107B194D67.jpeg
    85.6 KB · Views: 7
Looking gorgeous. Yes the scoop does need fitting or risk overheating due to lack of air flow to the radiator. Is the rusty bit an extension of. the scoop? or is it the metal cowling around the fan? a photo would help. If so then yes that is also beneficial to the air flow. What I, and a few others do, is to fit the scoop upside down which improves the air flow even more, a couple of brackets to re-bend and it fits.
 
So my scoop is rusty as hell! This is the thing I mean I’m thinking it’s to stop stone chips or something
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0002.png
    IMG_0002.png
    1,008.4 KB · Views: 7
It seals off the bottom of the rad when the scoop is in place so as much as possible of the air flow is directed to the right place. It would be easy enough to make another one if the original is to far gone.
 
Panky said:
It seals off the bottom of the rad when the scoop is in place so as much as possible of the air flow is directed to the right place. It would be easy enough to make another one if the original is to far gone.
Click to expand...
Ok so I do need it then, this part is actually ok, the scoop is very rusted but I can get it fitted. I’ve stupidly put the radiator in already and I can’t get this thing in so I think it’s a radiator out job then this goes on first. It’s a absolute nightmare to fit when your mechanic skills are around 1/10
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top