How well do Commer PB's cruise?

R

Rob Smith

0
Neither of my Commer PB vans is road legal yet so I do not know how well they go.
What is a good cruising speed?
One of my vans has the overdrive gearbox fitted. Does this help or does it just kill the poor engine?

Can they cope with modern motorway trafic?
Would they tow a 800kg trailer?

I am concidering going for Nissan Cabstar suspension and brakes all round and a Volvo engine and gearbox. This would make it far more modern underneith but is a lot of work.
I am trying to way up the options.
Any views anyone?
Rob
 
Can't speak for the PB (with or without overdrive).

But when I picked up my PA (1500 engine) it was cruising at 50-55 BUT as soon as a hill loomed the speed dropped significantly; so I would doubt a trailer would be an option.

The handling is notorious due to the narrower front beam but I can't say I noticed there was any problems going round roundabouts etc.

I will be fascinated to hear about the "modernisation" of the bean!
 
First off, hello! I've just joined the group, and am a Commer PB owner from the USA. I've got a 1967 US market Highwayman (badged a Sunbeam Funwagon here), and a 1974 rhd Autosleeper I brought over from the UK. The Autosleeper unfortunately is quite rusty - it's being used as a donor for the Funwagon restoration.

As for PB cruising, my Funwagon will cruise happily at 65mph all day long, but it's been modified a bit. The rear axle has been swapped out for one with a 4.65 to 1 ratio. The 1725 engine is bored .030" over, 15cc dished pistons, 1725 Alpine alloy head shaved to give 8.5 to 1 compression, and early Alpine twin downdraft Zeniths. Even with the taller gearing she takes off fine from a dead stop, and on the last long trip I took (300 miles) returned 20 miles per US gallon.

Looking forward to contacting more Commer fans!


Jon Arzt
Omaha, NE USA
 
Hello to everyone here on the commer van fan site. I am a new member and just thought that i should be polite and say hello, and let you know about my commer, she is a 1977 pb deluxe apparently and was bought last summer 05 for the bargain price of one pound and twenty pence as a non runner, that had been stood for around four years much fiddling with coil and points ensued and new coil was then donated to the cause by my girlfriends father and a large battery was also donated by my mate dave, after these were fitted she was away with the help from fresh petrol.. much hasty reading of books on how to weld then followed and some lessons from my mate rob on the practical side of mig welding, one case of arc eye a week off work and a welding face plate thrown out and replaced with a mask. and i was off wheelarches outer and inner skins both driver and passenger side floor pans, new door skins the list goes on..... got her into paint in november05 after finally passing her MOT.. and have to say there is nothing like driving a spearmint green commer down the road that you and your mates have fixed to put a smile on your face.. The commer and i have happily done nearly six thousand miles since that cold november.There have been ups anddowns along the way but i wouldnt change them for any thing.:D

I would also like to enquire with all of you to find out what size nuts are used for holding the carburettor inlet and the exhaust manifold as i only have limited acess to metric and imperial spanners and sockets a t13 mm is to big and a 12mm too small on one set and then an 11mm is too small and a 12mm too big ,itwould be useful to know so that i can hope fully buy myself the correct pitch Bsf Af or witworth or what ever it happens to be. Becauseafter a year i still havent had any luck finding out what is what. Glad to know that there are other like minded souls out there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top