I bought a Commer!

R

Rusty63

New Member
Hi Folks; I am a Newbie here and am seeking some information.
A few weeks ago, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and, long story short, I bought a Commer!
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Basically (through) rust free and pretty straight. Interior needs a bit of work. Missing radiator and a few minor bits (bumper is inside). Not run in ages. A real 'barn find'.
My main questions are:
The guy I got it from said he thought it was a 63 model but I don't know if this is correct. How can I tell? The ID plate has no decipherable information. Is there any info on what the ID plate numbers mean?
How can I tell the engine capacity? Will the engine number identify ?
Also, as can be seen in the pic, some new window rubbers are needed. Are these available?
Thanks for all help!
 
Too late for a 63 - you have indicators and side lights :)
As for the VIN - the Manual (available on the right here for free :) http://commervanfan.co.uk/mechanical.htm ) has the information on what the numbers mean IIRC
Your engine is most likely the 1725 unless its a Perkins
You'll only get the rubbers for the windscreen unfortunately
 
Hi Rusty and welcome to the Madhouse:D
Cracking van:cool: I get the feeling you are not in the UK, that kind of sun bleached patina just doesn't happen over here;) The earlier 1500 engines were a three bearing crank and the later 1725 a five bearing, externally there are few differences but you can tell by looking down on the right hand side of the engine and counting the oil gallery plugs. The oil pressure switch screws into one of these so you will be able to see where they are along the bottom of the block, the three bearing has three plugs and surprisingly the five bearing has five:)
Martin Maltas should be able to supply most of the rubber you need.
 
Hi and welcome,
It looks like you have similar to me there,
Mine is a 1970 13 seater bus and was in about the same condition as yours when i found it in a barn also. If it has the original motor i think it will be a 1725 although a lot had GM/Holden motors fitted in them over here in by their Aussie owners.

You will find all you need to know about them right here, and a great bunch with experience and advice that will prove invaluable as you restore your van.
 
Hi again and thanks to everyone for the friendly welcome and advice.
Yes, I am in Victoria, Australia but the van apparently came from New South Wales quite recently.
I had a quick look tonight as it was getting dark and can advise the handbrake operates on the rear wheels. Too dark to see in the engine bay. It does look like it had a Holden engine at one stage (judging by the cutaway at the rear of the engine bay - I will take a pic and post it asap). Incidentally, a friend of mine had a Commer with a Holden 202 engine in it about 30 years ago; it threw a rod through the block whilst going over the Westgate bridge - but that's another story!
There is a '2500' badge on the nearside door but not on the offside. The only through rust is in the bottom of the nearside rear door. Other than that, it''s just surface and quite clean underneath.
I have enclosed a pic of the chassis plate for anyone who would like to shed some light...
IMG_4407_zpsq8p4fgfc.jpg
 
Hand brake on the rear means your van is probably a PA so between '65 and '67 and the 2500 badge is the heavy duty chassis, they did a 1500, 2000 and 2500 - nothing to do with engine size but to do with load capacity . With the transplants I guess you could have any engine in it now so check the oil gallery drillings to confirm if it's a 1725 - or is it even a Commer engine, some pics would be good. The only thing I can de-cypher from the chassis plate is the LB (Light Bus) as the plate seem to be different from the ones I've seen, may be a PA thing or an export model plate.
 
May be export numbering, as its the same configuration as my French one. '69 light bus over here would be roughly 026***. I'd go with Panky's estimate of '67-'69. The Rootes Archive trust may be able to pin it down better.
 
Meant to say '65-'67! Although I have seen later vans with rear handbrake, they have probably sat a while at the converters or dealers.
 
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Just for interest what were the differences in the 2500 chassis. Was it thicker steel more steel or braces or simply changes in the suspension. As for Holden engine transplants I have a Commer with a Holden 308 V8 squeezing into the engine bay. It goes really well in a straight line !!! But some may consider it a bit nose heavy .
 
The basic van was exactly the same, just bigger tyres and heavier springso_O
I want your Commer:cool:
 
Hi Folks,
I finally managed to get out to the shed whilst it was still light, and here are some pics of the engine:
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As you can see, the engine bay has been modified...
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Any clues?
 
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