Kiwi

[kiwi_commer]

Time to attack rust in the 69. Back where I left off, sorted the inner wheel well, drivers side. Nice and solid now:

Moved around to the front valance panel and broke out the wire wheel.

Bog over patch over rust over rust. Only one thing for it, cut off disc.

Rusty no matter what direction I look at it:

And then there's this random damage, it looks like someone has bent the bottom of the A pillar.

Time for new steel:

And a lick of paint:

With the inner panel sorted, I thought I would attack the outer skin. Not so easy with all those curves. Started with a shot bag and mallet.

Getting there:

A bit of help with a planishing hammer,

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A couple of practices later and a bit more bashing,

Starting to look like a panel:

Clamped in and ready for welding:

Welding done,

Just needs a tidy up with the grinder, a skim of poo, then job done. Well, half the job done, still got the left side to take care of. Bit rustier over there.

Only one thing for it:

By using the air deflector panel thingee, I could get the shape of the inner curve. From there I patched up the other side, then it was a matter of joining the two together.

Still got the outer skin to make, but shouldn't take nearly as long as the other side, now I know what I'm doing.

 

[commeracer]

Wonderful progress [^]

No doubt you will be highly recommending the tow truck driver to everyone [xx(]

"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"

 

[Panky]

Excellent stuff[^]
I've seen some tow-truck damage on Commers caused by ignorance but that is just plain negligence[!]

Harvey & Bonnie

 

[Comm - Don]

Great progress, reminds me of what i had to do to mine.

 

[kiwi_commer]

Work continues.

The parts van arrived

Now just look at that front bumper. It was mint before the tow guys got hold of it. Anyhow, I had a good look around the rest of the old girl, put an advert out for Commer van parts, and had four takers. That old beast has helped keep 5 other Commer vans on the road, so I wasn't too sad to start stripping it down.

So after 43 years, this old beast went to that big scrap heap in the sky.


I managed to grab plenty of parts of it though. The main priority was patch panels. I started by filling in the sun roof.

Next on the list was fitting the side windows.

Found these neat little clamps called Clecos. Wish I had them earlier, makes lapping two bits of metal so much easier.

And that's about where I am up to with metal work.

 

[kiwi_commer]

In more exciting news, I picked up this

Which comes with these

Yum. Sunbeam Rapier twin carb engine with overdrive box. I reckon that combo will go nicely with the Toyota Hilux diff I got. 4.1:1 ratio with LSD and massive brakes. Taller ratio diff will let me fit smaller profile tyres and still be able to have a conversation at 60.

 

[kiwi_commer]

Now, if only I had kept the gear shift mechanism from the van I scrapped.... Never mind, at least I have the clutch pedal and cylinder. It might be a good chance to do away with that dodgy rod system and fit a modern cable setup.

 

[admin]

some serious resto goign on there - excellent work!

 

[Panky]

Wow that's some serious surgery[8D]
Great engine upgrade I'd ditch the twin carbs and go for a single 1 3/4" SU - more power and better economy[^]

Harvey & Bonnie

 

[commeracer]

Excellent work

"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
Founder of the 6 speed club

 

[kiwi_commer]

Cheers guys.


Originally posted by Panky

Wow that's some serious surgery[8D]
Great engine upgrade I'd ditch the twin carbs and go for a single 1 3/4" SU - more power and better economy[^]


I hear a lot of talk about SU carbs on here. Why would I go to a single carb? If a pair of carbs are in good condition and set up properly, they should be just as efficient as a single carb (until I put my foot down ). Would a pair of 1 1/2 inch SU's be better than the Strombergs? I understand that the SU's have a piston in a cup, while the Strommies have a diaphragm, and otherwise they are essentially very similar in operation. Possibly there are more jets available for the SU's? Or is there something else that makes the SU carbs superior?

I might have a pair of 1 1/2 inch SU's lying around.....

 

[Panky]

That's more like it[8D] Strombies were a way of getting around the SU patent, so I believe, and are OK but the diaphragms can get pin holes in them and modern replacements aren't as good as the originals so don't last as long (or maybe it's modern petrol that's the problem) A properly jetted single 1 3/4" is a good match for the size of the engine (quoting Commeracer here) and is easier to set up that the twins. For example I've got a Rapier engine fitted to Harvey my Autosleeper, with an electric fan and Davies Craig water pump with a straight through 1 3/4" exhaust - and overdrive. The engine is a standard ally head lump, I've had it way off the clock (just the once) it'll cruise quite happily at 70mph and if you stick to 55/60 it gives well over 30mpg. As I said I'm more than happy with the big SU but it will be interesting to see how the twins perform if you go that way

TIM - technical input please

Harvey & Bonnie

 

[commeracer]

It's pretty much as Panky says, Strombergs are a cheap copy of SU's, the diaphragm idea is rubbish and the jets hard to find. The SU has a vast range of easily obtainable needles, no jets needed.
Personally i wouldn't use either of those twin set ups for several reasons. Firstly they need to be synchronized, and kept that way to avoid mixture imbalance. And also it's double the cost for 2 of everything. But mainly because of the inlet manifolds, both are about as poor a design as possible as each cylinder can only "see" one carb and whatever can get through the small hole in the balance pipe linking the other carb. With a single 1 3/4" each cylinder "sees" the full 240ish CFM from that one carb. Plus the induction cycle is far from smooth, it's pulsating and reversing it's pressure wave signal constantly, which causes the slides to "bounce". With all the cylinders pulling on one carb it tends to smooth and damp out the fluctuations. Plus with all 4 drawing on the jet it creates a stronger metering signal and gives much finer atomisation. It will all add up to more torque in the low-mid range, which is far more use than the odd 2-3 hp right at the top.
Go for a later concentric float HIF type SU

"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
Founder of the 6 speed club

 

[kiwi_commer]

Wow so many choices. I think I will try running it with whats there but keep my eye open for a bigger single or something. Will a 1 3/4 SU bolt to the Hillman Hunter manifold? I agree a single would be easier to set up and keep tuned (Ideal when on holiday).

Out of interest, has anyone had any experience with Webers, Dellorto's, or Mikuni on the Rootes motor? I know the Holbay had Webbers. And before anyone says they are too big, won't idle, will foul plugs and drink fuel by the gallon, won't stay tuned etc, the reason I ask is that I had a pair of properly set up twin dual throat DRLA Dellorto's on my stock (except for mild cam) VW and they were way more powerful and easier to drive than the stock carb (smoother, more responsive, lower idle speed). And fuel economy was pretty much exactly the same as the stock carb once I had them tuned. The difference was like night and day - all I did was change the carbs and next minute I was getting sideways at traffic lights.

I realise the VW has special issues with it's long intake runners which the Rootes doesn't have, but could I expect the same sort of results?

 

[Panky]

Unfortunately the manifold will need modification to take the big SU.
On the subject of Webbers - his makes interesting reading

http://forum.commervanfan.co.uk/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2568&whichpage=4&SearchTerms=twin,40's

Harvey & Bonnie

 

[commeracer]

Sunbeam Sam was/is fitting 4 Mikuni's

"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
Founder of the 6 speed club

 

[kiwi_commer]

quote:
Originally posted by Panky

Unfortunately the manifold will need modification to take the big SU.
On the subject of Webbers - his makes interesting reading

http://forum.commervanfan.co.uk/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2568&whichpage=4&SearchTerms=twin,40's

Harvey & Bonnie




Interesting indeed, A Holbay engined Commer

"Its now running and driving and did its first journey down the drive 2 day and it does nothing in 1st gear apart from spin the rear wheels."


Sounds like Steve had the usual faff getting the carbs sorted, but I would love to know how the van runs now (last post on that thread was in 2011).

 

[kiwi_commer]

quote:
Originally posted by commeracer

Sunbeam Sam was/is fitting 4 Mikuni's

"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
Founder of the 6 speed club



Excellent. Any progress reports?

 

[nickclubman]

I can confirm that the Hif carbs will bolt straight onto that monifold. I have had my rapier lump running on a pair of 38's. I didn't realise until I took it to get set up that I only had limited opening of the butterflies, but people have got round that with the single su's, so easily doable on a twin set up. Makes me wonder how much more power there would be if I had stuck with them and got them fettled. Hmmm....I found the carbs and a spare alloyy manifold the other day......!!!
There are pics on my topic in readers rides.

 

[nickclubman]

I can confirm that the Hif carbs will bolt straight onto that monifold. I have had my rapier lump running on a pair of 38's. I didn't realise until I took it to get set up that I only had limited opening of the butterflies, but people have got round that with the single su's, so easily doable on a twin set up. Makes me wonder how much more power there would be if I had stuck with them and got them fettled. Hmmm....I found the carbs and a spare alloyy manifold the other day......!!!
There are pics on my topic in readers rides.