New Member (from Australia) - just bought a 68 Commer 2500 van

[Darren_1968]

Hi all,
New member from Australia.
Just bought what I believe is a 1968 Commer 2500 Van.
The plan is a restoration but with a few custom touches.
I'm keen to understand what the model is actually called... is it a PB?

 

[martin maltas]

Yes it is a PB, looks to be quite solid under all the grime.

 

[PaulJL]

Nice. I'm looking forward to following your progress

 

[commeracer]

Welcome to the club, looks fairly solid.

 

[Darren_1968]

Thanks guys. Yes it's very solid. That grime is actually house paint. It's been largely covered in it, even the glass, and that has really helped protect it over the years.
Last registered in 1986 and apparently been sitting outside since then and used as a storage shed.

 

[Jims Crew]

Very nice a little T-cut and oil change be as good as new

 

[Darren_1968]

If only.... ;-)

 

[S0updragon]

Welcome looks like a great van. Hope the paint’s easy to get off

 

[Darren_1968]

Spent an hour or so on the van this evening and made a small start on pulling it apart.

First up was to remove that bull bar on the front. Unsure what they're called in the UK, but here in Australia they're either bull bars or Roo Bars (Kangaroo).

This one wouldn't protect the body work from an impact with a moth, let along a kangaroo. I found that out the hard way... I took a firm hold of it when pushing the van into my garage and it flexed enough to squash my fingers between it and the bodywork!
A couple of seconds with the cut-off saw and it's gone to the scrap heap.

I removed the headlights and parking lights / indicators. I was hoping there would be somewhere inside the cab that I can disconnect them from the loom but they're spliced in so I will cut them at the splice and repair later (I'm an aircraft electrician by trade so I'm very comfortable messing with wiring).

I removed the C.O.M.M.E.R. lettering and that's about it before I ran out of time.

I was hoping to remove the upper grille too but it seems it's secured by nuts on the inside of the cab which I can't get to just yet.

 

[Panky]

Great project and welcome to the Madhouse (sorry it's a bit late)
The side lights and indicators should be connected to the loom with bullet connectors further back along the wires, you will have to grovel on your back inside the cab to disconnect them as you cant get to them from outside

 

[Darren_1968]

Great project and welcome to the Madhouse (sorry it's a bit late)
The side lights and indicators should be connected to the loom with bullet connectors further back along the wires, you will have to grovel on your back inside the cab to disconnect them as you cant get to them from outside

Thanks. I'll take another look tomorrow. I didn't have a torch with me so it was a bit hard to see but it looked like the bullet connectors have been replaced with crimps meaning they can't be separated.

 

[Darren_1968]

Well it looks like it's addictive. I've just bought a second PB 2500. It was a 1500km round trip to pick it up and I bought it based on some photographs.
It's quite solid, rust in the doors and a bit here and there. Hopefully it's nothing too bad once it's stripped back.
It's complete and came with a heap of spares which will be very handy for my other one.
It's a runner and I have driven it a 100 metres or so but it needs a lot of work before it's road worthy.
Fuel tank leaks terribly, rear brake cylinders are leaking, engine and gearbox leak oil, etc.
Now I just have to figure out which one to build first!

 

[S0updragon]

Cool. Disinions disinions lol

 

[otanica]

Nice vans.
The house paint will come off pretty easy with oven cleaner.
Where abouts are you, Im in SE Melbourne

Brad

 

[Darren_1968]

Nice vans.
The house paint will come off pretty easy with oven cleaner.
Where abouts are you, Im in SE Melbourne

Brad

Hi Brad,
I'm in Adelaide.
Thanks for the tip on using oven cleaner.
I'll be wearing a mask for sure...the fumes from that stuff are deadly!
Darren

 

[S0updragon]

Mind your eyes as well