Our new commer highwayman

http://66.129.69.181/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=565&SearchTerms=difference,between,pa,pb
not sure how accurate the post is was a while ago :I

"SYBHIL" & N0.1
 
Hi, looked at the link, ours has handbrake on rear only and our side lights are also indicators on the front.
 
this book is like a commer bible highly recommended,but they do turn up 99p starting bid ;)no need to fight over it they are not rare.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/COMMER-1500-2500-PETROL-MINIBUS-VAN-TRUCK-BOOK-MANUAL_W0QQitemZ300233184267QQihZ020QQcategoryZ123877QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
sounds likely that you have 1725 engine upgrade by a previous owner??
Do you have an overdrive on the gear change?

"SYBHIL" & N0.1
 
I am truly amazed at your achievement, you have tackled a job few others would contemplate. Can I ask what you do as a day job.

'Harvey the RV'
 
Hi Gary has been a fireman for 25 years and now he is a window cleaner, still going up ladders!! I just stay at home and look after the family and play old cars and dig the allotment.
 
Hi the gearbox does not have overdrive but we think that we have read somewhere that commer changed the engine very early, we have got the classic camper vans the inside story by martin watts, its a very good read. is this the martin (carcamper) on here please. We do not know if the engine is original as we do not know any of its history at the moment. that is something we are working on. thanks again for all your help.
Gary & Lynne
 
We do have a new toy and so much want to get it on the road, will have to drop the gearbox this week to sort out clutch and source some tyres so we can get to mot station. Been back underneath all looks good but exhaust is a made up one and not working that great, anybody got one spare?
 
quote:
Originally posted by OK U

Hi Gary has been a fireman for 25 years and now he is a window cleaner, still going up ladders!! I just stay at home and look after the family and play old cars and dig the allotment.



No training but a natural talent and determination for you both then, how cool is that [8D]

Yes carcamper is your man.

'Harvey the RV'
 
Hi thanks again , fantastic book , he knows his stuff, and has promised to send some pictures/plans of a camper like ours. can't wait to get them, He might know about our engine size for our year of van, If your reading this Martin help please,
Please keep chatting our ten year old boy loves to check on the latest chat.
 
Hi Gary,
Glad you liked my recent book, plenty of Commers in there as you have discovered! Just to clear up this PA/PB thing which keeps being mentioned on here. The PA was produced between August 1965 and August 1967 only, various changes were then made (including handbrake on front wheels) and it became the PB until it changed to the Dodge Spacevan in 1977.
You should have got that early Highwayman plan by now, I'll re-send it. What a fantastic job you are doing, brilliant! Keep the pictures coming.:)
 
Sorry forgot the query about engine size. It would have had a 1592cc petrol unit in yours in 1963, so someine has uprated it at some point.
Your Highwayman will be based on the Commer 3/4 ton FC (forward control), a lot of the Highwayman models were based on the 2500 1 ton chassis from 1962. This had the better springs for greater payload.
 
Thank you for this information, and thank you for the pictures they have now arrived and the first one is just like ours even though it is on the austin chassis, I am still a little confused, if we are looking for parts for the commer I presume then I ask for commer 3/4 FC parts is that correct as we want to fit new brakes and I need to know what to order from speedys, We have been out for the last couple of days at rallies with our bubble cars so not much done but will try to do extra during the week, as our first outing we hope is 11th July all being well.
 
I think I'm right in saying that the drums come in two different sizes, It could be that when the engine was upgrade maybe the brakes were. Best thing to do is take a drum off and measure the diameter. While you're there see if you can check the diameter of the wheel cylinder pistons because these come in two sizes as well(I know from experience the fronts definitely do). Hope this helps.

'Harvey the RV'
 
Thank you, we would not be able to get this done without everybodys help and knowledge, I know I keep asking but has anybody else out there got an early highwayman please. thanks again Lynne & Gary
 
Hi just an update, exhaust finished today as it was still blowing.More inside panels removed, door frame one side and back panel wood disintigrated as we took off the ply, really bad but drawings made ready for making new frame. will get wood tuesday. got new ply for floor just need to cut it out ready, will waxoil the floor before new wood goes down. gear box to come off this week to free off that ------ clutch. will add new pictures later.
Gary & Lynne
 
Hi, sorry I've been away so might have missed something. However, did you try this trick I posted below a few weeks ago?

Don't talk to me about ruddy clutches...

First of all make sure the hydaulics are working. You'll need somebody looking underneath whilst you push the pedal. If the pushrod from the slave cylinder is moving the clutch operating lever back and forth then it's not that.

Stuck clutches are far more fun. Warm up the engine. Stop it. Put it in first and restart the engine so that your Commer starts to move. With your left foot, depress clutch pedal (it's vital the hydraulics are working, as above) and then with right foot stamp on the other two pedals alternately, going on and off the throttle and brakes. The shunting will either free it all up with a bang, or you run out of road. It's normally just a bit of corrosion on the flywheel sticking stuff together. This method does work, my Commer sits in a field all winter and it happens every year.

Radial or Xply? Radials every time for me, and apart from being a bit quieter and riding better, they are far easier to replace in an emergency if you suddenly find you need a new tyre in the middle of Doncaster bypass on a wet tuesday night. Few tyre places carry xplys in stock these days. Oh, and never mix radials and Xplys, you will skid and crash!

I use a "value" tyre brand called Fate, they were about £40 each fitted and balanced. When I first had them I wondered if they were a fate worse than death, or indeed a Fate worse than a fate worse than death. But they've proved to be excellent. Don't buy the absolutely cheapest Russian or Chinese brands, I've had them de-laminate and generally disintegrate on the move. It's not funny I can tell you.
 
HI THANKS FOR THIS WE HAVE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES BUT OUR DRIVE IS ON A SLOPE, ITS OK GETTING IT OFF BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TO PUSH IT BACK ITS NOT SO MUCH FUN, AND IT IS SO HEAVY, WE WILL TRY AGAIN JUST INCASE. WE GO OUT ON A TUESDAY OVER TO WHERE WE STORE ANOTHER OF OUR BUBBLE CARS THAT WE ARE RESTORING SO IT WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WEDNESDAY NOW, BUT WE WILL DEFINATELY TRY,THANKS AGAIN LYNNE
 
quote:


Please keep chatting our ten year old boy loves to check on the latest chat.




Hello OKU small person, hope you're getting a chance to get in on the restoration work too - sure there will be lots of sanding to do once the wood arrives;)

Spoke to friends and they will rescue as much as they can next time they go out to scrap highwayman- not sure when that will be yet though so will keep you posted. Congratulations on progress so far, great stuff[8D]

Bessie - four star commerdation
 
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