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Anon
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Just bought a CF

Hi all.

I have just bought myself a 1983 CF 250 Campervan. I am working every evening after work at the moment getting the old girl ready for my race season.
I have given it a good check over and have changed the timing belt and carried out a full service.
I am fitting an semi air suspension on the rear as my leaf springs are worn out and this seems the cheaper option. Has anyone fitted this type suspension? and does it work ok?
As i'm new to working on these lovely old vans is there anything I need to look out for, i.e. common problems or rust!
Mine has only done 27000 miles so it seems to be ok. The only bit I have found is under the windscreen on the passenger side.

As for the inside it is all completey standerd and all seems to work ok.
The only change inside I have got to make is to fit a double seat in the front so I can strap my two daughters child seats in. Does anyone recomend a certain seat which fits well?

Sorry just one other thing...What is it like on fuel on a long journey?

I am already growing attached to the old girl and love the character. Working on it is pretty easy compaired to what I have to do now days!

Cheers,
Stilly.

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Thu 16 Feb 2012 @ 23:12 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Welcome stilly,
The air suspension makes a huge difference,I dont think it`s the springs bbeing worn so much as the weight sitting on the axle.common problems are numerous but you are in the right place for beddie gurus(of which i am not one lol)to give you plentiful adviceThe only thing i can say after a hard days work on my own is,prepare to get dirty and prepare for lots of attention and above all prepare to fall in love with it,

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Thu 16 Feb 2012 @ 23:55 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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hi and welcome i think Brianm has just about said it all apart from the getting dirty bit cos i know nothing about engines ect but theres some on here that really know there stuff and you WILL fall in love with her [i take it shes a her lol ]
good luck
Fri 17 Feb 2012 @ 10:35 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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HI Stilly and welcome to the best Bedford sit on the net. My van is the same as yours right down to tha age & springs.

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Fri 17 Feb 2012 @ 18:23 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Welcome!
There is a double seat for the CF but finding one could be fun. Failing that, take out your seat bases and put in something modern and comfy!

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Fri 17 Feb 2012 @ 20:03 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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welcome mate. Enjoy yer new van -there are LOADS of issues with the CF, as with any older vehicle, but none that you wont be able to sort with some spanners...or a hammer
Fri 17 Feb 2012 @ 20:08 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Rear suspension.

Hi and welcome,

I had this same problem when I bought mine three years ago, but gave a lift on coil springs, mounted on the centre plates of the leaf springs with a made up top and bottom carrier.
Worked well and reduced the effect of side winds, cheaper and easier to fit.

Doug.

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Fri 17 Feb 2012 @ 20:22 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Thank you all for your replies.
Would I be right in thinking that no one wants to tell me the M.P.G so not to scare me!! lol...

Looking forward to giving the old girl a run, (haven't named her yet) but still got a bit left to do.
Every time I start working on it I find something else needs doing! I work as a Mechanic and quite often moan about it but i'm glad to do it for a living now after the amount of work i've had to do on this old girl!

When i'm finished I will post a pic for you to all have a look at and give you a list of everything i've done to her.
Fri 17 Feb 2012 @ 20:59 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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join the Rac,,,, I have saved loads on return journeys

When I first got mine it was about 15ish to the gallon after engine rebuild got 23ish on long motorway journeys 20ish on shorter journeys.

Now OIL miles to the gallon is a whole new ball game

I have had some wonderful amazing times in my life and have to thank the beddy for the last one,, 5381 miles around europe in 11 weeks (only breakdown back tail light)

Have a fabby time with yur beddy

Jacarmy
xxx

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Fri 17 Feb 2012 @ 23:07 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Well the M.P.G hasn't scared me too much . Wow, over 5000 mile round trip and only a bulb failure

I fitted the air suspension on the rear today and what a difference it has made, a good 6-8 inches higher and the body is really stable.

Going to have a day off from working on her tomorrow as the wife and kids would like to see me lol..

P.S. I've named her Doris
Sat 18 Feb 2012 @ 20:11 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Stilly wrote:
The only change inside I have got to make is to fit a double seat in the front so I can strap my two daughters child seats in. Does anyone recomend a certain seat which fits well?

Factory option of double passenger seat with seat belts to go with it should do the trick if the child seats will fit using a lap only belt (for the middle passenger - left passenger gets lap & diagonal belt). Finding one might be a problem though.

Double seat from a Transit or LDV should shoehorn in by making up a base to suit the CF cab floor; earlier seats without integral head rests might be better than the later ones.

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Sat 18 Feb 2012 @ 22:56 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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I fitted a double cab seat upfront for the very same reason - to house car seats. I will see if I can find the thread.

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Sun 19 Feb 2012 @ 09:26 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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http://www.bedford-cf.co.uk/mboard/showthread.php?id=6360&postid=1

If you read down a bit it list the seat we sourced - a Renault Master set (not new but from a ten year old van). The seat is slightly at an angle because of the size of the seats and the gear stick. We reinforced the holes we drilled by getting metal plates fabricated (all individually sized!) from http://www.metaloffcuts.co.uk/.

It can be done with a bit of fiddling but is worth it in the end.

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Sun 19 Feb 2012 @ 09:32 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Thanks for the info
Sun 19 Feb 2012 @ 12:25 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Hi Stilly - We are also a quite new CF owners with the barked knuckles and oil stained clothes to prove it ! Hope our experiences may be useful:
Our Matilda (where do we get these names ?!) is the same year as Doris, 2.3 petrol but with a basic (carb fed) LPG conversion. This works well and LPG is roughly half the price of petrol. Conversion is about 800 quid so worth considering if you are doing a fair mileage.
Cooling is a common problem it seems - I would flush your entire cooling system out NOW and not wait until it boils over. There's good advice on flushing in an earlier post in the forum.
For spares I'd recommend the very helpful Adrian Bailey at Roverland http://www.roverland.eu
Good luck with Doris !
Fri 24 Feb 2012 @ 13:48 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
Anon
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Hi likaleica.

Thanks for the info I will see how I go with the fuel as not planning to do loads of miles but will wait and see!

I have finished all the mechanical side of Doris apart from the coolent system. I must of flushed it at least 10 times, twice with 'coolent flush' but i'm still getting rusty water coming through, it is getting better each time though so i will keep flushing it.

Good luck with Matilda!
Sat 25 Feb 2012 @ 20:04 Edit this messageQuote this messagePMQuote this message
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