BUGA Community
Technical => Buying a Bedford => Topic started by: hammers_spanners on August 21, 2008, 05:31:46 PM
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What are the things you would be looking for when buying a CF?
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a bargain!
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i look for spare parts and stuff..
i look at the van and decide if all else goes bad could i wreck it and get my money back on the parts.. thats just me tho..
thats just for cheaper ones thou i guess.. more expensive ones id say rust is big deal..
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Rust would have to be the biggest thing, rather not if it has any but how much it does have - paint, bog, fibreglass ... can hide heaps
If I was to be real fussy, would be things like:
- window regulators - if they wind up and down all the way (they chew out the end teeth)
- door hinges - play in them
- Radiator - rooten fins
- Motor - if 2.3 how bad the oil leak is (they all leak), if other then motor condition, engine g/box mounts ... and also if diff been changed.
- Extras - mags, sunroof (seals or leaks), tow bar (chassis not torn).
Other things that often break/get broken are:
- door handles (inner and outer)
- miss matched keys/locks
- indicator/horn switch
- shifter
- sun visors
- seat bases (split around bolts)
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Get on your knees, then get on your back, then get under the van.
Check everything, exhaust, engine (for leaks), transmission (for leaks), diff (for leaks), Body (for rust), just have a
good look for anything that may look suspect, dodgy fix it jobs etc
As far as rust is concerned it is hard to tell sometimes but you will get a good idea of how much it has by checking
the general areas - gutters, door sills, anywhere that water runs to and then sits... If paint is bubbling or cracking alot
and the bubbles/cracks are large then the rust is there - how bad it is you won't really know until you take the paint off
and have a good look.
I would say that rust is your biggest risk. Finding a beddy with none is impossible.
Just buy the one that has the least.
Jd
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I might add - You will get a good idea of how truthful the seller has been while you are under there....
Ask lots of questions and tap and bang things - make a bit of noise, if they get nervous and start asking
you what your doing or their voice changes from when you first met them OR they start to tell you about
a few of the "not so good" elements of the van - then you know they are full of shit.
When you re-surface from under the van you can now look them in the eye and judge how honest they
have been. If they are nervous or compensating for the "bad points" then smash them on the price.
Jd
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Lots of spare cash in my wallet ;) ;)
Or better yet someone elses wallet ;D
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Yep I'm with you Busy (good To hear seeyou on the site) Body straight up ..........if you v'e had the pleasure of being around them enough, you get to know the "real" body profiles and generally know straight up if they (the sellers)know what there talking about, then you can determin the real price, but I still feel there coming of age and are being realized at that, I mean you get what what you pay for .....
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i bought a lemon first & sold it to buy this blue beast, look for rust & bog as its common on bedfords sadly, mainly around the rear end at the bottom.
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about this rust at the rear end thing. what's the deal? has anyone paid to get this rust done or just done it yourselves? i'm going to look at a van that has a rusted rear end but how do i know if it's too much? well, i guess i will know, but if it ticks the other boxes...
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Maria
look at his link for examples of the locations for rust
Typical Rust locations (http://www.buga.com.au/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=8&g2_itemId=2863)
Note also that the gutters, and below above the front windscrean often suffer form rust as well.
Warren
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Also check this out to get an idea of what is required to fix it
Dano's Body repairs (http://www.buga.com.au/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=8&g2_itemId=1037)
Dano could fill you in more
Warren
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thanks. that's helpful. the van i'm off to look at has worse rust at the bottom of the back doors than the rusty van in the link. would swapping the doors for clean ones work? i guess finding good doors could be as much of a challenge. that hinge business is out of my league. and i don't have a garage these days.
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hey maria.. if its just doors no worries.. i have a set of great doors here when your ready give us a bell
cheers
ben
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Maria, if it just dors then they can be replaced with better ones, although they get harder and harder to find as time goes on.
The hinge stuff is Dano's changes to the back, I was refereing to that link to give you an idea about hoe it is repaired, and an example of the type of rust that gets in.
Warren
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I have panels pressed up for rust repair if you like has the correct profile for the bottom of side doors and back doors, dano......$30..ea +postage???? or pm me
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ok thanks all, just hanging out for sunday now so i can see what i'm dealing with.
great to have such a good resource of into and parts! i really have no brakes on my transit now. must do something sooon!!!