Bedford CF250 Petrol to Diesel conversion
Turhan Djemal
the way out, I am considering either converting to unleaded or preferably
fitting a diesel engine.
Does anyone have any information or know where I can find info on Beford CF
diesel engines and if this conversion is possible?
Thanks.
BDavies684
for a CF and it was pointed out that the fifth gear on the 5 speed box is the
same ratio as fourth on a 4 speed box.
There used to be a Laycock overdrive system available for the CF and I had
one fitted onto one of my CF's with excellent results.
These are apparently still available and anyone who may be interested can
contact Ron on 01424 460544 who advertises kits for CF's, Commer, Sherpa,
LT and Mercs.
I have not used this company or know anything about Ron, so please
take the above as observation, no recommendation.
For conversion of CF's to run on unleaded fuel, H C Underwood in
Bournemouth 01202 397286 advertise and Peter Underwood is considered
as Mr CF in the trade.
Regards
Bryan Davies
Yeovil Somerset.
Don Constance
> For conversion of CF's to run on unleaded fuel, H C Underwood in
> Bournemouth 01202 397286 advertise and Peter Underwood is considered
> as Mr CF in the trade.
>
changing the 2.3p for a diesel. On the grounds of cost v. value of van,
difficulty and the relative lack of power and flexibility of the diesel
options.
Don.
Niall
There is not much info available to the public, the Haynes manual only
covers petrol engines (an annoying habit they have now largely given
up)
It's certainly possible, but the entire drivetrain is different;
gearbox, propshaft and rear axle ratio.
Best way would be to buy a complete diesel van scrapped for body
corrosion and swap all neccesary parts.
You want a post 1980 diesel as earlier models were Perkins engined and
underpowered. Avoid 1980 itself as these were 2.0 Opel engined with
unique gearbox output spline and propshaft; replacements virtually
unobtainable (I know- I had one!). Post 1980 are 2.3 Opel diesel
engined which is the best choice.
Don't expect performance like the 2.3 petrol, particularly if you have
an X or Y reg with the "high power" engine.
OTOH, the diesel doesn't break gearboxes.
--
Niall
Niall
Constance) wrote:
This was probably true in the past but the age of the youngest CFs
probably makes it less valid now. Although motorcaravans hold their
value better, ultimately the minimum value of an old diesel van is
that of a diesel engine in running order, that of a petrol is
effectively nothing.
I ran a 2.0 diesel CF for years and found it adequately powered.
Flexible- it pulled like a train!
Not up to a 2.3 petrol, but that would outdrag 1.3 Capris at traffic
lights, which could be considered unneccesarily powerful.
--
Niall
Don Constance
> lights, which could be considered unneccesarily powerful.
By which criteria a milk float could be considered unnecessarily powerful.
:-)
Ultimately of course any conversion is worth doing if you are prepared to
accept that you will never recoup the cost. It is unlikely that you could
recoup the cost of the conversion in the likely life expectancy of the
van. (unless you've got one with really pristine body work and Bedford
didn't make that sort :-) ) Also I have this suspicion that diesel is
next on the Euro/green hit list. Not soon maybe but eventually.
Don.
Niall
Constance) wrote:
>> Not up to a 2.3 petrol, but that would outdrag 1.3 Capris at traffic
>> lights, which could be considered unneccesarily powerful.
>
>By which criteria a milk float could be considered unnecessarily powerful.
>:-)
This is 2 tons of van we're talking about here- how fast do you want?
>Ultimately of course any conversion is worth doing if you are prepared to
>accept that you will never recoup the cost. It is unlikely that you could
>recoup the cost of the conversion in the likely life expectancy of the
>van. (unless you've got one with really pristine body work and Bedford
>didn't make that sort :-)
I've seen quite a few CF motorcaravans about looking very tidy. The
Mk.2 body was a lot better than the earlier one for rust protection,
and coachbuilts have very little Bedford bodywork to rust anyway. My
13 year old Mk 1 van looked terrible around the sills and wheelarches
but it kept passing MOTs because none of it was structural.
When I sold it I got UKP250 for it which would have been reasonable
for anyone wanting to use it to convert a motorcaravan to diesel. The
running gear was in perfect working order.
It consistently did around 40mpg under all circumstances which is a
big improvement over the petrol which could hit single figures if
flogged.
> ) Also I have this suspicion that diesel is
>next on the Euro/green hit list. Not soon maybe but eventually.
>
>Don.
--
Niall
Don Constance
Missed point alert !
I was suggesting that perhaps out dragging a 1.3 Capri was not the most
difficult thing in the world to do and might possibly be achieved by
Unigate's finest. This is known as a joke :-)
I never had a problem with the speed capability of the 2.3 CF high top I
had. Even more impressive was its low end torque, excellent for getting up
hills. The cruising speed of the CF is limited mostly by the occupants
willingness to put up with the noise - the are a little under geared for
high speed work.
> I've seen quite a few CF motorcaravans about looking very tidy. The
> Mk.2 body was a lot better than the earlier one for rust protection,
> and coachbuilts have very little Bedford bodywork to rust anyway. My
> 13 year old Mk 1 van looked terrible around the sills and wheelarches
> but it kept passing MOTs because none of it was structural.
So did mine. Of course there are many good examples still about which
could be converted to diesel and continue to live long and happy lives. It
is up to the individual to consider whether the cost of the conversion can
be recouped in fuel savings and offset that against the resale value of
the van which will probably go down as a result of no longer being
standard. This is, I think, what Peter Underwood (whose view I was
reiterating as I recalled it) was driving at. If you intend keeping the
van "forever" then this is obviously not an issue.
Don.