The CF Bedford

Part 23: The rebuild starts - the stages

This page used to be the latest stuff but I have added a new page so I can date the updates, link is up top right - Updates
I usually work on several bits at a time (when time permits) but most bits lately have been halted due to having to wait on parts.

I've had a couple of emails asking for updates and things. Thanks for all the emails, the van seems to have some what of a following. Sorry if I don't reply to all the emails I get, I do read them all, I just usually don't have the time. So don't take offence if I don't reply.
I'm still trying to come up with a name for the van and maybe an idea for a mural on the back.

A couple of names I've thought of so far are:

• Running on empty (not very original)
• 3 weeks (how long it was going to take to just chop it, V8 it with flares and spoilers)
• 3rd time lucky (from the run of bad luck I have had with parts and people)
• virtual nightmare (what some people think of it from after viewing the site lol)
• Just the basics (what it was meant to be)
• Panic Attack (am sure there is a drag car with this name)
• Problem Child
• mid 8 (This is the personalised plate I got for it)

Below are a series of photos during the stages, I'll update the groups once some real work has been done - basically so a difference can be seen. Oldest are at the bottom

Here are the latest pictures as of April 2011
These photos were taken on the way back from the 2011 Van Nationals

I'll update the above photos soon hopefully with some of the van off the trailer.

Here is the custom CF Bedford van as of 23rd March 2010.
The body had been taken down to steel again, etch primered with two-pot epoxy primer and where I wasn't able to hammer and file some filler was added then reprimed.
I'm thinking about replacing the gutters to help break the sides and roof.

Here is the front of the custom CF Bedford van as of 29th October 2008.
The bonnet is off but for some reason I like this photo.
I am still undecided as to how to mount the bonnet, I'd like to have it go straight up but for cert purposes I'd still have to have a safety chain which would make it a real pain in the butt to open and close. One option is to leave it as normal to retain a bit of the CF Bedford.

These are the latest photos as of 17th December.
The body is just steel with etch primer/PA10 brushed and sprayed over it. The brighter bits are brushed, the darker was sprayed after sand blasting. No filler is in it yet.
Still a bit to do, flares, front spoiler, drivers door skin, swap the rear door rams (as I changed the side door ones). It is all steel.

The photo top right has my brother in it, he is 6'2" so it's a bit low for him, especially the side and rear doors, then again I am only 5'10" but I still hit my head on the damn things.

Here are some pictures of the van as of April 2nd 2006.
The front mag wheel is only a 14x7 Trident, am trying to find two 14x8 Ansen sprints or tridents. The grill wont be staying, am still trying to find a Ford XC Falcon grill.
The side skirt is welded on but the flares not done as am still playing around with the ride height. Being able to look over the roof of a Bedford van just seems wrong haha.

The reddy brown is etch primer (brushed) over panel steel, I'm hoping to start finishing the top section off and get it in primer soon.

The top of the rear roof is 68 inches from the ground, that's with standard jaguar suspension and 295/50/15 toyo tyres.

I had removed most of the rust by this stage, making patch panels was going to be quicker and easier than using original bits.

The van has been chopped at this stage and just about every panel removed for sand blasting. Spot the steel - Is hard to see but there is so much rust.

The van had been sand blasted around the seams and bit as this point so I could weld a bit of support back into it before getting the whole thing blasted.