200 miles in a misfiring van UPDATE!!!!!!

[VW]

So, ive been driving all over the country every weekend looking for a bedford cf.
Found one, in south east london.
I'm in chesterfield.
I went today to view and left a deposit.
Plan is to go back next weekend by train and drive it back but it runs bad.
sounds ok at idle but misses and splutters when driving. It hasnt been used all year and doesnt normaly do this apparantly.

I have aa so do I give it a try and call aa when it stops, or if it can only do 40mph.

or

Take all new ignition bits, hope a plug doesnt snap in the head and see if that fixes it. It may be dirt in the carb but don't fancy rebuilding carb 200 miles from home.

or

spend presumably loads on getting it transported? I guess that would be expensive!

[mk2polobloke]

Bedford CF, it wouldn't happen to be an orange one would it?
As for options on getting it home, it is a long way to attempt to drive if it's running badly - however with AA cover it might be worth a try?
I'd take the ignition bits and keep everything crossed.

Good luck.

[vitesseefi]

If it has a Stromberg carb you might want to take a diaphragm with you....... You might find that fresh fuel sorts it if it's been sat around for ages.

Nick

[mexicansteve]

I drove over 200 miles when I got my old Bedford ambulance, managed to get within 20 miles of home before it sputtered to a halt. I genuinely enjoy the thrill of a new vehicle that I know nothing about.
Hope it runs ok in the end.

[dodgerover]

I've done 100 miles on 3 (several times:() with the pinto, once you are rolling on the motorway you'll be fine. If the lights work then late night early morning is best to miss the traffic on the M25

Use the A1 if you are going steady rather than the M1

And check your recovery will cover a commercial, also check out FredTransit's post on how not to get a van recovered..

[skylinedave]

May as well replace all the ignition system as you will know doubt need to do it anyway ....

[VW]

Not orange, no.

Hadnt thought my aa breakdown might not cover it. Whats classed as comercial? The cf is a van bodied camper.

No idea what carb is on it.

I didnt even drive it LOL.

It has rot, it has gutter rot, it runs bad and only has 3 weeks test.
For some reason I'm buying it anyway

[supersmoothpunk]

I would put some fresh petrol in then try and drive it. Hopefully it will clear, if not the AA will recover. I was recovered by the rac about half hour after buying an 80s chevy blazer once and I was hundreds of miles from home.

[VW]

It went to the mechanic to get the battery charged yesterday then they left it running and it ran out of petrol. They put 2 cans of fresh in it while I was there to start it again.

Thats what made me thing it may be dirt in the carb.

I'm not bothered, ive got lots of plans and it will get alot of love once its home, just need to get it here.

check online shows aa should cover it so ill take ignition stufd amd basic tools and see what happens

[Ryannn]

I've driven stuff straight out onto the main road and had to call the AA before. Cheaper if not more time consuming than recovery. Even better when they fix it though!

[duggers]

The carb IIRC was a Zenith/Stromberg which used to suffer split diaphragms quite readily.

[VW]

I wish I had checked.
didnt they also have webbers?

Its a 2.3 1978.

[dodgerover]

Whereabouts is it? there's a mechanic I know in se London who's used to dealing with old wibblepoo, also I believe Boraf of this forum is also in that neck of the woods, could you ask the current owner to get it looked at so it's good enough to drive away?

[VW]

I did consider that. They use a local garage.

I don't want to just be at the mercy of a random mechanic though.

Ive never paid anyone to do anything on any car ive ever owned.

Might be tricky to get access now untill next weekend. I also considered taking it somewhere when I pick it up, but id have to take the parts anyway and I'm more than capable of fixing it myself.

[VW]

I think ill take the parts, swap all the 'no tools' bits and see how it goes.

no doubt it will curse word itself on marble arch LOL.

If I can make it to the m1 ill be happy.

[dodgerover]

What asking the current owner to run about in it a little and see if it improves?

[VW]

Might get worse

[colnerov]

Hi, Those slant fours are very temperamental on the HT, so cap and leads at least, coil will be an idea, rotor arm and points will need just a screwdriver and plugs of course. If it's Stromberg then a diaphragm if it won't rev beyond fast idle, 1 3/4" if I remember rightly.

Colin

[VW]

Thanks.

I plan on replacing every conceivable part with new anyway, I want to make it as reliable as possible, so I may as well buy and take with me as much as I can carry.

[steveg]

I don't know if it's a common problem but remember my Dad fixing a neighbours 1.8 Viva by opening up the points gap more then it would normally be.
He used to have a CF and I still have a tool used to adjust the valve clearances. I can't remember if it has a socket or perhaps allen key on the end but the shaft was flexible. I only mention it as the special tool might mean it was difficult getting to them.