Opinions and advice

[steve3]

I could do with some opinions on my next project, I’m looking for a load lugger but not something transit sized, with practicality, at least some semblance of economy, and at least some style – even if it has to modded into it. This project will not be starting till at least the spring, I like to plan my projects and if mods are too be made I tend to collect the bits I want prior to buying the car. Current choices are –

Bedford Rascal/Suzuki Supercarry

OK a bit of an odd one admittedly but recently I have kind of fell for the cutesy look of these things. I’m thinking a mild lowering job, tasteful 13 inch alloys, better seats, and ….a Suzuki swift GTI engine. As far as I can make out the F10A engine Rascals/Supercarry's came equipped with is the same/similar to the Swift GTI block and have matching gearbox bell housings. Board out rear and carpet. Front end restyled similar to the pictured one here, but minus as many vents as possible for a smooth look, and definitely omitting headlight eyebrows.



Austin Maestro Van

Another odd one, basically take one Maestro van, fit Maestro car front wings, plastic bumper and full size headlights. Maestro car door trim panels and carpet and better seats, board out rear and carpet, insert Perkins turbo diesel engine from Montego and enjoy

Vauxhall Carlton Estate

Thinking 2.3 TD version if I can find one (fit one from a saloon if not, though prop shaft solution could be interesting). GSI3000 front bumper and possibly skirts, front struts from same to lower front and lower rear to match.


Sierra Estate



I found this picture ages ago while surfing, and cant for the life of me remember from where, but anyway. A Sierra estate much the same as this (not sure about the oval exhaust) with 2.3TD from Mk3 Granada (the Granny cross member is supposed to bolt straight up to the Sierra) with a high ratio Granny LSD axle (again swappable with minor mods)

Mk2 Granny estate




See picture, exactly like that minus black grill and red stripes, probably with Mk3 Granny TD engine, though this could be challenge to fit as I’m fairly sure the Mk3 cross member doesn’t fit, although a Mk3 Granny axle is supposed to which could give cheap LSD – are the alloys on the one in the picture Penta’s

And last but not least

Volvo 700 series or 240 Estate

Don’t know much about Volvo’s having had nothing to do with them before, but for reliable load lugging Volvo tend to be the king. Anyone know much about the 700 series diesel engines.

[philly]

what bout a 5 series touring, in the weeds, fat wat wheels, de chromed, your bank manager woul'nt know if it was his 3 o clock or if he was getting done over again

[bstardchild]

steve3 said:

Vauxhall Carlton Estate

Thinking 2.3 TD version if I can find one (fit one from a saloon if not, though prop shaft solution could be interesting). GSI3000 front bumper and possibly skirts, front struts from same to lower front and lower rear to match.

Top car - dog engine...... Sorry but the 2.3 puff boosted lump is both long in the tooth exceptionally tractor like and downright unreliable - esp if engine oil changes aren't carried out frequently

Now the 3.0 12 V 5 speed manual version will do 30+ mpg on a run and will pull anything you car to put in or tow behind it - it will achieve 137mph banging away on the limiter all day long too!!

I've had two now and one was used to drag a Monza GSE on a 1 tonne trailer back 100 miles and we forgot teh trailer and car was there - the guy in Bedford in a pimped XR3i who thought he outdrag us from the lights got a big shock too - totally wasted him ;D

Oh and I'm a bit biased here so i won't comment on the other choices except the sooty van - that would be cool

[mattblack]

Any of those would be cool, IMHO... bigest problem with estates/vans is finding one that's not been driven into the ground, and then some...

Have you thought about a MK3 Astra estate/van? XE transplant, slammed on steels, NATO green....

[wagoneer]

Guess what I'm going to suggest?

Volvos are solid, lug massive loads, have huge roof rack potential and if you find a GLT, all the toys.
There's plenty on the bay, or take a look on the Volvo club forum

www.volvoclub.org.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=28

Always loads there. Parts are cheap and plentiful.
I'm getting boring now, aren't I......

[steve3]

Had'nt thought about the Astra estate/XE combo - food for thought.

I've got a GSI3000 12 valve and while I could get 27mpg (on the fuel computer) on a long run 17mpg was normal urban, though once got it down to 9mpg giving it some serious hoof through Nottingham at 6am while late for work. Bit of a bummer about the 2.3TD engine, as your the Carlton guru on here do you know if the Frontera 2.5TD lump is a) any better b) would match a 2.3 gearbox

[Blown_Imp]

525tds touring, cheap, good engine (tuneable!) look for an ix as they were four wheel drive.

J

[bstardchild]

steve3 said:

I've got a GSI3000 12 valve and while I could get 27mpg (on the fuel computer) on a long run 17mpg was normal urban, though once got it down to 9mpg giving it some serious hoof through Nottingham at 6am while late for work. Bit of a bummer about the 2.3TD engine, as your the Carlton guru on here do you know if the Frontera 2.5TD lump is a) any better b) would match a 2.3 gearbox

Not a clue on the later engines sorry - Vauxhall stopped making cars I like in 1994

12V poor mpg is 99% down to the AFM spring needing a reset makes a massive difference - the other 1% is down to the number of leaks possible from the fuel rail (sorted on all my cars )

[thevert]

Drift Car? a Volvo ? never! There damn cheap to

[spottedlaurel]

Shoulda bought Ferg's 300C estate!

There was that RWD Mazda 323 estate someone posted that was on eBay.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

bstardchild said:

12V poor mpg is 99% down to the AFM spring needing a reset makes a massive difference - the other 1% is down to the number of leaks possible from the fuel rail (sorted on all my cars )

That sounds interesting. How do you do that then?

[samyboy]

mk1 escort van, volvo 240

[filmidget]

The diesel in the Volvo 740's is a VAG unit and not wonderful. The petrol 2.3 turbo intercooled however is very wonderful.

[bstardchild]

e661301 said:

bstardchild said:

12V poor mpg is 99% down to the AFM spring needing a reset makes a massive difference - the other 1% is down to the number of leaks possible from the fuel rail (sorted on all my cars )

That sounds interesting. How do you do that then?

Without Liability?

[PhoenixC]

steve3 said:

Had'nt thought about the Astra estate/XE combo - food for thought.

I've got a GSI3000 12 valve and while I could get 27mpg (on the fuel computer) on a long run 17mpg was normal urban, though once got it down to 9mpg giving it some serious hoof through Nottingham at 6am while late for work. Bit of a bummer about the 2.3TD engine, as your the Carlton guru on here do you know if the Frontera 2.5TD lump is a) any better b) would match a 2.3 gearbox

The later 2.5 and 2.8 are both isuzu engines much better than the 2.3`s. I am not sure whether they would fiut the 2.3 gearbox though. Frontera`s have an isuzu gearbox and I am not sure if any engines from fronteras bolt onto normal vauxhall boxes. I was told a lot of years ago that the 2.4cih frontera engine wouldnt bolt to a manta gearbox.
The 2.5`s and 2.8`s are also used in the vauxhall brava pickups and its possible to get those in 2wd so you could get a box from one of those.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

........?

[Panda Matt]

Why hasn't anyone mentioned the merc w123 estate?

Get a diseasel and you've ticked all the boxes surely.

Also, cult car, will go up in price in a few years if well looked after IMHO, you could actually make money on it!



£750, 12mths t&t and it's an IOW-registered car

[bstardchild]

e661301 said:

........?

Well I'll phrase it another way

It's easy to screw it up and get it wrong regarding the AFM - if it's without liability it's not my fault if you don't follow the insturctions to the letter and end up with a mess

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Fair enough!!! I was only asking, i'm not going to hold you responsible for anything if I burn my house down! I don't even have a senator, I just wondered what it entailed.

[bstardchild]

e661301 said:

Fair enough!!! I was only asking, i'm not going to hold you responsible for anything if I burn my house down! I don't even have a senator, I just wondered what it entailed.

It applies to an awfull lot of Vauxhalls and Opels in fact a lot of cars with bosch AFM's - I won't thread jack here any more I'll find the pictures and do a separate post