Old school truck engine size ?

[jimson]

G'day viewers I'm in the middle of purchasing enough parts to build a old school truck for a daily drive & my business. I'm going to put the cab off an TJ Bedford truck onto a HQ chassis. Now if I buy a 6 cylinder roller that's what I will have to run & thought would be ok, but my son says V8 if I'm going to all the trouble . Now V8's are cool but the 6 cylinders are more plentiful. So what's your spin on this situation peoples ? Thanks jimson

[maicoman18]

HQ chassis will get you into pre'75 but you might have to limit the suspension!!!

[fred99999au]

Go the six and stick a turbo Barra in it.

Just for something different.

Got  a mate who's workshop was doing some work for a 1000HP Barra.

[80-85 husky]

use a 253 v8. designed for trucks and a solid go all day engine. a blueprint and balance will make it sweet and it will sound ace without draining every fuel bowser. can use a banjo diff as well.

[Wayno]

 I would go a 5 litre injected crate engine, no points no carby  happy days !!!

[Maicoman]

Depending on what state your in I'd be checking with RMS for the correct requirements for VSCCS compliance Certification before registration as you're building a modified vehicle and doing a body/chassis swap.
They'll help you with the ADR's the vehicle has to meet. The last thing you want to do is build it only to get told it can't be driven on the road.

[crossedup2]

Stick with a 5 litre, 253 pistons are getting  had to find. You'll  find that the 5 litre, well tuned and reasonable standard gets good economy unless you pedal hard.
Stick with the Rochester carby and don't  be suckered into the holley. They actually work much better than holleys as long as the throttle shafts are not worn. With a couple of simple mods to the carby you can get them work efficiently.
Also, get the 3.08 diff and the trimatic for cheap tranmission builds.
Good luck with it. That would be one cool ride!
I use to work on all types of Bedfords as a mechanic in the late 70s. The HQ conversion would be get.......
Peter B

[80-85 husky]

a mate had a v12 chev engine which came from a plane moving unit chev built for the us airforce as their usual tractors couldnt shift the superfortress and others being built at the time. they stuck two v6's together. would make a cool truck engine.

[evo550]

Didn't Holden fit 253's to the J series Bedfords ? might as well stay true...
Will the cab fit ?
Love to see a CF Beddy done up

[jimson]

Yeah holden did fit V8s to some JT Bedfords. I already have the cab & fitting it to a HQ chassis makes it easy as a daily drive. I don't like the idea of parking a truck every time I go to town it would be a pain in the arse. I'm sure parts would be more available for a HQ then a Bedford. Jimson

[80-85 husky]

slip over to the old holden website, very knowledgeable bunch on all things like what your proposing as well as a good source of bits

[jimson]

Thanks 80-85 Husky & thanks everyone else, for your input. Jimson

[Jim]

c w and ad smith used to be at hurstville years ago i think they moved to heathcote rd moorebank as many bedford parts as u want or steer u in the right direction....goodluck....

[crossedup2]

Jimson
Here is some inspiration.
Ford onto Holden but similar in many ways. Good Luck.

http://www.aussiev8.com.au/conversions-rebuilds-project-cars/50699-1948-f1-ford-pickup-holden-1-tonner-chassis.html

Peter B

[Ekka]

I brought a hq tonner and going to install a ls1 with 6 speed  box  from a vx ss I brought cheap