Need some advice (13)
maybe call a wreckers.....
quick google turned up parts in nz and uk and few wreckers here in aus
Thanks for that the man
Just sent me message .it is a big flat front one so no good to me.net thanks any way.
Just sent me message .it is a big flat front one so no good to me.net thanks any way.
Think you would be better to look for Jap light truck as you can generally gt parts, import motors, box's etc for them, as well be cheaper to run and maintain.
some links
some links
Thanks Rob will check it out
Nature123: I have been looking at a 1970 ford D series bus 6cyl.
I think it would be a great old thing to do up for a motor home.
Would it be hard to get parts for it,
It doesn't need much work,
But if something does go wrong I would like to know that I could get the parts with one phone call. Tar
I think it would be a great old thing to do up for a motor home.
Would it be hard to get parts for it,
It doesn't need much work,
But if something does go wrong I would like to know that I could get the parts with one phone call. Tar
My track record with motor vehicles of any description is not good Nature so I will not offer my advice
Nature123: I have been looking at a 1970 ford D series bus 6cyl.
I think it would be a great old thing to do up for a motor home.
Would it be hard to get parts for it,
It doesn't need much work,
But if something does go wrong I would like to know that I could get the parts with one phone call. Tar
I think it would be a great old thing to do up for a motor home.
Would it be hard to get parts for it,
It doesn't need much work,
But if something does go wrong I would like to know that I could get the parts with one phone call. Tar
if you want to go down that path find one with a Perkins engine rather than a ford, parts are usually much more easier to source for Perkins than the Ford Engines.
Check the running gear, the bus shell might be immaculate but the Brake drums may have nothing left on them, which means you have to get oversize brake pads etc, usually expensive and have to wait to get them made up.
Check the steering box, the one on the old one that I had something to do with was hard to repair and hard to find parts for.
Make sure you can manage a bus wheel, if you get a flat you have to be able to change it and at a guess a bus wheel would weigh probably close to what you do!
good luck with what ever you decide
by the way... I know where there is an old worn out D series, but it might still have some useful parts left on it 
it is a dog kennel/greenhouse now
it is a dog kennel/greenhouse now
jem1964: if you want to go down that path find one with a Perkins engine rather than a ford, parts are usually much more easier to source for Perkins than the Ford Engines.
Check the running gear, the bus shell might be immaculate but the Brake drums may have nothing left on them, which means you have to get oversize brake pads etc, usually expensive and have to wait to get them made up.
Check the steering box, the one on the old one that I had something to do with was hard to repair and hard to find parts for.
Make sure you can manage a bus wheel, if you get a flat you have to be able to change it and at a guess a bus wheel would weigh probably close to what you do!
good luck with what ever you decide
Check the running gear, the bus shell might be immaculate but the Brake drums may have nothing left on them, which means you have to get oversize brake pads etc, usually expensive and have to wait to get them made up.
Check the steering box, the one on the old one that I had something to do with was hard to repair and hard to find parts for.
Make sure you can manage a bus wheel, if you get a flat you have to be able to change it and at a guess a bus wheel would weigh probably close to what you do!
good luck with what ever you decide
Perkins seem to have an eternal life. But you do have to consider what it wil cost you to run a "bus" as against something like the Toyota Coaster (preferably a diesel). And I am not a Toyota fan at the best of times but parts are so easy to get.
Rego and insurances can be a killer if you do not plan ahead. A Perkins engined bus may seem a good unit to buy (can be very cheap to buy) but you need to look at the ongoing costs as well.
wash2u: Perkins seem to have an eternal life. But you do have to consider what it wil cost you to run a "bus" as against something like the Toyota Coaster (preferably a diesel). And I am not a Toyota fan at the best of times but parts are so easy to get.
Rego and insurances can be a killer if you do not plan ahead. A Perkins engined bus may seem a good unit to buy (can be very cheap to buy) but you need to look at the ongoing costs as well.
Rego and insurances can be a killer if you do not plan ahead. A Perkins engined bus may seem a good unit to buy (can be very cheap to buy) but you need to look at the ongoing costs as well.
I agree a Coaster would be a lot better in my opinion as well.
I know I could not manage something like a D series Ford, even with power steering they are hard work, and if that power steering pump fails.. well Popeye comes to mind... Big buses do give you more room to play with, but they are heavy on the road (if it is soft they sink), they are heavy to work on, and it takes a lot of diesel to fill them. As well as like Wash mentions rego and insurance can be expensive as well.
If I was looking a buses I would admit I would probably not recommend Fords from the experience I have had with them. If anyone wants to go down the Bus route, look for old school buses that were only used on short runs. Go for an engine that is easy to get parts for and make sure you have someone that knows a little bit about heavy vehicles to go over it.
JMO
wash2u: Like anything, you do need to look at what you really intend to do rather than the "Motorhome Deluxe."
I have travelled a fair bit through central Australia and have very rarely needed a real 4wd vehicle. But I do tend to travel to very remote areas and this has really been a necessity, just in case.
If you intend to stay to bitumen roads mainly, any decent 2wd vehicle will manage all roads. Even the Birdsville Track and Oodnatdatta Track are really 2wd.
Only really problem I have ever encountered on named roads is the Plenty Highway where bulldust is a major problem.
95% of marked roads are very 2wd capable. You may have to accept corrugations on some like the Tanami and Great Central Road (would avoid them) which will cause a lot of problems and need fixing but, generally, most marked roads are reasonable. Just need to do a bit of research before attempting some.
I have travelled a fair bit through central Australia and have very rarely needed a real 4wd vehicle. But I do tend to travel to very remote areas and this has really been a necessity, just in case.
If you intend to stay to bitumen roads mainly, any decent 2wd vehicle will manage all roads. Even the Birdsville Track and Oodnatdatta Track are really 2wd.
Only really problem I have ever encountered on named roads is the Plenty Highway where bulldust is a major problem.
95% of marked roads are very 2wd capable. You may have to accept corrugations on some like the Tanami and Great Central Road (would avoid them) which will cause a lot of problems and need fixing but, generally, most marked roads are reasonable. Just need to do a bit of research before attempting some.
I was thinking more off the load towing capacity! Plus the ability to go off road, as a plus, my 4Wd is 12 years old, no rust other than on the tow hitch, the body is made out off an alloy close to aluminium so it wont rust! And you can pick one up for around six grand? But not mine as I will never sell it!
You see I have two older brothers that nagged me to buy a 4Wd for longer than I can remember, because they had one! So when I found this one that was faster and better than theirs! They traded up?
It’s a V6 3ltr fuel injected auto 4wd with cruse control power steering, electric windows, central locking, in-house 4Wd (no turning hubs manually ?) you can put it into 4Wd when you are driving at 100kms it has a power button for over taking and an added traction in low 4Wd button, it has the identical running gear off the Pajero that won the Dakar rally ten years running! And the last time I took it on the beach I had too pull my brother in law out!
So that makes it priceless!
jem1964: I agree a Coaster would be a lot better in my opinion as well.
I know I could not manage something like a D series Ford, even with power steering they are hard work, and if that power steering pump fails.. well Popeye comes to mind... Big buses do give you more room to play with, but they are heavy on the road (if it is soft they sink), they are heavy to work on, and it takes a lot of diesel to fill them. As well as like Wash mentions rego and insurance can be expensive as well.
If I was looking a buses I would admit I would probably not recommend Fords from the experience I have had with them. If anyone wants to go down the Bus route, look for old school buses that were only used on short runs. Go for an engine that is easy to get parts for and make sure you have someone that knows a little bit about heavy vehicles to go over it.
JMO
I know I could not manage something like a D series Ford, even with power steering they are hard work, and if that power steering pump fails.. well Popeye comes to mind... Big buses do give you more room to play with, but they are heavy on the road (if it is soft they sink), they are heavy to work on, and it takes a lot of diesel to fill them. As well as like Wash mentions rego and insurance can be expensive as well.
If I was looking a buses I would admit I would probably not recommend Fords from the experience I have had with them. If anyone wants to go down the Bus route, look for old school buses that were only used on short runs. Go for an engine that is easy to get parts for and make sure you have someone that knows a little bit about heavy vehicles to go over it.
JMO
And then there is the very big BUT (No, Lookin, not refering to you, this time). Toyota has a very good service network throughout Aust which did make them a bit up on Land Rover in a lot of areas.
However, as vehicles get older, the parts availability does get a bit harder. Old mechanics are very good to do work on an old Perkins motor and will get them going by adding a new bit of wire here or there. But after 1990, it is is geting harder to find real mechanics who understand engines.
So Nat, be very careful in what you get. Cheap may also mean that it is difficult to repair. RACQ (and a few other Aussie similar sites)websites may be of help on this
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Created: Jan 2013
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I think it would be a great old thing to do up for a motor home.
Would it be hard to get parts for it,
It doesn't need much work,
But if something does go wrong I would like to know that I could get the parts with one phone call.
Tar