By accessing/using The Crittenden Automotive Library/CarsAndRacingStuff.com, you signify your agreement with the Terms of Use on our Legal Information page. Our Privacy Policy is also available there.

The Artful Bodger 3 - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

The Artful Bodger 3 - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

Stan Potter
DriveWrite
December 1, 2013

Stan Potter writes: Over the years I have owned various odd vehicles. One that had an interesting life was an ex-GPO Sherpa van. It had the usual battle scars common to such van (similar to the one in the image only with many more dents) that had spent most of their working life in London. A previous owner had fitted an Auto-Sleeper motor caravan conversion but strangely had left it Post Office red. I decided to paint it white, so I borrowed a compressor and re-sprayed it in the drive. Not the best repaint but at least it covered up the red.

As it was fitted with a diesel engine it was happiest plodding along at 60-65 mph, but being a motor caravan this was no problem. With its high seating position you could just enjoy the scenery. It was fitted with four beds, two singles made up from the front and rear seats folded flat and two hammock style beds in the elevating roof. It was also fitted with sliding driver and passenger doors which came in very useful as there was no aircon.

Driving along with the doors open in hot weather was often common. The only problem with the van was when it was started from cold and for the first few minutes it produced copious amounts of white smoke. This caused great consternation amongst a family we were holidaying with when we started the van on a campsite in France when the whole site was covered by this white mist. Fortunately under cover of smoke we made our departure (We had paid the previous night saying we needed an early departure).

Travelling along we came up to a point where two lanes converged into one and directly alongside was a brand new Range Rover towing a twin axle caravan who was determined not to let my tatty old van be in front of him, so as it was my right of way (he was trying to overtake in the inside) I decided that if he wanted to scratch his £60,000 car that was up to him. Another couple of dents on my van would not notice so he decided to give way. England 1 France 0.

We had many happy trips in the old van but eventually old age got the better of the engine and it failed the MOT on the smoke test. On vehicles as old as this one the test consisted of running the engine up to the rev limiter, holding it there for a couple of seconds and seeing how much black smoke was produced. It was not that bad but more than the tester could pass. He said go to a garage put in £5 of unleaded petrol and come back. I did as he suggested and - no smoke. Apparently by doing that, the constituent in diesel that produces the smoke is so diluted it is no longer significant. It is not illegal but is not to be recommended for any extended length of time. It did not really matter because about a month later the old engine finally expired.

I phoned around various breakers yards only to find the going rate for a replacement diesel engine was £350 - £450. This obviously was not financially viable. I asked how much for a petrol replacement plus all the ancillaries necessary to make the change? I was quoted £100. That I could justify so that is what I did. The petrol engines were that much cheaper having been fitted to a wide range of British Leyland cars and vans. Changing engines was not as much of a problem as you might think. Everything was a straight swap except having to create in ignition circuit that did not previously exist.

After flushing the fuel tank and lines everything was connected up and the engine started with few problems. I put the old diesel engine in the local paper as a collection of parts such as a vacuum pump, injector pump and dynamo etc for £100. The phone rang off the hook to the point I had to say the first person to put £100 in my hand could have it. Five people turned up within the next hour, so all but number one were disappointed. I probably could have sold the broken engine a dozen times. I ran the van in this guise for another couple of months and then sold it for the £500 I originally paid for it.