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Tell me about TransitsDarrenW
@darrenw
Club Retro Rides Member 74
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What do you know? My next car purchase is more than likely be some sort of van to convert into a camper. I've wanted a VW T25 'wedge' for a while now, but the prices just seem to be going up and up as they begin to acquire 'scene' credibility. I'm not in a position to buy ANYTHING at the moment, but I'm always thinking out loud... SO what about other vans from the same era? I guess the easiest and cheapest to run in terms of parts availability and stuff has to be the Ford Transit. Anyone know how much they typically go for? I'm talking about Mk2 ones - much more Retro than the later wedgey ones. What are the unobtainable bits? Where are the most awkward places for them to rust? How easy are they to lower? I guess you can't put alloys or anything decent onto a twin-back wheel one? What about engines - my old boss had a Mk2 Minibus with a tweaked V6 in it. It was GREAT fun but thirsty... What are the diesels like? So many questions!     |
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carnut1100
Part of things
If it's got wheels I like it!
Posts: 194
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We have a Mk1 Transit, but Mk 2s are basically reskinned Mk1s anyway so I can tell you a bit. I know nothing of diesel engines, as Australia never got diesels. Instead we got 3.3 litre inline six powered Transits. Ours has a later 4.1 motor jammed in it and a late model 4 speed box. Handling is not their strongest point, but is OK if it is in good condition. When the steering box and kingpins are worn you stay below 50 mph or get some nasty surprises when you are under the misconception it will go around a corner. Worn front end will make them play up in crosswinds no end also. Ours had the triple whammy, chewed wheelbearings also, but changing the bearings and adjusting the steering box improved matters no end. When the steering box is worn it will need adjustment fairly often, every few months or so. Front end is beam axle with parabolic leaf springs so lowering is a matter of getting the springs reset by a spring shop. The rear is also live axle leaf so the same applies. you could use lowering blocks on the back, but I wouldn't reccommend them up front. Lowering would improve matters greatly. Another option is to make up some brackets and fit Jaguar IFS and IRS. It shouldn't be too hard and would make a world of difference, also bedford CF IFS should be an easy fit and gives rack and pinion. We are seriously looking at this option. I would very carefully check for rust inside the front guards ( wings) and on the insides of the rear side panels. Door bottoms like to rust and the floorpan is a likely contender. ALso have a good look around the edge of the windscreen. I recently cut up one that seemed to be made of filler, fibreglass, and pop riveted aluminium sheet and those were the main areas with the lower rear quarters being the worst, also the rear wheelarch lips, which can be a bit tricky to fix. Aussie six cylinder Transits used the diesel longnose body, the heavy duty axles from the LWB models even on SWB, and Had a 114hp low compression version of the Falcon engine, better known to you probably as the six cylinder Mustang engine. In high compression 3.3 litre form it made 130 hp, and in the identical apart from stroke 4.1 version not availabel in Transits but a bolt in fit, put out up to 170hp. These have been modified to over 400 hp. Ours has the later model alloy head crossflow 4.1 form an '83 Falcon with a late model 4 speed gearbox, and also runs Falcon rear axle and front discs. Much of this stuff couls be sourced easily from Oz and retrofitted, ours was a 4 cylinder originally, or it couls befitted with a Ford snallblock V8 or even something more modern like a Zetec. They are a lot of fun and unbreakable.  Our Transit  The 4.1 crossflow. |
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They won't be restoring Hyundais in 30 years!
1970 Peugeot 404
1973 Volvo 164E
1979 Volvo 242GT
In the family,
1975 Volvo 245
1985 Volvo 360 GLT
1969 Ford Transit Mk1
1963 Humber Vogue Sports
1960 Morris Minor van
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I don't know, you say the handling isn't up to scratch but I find that compared to a lot of comparable commercial vehicles Transits are quite competitive handling wise. You have to remember it was designed as a workhorse, not a passenger car. Besides, any motor will play up when a little worn, even the legendary workhorse, the Bedford TK acted up if it had ever been neglected in a past life. Another advantage of the Transit over classic vans like the Barkas, UAZ 3904/3303, or the Commer PB is that it isn't forward control (where the engine is underneath the cab and the driver is more or less right at the front) so engine access is more ideal on the Transit.
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"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
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I've got a Transit..it's a MkIII though. A Tourneo. Not exactly Retro!
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Davenger
Club Retro Rides Member
It's only metal
Posts: 7,272
Club RR Member Number: 140
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Tell me about TransitsDavenger
@dminifreak
Club Retro Rides Member 140
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The Bedford CF might be worth a look too.  Just out of interest, the CF 230p had the same 2.3 slant 4 that is found in Firenzas and Chevette HS, even Bill Blydenstyne had a tuned one. Another more retro option is the Bedford CA.  |
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Last Edit: Aug 3, 2004 0:23:02 GMT by Davenger
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I'm sure I read somewhere that the Lotus twin cam (Elite, Eclat, Lotus Sunbeam etc) was based on the Vauxhall slant four block (but cast in aluminium rather than iron) and that Lotus used CF delivery vans as mules for engine testing. Here's your donor car:  cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31359&item=2485793706&rd=1Now all you need is a nice CF. Actually, I'm tempted to do this myself... Must...stop...buying...projects...on...Ebay  |
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That car is funky,.. wonder what other engine you could stick in it after you removed the Lotus twincam,...
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True but the heads aren't interchangeable, so don't try making a twin cam Vauxhall engine, just go the whole hog and put the Lotus lump in. I know where two Bedford CF campers are in my home town, but they're not for sale as far as I know, and the Scottish West coast is a bit of a trek for you? ;D You know what you could look for, the Ford A series. It was based on the Transit, but ride height was raised, it had bigger engines, juiced up suspension, and looked dead hard. But finding one...
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"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
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Tell me about TransitsDarrenW
@darrenw
Club Retro Rides Member 74
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You know what you could look for, the Ford A series. It was based on the Transit, but ride height was raised, it had bigger engines, juiced up suspension, and looked dead hard. But finding one... Hmm. I think I know the one you mean but I can't find a pic at the moment... I'm thinking of something much bigger than a Transit though and I never saw a van one... What about Mercedes vans? Are these things much cop?  |
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You know what you could look for, the Ford A series. It was based on the Transit, but ride height was raised, it had bigger engines, juiced up suspension, and looked dead hard. But finding one... Or on the same theme - Dodge 50 Series. Perkins straight six diesel, hard as nails, and guess what? There's a cheap one on Ebay... Needs a new engine though - any farm machinery breaker should have plenty. cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=14256&item=2485713878&rd=1 |
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I think the A series were mainly built pickups or chassis-cabs to have bodies put on by their first owners. Reynolds Broughton used the A series cab for airport crash tenders and fire engines etc... But those looked even harder! Can't find any pictures though!
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"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
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Tell me about TransitsDarrenW
@darrenw
Club Retro Rides Member 74
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I think the A series were mainly built pickups or chassis-cabs to have bodies put on by their first owners. Reynolds Broughton used the A series cab for airport crash tenders and fire engines etc... But those looked even harder! Can't find any pictures though! Found one! Wasn't easy....  |
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Well done that man! Although that's not a Reynolds I don't think, those had different grilles. But you done well to get any pics of an A series!
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"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
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Now you're just showing off!!
;D
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"He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
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RetroMat
Posted a lot
Column Shifting!
Posts: 3,442
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ooooo theres an A series at farm up my road i always wondered what it was, looks to have a horse box thing on the back.
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how about an ex police sherpa with a rover V8 i it
very retro
you just don't see mk 2 trannys anymore
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2001 HONDA CT110 (NOT RCV)
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