My French Mk1 Pickup

[nigel bickle]

here's my recently acquired 65/66 Mk1 pickup.
Collected by a French mate from Auxerre



this is French roadlegal -on a Carte grise 'collection' (essentially you can drive anywhere in your local or adjacent County- but no more MOT's!
Delivered yesterday



running on 2 cylinders- quickly sorted with a new set of plugs etc.
I ripped the 3 beds off (2 steel & 1 original rotten wood) to discover a chassis in reasonable nick





-although there will be a bit of welding needed underneath.
Moving inside to the floor[img]



reveals plates welded and pop rivetted to plates- with a BIG hole underneath. passenger side looks worse -but the upside is that the outriggers still seem to be there- and patchable.
The engine seems OK


if a little smoky -but I think this'll clear once its used to running on 4. Its not a heavy breather and it sounds OK -apart from a noisy waterpump.
The wiring is a disaster- I've found 3 fuse box's and miles of surplus rubbish -yet NOTHING works -no lights at all, indicators horn etc. Wipers move occasionally.That'll be fun....
Interior is as expected. Dash seems OK -seats tatty but sound -switch's mostly non functional or wrong


So -thats going to keep me and the MIG busy for a while.
So -a few questions -if any of you can help?
Panels Any available- apart from the steps I keep seeing on Ebay -(2 needed)
I could repair these doors- but reckon I'll be sick of welding by then -and will still need interior panels winders etc- so any floating about out there?
I need a new ignition switch -can see a couple on the Bay -but any other switch's avaialble?
Help/advise very welcome.....

[FredTransit]

I think that Niel said to try a boat chandler's for the ignition switch. The windoe winders can be replaced by Mk2 ones, they are basically the same door. You could replace the whole door but there is a raised bit on the Mk2 door that matches the Mk2 squarer door handle.

[nigel bickle]

Hi Fred- ta. There are 2 ignition switch's on the 'Bay -I'll try for one of them. Ta for the door info -never straightforward is it.....
I need light switch& indicator switchs too -look at the mess welded to the steering column.
To convert to rhd while I'm at it -are the pedals swoppable- or do they need changing too?
Finally -Ive a heavy duty front axle- 6 stud , that is wider than the 'lightweight' rear -5 stud. Obviously I need to change one -do I go smaller front or bigger rear?
Ta

[baby stepside]

why not keep it lhd?
as regards the loom at one time i would have suggested something like a mk2 fiesta loom to modify ,these days inm not sure what to suggest apart from making one

and look here,i am pretty sure beevers who sponser this site can get these for you
http://www.carpanels.co.uk/index_catalogues.htm

[malta transit]

Hi Nigel,first i dlike to wish you good luck,and its good to see an other Mk1. If you can't find a part for your transit, like light switch, indicator stalk or handels, send me a list of your wants and i can check you and give you a price list and you could compare with e-bay prices. I have a friend who specialises in breaking Mk1s and Mk2s only and does this as a hobby as he s a farmer. By the way i am offering help to anyone without any interest just to help friends of this forum. Cheers

[madmark]

well done mate maybe nigel will have to come to you for a few parts!

[Luke]

i'll look forward to reading this one

re. the axle the truck is a swb and a twin axle wont fit on the back without chassis mods so i'd swap the front back to 5 stud

[blue meanie]

i think youve cracked it mate that truck seems quite repairable.good on ya ,the world needs more mk1's

[nigel bickle]

Appreciate all he good wishes and advice. I now need a 5 stud front axle to add to the list...
its early days -only been here 24hrs -but I'll keep you informed...

[FredTransit]

Depending how original you want to keep the truck, a Mk2/3 axle will fit the front, with the added bonus of having drum brakes.

[Luke]

Appreciate all he good wishes and advice. I now need a 5 stud front axle to add to the list...
its early days -only been here 24hrs -but I'll keep you informed...

i think you might be able to swap just the hubs - needs confiming as ive never done it! but if so i think you will be able to fit mk3 swb front hubs - not mk4 as they are different!
check your kingpins if they are shot you might aswell change the full axle but if they are good then have a look at just the hubs

also where abouts are you? (you can put it in your profile)