91 County 4x4

[Highlander250469]

Finally managed to get my hands on a County after a good few years looking.

I'd been to see a few but they have always either been outwith my price range or falling to bits

So when I got a response to my wanted ad on the forum for a County which was only a couple of hours away at Carlisle and selling for £750 I headed off once more.

David had bought it 2 1/2 years ago from an agricultural contractor with the intention of converting it into a camper but as he's got even more projects on the go than I have he never got round to it.

So last weekend I picked it up on the trailer and brought it home

Its a 1991 Mk3 2.5 Di LWB Semi Hi Top County 160

Last of the solid beam axle models

Its the twin wheeler rear axle which was the one I really wanted, shorter wheelbase than the MK4/5 single wheel versions and I think they look good.

Underneath its VERY good, can't see anything needing done, although the handbrake needs some work doing to it.

The 4wd system all works perfectly in Hi and Low ratios.

Bodywise it could do with a passenger door and sliding door and probably needs the rear arches done (arches panels came with the van)

Rear doors look to have been replaced with Mk5 doors and are both perfect.

My plan is to use it as a tow vehicle for my offroading days/weekends, it'll tow my 12 x 6 trailer with my Suzuki Samurai offroader and double as a camper for the weekenders although it won't be kitted out as a camper.

I'll keep the interior as plain as possible so it can also be used as a van when needed.

Today was the first day I've really had the chance to do anything to it, the headlining and wood panelling/framework/floor was all damp/rotten with it sitting so it has all been removed.

Happily nothing too rusty was revealed underneath (I can't believe it really is a Transit)

I replaced the damaged bonnet with a spare I had and also a broken rear light unit

So it looks like the work I need to do to it for an MOT is...

A) full set of tyres (205 R16), most look to be cracked with sitting and I also need a spare wheel/tyre

B) Fix the Handbrake

C) Fix the arches (I think they would possibly pass but might as well do them)

Cosmetically it could do with:

passenger door
sliding door
new seats (Thinking about two single leather Scorpio seats for the front)
Paintwork sorted, its two tone white over lime green just now
I'd like to fit the Mk5 Interior to it, dash/doorcards/headlining etc so I'm on the hunt for a Mk5 Donor

All in all very happy with it

Pics and updates to follow

[ChequeredRoof]

Mk3 County. Only the best!

Looking forward to some pics.

Good luck with the MOT preparation.

[transitandy]

[MinorMatt]

all very well

but... WE NEED PICS!!!!

[Highlander250469]

If I could possibly have taken pics I would have.

Picked it up in the dark and squeezed it into a garage in the dark.

I can get a pic of a half stripped out rear if you really want

Once I get it out the garage I'll take plenty.

As I said.... pics and updates to follow (next weekend)

[RustWidow]

If I could possibly have taken pics I would have.

Picked it up in the dark and squeezed it into a garage in the dark.

I can get a pic of a half stripped out rear if you really want

Once I get it out the garage I'll take plenty.

As I said.... pics and updates to follow (next weekend)

We're waiting with bated breath - and pics of what you do as you go along are always appreciated

Wish the ones that are falling apart were a decent cheap price - I'd love to change my mk2 minibus to a 4wd.... now that would be useful

[Highlander250469]

yeah I've been to see some real scrappers, and I mean fit for scrap and shamelessly been asked for £3000 for them!!

[Highlander250469]

Had a good day and a half at it this weekend, its stored at a m8's house an hour away from mine at the moment so I'm not getting as much done to it as I'd like.

unfortunately while I did remember to take the camera with me, complete with a fully charged set of batteries AND a spare set, I have to admit to being a proper knob and forgetting to check the memory card was it it!!

I got it out the garage and got the engine running, it has major wiring issues, having had many "mods" in its life, there are wires everywhere and a bit of temporary patching was required to get it started.

Under the dash looks a nightmare with extra wiring hanging out everywhere, so I've not gone near it yet.

However it is just a Di so I can strip most of that away once the dash is off.

Engine running great all day with the heater full on so the inside has been pretty well dried out.

All the wood lining and flooring now removed, a few bits of patching required but nothing major.

gave it a good powerwash, inside and outside and removed the white emulsion from the side windows.

It has two windows on the O/S and one on the N/S rear, none on sliding door.. I don't think I like the windows and i'm thinking of finding a scrap van and welding the panels back into mine.

removed front tilting passenger seat, I think I'll be going for single passenger seat set up, I break a few Ford Scorpios and have my heart set on a pair of these seats in it.

Front floor mat was removed, it was soaking underneath (before the powerwashing) so I basically now have an empty van ready for some welding work and the dash removal.

My plan is now to fit a MK5 interior but to leave the Mk3 front as it is, so have started looking out for a MK5 LWB Semi Hi donor.

We also had a good couple of hours trying out the 4x4 system and it does very well although I may have to look into some sort of rear locker system as it doesn't like the really deep mud

Although I am used to Suzuki Samurai's offroad and their excellent capability so maybe I'm just expecting too much!

apologies once again for the lack of pics! I WILL get them next weekend!

Also have my eye on a spare wheel on ebay so fingers crossed!

[Highlander250469]

For the Princely sum of £20 I now have a spare wheel with almost new tyre on it.

Had to drive to Bristol to get it though

Good ol' ebay

[tonypastie1]

Did u drive from Scotland to Bristol for 1 rim. ???????

[Highlander250469]

Well yes and no

I'm out in the van (its a Vauxhall) this week, working at Daventry yesterday, had a few jobs in Oxford today so Bristol was only a few miles extra on top of the work milage

Now in Preston for the night, wee job in Blackburn tomorrow, one in Sheffield, quick visit to Nissan factory at Sunderland then home to Bonnie Scotland!

Good job I like driving!!

[noah]

any pics???

[Highlander250469]

lol no.

I've had to work this weekend! so never got anything done to it or near it, its about an hours drive away from my house/work at the minute.

might get across through the week but DEFINITELY next weekend!

[Highlander250469]

Finally some pics!!

Forgive the Mk5 bonnet, its temporary

A bit of work needed but mostly cosmetic..

removed the dash and all the excess wiring/equipment today.

[Highlander250469]