Kiwi Mk1 LWB Turbo 4L

[conrod]

I thought I would get a bit of a thread going on the Mk1 I bought 2 years ago. It has been in storage at my mums place a couple of hours away, but I have been collecting parts quietly for it, and have recently secured a good workshop for free so will trailer it up here soon and get started on it. It is a 1975 LWB, originally a 2.0L V4. The previous owner had begun to fit a Falcon 4.0 SOHC six cylinder into it. He had chopped a big hole in the floor, sat the engine in the hole, and that was about it I bought it less engine, and trailered it back to my mothers place, it took over 7 hours in the pouring rain to get it back there. The body is fairly sound, there is some rust around the headlights, a few small bits on the gutter on each side, and a little in the lower front corners, and thats about it I think. Underneath had been havily undersealed since new, and since we don't put salt on our roads the underside is rust free as far as I can tell

Anyway, time for some pics.

Trailering it home:








I managed to find a 9" diff, already converted with Transit axle tubes and brakes:



and bolted into place:



Originally it had been panelled over in the rear with a moulded fibreglass panel, I think someone was going to convert to a campervan?



Ten minutes with a skilsaw dealt to that, fortunately all of the door shuts had been left intact. So I found a pair of rear doors, and they bolted straight in:





Some of the NOS parts I have been collecting. I also have a new diesel grill panel now, rear valance, cab sills (just in case!) diesel front bumper, rear bumpers and rear wheelarch flares. I still need a diesel bonnet, diesel front valance, and the front bumper infill panels, if anyone knows of any new or mint used parts please let me know. I can arrange collection from just about anywhere if required in the UK.









Originally I bought this engine, a brand new never-been-run BA Falcon "Barra" Turbo six. This engine produces 320hp and 330 lb.ft in stock form, with a measly 6psi of boost (plenty of scope for more )



I then found a similar engine from a Ford Territory, slightly more power (330hp) but it was a better package I felt, as the top mount intercooler would work better in the Transit, and it was a complete package, with all wiring, ECU, electronic throttle, alternator, starter etc. So I sold the original Turbo engine.







And that about brings me up to date. The plan is to acid dip the entrire bodyshell, and start with a nice bare metal shell to commence the build. I want it to look basically stock from the exterior, I will fill in the side windows, fit the diesel front, and it will run the original 14" wheels with dually rears. I will keep this updated as I make progress. Should be a fun old bus by the time it is finished

Conrad

[AndyG]

Well

[Luke]

sweet project

[YETANOTHERANDY!]

Looks like a really clean base to build on. Keep the pics coming.

[conrod]

Looks like a really clean base to build on. Keep the pics coming.

thanks guys.

Yes I looked for several years to find this, as I wanted a LWB and they are quite rare over here (even the SWB's are hard to find. I found a couple that were rotten, but I cannot be bothered with fixing something like that. The other option was to import a German Firevan, something a friend of mine here has already done (damn those 1.7 V4's are slow!)

This one has quite a good bodyshell, and fortunately none of the previous owners attempts at customising/modifications had too much effect on what I wanted to achieve. Will post some more pics when I get it up here and sit the engine in place.

Conrad

[AlanN]

Ive bookmarked this thread

[conrod]

Picked up the van this weekend from my mums barn about 2 1/2 hours away and brought it to my workshop. Van was about 20mm too wide for the trailer, so I removed one of the rear wheels, which did the trick. So it is tucked up inside my workshop now, and I will get into it very soon.



and a shot from the front, I know its not a Transit but at least its British



Conrad

[Altransit]

Looking good Conrad You shouldn't really let Luke see those pics, it gives him ideas

Good to see the 400 is earning its keep

[AndyG]

V6 towing

[conrod]

8)
V6 towing

Ahem, thats a V8! Original Police van, factory fitted Rover 3.5L V8 with 5 speed box. I am just rebuilding a 4.6 RangeRover V8 injection engine to go in there.

Conrad

[AndyG]

8)
V6 towing

Ahem, thats a V8! Original Police van, factory fitted Rover 3.5L V8 with 5 speed box. I am just rebuilding a 4.6 RangeRover V8 injection engine to go in there.

Conrad

Typo They never made a V6

[pat stevens]

very cool van

[robbie.cee]

Even the trailer has good wheels on it!

[nscvr6]

awsome project there conrad may i ask where in nz you are?
i absolutely love nz my fave place in the world and so many classics over there...

going to keep tabs on this build

nick

[conrod]

HI Nick,

I am in Auckland. Haven't done anything to the van since getting it up here a few months back. Been building the workshop that it will live in for the next few years, nearly done though. Look forward to getting into it:) Have a load of NOS panels in UK that I will ship over soon.

Conrad