Hi, just posting my MK5 2.5D SWB HI-TOP camper build.

[madbri]

when u explain it all like that uve got a valid point im used 2 wood but i c what u mean bout the lightweight steel take the wood of a desk and ure left with no weight. im still worried bout ure wallet tho? i bet thats empy now after this build brill work im bringing mine to u 4 a make over.

[dachre]

yeah, it has cost a bit more than I was bargaining for.... but every bit of stainless steel hasn't cost me a penny... that's why I've done so much work in stainless.... ......

To get the van, de-rust it and put new panels on it, with a new roof and a re-spray only cost a couple of hundred... Maybe £400. (Van was given to me as an MOT failure)

All the stuff I've built hasn't cost a lot really, just time.... The expensive bits are the interior trims, seats, insulation, flooring, cooker, grill, sink, air and water heater, fridge, water tank, pipework, wiring, electrical systems, ect....

And the way I see it is that I'd like a camper of some sorts for good few years or more, till I retire and then some I guess. So after this van has had it in a couple of years I'll build another (perhaps a MK7) and I'll transplant as many of the bits as i can into the new van, the stainless kitchen and possibly the steel roof frame as well.

So i don't mind spending some money on the bits and pieces as long as I can get good use out of them but i don't want to spend a lot of money on the van itself. If that makes sense...... ......

And to be honest after this build i dont want to be building another camper for a good 5-6years... maybe more, maybe 10... so perhaps I'll be transplanting everything into a second hand MK8 Transit........ .....

Also, i need to get this camper finished before the winter as my next project has turned up and this really will be a complete restoration job so I'll need the camper for some rest and weekends away from it all..... ...

Geees I hate rust... .....

Cheers guys...

[dpsservices]

out of interest whats the next project

[dachre]

out of interest whats the next project

Cheers,

The next project will be from the famous British car designer Roy Axe and the Chrysler/Roots group.

A 1968 Sunbeam Rapier Fastback. A what? everybody says....... There's only a few left now.... getting rare.

Here it is in the field when i picked it up the other day.







I have also just picked up a really good example of a Singer. I don't want the singer to restore, its a donor vehicle for the Rapier.







They share the same "Arrows" floor plan and as the Singer has been parked in a garage for well over 20 years without starting or even moving, the floor, chassis, sills, inner wings, ect are in really good condition. Which is good because all the Roots 60's and 70's cars rust like nothing else (10 times worse than a MK5 Transit, if you can believe that!) there are zero "off the shelf" replacement panels for a Rapier. Its not like phoning up Beevers and asking for a front wing for a Transit. If I need something and I cant get it from a auto jumble or something I'll have to make it. So I think I've been lucky with the Singer...... ....










And this is a nice example of one restored with a modern twist.





Roy Axe designed a few cars in his time, one of the more famous cars he designed later on in his career was the Rover 800 Fastback. You can see similar lines in this Rapier as in the Rover fastback. But as this one is a pillar-less coupe, I think this ones better (and I haven't got it in me to restore a Rover 800!).

I'm going to paint it as black as black can be.... and fit a large (Webasto) sunroof to extenuate the look of the pillar-less coupe... and maybe fit a 6 link rear suspension, ect... (All the Rootes enthusiast are now crying... )..

Cheers... ..

[madbri]

id rather the jcb

[dachre]

id rather the jcb

Since its been sat in the field for 2 years its value has gone up... crazy...... .....

[Terry]

Hi Dachre
I assume you are going the 1725 Holbay route with the Rapier ?, Preferred the previous shape myself
(White/red car in background in pic of 'black coupe', for those younger than me). But 'like it or loathe it' I am just glad to see people taking the trouble to preserve/restore older cars, good on ya and good luck with it.
6 link rear end ? 5 link when I were a tear-arse.
Have fun
Terry

[rover]

I know where there's a soft top version of that I spent 3 days restoring the engine and braking system on it a few weeks ago

Rover.

[dachre]

Hi Terry, Hi Rover, I like the earlier shape too and of course like Rover says they did them in a convertible which would be very nice indeed.

Not too sure about the Holbay engine side of things... I could spend a small fortune and many hours building up one of those engines but at the end of the day the overall original design was very poor (even for its day). And if the foundations are poor there's not a lot you can do. If I wanted to go down the classic rally route then fine I'd build a Regulation Spec Rapier/Holbay 120... but I'd always choose an Escort or Porsche over that any day of the week.

So I'll either stick with the original engine, keep it all standard......or go crazy and transplant it with a Ford.

Perhaps treat it like an Escort and six link a baby atlas rear into it, Escort front cross member and steering with coil overs all round, a decent gearbox and perhaps a 2.0 - 2.3 Duratec.... Bit like retro track-day circuit car.

But the shape of the Fastback is really starting to grow on me....

Not too sure yet what I'll do... It'll be fun tho.... ....

I have been having a quick look at other Forums tho... ones that have these sorts of builds and the best I've come across are the Piston Heads Forum.... Any body have different ideas on this?



Cheers...

[100 T280]

Hope you'll decide to keep that as standard as possible.

Is the Singer a Gazelle? Be a shame to break that! My dad had one, and like you say, they rotted like nothing else.

[Luke]

should be a great project the 6 link and engine swap etc wouldn't bother me but i dont think i'd ever be able to take a tin opener to the roof
i like the grey one but i'd prefer wheels that are mabe a touch smaller and not so modern looking

[AlanN]

There used to be a custom Rapier near me, called the Hulk, V8, chromed Jag back axle, metaflake Green, airbrushed, such a smart shape to customise, I like the retro one in the picture.

[Terry]

Not sure I ever saw a Singer that 'Hunter' shape, but as they did one I guess it would be a vague
(Vogue really). A friend rallied the 'convertable' shape Rapier many moons ago (very unsuccessfully I might add ), and 'tuning' bits especially suspension bits for them were never easy to come by, even then. Are you going to recoup some money by selling the spotlights off the Rapier ? Very 'period' (useless but period).
Never was a Rootes fan, the only one I ever half liked was a Super Minx ragtop. Would have been the mutts nuts with a power hood.
If you decide to go the Atlas route let me know, got something you MAY find usefull......

Have fun
Terry

[dachre]

Hey 100 T280,

I do like the standard idea of the Rapier, like you say, but I also like the idea of a fun track car. So im not too sure what to do yet.... I've got a few months to make my mind up I guess.


Hey Luke,

I've had a look at those Webasto fabric roofs and I reckon I could cut virtually the whole roof out except 3" all round the gutter line... .....

Didn't think you'd say that about the wheels on that modern looking Rapier, thought you would like those ones.


Hey AlanN,

A v8 Rapier called the hulk Thats so .. ..... Yeah, they are a good shape arnt they. I don't think the photos do as much justice.... cos it is starting to look good to me.


Hey Terry,

Cheers mate, I've got an old Ford Blue Bible kicking about, unless you mean you have an Atlas? .... I think my Ford book is about 30 years old and a lot of the pages have caught fire.... ......

I think the Singer was the up-market version of the Hunter...... ... I think its got a Clock or something.... ....

Yeah... those spotlights... crazy arnt they... .... If you light them up they shine a little blue beam... .... I think the Local Fuzz might want a word if i drive with those things on..... .... are they period then?


Cheers Guys.... ....

[Terry]

Hi Dachre
When you say 'have an Atlas', if you mean the actual axle..... No, but if you mean a chapter in the prep manual then yes.
Chapter 6 Rear axle.
6.1 Introduction
3 alternatives, 1, English , 2 'Narrow Atlas, 3 Gp 4 ,
6.2 Strengthening English Axles
6.3.Making the atlas axle,
6.4 Fully floating back axle,
6.5 '76 spec floating axle,
6.7 Axle ratios
6.8 Speedometer recalibration
6.9 Differential C.W.P. Ratios
Don't know why 6.6 is missing or what it was.
Copy I have covers......(Photocopied pages)
Chapter 4 Suspension front,
" 5, Suspension rear,
" 6, as above
" 8, Steering,
" 9, Brakes
Assorted pages with ;
Mexico torque wrench settings, (chassis not engine)
1600GT engine torque wrench settings
RS2000 (Pinto) engine torque wrench settings
Then assorted info...
i.e Main bearing oversizes , disc brake diameter ,suspension spring rates e.t.c.
I obviously copied these from the 'works' bible, I am afraid I have no idea exactly when ,but around then I would have been looking after 2 'privateer' Escort Mk 1's, Roger Drummond -Walker's BDA for Nationals & Tony Fowkes, Cables & Components, BDA for Internationals) plus a couple of mk 1 Cortina's for fun. As well as servicing for other people on an 'as and when' basis.
Let me know if any of it is of interest.
Terry