Mk2 Spotters guide please.

[redeemer]

I forgot!
To find the year of manufacture , accuire the chasis number and compare it against the table found in page 93 of the mk1/mk2 parts catalouge found here http://www.oldcars.de/index_de.htm
Download the pdf version.

[Pikeydave]

Thanks for the info chaps.
I bought a 1984 Ford Transit Operators manual on Ebay and it's actually a useful little book and confirms that I'm gettin' a twin batt, flame start, overdrive, tailgated, opening quaterlighted Di Transit.

e500 is the price. The lady won't budge on that. It's sat for a couple of years but it's a runner(yeah right!)

Now the fun part of:
1.Getting it re-registered in Italy. (UK last resort)
2.Bringing it back to life for the journey back here.
3.Resto to a decent standard.

Having Italian connections it would be nice to leave it as an Italian registered van (I like those small No plates!) but have to clarify the taxes involved. Have got the Family Mafia working on it.
Now as it happens I've got some flying to do out of Paris in a couple of weeks time and I'm thinking of loading the bike up with the Snap-ons and biking down to Italy to blitz the van to life and drive it straight back 1200 miles to Dorset.
Might make a good road trip.
Now i'm thinking 'what will this van need?'
At least 1 battery (can I run a 2 batt van ok on 1?)
Change engine oil, filter and air filter. Change fuel filter and carry a spare. Top up diff and gearbox oils.
Brakes. Are Tranny brakes renowned for siezing on or off?
Exhaust. Might disintergrate on journey back.
Tyres. Sat in the sun for years. Gawd knows what they're like.
Electrical gremlins. Not too likely, simple system and prob easy to fix. Alternator will either work or not.
It's parked at a garage so I'm going to try and see if they'll jetwash the crud (and wasp nest) off it and they'll be useful for scrounging trollyjacks, big tools etc for some beer tokens.
Time to dig out the trade plates.
Any other hints and tips?

[FredTransit]

Starting/running a twin battery van on one battery will be fine, most are one battery and start fine.

Check to see if the first main junction on the wiring loom after the battery has been replaced, or needs replacing. Look in the glove box, there is a large plastic wiring loom joint, one end will either look a bit crisp or will have been cut out and re joined. If that fails it will stop all the electrics.

Don't forget the easy start . If desperate substitute with brake or carb cleaner or even deoderant!

[Pikeydave]

Starting/running a twin battery van on one battery will be fine, most are one battery and start fine.

Check to see if the first main junction on the wiring loom after the battery has been replaced, or needs replacing. Look in the glove box, there is a large plastic wiring loom joint, one end will either look a bit crisp or will have been cut out and re joined. If that fails it will stop all the electrics.

Don't forget the easy start . If desperate substitute with brake or carb cleaner or even deoderant!

I'll tape up the spare batt. terminals then but I'm assuming that batteries will be dearer in Italia than back home. If not I'll buy a couple. Might be handy if the alternator goes tits up!

The wiring fault at main jct. Does this still crop up on LHD? Is the wiring loom and electrical layout just a mirror image layout in LHD vans?

Do you think 35degC will help in the starting process then!?
Dave

[FredTransit]

I would have thought the LHD loom would be a mirror image, so check the glove box anyway. If it's not there, follow the loom from the starter, as it's the first joint in the loom after that. As for the battery, take some adapters for the connections with you. Round pole connections are the most common on the continent, where as the Mk2 is square pole (or bolt through). The adapters can be bought from most large spares shop and cost (me) about £3 each. Getting two batteries if they aren't too dear is a good idea, we have brought a van from Germany before with no alternator!

[Southerner]

One thing I noticed whilst on holiday in Italy this year was that tyres are cheaper there and they sell them in the supermarket (WTF?, although I guess probably not for your van). Good luck with getting it back.

[duncr]

ok.....Fred, may have to disagree with you on the heater control bit....Mine is an original 1984 LWB custom 2.5Di, twin tray but grey surround and twin heater controls, with overdrive gearbox, beleive me \i am no expert on the Tranny but I know an original motor when I see one and as it came from a forum member whose sales add you all commented on its originality..............

[MrMPuk]

ok.....Fred, may have to disagree with you on the heater control bit....Mine is an original 1984 LWB custom 2.5Di, twin tray but grey surround and twin heater controls, with overdrive gearbox, beleive me \i am no expert on the Tranny but I know an original motor when I see one and as it came from a forum member whose sales add you all commented on its originality..............

You'd be wrong then.

[FredTransit]

ok.....Fred, may have to disagree with you on the heater control bit....Mine is an original 1984 LWB custom 2.5Di, twin tray but grey surround and twin heater controls, with overdrive gearbox, beleive me \i am no expert on the Tranny but I know an original motor when I see one and as it came from a forum member whose sales add you all commented on its originality..............

Well it could have had the whole heater changed at some time, the diesels were less common than the petrols in the 80s so if you went to a scrappy and wanted the heater controls or the whole heater you were more likely to find a petrol than a diesel. Did you have the van from new? What does the VIN plate say under engine?

[Pikeydave]

It's kickin' off!

Looking at the heater controls it's 3 slots in black and the graphics match the pic for a Diesel heater in the owners handbook.

[FredTransit]

So it's a factory diesel then. If it's a Lucas CAV injection pump (can't tell from your pics) it could be the original engine