I'm a Transit noob

[100kb]

So please be gentle

As I've written in the new member area I have just bought a 1983 Transit people carrier (ex German Red Cross) in mint condition with only 30.000 km on the clock. It is a beauty and we hope to be able to use it for many years to come.

Next Thursday it will be delivered and I have a friend who is a professional car mechanic who is going to check everything before I take it to the procedure for getting a Dutch license plate (should not be any problem).

I have been doing a bit of reading already for known problems with these very well kept Red Cross Transits and the only thing I have found was some mentioning of dry wheel bearings, so I will ask my mechanic to look extra closely at those.

So my first question is: any tips for specific points he should check?

I inspected the Van before I bought it and it is obvious it has been kept in a warm and (not too) dry place because all plastic and rubber parts of the interior and under the bonnet look great. I checked for traces of wax in the holes in the doors but did not see any so it probably has not been wax-treaded ever.

I don't have a garage to store the Transit and it will rarely be used. My motorcycle is my main means of transportation and my wife will only use the Transit if our (13 years old and @ 350.000 km) Audi A6 Avant 2.5 TDI is too small and when we go camping so I think it is wise to spend some money on rust proofing now rather than wait for the rust to come.

So my second question is: which kind of rust proofing would you advise at such a mint old-timer?

Next step will be some farkeling: add a stereo, a towing hook and some sunroof(s). We are going to make some long trips in the hot season and in the south of Europe so I think sunroof(s) with a sunscreen are a must.

Third question any tips on sunroofs? What I would like is a small one of the type which slides open in the front and a (very) big simple one for the passengers.

When we use it for vacation there will be extra load on the electrical system because of the stereo, a laptop and things like that at a 220V converter. Ideally we would also want to use a 12 volt camping-fridge. So my fourth question is: will the alternator (the standard one which comes with the 2L Pinto engine) be able to handle such loads?

Lots of questions and I don't even have the car yet. Can't wait for it to arrive at the end of the week! I've already ordered a copy of the Haynes manual so I will have 'some' knowledge soon

[cartooner]

Congratulations with Your new van. When I bought my 1974 Mk1 Firevan it had been sleeping in garage for over two years. Sadly when the brakes are not used for such a long time the brake fluid can attract water and the brake cilinders will start to corrode. When the brakes are applied than after a long time the cilinders will start leaking. I had to replace all six wheel cilinders because one after the other failed. Soon after the wheel cilinders the master brake cilinder failed. Don't worry, all is still available and You may be lucky, but You should replace the brake fluid right away, bleed and check for leaks.

Furthermore check the king pins for play and grease them through the nipples. Also check the rear axle oil level or replace the oil.

Transits can be real rust buckets, but the German service vans are usualy well maintained.

Check for rust around the steering box attachment. Thouroughly clean the underside, remove existing rust and treat it with a rust converter or Hammerite and than coat it with a flexible bitumen underbody cover. Seal the all the hollow spots and chassis rails with a penetrating oil.
( I myself used Valvoline Tectyl ML, but ther are many other brands.)

Here is a very usefull link for parts:

http://www.oldcars.de/kataloge/transit_ ... eutsch.htm

good luck.

[100kb]

Great info cartooner, I'll start reading that catalog now. Thanks a lot.

[Luke]

second question is: which kind of rust proofing would you advise at such a mint old-timer?

waxoil in the chassis rails and underseal on the underside

have a read of this post viewtopic.php?f=5&t=39539 it's in the mk6/7 section but waxoiling is the same no matter what transit

[100kb]

Thanks Luke that was exactly what I was looking for!

Just got the mail the van will be here Friday morning

[madmark]

just so mint ,and loads of these to be had in germany !

[crackers]

very nice looks brand new

[100kb]

An update and a question.

Getting the van registered was no problem, my mechanic checked everything and changed some hoses (both gasoline and break-fluid lines the last one was a bit hard to find the right type) and make the brake calipers work well again but apart from that it is in great condition.

Ordered a set of white-walls (I just had to do something to make the wheels show and the Cooper whitewalls were cheaper as the other brands of standard tyres they could supply) and in a few weeks time the van is going to be Dinitrol'd to perfection

Now the question: before it is Dinitrol'd I'd like to add a towing hook but my garage says they (Brink) can't provide towing hooks for a MK2 anymore. My garage does not like the idea of using a second hand towing hook (if I could find one) and I see www.oldcars.de has one in the catalog but it is expensive and I think P&P for a towing hook will be sky high

So my question is: any idea's where I can get a new towing hook that fits a Transit 100 Autocar SWB?

[cartooner]

With a bit of handy-work from your mechanic a towbar designed for later build Transits can be made to fit! The width between the frame rails has remained the same for over 30 years.Ask Luke. By the way , matt glass windscreens suck