fitting power steering onto a mk3 transit? help/info please?

[transitgeoff]

right i have done this (years ago) firstly you will need to be able to weld.The mk3 rack type beam mounts at the front and the shockers fit the same but where the actual beam bolts up to the chassie(4 19mm vertical bolts) there is no place for the bolts to go, if you look at a s.w.b mk3 you will see an extra piece of chassie that makes a flat platform for the beam to bolt onto, you will need to graft this on,the one i did i stuck a mk5 beam up which is the same width etc as a mk3 but the shock top mounts are different, so i modified the top mounts because you are going to need mk4/5 front hubs from a twin wheel which as someone noted do not fit mk3 shocks, then your front wheels will be 15" so you will either need to carry 2 spare wheels or get into the rear axle.

[rover]

Just be aware Guy that the diesel P/S rack has the pipes coming up the wrong side of the engine! So you will need to either get the pipes re-bent or get a petrol rack.

Rover.

[transitgeoff]

Diesel and petrol racks are one and the same

[motorwise]

Diesel and petrol racks are one and the same

they certainly are - it's the pipes that are different so just get the pipes that go with the engine

[rover]

Diesel and petrol racks are one and the same

I didnt say the racks were different, I said the pipes came up the wrong side! If he is buying second hand (which I'm assuming he is as only a mad mad would buy new at the prices they are) he needs to be aware of the fact that the pipes wont be in the right place.

Rover.

[mk5 transit recovery]

just so every1 knows "im now aware the pipes are differnt"

[geordie white van man]

[transitgeoff]

you get two types of pump/pipes configurations on petrol Transits (pinto) that i know of and the pipes on both still cross over the rack the same as diesel, when ive done conversions i normally get the ends of the said pipes refitted with the appropriate end, theres a hydraulic pipe company up the road from me who normally accomodate for cheep

[Transitwalla]

I tried to swap the front axle over on my old mk3 swb van and it didnt work. I used a mk5 swb van as the donor vehicle. The axle itself bolts straight in but the shockers arent interchangable as the mk3 has a single nut at the top and the mk5 has 3 nuts at the top. I tried swopping the shocks over and the dont fit the stub axles. also the brakes are vented and bigger than a mk3 and you cant change them over either as they dont fit the stub axle either. I just ended up swapping the racks over which was easy, but then mine was a rack not a box
If anyone fancies swapping the rear axles from a mk5 to put on a mk3 so the rear wheels sit inline with the front wheels they dont fit either. The shockers are on the opposite side of the axle as I was gonna swap that aswell.

Did you get as far as fitting the rear axle from the MK5 to a MK3. Thought about this myself, the shocker mounts are no problem as I could just weld on new ones . . .

My main concern is offering the MK5 axle up to find the leafspring mountings are wider or narrower then the MK3 . . anything else can be worked on / around.

[geordie white van man]

No mate, Removed the mk5 axle from the van then looked at the differences with the shocks and though F**k it basically. Pleased I did as the mk3 is as good as dead, ole tin worm got to her.

[Luke]

My main concern is offering the MK5 axle up to find the leafspring mountings are wider or narrower then the MK3 . . anything else can be worked on / around.

leaf spring mounts are the same mate

[Transitwalla]

My main concern is offering the MK5 axle up to find the leafspring mountings are wider or narrower then the MK3 . . anything else can be worked on / around.

leaf spring mounts are the same mate

Cool as it goes then .. just need to weld new mounts for the shockers then? Looks like the best option is to make new shocker mounts for the chassis rails. . . just had a quick look under the van in failing daylight and the only problem I can see is the load compensation valve being the only obstacle.

[Luke]

Looks like the best option is to make new shocker mounts for the chassis rails.

you reckon?? id have thought alter the axle's easier depends on what welder you have i suppose

i found this out while i was doing the disk brake conversion, and most of my findings were posted in the sticky axle info post - you know the mk5 is wider i presume and also the handbrake cable is different - which i didnt so i fitted a mk3 one to a mk5 - bit of a bodge but im a tight yorkshireman