Mk 3lwb suspenion update

[MrTransit]

Ok, i have a 1991 lwb twin wheel transit with the trusty but basic leaf springs all round. I was reading with interest the i.f.s conversions to mk 1 and mk 2 vans and the ways around mounting the struts. I wanted to do all this to my van using the set up off a 1992 onwards twin wheel pickup but will the shocks from an early mk3 swb fit the later set up? i realise that 92 onward vans all had i.f.s. and 3 mounting bolts on the strut top whereas early mk3 i.f.s. swb vans had the same strut mounting as their lwb counterparts up to 1991, i.e., without those 3 mounting bolts.(confused???)
Also, since i want to retain the twin wheels i wanted to know would the rear hubs from a 92 onwards pickup fit to my earlier and narrower rear axle? I don't want 15inch wheels on the front and 14inch on the back! I understand the p.c.d. is different but that the axle is still a "type g"
Really want to gain power steering and like the look of those bigger wheels...plus i just love messing!

[MrTransit]

sorry, the rear axle is a type 53!,the twin wheel mk3 version

[Luke]

Are you sure the PCD of the 2 wheels are different? - im not aware they are!

[madvanman]

I think you will find the pcd is the same, even the 6 stud single wheel pcd is the same as the twin wheel.

[MrTransit]

The wheels from a 92 or later (mk4/5) twin wheel pick up will def not fit a pre 92 mk3 twin wheel pick up or van. I have the later type of wheel and when comparing the two the stud pattern is different.

[Luke]

The wheels from a 92 or later (mk4/5) twin wheel pick up will def not fit a pre 92 mk3 twin wheel pick up or van. I have the later type of wheel and when comparing the two the stud pattern is different.

interesting hasn't sixwheelphil fitted 15" twin wheels to his mk2??
like MVM says they should be 160 pcd same as the 5 studs except with 6 holes!

[MrTransit]

Cheers guys,I don't know the actual measurement of my p.c.d. but i know that later mk4/5 twin wheel rims will def not bolt onto earlier mk1/2/3 twin wheel hubs, all these being the 6 stud pattern, just like your pickup Luke. Any ideas on the strut mountings?

[madmark]

here is one for you , i have a mk1 ,mine will take mk3 rims on the front as i have tried them and drove with them!
i know from many years ago i had a ex ambulance mk2 and a mk3 twin wheeler! i changed the rear axles over , the mk3 axle onto the mk2 ambulance ment that the wheels were rubbing on the iner arches , and the mk3 van with the mk2 rear axle ment that the o/s set of wheels poked out of the arch just over 1 inch more than the other side (n/s) so there is a difrence there somewere!
ps mr transit the mk2 in your picky looks the nutts have you still got it ????? can we have some more picks of that for many twin wheeler fans like myself and niel etc

[Luke]

I have a mix of mk1/2 and mk3 wheels on my pickup the only way i can tell them apart is the mk1/2s have round holes and the mk3 have squarer holes i would say the offset was identical. - just a bit of irrelevent info!!

do us a favour mr t measure the pcd on the 15" wheels - just interested as to what it is!!

any way - back to the question - does anyone know??? when i do the ifs on my van - i have the inner arces allready - they are the 3 bolt mounting ones - so if i fit mk3lwb shocks will the 3 bolt mountings fit on them??? cos id like to do the conversion while im running the van - i could get the inner wings welded in in a weekend - then continue to use my beam axle using hybrid shocks - if you catch my drift!!

[MrTransit]

sorry madmark, i forgot u asked about her, yes i still have her and am a twinwheel fan, with a mk1, 2 mk 2's and 4 mk 3's! The yellow mk 2 needs a fair bit of work but nothing a good migwelder couldn't sort out. i am studying away from home and have no access to pics at the mo but as soon as i'm back i'll post the lot.

I know about the difference between mk 1/2 and mk 3 twin wheel axles as we had a mk 3 and swopped the axle with one from a mk 1 ambulance, the wheels were just flush with the body on both sides and looked well. Don't know about your one with 1 set of wheels poking out

The easiest way i can explain it is if you take a look at the wheels on 100ps_drw_hicube's van (which is quite nice!), they are the ones i want to change to, and will def not be a straight swop onto my wagon.

[madvanman]

Interesting! I have a spare 1996 hicube with 6 stud single wheel axels with 1990 twin wheels on the rear, they had the same pcd

[MrTransit]

Hmmm, the plot thickens! Were they definately 1990 wheels? because the six stud mk4/5 single wheel rim is definately is the same p.c.d as the mk 4/5 twin wheel. Much the same as all six stud single and twin wheel rims up to and including 1991.

[madvanman]

they came off a 1990 van at the breakers, although it is possible the axels had been changed