Greetings and newbie questions

[Iceberg]

Hi All,

I am about to buy an ex-BT T280 100PS SWB Transit with 32k miles (it's my first one, woo hoo!) and have a few questions please? I have looked through the previous postings, very useful thank you.

Firstly, I am under the impression that there is a cam timing chain with no service interval, but that I should ensure a) good quality oil, and b) that the tensioner works. Is this the case, and is there any check I can do on the tensioner prior to purchase (ie, not much in the way of tools / time)?

Secondly, there seems to be some form of heater located to the rear of the driver / passenger seat and about central in the vehicle. This is going to encroach into the load space, and I wondered if anyone could advise on how to move it, or even remove it completely? Is this possible / difficult etc?

Thirdly, as above but for the water heater in the rear nearside corner?

Lastly, I would like to fit decent locks / deadlocks, can anyone recommend a fitter located in SE London / N Kent? If memory serves one of the regular visitors here is in the trade and located in Bromley?

Many thanks in advance,
Jason

[BigNeil]

welcome to the forum

[Iceberg]

Thank you. I've been reading for some while while looking for a Transit. Glad to be here.

I have another question relating to wheels. I've searched through the forum but haven't found an answer yet. If I wanted to change to alloys, are there any commonly available wheels that will fit, and is there anything I need to be aware of (inset / offset etc)? Can you put 16 inch rims in place of 15's?

I guess it isn't straight forward or cheap or else we'd all do it

Many thanks in advance,
Jason
SWB T280 Mk6

[Guy88]

MK6 or 7 alloys will fit.

Personally i prefer the MK6

[transitgeoff]

yep your looking for Motorwise mate, he will look after you and your van

[Iceberg]

I've just had the paperwork through and it says the van is a T300 on the logbook. BT said it was a T280. As far as I know, this relates to it's load capacity, am I right to think this?

Is there any significant difference between the two, and are my insurance company likely to be bothered? I'm just on the phone to them now....

Finally, I was also told it was a 100hp engine, but with the difference in the T280 / 300 bit, I would like to check. Is there any way of checking this from the engine number or something?

Cheers,
Jason

[MrMPuk]

The difference between the 280 and 300 is a load capactiy of 200kgs, if you send me the reg I can tell you for sure what you have.

[bikehunter]

Welcome Iceberg, the heater is a cracking bit of kit and is worth about £1000+ so is the water heater. The cab heater can be relocated in the cab or possibly on the ledge next to the bulkhead. You have to move piping for the fuel tank and the exhaust pipe. The water heater does'nt seem to get in the way of anything so could be useful for washing etc but if you get rid of it you just join the two pipes together.

[MrMPuk]

As per your PM it's a 300.

[Iceberg]

Yet again, thanks for the info.

I pick it up tomorrow

Cheers,
Jason