Lukes Transit mk5 campervan project (change over)

[Bigredbus]

Hi i have shown some of my work on various threads but ill try to put together some of the work i have done on this thread.

It all started a couple of years ago when i bought an L reg campervan on ebay i looked at it bought it and it seemed ok but when it came to the mot it had rust issues i got it patched up to get it through to use for the following year but other rust and mechanical problems arose so i decided to change all the camper fixtures and fittings and the roof to a newer van.I managed to pick one up in my local town a T reg transit 80 for £500 ideal i thought then took the ply lining out and found a rotton floor plus other bits but atleast the van had PAS electric windows central locking so i thought i would persue it.So it was over to the welder and at this point i hadn't done much welding but ive cracked on and got the floor done,i only have the inner back panel 2 plates on the chassis and 2 rear wheel arches to fit.The roof has also been fitted with help from my brother and one side window is done the floors been painted and that's how it stands at the moment,an injury with the angle grinder has held me up over the last week but i have been getting some of the easier bit's done them odds and end bit's so please view the photos there will be more added soon thanks for viewing luke.

[camperconvert]

i like that roof..... wish i had one on my bus.... only problem would be the length of it as mines a lwb

[Bigredbus]

i like that roof..... wish i had one on my bus.... only problem would be the length of it as mines a lwb

Hi when i bought the van i thought the top was quite unusual i have seen one or two on vans on ebay on around F reg vans i have also seen the same roof as mine without the higher storage bit for the awning they seem to be abit more common.When i took everything out of the old van i was surprised that the tops are only bonded on as i thought they would have bars but the stuff i have use seemed to have bonded it well,im also pretty sure that this is the second change of the top as the bonding wasn't done all that great on my old van thanks for your interest luke.

[frank133]

Hi Luke,looking good mate,who done the welding? he done a spot on job,
I have the older lwb, high roof,so dont have any inside height problem,
I have done quite a bit so far on mine,not near what you are doing,
best of luck dude

[Bigredbus]

Hi Luke,looking good mate,who done the welding? he done a spot on job,
I have the older lwb, high roof,so dont have any inside height problem,
I have done quite a bit so far on mine,not near what you are doing,
best of luck dude

Hi thanks i did the welding myself i had only ever really done little bits of welding before as my dad use to do all my welding.But i thought id have ago at a bigger job as this turned out to be and we had all the tools needed on hand so i thought why not and im pleased with how it came out there is still alittle to do underneath and new arches to fit.In a way i think in the first place instead of buying the original L reg camper i would have been better off buying a high top van and fitting it out it would have been a alot cheaper as i would have stripped a caravan out for the bits,but this one will be fine for me my partner and our daughter for the time being if my family does ever get bigger i may well sell this one and convert a long wheel base high top as i would have more room but i want lots of use out of this one first.I cant wait untill this one is done as i want to get away when my daughters on summer holiday from school so i haven't got many weeks i may get some more photos of the project tomorrow so ill add them so have a look thanks for your interest and good luck with yours.

[Breakdown Biker]

Nice work on the welding mate, and well done for tackling a roof swap. I shyed away from swapping roofs as I wasn't confident in my ablity to do so, ended up going for a hi-cube and using the fittings. Good luck with the rest of your build

[Bigredbus]

Hi i haven't been doing to much on the camper in the last couple of weeks but here's some more photo's.

Side window i fitted a few weeks ago.


A couple of photos of the inside bonding of the roof.

The passengers seat runners bead blasted and painted up im in the process of doing the drivers side one's.

The last part of the floor i welded painted up.

Inner repair patches of side door runner.

[Bigredbus]

Outer view of side door runner patches.

A view of the Rear chassis rear repairs.

And this is the other side this side was fabricated out of an old morris 1000 chassis repair piece as i ran out of metal.

Just another view of of rear underneath quarter repair.

My next jobs are to fit both new rear arches and get the front mat seats headlining in and then start fitting the inside back in (i hope i can remember how it all goes) i also have to make the top bed i have a few idea for that involving an old futon frame so keep alook out i will add more within the next week hopefully.luke

[dingdangdo]

done some cracking work there Luke, keep it up and you'll be camping it up with the rest of us in no time , no that just sounds wrong

[Bigredbus]

I haven't been on here for a while my project has halted ive been waiting for my dad to do some body work but as it had to be done outside he left it to long and the weather got to bad.His place is so packed with other projects his mine and my brothers that all the decent worshops are full even to do smaller bits, i at least wanted to get the doors done by christmas as i have 2 brand new genuine rear doors with the window holes and have got a decent side loading door but christmas has been and gone and they are still not done.If the body works done i can get the van done in no time.I just thought id let you know im still around happy new year to you all.

[alexgrfc]

hi there nice work a quick question how do these roofs attach ? do they fit into the gutter round the sides and back?

[Bigredbus]

hi there nice work a quick question how do these roofs attach ? do they fit into the gutter round the sides and back?

Hi i just used some bonding it fits in the gutter the first stuff i bought was £10 a tube from ebay and it took 6 tubes to do the outside, so after that i bought some stuff called stixall i think it was £3.90 i did the inside with that, it took 10 tubes but i think that stuff was better than the first stuff i bought.

The project has stalled abit at the moment as due to lack of cash and weather, but i do have 2 new rear doors and just fixed a few dents on the side door so they are ready to paint.I haven't updated the photos lately im alot further forward than the pictures.It's just a matter of getting it painted and doing the front wings and arches then im not two far away.My girlfriends sister gets married in scottland at the end of may and we are 472 miles away so im going to try and take it there fingers crossed thanks to all members for your interest.

[Britishbulldog]

Nice project there, hope to have it completed for Transitmania 2010?

[Bigredbus]

Hi my camper (change over) is now back on track the new rear doors,side door and passenger door have all been painted im hoping for good weather to complete the painting in the next week or so.There has been so many odd dents and repairs to do but im finally winning and hope to have it done in about a month all the hard stuff has been done the biggest job left is to put new wings and front arches on.
Ill add some new photos this week, this has been a big project as i didn't think the van i bought was so rusty but i surpose it's hard to get a non rusty one.If i ever do another camper it wont be a transit they just have to much hidden rust but atleast ive made this one soild for a good few years.

[Bigredbus]

Hi all just an update as i haven't posted anything regarding my project for a while, well it's really coming on now 80 % of the inside is done now just the kitchen bit to fit in but this involves all the gas pipe work for hob,fridge,heater and water heater.There is still some body work to do but i have converted the side to take the carver water heater.If all goes well i reckon it will be finished in 4/6 weeks.Ill add some more photos soon.

IVE FOUND A WAY TO FEEL HAPPIER WHEN IM HAVING A BAD DAY I LOOK IN THE SHED NEXT TO MY CAMPER AND MY BROTHERS VW T2 CAMPER IS IN THERE NEEDING LOADS OF WORK, IM GLAD IM BEYOND THAT STAGE.