My MK5 Fire Engine to Motorcaravan Project.

[chrscmbs]

Hello,

As I have now started working on my Camper van project, I guess its time to start this thread to keep a record of my journey, and hopfully it will help others too, like many of the threads on here already have...

My own vehicle is a MK5 Ford Transit on a 1996 N reg, its a 2.5 Diesel. LWB - High Roof in White, and its Automatic. She's actually registered as a "Fire Engine" of all things as she was used on an Oil Refinery site, just outside London for the first 14 Years of her life. She has twin sliding doors (blocking drivers side one up) and she drives fantastic, I originally drove her back from London to my home in Leeds, West Yorkshire back on the 23rd October 2010.

Here's a picture of her...


And another showing her second (drivers side) sliding door


Armed with my angle grinder as my weapon of choice I have began to cut out the rot and there is plenty of the dreaded metal moth and Tin Worm

I will upload the first pics of my handywork in a moment, just need to find the pics first.

Chris.

[chrscmbs]

Hello,

Right... here we go...
As you can see, it may be white on the outside, but its certainly Fire Engine "Radient Red" on the inside.



The steps had to go and the sills and the arch









Chris.

[chrscmbs]

Hello,

Not stopping there...



I removed the timing belt cover ready for the morning when I will lock the engine off with the locking pin kit I bought.





More rot cut away...


and the bumpers gone too, as well as most of the rotten metal behind it

All In all a very busy couple of days to get it to this stage... and Im already starting to enjoy it, but I am quite mad anyway... just ask TIMO, he will tell you just what hard work I am/can be especially with all my blond moments

Chris.

[TIMO]

Good luck Chris,, this is going to be a good project . keep the pics coming matey . you seem to have made a good crack on already

[TIMO]

Forgot to mention mate,, you may want to bare all this information in mind when it comes to planning the layout etc viewtopic.php?f=58&t=65473

[chrscmbs]

Forgot to mention mate,, you may want to bare all this information in mind when it comes to planning the layout etc http://www.fordtransit.org/forum/viewto ... 58&t=65473

Cheers pal.

[chrscmbs]

Hello everyone,

Now that Xmas is firmly behind us, I'm now back on with my conversion project.

What with work and family commitments I have not had as much time available as i would have liked in all honesty but I managed to spend a few hours last Sat. and all day yesterday on my camper , I will post some more pics of my latest progress tonight as the welding is coming on great (well I think so, lol)

Chris.
chrscmbs

[chrscmbs]

Hello, After stripping my van back to its skin, I sadly discovered the damage done by the dreaded metal moth. When I had finished I felt like putting my head in my hands and crying as the tin worm had done more than I had imagined, but armed with my trusty probing screwdriver and my angle gringer I set to work finding and then cutting out all the rot.

Here are some of the pictures of the holes where my floor once was, lol

Yes, the step has gone!

All the holes are at the front on my van

The other step had to go as well as the arch and both underbody supports, why me?

Nasty stuff rot you know!

Chris.
chrscmbs

[chrscmbs]

Hello,

Now before tackling such a job we all need to have the right positive mental mindset, or in my case a few too many whiskies the night before and the drive to get it done, even if I was feeling cheesed off or not. Below are the results of the work done so far...

Front N/S Floor

Central Floor Section

N/S Floor Support

O/S Floor Support

O/S B Pillar base

O/S Floor and step area

O/S Step + Sill area

Another centre shot

N/S Front area

N/S Step + Arch + Sill area

All the areas have been tacked, just need to stitch everything properly and it will be right. What a journey so far, lol and I have not even got to the back end yet!

Chris.
chrscmbs

[chrscmbs]

Hello,

I also wanted to show you how the engine looks in a "Before and After" aspect. Yes... It's still stripped obviously, and will be for quite some time but I think it makes a real difference already. All the stripped off parts have been transformed too, but you will have to wait for photos of them later in the year... this is a sneak preview lol

Here are the before pic's

The engine as it was.

A closer look.

Side on view 1.

Side on view 2.


So thats the before and now here's the after pic's

The engine as it is now.

A closer look.

An even deeper look.

And the other side.

The top.

And the bottom.

OK I know that It might not be everyones cup of tea, but I'ts certainly mine and I am really pleased with it so far!

Chris.
chrscmbs

[solarman]

Looking good Chris dont know how you stay optimistic when faced with much work needed.Did you spray the engine block with normal spray paint?Good luck with the project,
Solarman.

[chrscmbs]

Looking good Chris dont know how you stay optimistic when faced with much work needed.Did you spray the engine block with normal spray paint?Good luck with the project,
Solarman.

Hello Solarman,

"Normal Paint" No... I simply popped down to my local motor factors and after a quick chat they recomended and supplied some high temp paint for the job and some high temp laquer to boot for the finish. It really lifts the whole apperance of the engine block, well i think so and when the engine is all back together i think it will look very well. The amount of work to do is scary I know but I will get there eventually as this is my money pit, sorry i meant my project lol

Keeping a smile on is the key, or is that a sign of madness?

Chris.
chrscmbs

[Neilg7777]

Doing a great job m8
Neil

[chrscmbs]

Doing a great job m8
Neil

Thanks pal.

Chris.
chrscmbs

[tranzite]

Wow that is just amazing how you're making progress there, like a lot of people on here, its impressive to see what commitment people have to transform what was gonna be dust back into a gem.
Mines going in 4 bodywork next week, new front wings, arches, lower rear corners, and a full repaint, stuff I cant do. Can't wait to see it finished, been driving it rotten for a year now! Could maybe give a few tips on the interior insulation n so on when you start!