V4 petrol to diesel - is it worth it?

[carshalton mk1]

Hello

First - what a geat forum - thank god I've found it!

Second - I bought a Transit Mk1 Camper in the summer - its very lovely and went very well until I stupidly blew the head gasket on a very hot day (just once you don't check the radiator, and look what happens)

I found a mechanic who has had a go at sorting it out, but its not going very well, the engine turns over now, but doesn't sound happy and the van now struggles up any sort of incline - I have a couple of questions:

1) Does anybody know a mechanic in South London who actually knows what they're doing with Mk1 Transits

2) Does anybody have any thoughts about a diesel conversion - is it worth it, where might I get it done, what should I look to pay? - I was half thinking about it anyway - and now I seem to have destroyed the petrol one, it now seems more worth looking into it

I'd really appreciate any advice

Carshalton Mk1

[Luke]

Hi mate welcome, the main problem with a diesel conversion is without either altering the front panel or cutting into the bulkhead it wont fit!!
diesel frontpanels and bonnets are had to come buy and if you cant do the job yourself cutting back the bulkhead would be expensive!!!

[baconsdozen]

Hello
you'll have to change the front panel and bonnet to fit a diesel and thats only the start of it,paying to have it done will prove an expensive option.I'd start by checking the compressions on the V4,if it overheated and the heads distorted or it's burnt a valve out it will never run properly.If you buy a handbook (one of those haynes manuals) its not too hard to pull one of the V4 engines down and check it out (certainly easier than a diesel)
Let me know what you find out,I've some v4 spares and you can still buy gasket sets etc new.

[FredTransit]

Welcome, I am the west side of London. My mechanic is good with classics, but since a move out of town is only here once a fortnight! Another garage is in Wembley but more expensive, or a mate of mine in Chessington who's a vanner (but now has a spr*nter). I am breaking a V6 camper soon. It's going north, but being a V6 had the front end you need, which i paln to keep and get back just in case. Unless you want to go V6 too.......

[madmark]

i would look into getting the v4 sorted out like kev says! if she was runnig well before she cooked then probly heads need sorting! unless you want to go diesel front then leave it v4! also if you fit a diesel engine the noise will drive you mad,you will need earmuffs! the only other option is to fit a essex v6!

[carshalton mk1]

Blimey that was quick - thanks for the advice everybody (mad mark were you really posting advice to people about transit vans at 4 am!)

Looks like the diesel thing is not really a goer - so its back to getting the V4 sweet again

She was running pretty well beofre she blew - fairly quiet, cruised nicely at 50, got abut 15-17 MPG (does this sound about right?)

I've got a Haynes manual and its pretty clear on how to remove the head and get the valves out - trouble is I'm not sure what I'm looking for, or how to, as Baconsdozen suggests, 'check the compressions' - sorry to sound/be ignorant, my other car is a pushbike!

Lastly - other than the head gasket and the valves, is there anything alse that I might have cooked?

many many thanks

Carshalton mk1

[madmark]

these engines are faily easy to work on! if you just take your time , write did you say you have had the head gaskets replaced??????? ,if you have i assume the guy would have checked the heads for cracks and checked the valves???????? if this is all ok then it could be valve clearances and also the timeing my be out ! this would make her sluggish as well! is she a twin wheeler or single???????

[baconsdozen]

Hello Mate.
I think Mark must have insomnia! If you go to a car accessory shop you can buy a compression guage for under £20..00p. Take the wires off the coil and screw it into a plug hole,spin the engine over with the throttle held open for 5 seconds or so and check the reading,repeat with the other three cylinders.If they are all about the same and around 150 psi all should be OK with the top half of the engine,but I think you'll find one or more is reading low.If so,it's head off time.
Try the compressions and let us now what they are,also have a look on the dipsick for water and in the rad for oil whilst you are about it.
If you can't find a guage anywhere and can't borrow one from the local garage I have one you can borrow if you cover the cost of posting it to and from you.
Getting mechanics who understand Ford V4's isn't now that easy and they aren't the most popular engine in the world,but don't be put off by the "experts" who'll tell you you're wasting your time.

[carshalton mk1]

Hi again

Madmark - she's a twin wheeler - actually that leads me to another question - how do you tell which model she is?(i.e. 130,150,175 - I think I'm right in saying that she's definately long wheel base if she's got twin wheels) the Hayes manual seems to say that it should be on the vehicle identification plate, but I can't actually see such a number on the thing - I only ask as it seems to make a differnce to tyre pressures.

Baconsdozen - thats really clear - thanks very much - I shall start by asking the mechanic what he has or hasn't done/checked and then proced as you suggest - I'll give you a shout if I can't find a compression guage.

Can't help thinking I've just entered a steep learning curve!

Carshalton Mk1

[MrMPuk]

This is where it is on the MK2 vinplate.

[madmark]

wow mike 115 unusal or what !

[Neil]

no

[MrMPuk]

Don't beat around the bush will you Neil!

[Neil]

the no is to the original question

[MrMPuk]

Furry muff