MK1 CI Camper Project

[gilly241153]

hi great job wish mine was that good cant wait to see it finished still weldin mine carry on the good work gilly

[MK1Chris]

Thanks everybody

Here's some pictures straight after the paint shop had finished... Think it looks really good

[wardy-uk]

Thats bloody nice

[madmark]

looking good chris

[MK1Chris]

No real progress to report since my last update

I've given all of the bits of engine to an engine builder to put back together for me. Doing it all myself was always going to be ambitious for me, so I've left it to the professionals
I figured that I've gone to all the effort to get the bodywork looking good, I don't want to go an put an engine of questionable reliability back in

Next step is to bung it all back together so it will pass an MOT and start enjoying it in the New Year.

I also need to build myself a garage tall enough to put it in I don't really want to keep it out in the elements after all the effort that has gone into it so far. I have no experience of building things like that, although I'm pretty handy at DIY... How hard can it be, it's just stacking breeze blocks on top of each other and sticking them together with cement isn't it

Next phases of restoration will start next winter (when I've had a chance to save up some more cash) and will include things like:

- Brake re-furb
- Axles and suspension re-furb together with a general tart-up of the chassais and underbody floor
- New set of wheels and tyres?... Might look into much wider ones on the rear - have you seen how much space there is under the wheelarches at the rear of the CI? Seems a shame not to take advantage of that
Might look into getting a pair of original MK1 transit wheels banded for the rear. Maybe spray the centres white with a black 'dish' and a set of the small chrome hub caps? Hmmmm.... we'll see.

One of the units round the corner from the engine builder has got a mint original MK1 Escort Twin Cam undergoing work at the moment. It looked awesome and apparently, just the shell is insured for £30k ! This thing is absolutely pristine in every way. Awesome!

[madmark]

chris shame you dont live near me i would of put the engine back together for you!

[100 T280]

Lovely!

[MK1Chris]

News from the engine builder...

After dropping the sump off, they found a random old bolt rolling around in the bottom and discovered the the oil pickup pipe was almost completely blocked . This may explain the indicated warm / hot running before I started the work?

New clutch is fitted . They used the clutch from a 'modern' transit and modified it to fit. I'll find out exactly which one they've used when I pop over to see it (and pay them ) this weekend.
Lumenition kit is fitted so no more points to worry about .

When we get it back in the van and running, we'll run some engine flush treatment through it for a while before treating it to a nice fresh bath of quality oil

[Luke]

nice one mate i bet you cant wait to get back on the road after all this work

[MK1Chris]

Absolutely mate - it's been a long old drag to get it to this stage

I just want to be able to start enjoying it now...

I've just got to hang in there for a bit longer

I just realised that I started this thread in May

[madmark]

chris super job so far mate ,it will be nice to see a real mint ci motorhome!

[MK1Chris]

Time for a few update pictures...

Engine all ready to be re-fitted:









Starting to re-fit everything...





Engine In...







It's starting to look like a complete van again

[Luke]

wow be a shame to drive it

[transitgeoff]

that looks lovely, love the blue engine, i will paint my mk1 trucks engine blue i think nice nice work mate

[100 T280]