MK5 Transit - From start to finish

[Sam_I_am]

ok by start I mean start. I don't even have the van lol

intending to use this as ideas post to start with then move onto the van when I get it (possibly end of feb depending on the pennies)

OK. So the main purpose of the van is going to be camping AND hauling (personal stuff only not a work van) now this causes me an initial problem as I don't want to sleep on the floor and I don't want to pile stuff on my bed.... this will take some planning.

Ideally I'd like to put a couple more seats in, maybe find some fold flat type jobbies you get in newer people carriers

but failing this a rear bench that folds out to become a bed using the cusions as the mattress. This could be a removeable section to allow for bigger loads when I don't need the seats.

Front:

I want to make this comfortable so driver and passenger pilot seats on swivel bases to allow use when in camper form, and full carpet trim.

I'd like to explore the possibility of changing the entire dash!!! a huge job i'm sure and not one I have any experience with but possibly a forum get-together and all muck in (can supply beer lol) I was thinking of changing the whole thing to a MK3 mondeo type including clocks, radio...everything.

which leads me to my next plan....

TDCi engine!!.... the van will be towing at some point so needs grunt. I'll be getting an 80 with no power (keeps initial costs low and the plan is to change it so why buy anything better to start) so was thinking seeing as I'll have the dashboard from a mondeo why not get an engine in there too...

NOW I don't have any experience with this either so what do you think?? doable (not by me) or will it just not fit - i.e should I just source a MK6 TDCi unit and make that work?

Outside the van i'll be painting myself..... this can go one of two ways, rubbish and I buy a wrap to cover it up or half decent and i'm proud of myself. Either way I will be doing it myself good or bad I want this project to be a reflection of my desires rather than just buy something completed already.

plan is satin black (rustoleum) which white decals
http://www.diehardfans.com/product-ford ... -6031.html
want a vinyl of that on the sides of the van.

wheels to be weller of something similar in white.

bodywork wise i'll more than likely be keeping pretty standard with all the above to get done I think the outside can wait - but the paint job will happen pretty early on hopefully.

so what do you lot think? any advice? I fully expect my van to be a bit of a money pit but I'm intending to keep it for a long while, I don't need it for work I don't need it for day-day life so I really can take my time and create something I love.

[AlanN]

Interesting plan and some of which have been done before, so I hope a youve got fat wallet and a good camera The problem with fitting a car dash is they are narrower than a van, so you have to drean up something to cover the space, especially on the passengerside. Someone will remember where the pictures are of the Granada dash fitted and dam good it was too.
Good luck with the project

[Sam_I_am]

cheers

hmm fat wallet .... not so much but can only try lol plus I have as much time as I want so planning to just do it bit by bit.

with the dash what i was thinking was, fleabay a mk5 dash and a mk3 mondeo dash, cut the mk5 dash and bury the mondeo one into it, using some of your plastic filler stuff you did your bumpers with, grind it all smooth and pretty and paint it over. what do you reckon? will that work or are they so annoyingly similar that its too big to fit inside another dash but too small to be standalone?

[madmark_50484]

cheers

hmm fat wallet .... not so much but can only try lol plus I have as much time as I want so planning to just do it bit by bit.

with the dash what i was thinking was, fleabay a mk5 dash and a mk3 mondeo dash, cut the mk5 dash and bury the mondeo one into it, using some of your plastic filler stuff you did your bumpers with, grind it all smooth and pretty and paint it over. what do you reckon? will that work or are they so annoyingly similar that its too big to fit inside another dash but too small to be standalone?

One of the problems you will face is the mondeo mk3 speedo clocks are electronic so you wouldnt be able to use them instead you would have to use the old ones. The Mk2 Mondeo dash would be just as much work and imo would suit it better

Sounds like a good project though

[Sam_I_am]

ahhh I see.... BUM! could be a three-way mod coming on..... MK3 dash in MK5 transit surround with Mk2 dials..... dear god!!

Soooo.....who lives near norwich and would like to come help

[madmark_50484]

ahhh I see.... BUM! could be a three-way mod coming on..... MK3 dash in MK5 transit surround with Mk2 dials..... dear god!!

Soooo.....who lives near norwich and would like to come help

best thing get the transit ones with rev counter a lot easiar

[Sam_I_am]

yea probably the best idea, after having a look around and getting quotes it seems the mondeo engine would be a daft idea too. the Transit TDCi engine is obviously made for a transit so is ideal just a case of if it would fit?!

yea I mean these ideas are great to talk about rather than rush in and waste tonnes of cash rather chat with you guys and get a firm idea of whats good and whats a waste.

so thanks for your help so far

[madmark_50484]

yea probably the best idea, after having a look around and getting quotes it seems the mondeo engine would be a daft idea too. the Transit TDCi engine is obviously made for a transit so is ideal just a case of if it would fit?!

yea I mean these ideas are great to talk about rather than rush in and waste tonnes of cash rather chat with you guys and get a firm idea of whats good and whats a waste.

so thanks for your help so far

What transit are you getting to base this on

As far as I know the Mondeo and Transit engines are going to be more or less the same in terms of cost

If you are getting a mk5 why not go for a turbo DI change to a manual pump it will be a lot cheaper and give you a lot more uumph than the standard 76ps and be a lot cheaper and easiar than the TDCI conversion

either that or you could get a petrol V6 but then you have fuel costs to think about

Start off with the van and do one thing at a time will be best otherwise you will end up with a van thats a bit inside out.

Look through the progress part of the forum there is a lot of ideas there

[Sam_I_am]

yeee exactly the plan is to go slow, engine swaps and things like that are long way down the agenda starting small and working up from there

yep plan is based on mk5 80. only thing i liked about the TDCi is it's had good reviews as an engine and 125ps is pretty nice too, the umph is important to me, not so much for top speed but more for the towing capacity... but really its seems i might just be better to find a 120 and work on that rather than and 80

[madmark_50484]

yeee exactly the plan is to go slow, engine swaps and things like that are long way down the agenda starting small and working up from there

yep plan is based on mk5 80. only thing i liked about the TDCi is it's had good reviews as an engine and 125ps is pretty nice too, the umph is important to me, not so much for top speed but more for the towing capacity... but really its seems i might just be better to find a 120 and work on that rather than and 80

The duratorq also has a lot of down sides too like injectors, bottom ends, cam chain issues (tensioner) and god knows what else.

The other obvious thing is you may be able to find a van with a Turbo Di already they produce 85ps or 100ps (or 115ps but they are rare)!!

[Sam_I_am]

ah downsides.... see now this is why I came here

cheers for the input definately food for thought, which is cool i'd rather get everything clear on paper before committing to any cost so it's great to have people like yourself to help

my main problem is a) getting the right starter and b) taking my mind off a bedford CF i saw..... damned brain!!!

[captain hook]

Nothing wrong with a CF........As long as it's got a Transit Engine

You will need a 120 or 150 Transit as they tow the most weight

They are all too old to be a price difference between a 80 or a 120....

I presume you are under 25......Insurance on a van with the "Wrong"

Engine will be extreamly expensive...Just a thought

[Sam_I_am]

na i'm 26 insurance is pretty good really at the mo plenty of no claims and all that jazz.

but the engine plans is really a long way off, its more of a wish list at this stage, plenty of ideas fuzzing around but some will need to be sifted before i start shelling out the pennies

lol ahh don't give me ideas a CF with a transit engine would be soooooo cool just love the shape.

[Sam_I_am]

Still saying that.....

not a huge amount of aesthetic difference to a mk2 to a CF could be a change of plan in order (you'll realise this is why i don't spend money....for too indecisive)



something like that ideally with the arches/wheels.



and something like that for the dash, i love the cleaness of it, just a straight dash nothing overboard

just be a case of finding a MK2

[captain hook]

Yes....I've had a few CF's......Converted to V8,Power Steering etc. etc.

Also don't forget you can only tow up to 750kgs on your license