Should we fit modern engine's in classic Transits????

[Luke]

Is it right to fit a modern engine into a mk1/2 transit?? Transitgeoff has put a duratorq di in his mk1!! i personally think this is the way to go vans should be out on the road being used, and the better the engine the better the van!!!
I mean i'd never modernise the styling or anything but unseen items engines gearboxes thats ok!!!
agree or disagree!! Ecu's and injection or carbs!!!!

[Pinto]

simple answer ?

YES !

especially when you have to countenance just how far engine design has moved since the first mk1 hit the scene - engines like the V4 were good in their day, but the parts for them are getting scarcer and scarcer as time goes by....

and I'd much rather have the Di than the york..

[madmark]

yes i agree ,but its getting a later engine and box in a small space like the flat front mk1 cant get anything in there without chopping ! or a diesel front! what would fit?????????

[Rifleman]

[quote="Luke"]Is it right to fit a modern engine into a mk1/2 transit??

Yes of course you should, if the old one is wrecked , poluting, unrepairable etc and you can fit a more modern, reliable economical one then why the heck not, our vans are meant to be driven, not museum pieces

[FredTransit]

Yes you should (bet you though I was going to say no!), but I just can't go the extra step and include microchips with mechanical parts.

All of our Mk2 Luton diesels are Mk3 under the skin, right the way down to brake servos and load sensing valves. I have to say that this is entriely a practical step, due to parts availability, rather than wanting to just see if it was possible/choice

I am sure those of you out there with Mk1s & 2s have enough trouble finding parts for one van, let alone eleven! However all of our petrols are as is, but the 2L OHCs are getting harder to find.

I am dreading the day that we might have to change the axle set up, as this will cahnge the whole look of the vans, but this will be a while off yet! In the meantime, a hell of a lot of the parts on a Mk2 are interchangable with Mk3 parts, so that's the way to go, especially if you want to be able to keep them at work.

As another Rifleman said, they are not museum pieces!

[Luke]

I just can't go the extra step and include microchips with mechanical parts!

Any of your vans got electronic ignition?

[FredTransit]

What I should have said is add microchips.
Yes, all of the petrol vans have eletronic ignition. That's just the way they are, and I have no choice in the matter, that's not exactly fuel management.

Once we had to use a points type dizzy with an engine cos at the time that's all we had after replacing an engine after an underbonnet fire. Had to reset the points 3 times between London and Dover! The two just didn't get on, don't know why cos it's just wires, at the end of the day. Another time we tried to seperate a grannie engine from it's fuel injection, after a lot of trial and error, that had to come out too.

I have never had a problem with elelctronic distributors, and only had one problem with an ignition module. That's not bad in 20 years, and it's not like we only have one single 'diamond' van, and the rest are unrelyable rubbish. This is not the case with the electronic side of the new engines. How many new transit owners will be able to say that in 20 years? How many new transits will still be with us in 20 years? while I am asking questions, how many of us out there truly understand electronics too? I am sure none of us slap a carb on the engine in the blind faith it should work or does for other motors.

That's why our mechanic will work on engines with fuel management, but won't get involved with fitting them, so I'm no the only one that thinks this way.

[Luke]

I read somewhere that the 1st batch of the new transits had a problem with the immobiliser cutting the engine and not resetting!! not very reliable, but thats anti-theft not engine managment!!

I'd have thought out of everyone fred your vans do the most milage and therefore its in your interest to get the most economical engines in there!!!

My dad had a sierra DOHC 8v which ran fine for years, but one day wouldnt start, basically we got the wiring diagram and worked through it - its actually quite simple! if you view it as an ecu with a load of sensors attached! You dont have to understand "how it works" just "what it does" i had a full sierra for spares and just swapped sensors, a process of elimination etc looked up what each one does theres only so many things it can be!!!

I think alot of people are put off by the thought of it all! I wouldnt say im more capable than anyone else its just ill have a go - there are people just as capable as me (if not more so) who dont want to give it a go!!! (i'm not having a go at you madmark )

electronics are affected by things like heat/ water etc if you mount them in the correct place they should be very reliable - they have no moving parts!!! like you say you've never had a problem with electronic ignition in 20years

[Luke]

Ok one more point!! What about a 2.8i v6 cologne?? am i right in thinking that they are mechanical injection and dont have an ecu???

[FredTransit]

Ok one more point!! What about a 2.8i v6 cologne?? am i right in thinking that they are mechanical injection and dont have an ecu???

So what is your point on this? Sounds like you are agreeing with me. And as for electrics, there be dragons, don't go there (as far as I am concerned)

[FredTransit]

I read somewhere that the 1st batch of the new transits had a problem with the immobiliser cutting the engine and not resetting!! not very reliable, but thats anti-theft not engine managment!!

It's still microchips..........

I'd have thought out of everyone fred your vans do the most milage and therefore its in your interest to get the most economical engines in there!!!

True, but having the aerodinamics if a detached garage doesn't help too, not much I can do about that.

My dad had a sierra DOHC 8v which ran fine for years, but one day wouldnt start, basically we got the wiring diagram and worked through it - its actually quite simple! if you view it as an ecu with a load of sensors attached! You dont have to understand "how it works" just "what it does" i had a full sierra for spares and just swapped sensors, a process of elimination etc looked up what each one does theres only so many things it can be!!!

As far as wiring diagrams go, they might as well be written in swaheli or russian, to me at any rate! You are lucky you can get your head round it.

I think alot of people are put off by the thought of it all! I wouldnt say im more capable than anyone else its just ill have a go - there are people just as capable as me (if not more so) who dont want to give it a go!!! (i'm not having a go at you madmark )

That would be me, then.

electronics are affected by things like heat/ water etc if you mount them in the correct place they should be very reliable - they have no moving parts!!! like you say you've never had a problem with electronic ignition in 20years

Hmm, so putting it up the front of the engine bay, where the dead flies collect and next to the radiator, in the line of fire of anything that spalshes off the fan would not be a good idea then? All the same, that's why computers have had it by the time they are 3 years old (the machine, that is not the technology, which is out of date by the time you get it out of the box), but a 2L pinto engine will last 20 years......

[Luke]

Fred i've got a ZX80 yes pre ZX81 its 25 yrs old and still works (zx80's a computer by the way ) OK its outdated but so's a pinto

[FredTransit]

:D Fred i've got a ZX80 yes pre ZX81 its 25 yrs old and still works (zx80's a computer by the way ) OK its outdated but so's a pinto

So why no new motherboard, add an exterior DVD driver, sound card? I am sure a new computer would be more energy efficient, and deffinately faster Now you know what I am talking about! If it's not broken, don't fix it..........

[Luke]

My point with the ZX80 is it has lasted 25 years and its a computer!
Would you fit a 2.8i? What is it you dont like Ecu's or injection?

Im only asking - it wouldn't do for us all to think and do the same now would it?

[madmark]

i would have any v6 or v8 if i could get it in the space!