Arthurs Transit.

[twosmoke300]

Problem with the factory mk5 turbo is that it's the Lucas epic system which isn't the most reliable and not many garages are up to speed on them as it was a kindof stepping stone system . Awful fly by wire throttle response too .

I did drive a Turbo Technics converted camper once and that was lovely . Proper flying saucer equipped bosch pump on that one

[Arthur Foxhake]

Agreed.

Mine did not come with a turbo fitted.

It's fuelled by Bosch.

[DodgeRover]

Lucas Epics main problem is people reading the codes....it's not OBD compliant and there's only 2 possibly 3 readers that will give meaningful results.

Throttle pedals give trouble to but to be fair most of them are 20+ years old and nobody buys a turbo van just to go to church on a Sunday....

[Arthur Foxhake]

I don't think I'll need to be reading any codes.

I'm welding a turbo onto the manifold and adding some choice modifications to the Bosch pump.

Maybe an injector swap and an intercooler if it needs it.

[twosmoke300]

I'd imagine a 200tdi disco Bosch pump may be a good start

[DodgeRover]

The 130hp marine injectors are a good starting point, have you seen the thread about building the ultimate Di pump on the transit forum?

[Arthur Foxhake]

Still plodding on with it.

Keep finding more rust.

" No shit Sherlock! " I hear you cry.

Work has taken a different route, which is good.

Not many pics now but more to come as outer arch is welded on and in first fill and prime state now and the rear door has been repaired as well.

 

 

 

[Arthur Foxhake]

A pic of the outer arch fitted. Still in primer.

Needs a bit more filling and sanding but it's getting there.

 

[Pillock]

You're putting new arches on a transit instead of plod and brush painted appliance white.

Someone else is trying to avoid gaffer tape on a Mondeo bumper.

 

I don't think I recognise this world any more.

[DodgyBastard]

Having just bought my first transit I'm following this with interest.

[Faker]

I loved my old smiley. Well impressed with your progress.

[andy18s]

Having just bought my first transit I'm following this with broom and shovel.

Efa

[Burnside]

Fantastic work on the Transit as others have said these are great Vans. Bet the former owner won't recognise it when it's finished! 

[JayW]

Where'd you get the rear inner arches? Don't think I've ever seen them listed?

[Hendry]

My mate, who doesnt even have a licence yet, has had a smiley for a couple of years, V reg, dark blue, with optional electrics pack, full history from new, 180,000-odd thousand miles, totally original even down to original supplying dealer number plates and hes having to do similar work to his, hes like me and very OCD so the van is being returned to as new, concourse condition, hes found a mint 15k mile steering wheel to replace the original and hes even managed to find some brand new but old stock tyres that his van wouldve been fitted with when new, suffice to say ive neve had much interest in vans but now im suddenly interested in smiley Transits.

 

1999 Ford Transit 80, V425OCS by CUL197Vinnie, on Flickr

[Arthur Foxhake]

Where'd you get the rear inner arches? Don't think I've ever seen them listed?

Central panels on eBay. None of the stuff fits that well but it's cheap and galvanised.

[Danblez]

May I draw your attention to the fact that the post on the 16th does not show the obligatory pigeon shit welding as per the norm as a follow on from the 12th. There is still time to rectify this. Thanks.

[Arthur Foxhake]

May I draw your attention to the fact that the post on the 16th does not show the obligatory pigeon shit welding as per the norm as a follow on from the 12th. There is still time to rectify this. Thanks.

No comment, Your Honour.

[JayW]

pigeon shit welding

Any weld that holds is a good weld!

 

Bit like "any landing you can walk away from..."

[Supernaut]

hes even managed to find some brand new but old stock tyres

Eeeeerrr... not the best idea in the world, that.

[Hendry]

Eeeeerrr... not the best idea in the world, that.

 

Hes not planning on driving it on them, he'll get new tyres for actually driving it, 

[Arthur Foxhake]

Any weld that holds is a good weld!

 

Bit like "any landing you can walk away from..."

The real story is I just didn't take any.

I generally get involved in the job and think about writing up on it after.

I can promise to take more next time, but it would be a lie, because I will forget again.

I can promise to try and remember.

Which isn't much of a guarantee really, with my short term memory, but none of you are getting your money back anyway, so bollocks.