Project Another Slow Sevel Van - June 2022 Oil leaks

[tommotech]

Having fetched this French delight from deepest, darkest Norfolk (well Norwich actually) in an underwhelming collection, for no other reason than the van was scooped up onto a trailer for its journey home, it was time to see what was needed.

 

I knew a RH side load door was needed, luckily an item was procured for £20 from a guy breaking a Scudo. I drove across to Swadlincote in the van and it proved to drive well, as expected from wuvvum’s write up. On the way home it started surging when the fuel level dropped below quarter on the gauge, again as expected.

 

Door was fitted and adjusted on return, it was even the same colour!

 

During the week I looked at the rear doors and fettled and adjusted the locks / latches.

 

Today I dropped the fuel tank and found a loose baffle, along with crud in the fuel pick up / tank unit. A road test will be the proof of this repair.

 

I also achieved a working temperature gauge today and changed the power steering fluid out.

 

The to do list includes a coolant flush, new tyres (cracked side walls), new discs and pads, LH door slider and lock handle, a deep interior clean and removal of the ladder rack. In the meantime have some photos.

 

 

 

[320touring]

Good effort! These are one of those commercial vehicles that just seem to "van" well

[wuvvum]

Nice work.  Did you manage to get the rear doors locking / unlocking on the key?

[tommotech]

It’s particularly solid underneath and does drive well.

 

In terms of being a van, I agree, they do ‘van’ well.

[tommotech]

Nice work.  Did you manage to get the rear doors locking / unlocking on the key?

The left rear door now operates correctly, the rods needed new clips and the lower latch needed unseizing. A new set of barrels is needed to have it lock though.

[Zelandeth]

You know now I think about it, I don't think I've ever driven one of these.

 

Looks like it will be a good little workhorse though.

 

Got any cabin pics? Curious to see what PSA models they raised the parts bins of to make this one...

[chodweaver]

The source of the door in Swadlincote - the bloke didn't happen to live in a caravan and a Lambourne horsebox, along with assorted tarp and pallet shelters, behind a farm did he?...

 

If he did, this is a longstanding m8 of mine who has proved that these vans can take an enormous amount of punishment...

[tommotech]

You know now I think about it, I don't think I've ever driven one of these.

Looks like it will be a good little workhorse though.

Got any cabin pics? Curious to see what PSA models they raised the parts bins of to make this one...

More pics to follow, the interior is minging - I think it was a plasterers van before which has had a major effect on the locks and latches.

 

The interior / dash is from 806 / Synergie.

[tommotech]

The source of the door in Swadlincote - the bloke didn't happen to live in a caravan and a Lambourne horsebox, along with assorted tarp and pallet shelters, behind a farm did he?...

 

If he did, this is a longstanding m8 of mine who has proved that these vans can take an enormous amount of punishment...

This guy was at Castle Gresley and was breaking the Scudo on his drive. I did see a place that had the layout you describe, with a few vans dotted around though.

[Zelandeth]

More pics to follow, the interior is minging - I think it was a plasterers van before which has had a major effect on the locks and latches.

 

The interior / dash is from 806 / Synergie.

Oh lordy...just dismantle everything down to a bare firewall and jet wash everything that you can then. You'll thank yourself for it in the long run.

 

We had a couple of vans through the garage from plasterers and we usually had to virtually do a Haynes manual level of stripdown before they were fit to sell on...they made the jeeps that the vet used to come back with every couple of years seem easy!

 

Of course it would be 806 interior... that's where the body shell is from. For some reason I always forget that exists.

[Burnside]

Good luck with the cleaning and will be watching this with interest as we brought a 2004 facelift Fiat Scudo version a few months back. Our Van had last been owned by a Decorator, so White paint on everything!

 

It also has the common issue of none working door locks. We sourced a new barrel set via ebay for about £25.

 

Fitting the barrels to the front and side doors was pretty straight forward. There a how to for these on youtube. Think the front Doors and side doors took barely a hour between 3 of us. The same can't be said for the rear door. Access to the barrels side locking tab so we could remove it is restricted due to the connecting rods.

 

While trying to tease it out, part of the locking mechanism snapped off! So we will now have to replace the Rear Outer door handle as well to fix it.

 

If you do have to replace the rear door barrel it looks like the rear door catch may have to come off to allow better access to the handle. There is 3 bolts and one rivet too that will have to be removed to free it.

 

If the weather allows I'll hopefully have another go at it this week, as annoyingly the new replacement I was going to fit yesterday is a incorrect side door handle even though we ordered the rear.

 

If your local to Derbyshire. Albert Looms in Derby has X3 of these Vans in at the minute too.

[mat_the_cat]

Of course it would be 806 interior... that's where the body shell is from. For some reason I always forget that exists.

 

So...for the purposes of speed limits, is it a car derived van? Or is the 806 a van derived car?

[wuvvum]

Speed limits aren't that much of a concern with a DW8 powered van.

[tommotech]

So...for the purposes of speed limits, is it a car derived van? Or is the 806 a van derived car?

Vehicle category, on the V5, is N1 which is a light commercial vehicle and the gross weight is 2.2 tonnes. Therefore the lower speed limits apply, thankfully (because n/a DW8 engine).

 

Link here for full guidance document;

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/car-derived-vans-and-dual-purpose-vehicles/car-derived-vans-and-dual-purpose-vehicles

[tommotech]

Had a look at the rear brakes this evening, shoes were pretty good but LH wheel cylinder was leaking and partially seized. Luckily I had one in stock so was able to replace it without having to wait for parts.

 

The handbrake cable had been over-adjusted so that was slackened completely and the rear self-adjusting* mechanism was given some help to bring the shoes closer to the drums. Handbrake cable readjustment and job bobbed.

 

Front discs and pads stripped off, none of those on hand I’m afraid. A fluid change will give peace of mind, as far as the braking system is concerned.

[tommotech]

Not had a lot of time to do anything on this lately, but may be able to get the brakes finished off this weekend. 

 

MOT needed next week so need to get cracking.

[tommotech]

A bit of time on Friday evening and an early start yesterday saw some real progress on the Dispatch.

Tried my local factors for the front brake parts, they wanted £88 for pads, discs and fitting kit at trade. Checking against ECP they were at £55 for Eicher components, using their perpetual sale code so I was happy with that.
With the brakes installed a fluid change was also completed, brakes all sorted then!

Not much evidence of antifreeze in the coolant so that was drained, flushed and replenished with new 50/50 mix. Bleeding was easy, with no air locks and the oil and filter was replaced after the engine was run up to temperature. Fan came in ok and the temperature gauge continues to read correctly. As I have new gearbox oil on the shelf this was also replaced.


A check over for MOT and the underside is pretty solid, as wuv had described. However, the RH rear corner, behind the bumper should have had an infill panel between the rear quarter and the rear cross member. This had completely corroded away and was truly the only rot present. I debated with myself whether the tester would pass and advise but it was within the reach of a ‘prescribed area’ so I concluded something must be done.

I used metal from the old sliding door and fashioned a panel, cut out the rot and welded the repair in place. My Clarke 135 isn’t the best for this job, the max setting blows holes too easily and the next setting down struggles to penetrate. That said it gets you out of trouble and perseverance is the key. Apologies that I didn’t get before pictures but the finished article, undersealed looks acceptable. I will add a plastic guard to the arch to prevent future damage in this area, although I’m hoping the repair outlives my tenure with it.


I have replaced the power steering fluid again, in an attempt to clean / flush the system. Time will tell if this is successful.

[Guest]

One locally has Alfa 156 wheels on it, looks the biz!

[dollywobbler]

So...for the purposes of speed limits, is it a car derived van? Or is the 806 a van derived car?

 

Sorry. Bit late to this one, but it seems car-derived isn't so much of a classification these days. There's also a weight factor, and some Berlingos are over that, and some below, so it's one of those deliciously muddy areas. Maximum weight for car-derived van classification, including payload is 2 tonnes, so I think all Dispatches would be classed as a van rather than car-derived.

[tommotech]

Sorry. Bit late to this one, but it seems car-derived isn't so much of a classification these days. There's also a weight factor, and some Berlingos are over that, and some below, so it's one of those deliciously muddy areas. Maximum weight for car-derived van classification, including payload is 2 tonnes, so I think all Dispatches would be classed as a van rather than car-derived.

Guidance notes on the .gov website is pretty good now, to be fair. They state a car derived van is Clio / Corsa size and that not many other vans fall into the category. I think I shared the link but the key factor is Gross Vehicle Weight and at over 2t Dispatch falls in to the lower speed limits (thankfully for an N/A DW8).

 

For once their information is now less muddy than it was at the outset.

[2MB]

Not sure why but I love these vans. Might have to get an xud turbo one before they all disappear, the twin exhausts look so sporty

[Timewaster]

Not to condone speeding or anything, but does anyone know of anyone prosecuted for exceeding the lower lcv limits?

 

I think my Ranger is subject to lcv limits by I've never really paid much heed to that it I'm honest.

 

We have 7 in our depot and I don't think anyone else does either.

[Matty]

Love these. Had the fiat version like others have said does van really well, similar to the job an ldv pilot does. Especially love the volume control pedal (press for louder)! Is it only me that mourns the death of proper vans?

[Saabnut]

Not to condone speeding or anything, but does anyone know of anyone prosecuted for exceeding the lower lcv limits?

 

I think my Ranger is subject to lcv limits by I've never really paid much heed to that it I'm honest.

 

We have 7 in our depot and I don't think anyone else does either.

 

Yes, my late brother (who at the time drove for White Arrow - remember them?) got done for 68mph on a dual carriageway. Road limit was 70, but the van he was driving was over the weight. 30 quid and 3 points was the punishment at the time.

[tommotech]

Not to condone speeding or anything, but does anyone know of anyone prosecuted for exceeding the lower lcv limits?

I think my Ranger is subject to lcv limits by I've never really paid much heed to that it I'm honest.

We have 7 in our depot and I don't think anyone else does either.

A couple of Service Engineers at work were caught last year, one was doing 60 in a national limit area.

[tommotech]

Not sure why but I love these vans. Might have to get an xud turbo one before they all disappear, the twin exhausts look so sporty

Avoid the 16v HDi, if you need to get the injectors out they can be a nightmare.

[mat_the_cat]

Not to condone speeding or anything, but does anyone know of anyone prosecuted for exceeding the lower lcv limits?

 

I wasn't actually prosecuted*, but received a speeding ticket for 58mph in 3.5t luton on a NSL A road, believing that the limit was in fact 60mph. 58mph actually felt on the quick side of comfortable to me, but I was in convoy with someone and trying to keep up - ironically they were also breaking the 50mph trailer limit AND didn't hold a trailer licence, but got away with it!

*I moved house and despite informing the police of my new address it seemed it wasn't entered onto the system properly; I certainly wasn't going to chase things!

 

I'd figured the Dispatch would be under van limits on a common sense basis, but wondered whether the existence of the 806 created a loophole.

[dollywobbler]

I wasn't actually prosecuted*, but received a speeding ticket for 58mph in 3.5t luton on a NSL A road, believing that the limit was in fact 60mph. 58mph actually felt on the quick side of comfortable to me, but I was in convoy with someone and trying to keep up - ironically they were also breaking the 50mph trailer limit AND didn't hold a trailer licence, but got away with it!

*I moved house and despite informing the police of my new address it seemed it wasn't entered onto the system properly; I certainly wasn't going to chase things!

 

I'd figured the Dispatch would be under van limits on a common sense basis, but wondered whether the existence of the 806 created a loophole.

 

I think the loophole may be to make it a people carrier.

[tommotech]

^^

And change the taxation class too. For example, a VW T5 Shuttle is a people carrier and an M Category Paasenger Vehicle so may travel at passenger car speeds. The T5 van must adhere to the lower limits for goods carrying vehicles, but is essentially the same except for the seats.

 

The day-van users need to be wary of taxation class, loads of threads on their forums.

[tommotech]

Having been busy or away for most of February the Dispatch had been put on the back burner. However, it needs to start earning its keep by performing duties for the NEC Restoration Show and to start moving body panels around for the next Panther project.

 

Tyres were all cracked or worn and the wheels were pretty shabby. I've organised a set of tyres but had the old ones stripped off, in order that I could get the wheels painted before having new tyres fitted. I do like silver steel wheels on a van, although I did briefly consider some Alfa alloy wheels. Not perfect but not bad

 

 

In terms of electrics the rear LH lamp was doing its best impression of Frenchness and the tow bar electrics were not working. With the lamp removed there was a bunch of scotchlocks and bare wire ends. Having tidied the wiring and fitted a new 12N socket all has been restored to working order.

 

The roof bars were removed too, so if anyone needs a Rhino Ladder rack and wants to collect it from Tamworth please message me.