Is it shite?

[pdg]

I do hope so, wouldn't want to let the side down...

 

 

I couldn't walk away from it - it was a case of "come on down, the price is shite"

[Shep Shepherd]

It's not just shite, it's vanshite

[trigger]

Have you bought it then?, Ex-BT 2.5D I'm guesing, My dad's looked just like that even down to the roof rack and hole in the wing, One of the best van's ever made i think.

[andrew e]

The best thing about those BT transits is the interior grab handles screwed to the C pillars to hang onto whilst you get your ladder - pure shite.

[pdg]

Have you bought it then?, Ex-BT 2.5D I'm guesing, My dad's looked just like that even down to the roof rack and hole in the wing, One of the best van's ever made i think.

 

Yes, it's now mine, I got a receipt and everything - that pic was post-collection... Been stood for about a year and (with a newer battery) it started on the button. 'Tis indeed ex-BT, even got "BT grey" on the colour code plate, that'll make touching up the paint easy then I think it's a 2.5 but I haven't counted yet and it better be diesel, that's what I put in it!

 

Unusually for one of these, changing gear is not a case of stirring metally lump soup with a long spoon - it's only got 61,000 miles on. Still gutless as buggery though - I showed it a slight incline on the way back and it promptly assumed a cruising speed of 35mph Methinks it needs a good coat of looking at and a bit more new fuel.

 

I is well impressed with myself - let's see how I feel when it's gone for the ministry test

[Cavcraft]

Best van EVER. Slowness might be down to clogged injectors which are a piece of piss to bleed and I expect a new fuel filter won't go amiss.

[Guest Len H]

What do the injectors get clogged with, diesel?

 

I think I'll have to own a Transit at some point, being a massive pikey.

[pdg]

Could well be injectors, could also be pump (sat with fuel in for a year) - ditto filter.

 

Also thinking that actually having the exhaust attached to the manifold as well would improve performance no end... Sounds oaarsumly tractor-esque as it is though.

[andrew e]

Crap from lack of filter changes, and be slogged rather a lot. These don't mind being bled on the key either, if your lazy.....

[Morgan84]

The WILL do 85 mph flat out. Such a lovely sound as they 'snarl' along,and people dodge out of the way fast;I even wax polish ours every now and then ! Something really nice about ex BT vans - I actually like BT Grey !

[Pete-M]

82 mph seems to be terminal vmax on these, or about 100 mph for the Turbo Diesel weapons grade ones. They're ace. I like Transits.

[Morgan84]

Our friend had the Transit before us,and fully laden,he still claimed to have wound her up to 85 mph - must have been with the wind behind on a long flat road !!! Strangely enough,I did manage to outpower a fully laden Picanto on a slight incline,but I had changed gear ready for it,and was unladen - I quite enjoyed that

[Des]

Could be worth a look at the air filter, if it's all blocked and filthy, money saving tip, punch a load of holes in it, not too big mind, you don't want gravel getting in.

[Cavcraft]

Incidentally (from experience) they do like genuine fuel filters rather than aftermarket ones. Speed wise though Transits vary incredibly wildly from about 58-60 flat out to 80+.

All down to the variety of diffs that they used I was always told.

[pdg]

Once I've got it running a little better I think top speed won't be too much of a problem, it's not like I'd ever go over 50mph (single carraigeway), 60mph (dual carraigeway) or 70mph (motorway) anyway, I'm quite sure you all think the same

 

Got to phone Mr. MOT man shortly to book it in for a failure...

[Morgan84]

Be a good idea to change the cambelt if in doubt,and do the tappet adjustments as well;from what I have been told,the tappets being set up right are critical to having it running well,and also relate to cambelt wearing early ( so I was told )

[Cavcraft]

But if the cam belt does 'go' you can simply bend a few things back, lob a new belt on and carry on driving it.

[Morgan84]

Apparently,its the pushrods which bend

[garycox]

These old vans are great, I loved the 2 Transits I had.

 

My first, an L reg, was killed by a friend who borrowed it and drove it about with no oil in, my second, N reg, was on 170-odd thousand miles and ran perfectly. I only sold it because I couldn't justify having a big van just to drive round town, do the shopping etc.

 

Has it got power steering? Neither of mine did but I didn't find them too heavy.

[eddyramrod]

I couldn't justify having a big van just to drive round town, do the shopping etc.

 

Why on earth not? That's exactly what I did in 1983, when I bought my Bedford CF!

It was a load of fun and incredibly useful, and I'd certainly repeat the experience.

[pdg]

I only sold it because I couldn't justify having a big van just to drive round town, do the shopping etc.

 

Has it got power steering? Neither of mine did but I didn't find them too heavy.

 

 

Yep, power steering-a-go-go on mine. I bought this one 'cos I wanted a small, cheap diesel runabout after I sold the Midi, something like a 106d. The Transit is something like a 106d.

 

It also has the eberspacher heater thingy on it - timed engine preheat and hot water for hand wash etc. I think that'll be up for grabs (for lots of cash) once I get it unfitted...

[garycox]

I had to park in narrow busy streets quite a lot, and that was a PITA with a wide van that had no power steering or rear windows.

 

I replaced it with a Carlton 2.6 Auto estate I bought off Wuvvum. That was ace (but rotten).

[pdg]

I have rear parking sensors on all my cars - I think the buzzer may be a bit faulty though because instead of beeping when you get close it makes a crunchy sound

[eddyramrod]

That's nothing to worry about... until it starts screeching!

[Cavcraft]

Hey, PDG depending on how 'lots' of cash that may be I could be interested when you come to offload it.

[Morgan84]

The BT side and back door locks are a pain though

[pdg]

Hey, PDG depending on how 'lots' of cash that may be I could be interested when you come to offload it.

 

 

I shall let you know when I know how complete/working it is... I'm Paul by the way - or anything else that springs to mind, I'm sure I've been called worse.

 

The BT side and back door locks are a pain though

 

Locks on mine look standard ford - did BT fit extra ones on some vans or something? I have noticed (which is a pain) that they lock themselves when you shut the door

[Morgan84]

On our 92 Transit 120,the front door barrels are standard Ford,but the side sliding door,and the back door have the 'BT' flat key,with funny circular indents which you have to put the key in the lock,and turn it fully,at the same time as you pull the handle - and yes,as soon as the door latches,the door wont open externally again without the key. The tell tale is the shiney silver bezals round the barrels.

 

We only have one of them keys,so we are damned carefull !!!

[pdg]

I think there were two of those keys on the keyring, which the guy I bought it from kept...

 

Don't suppose you would have a pic of the key, and if they are the same I can phone him to get them!

[Morgan84]

I don't have a pic atm ( still not figured out yet how to upload my own photo's onto the site ) but from memory,they are a flat key,with a rounded end. they look like a normal key,except they are perfectly smooth - no jagged notches like a normal key has ( think of your house front door key ),have a rounded end ( which you put into the lock),but within the sides,have little circular 'dimples'

 

Sorry for my vague description - its like a housekey,but instead of having 'cuts' it has little round dimples - no actual holes in ours though,but deep enough to collect muck and dirt in !

 

If i find a pic online,or figure how to get a pic and upload,i will do