My Ford Transit Hi-Cube Conversion

Buford T Justice · 12-05-2011 1:16am

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

Glad to help , you had enough cable so? I don't understand why you couldn't earth the fridge to the chassis? I only sent the black cable "in case" if I'd thought you needed it I'd have sent more! Doh!

Re the lock , try Transitparts.com

oh stop , my sides are hurting , you should be on stage!:D
I don't get paid monthly...I get paid weakly!

Hahahahahahaha

That's the thing, there's absolutely no reason why I couldn't use the chassis, I just didn't. I'm positive I had some crazy reason as to why I did it, but I'm struggling to think what it was. Maybe I was over thinking earthing the 240 to the chassis and it interfering with it. Pointless really since I grounded the leisure battery to the chassis. Still, live and learn.
Now that I have the spare cable I can replace some of the split charge wiring in the engine bay, which reminds me, must stick up a photo or two of it.

Buford T Justice · 12-05-2011 1:21am

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

Tis great to cross things off , ain't it?

Oh yeah, definitely. Especially when they don't take as long as you thought they would ;D

Buford T Justice · 12-05-2011 7:33pm

Look what came for me today!!!
Lots of things to play with.

Got me a new exhaust, set of keys & locks, track rod ends & shock tops.

Buford T Justice · 12-05-2011 7:43pm

The ignition lock was simple. Turn the key on to position 1, and there's spring pin on the top of the barrel that you press down, and the lock pops out.

Out with the old, and in with the new, as they say.

The shocks were easy to remove from the van. Three nuts on the top of the shock and four bolts on the bottom and hey presto.

All was not well however, as the allen head on the top of the shock was rusted badly, and it rung on me. Went down to a guy I knew who had one lying up and whipped out the shock quickly. Replaced the two shock tops and that was that really. Also replaced the track rod ends while I was there, but not pics of that I'm afraid.

You can also see that one bushing was gone completely, as below. This was from the drivers side.

I cut the exhaust between the two silencers underneath, as I only needed it from the second silencer back. After a bit of fiddling it went back in very easily ( was quite surprised at that). Few things though. I need a clamp to hold the two pipes together, as one slotted nicely into the other, and I need to fix a mounting to the back of the van. The old exhaust was modified with the pipe out the side behind the wheel, and this one goes out the back. Nothing major though and I should sort it tomorrow easily.

Old bit of exhaust. Fairly rotten I think you'll agree.

Aidan_M_M · 12-05-2011 7:58pm

where'd you get the Tranny bits , after?

Buford T Justice · 12-05-2011 9:35pm

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

where'd you get the Tranny bits , after?

Transit parts centre in Athlone. Delighted as he gave me all the gear with 40% off as he was trying to shift stock. Score!

Got the exhaust from GT exhausts in the north, and turned out quite cheap too.

http://www.transitpartscentre.ie/transit-parts.html

Tried them for the door lock when I was on to them, but no dice I'm afraid.
transitparts.com seems to be an american place.

MidlandsM · 12-05-2011 10:54pm

nice work!

Aidan_M_M · 12-05-2011 11:57pm

Fingers McGee wrote: »

Transit parts centre in Athlone. Delighted as he gave me all the gear with 40% off as he was trying to shift stock. Score!

Got the exhaust from GT exhausts in the north, and turned out quite cheap too.

http://www.transitpartscentre.ie/transit-parts.html

Tried them for the door lock when I was on to them, but no dice I'm afraid.
transitparts.com seems to be an american place.

ooops! I meant http://transitparts.ie/

GT Exhausts are nice people , and good to deal with.

Buford T Justice · 13-05-2011 2:06am

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

ooops! I meant http://transitparts.ie/

All bar the exhaust came from them. Don't have a few bits of what I need though....:(

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

GT Exhausts are nice people , and good to deal with.

Yes they are. I was quite surprised. They really know what they're talking about, and after you factor in carriage (£9 STG) from them and everything, they're still very affordable, even after factoring in their carriage which is next day delivery btw.
Plus, they're website is very user friendly, so (in my case anyway) there wouldn't be much room for you not getting what you wanted or ordered, (providing you actually ordered the right thing........)

redcube · 13-05-2011 11:43am

Nice work you have done if you don't mind me asking how much did the exhaust cost as mine as gone to

Buford T Justice · 13-05-2011 11:55am

£65 STG including Delivery
http://www.gtexhausts.co.uk/product_details.php?id=855

It depends on how much of the exhaust you need though. I only needed from the second box back to the back of the van, which is two parts on this link,

GFE654 & GFE659

If you need GFE648 &651 you're looking at £150 STG plus roughly £10 carriage.

Make sure its the right exhaust though. There are two very similar ones for this van, one with oval boxes and one with round boxes. Mine is the oval ones.

Voodoomelon · 15-05-2011 5:32pm

That old exhaust was lethal, good work.

Buford T Justice · 28-05-2011 9:14pm

So, came back from my hols today (:() and I had a letter waiting for me from revenue.

The news (good or bad, I don't know) is that they've told me that the assessment they've made has concluded that the VRT due on my van is €665. So they've valued my van at €4925

Less the €50 that i've already paid to import it as a van leaves €615 due.

What does anyone think of this, good figure / bad one?

stevire · 29-05-2011 10:17am

Fingers McGee wrote: »

So, came back from my hols today (:() and I had a letter waiting for me from revenue.

The news (good or bad, I don't know) is that they've told me that the assessment they've made has concluded that the VRT due on my van is €665. So they've valued my van at €4925

Less the €50 that i've already paid to import it as a van leaves €615 due.

What does anyone think of this, good figure / bad one?

Sounds reasonable to me! They put the same figure on my conversion of a 94 310d and yours would be worth a lot more so I would see that as being pretty reasonable... There's also an appeal process if you think the OMSP is too high, you can state your case that it's not a factory built camper so it's value will be less than the average value of a factory built camper. I'm pretty sure you can only appeal after you pay the VRT!!

Plug · 30-05-2011 9:32pm

Just seen this build and I have to say, very nice fingers, Very nice:cool: Now you got yourself a little shaggin' waggin!:D

Buford T Justice · 30-05-2011 11:01pm

Cheers Plug. Hard slog but worth it in the end.

Not sure if it'd be appropriate with the lil'uns asleep in the back though..... :cool:

Plug · 30-05-2011 11:04pm

Look at the money you have saved though! $$$

Buford T Justice · 31-05-2011 10:29am

I know... I've definitely saved a couple of grand easy.....:D

paddyp · 31-05-2011 10:39pm

stevire wrote: »

Sounds reasonable to me! They put the same figure on my conversion of a 94 310d and yours would be worth a lot more so I would see that as being pretty reasonable... There's also an appeal process if you think the OMSP is too high, you can state your case that it's not a factory built camper so it's value will be less than the average value of a factory built camper. I'm pretty sure you can only appeal after you pay the VRT!!

Don't know anyone that got back more than 10% in the appeal either regardless of how ridiculous the OMSP. Some people have managed to get them to take into account costs incurred so if you submitted the receipts for all the parts, exhaust etc, you might get another few quid off.

My dads camper was a 1979 308D still on the road as far as I know on its 4th or 5th headgasket.

Buford T Justice · 01-06-2011 10:15am

Yeah, I don't think I'll bother to appeal it tbh. I was just wondering what other people were charged in VRT by comparison to what I was charged. to look at a yardstick if you will......

Buford T Justice · 01-06-2011 8:16pm

FINALLY!!!!

After a whole bloody rigmarole in trying to get this done, the van is now sucessfully taxed as a Motorcampervan. Its Official, its no longer a van.....

meercat · 01-06-2011 8:23pm

well done fingers
hard work and persistence pays off
think you need new project now to keep us followers entertained
wear well and safe travels

Top Dog · 01-06-2011 9:19pm

So when does the sequel begin? Conversion Part Deux

Buford T Justice · 01-06-2011 9:42pm

meercat wrote: »

well done fingers
hard work and persistence pays off
think you need new project now to keep us followers entertained
wear well and safe travels

Thanks for that. Hope to have many years safe travelling in it.

Top Dog wrote: »

So when does the sequel begin? Conversion Part Deux

Ah lads, don't get me started jaysis........:D

I've been on the lookout would you believe..... I can't help having a look..... Almost like an itch that needs scratching....:D

Not sure why, but the notion of an ambulance appeals to me for some reason...

Still, reality check. I'm unemployed with no cash so its all pipe dreams. I spent all I had on this one and I'm definitely not selling it to raise the cash for another one. Roll on euro millions........

Need to finish off the niggley little bits on this one too... Nothing major though, and I'll keep this updated as I go.

Top Dog · 01-06-2011 9:49pm

Fingers McGee wrote: »

I've been on the lookout would you believe..... I can't help having a look..... Almost like an itch that needs scratching....:D

Easy to believe - nice to have something to do with your time rather than sitting on your hands

stevire · 01-06-2011 10:41pm

Fingers McGee wrote: »

Thanks for that. Hope to have many years safe travelling in it.

Ah lads, don't get me started jaysis........:D

I've been on the lookout would you believe..... I can't help having a look..... Almost like an itch that needs scratching....:D

Not sure why, but the notion of an ambulance appeals to me for some reason...

Still, reality check. I'm unemployed with no cash so its all pipe dreams. I spent all I had on this one and I'm definitely not selling it to raise the cash for another one. Roll on euro millions........

Need to finish off the niggley little bits on this one too... Nothing major though, and I'll keep this updated as I go.

Go for it... Converting an ambulance is the way to go

defike · 01-06-2011 10:46pm

Great sense of satisfaction seeing MTRCVAN written on that disc in the window.

Buford T Justice · 01-06-2011 11:12pm

defike wrote: »

Great sense of satisfaction seeing MTRCVAN written on that disc in the window.

Oh yeah. That's for sure.

Aidan_M_M · 04-06-2011 12:47am

Fingers McGee wrote: »

Not sure why, but the notion of an ambulance appeals to me for some reason...

Need to finish off the niggley little bits on this one too... Nothing major though, and I'll keep this updated as I go.

NOO!! No matter what you do , they ALWAYS look like an ambulance! And the rear door , and window layout rarely suits a Motor home ..

joed571 · 04-06-2011 4:10am

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

NOO!! No matter what you do , they ALWAYS look like an ambulance! And the rear door , and window layout rarely suits a Motor home ..

i agree, dont do it, if the itch is that bad go for a vw or a sprinter to convert

Buford T Justice · 04-06-2011 12:18pm

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

NOO!! No matter what you do , they ALWAYS look like an ambulance! And the rear door , and window layout rarely suits a Motor home ..

Yeah, I figured they'd always have the 'look' about them. Never thought about the window positions and layout. I think it was more to do with the fact that the walls are straight lines instead of curves. Would make building much easier, there'd be a sight less scribing to be done.

Also, for some reason I like vans with twin wheel rear axles. They always 'looked' less flimsy to me.

Now as for my ideal conversion wagon, it'd have to be something like this:

dubtom · 06-06-2011 6:01pm

Savage job you did there fingers. Just back from a couple of days camping and we were discussing camper vans, herself likes the Old VW's, she thinks there cute:rolleyes: I'd settle on a transit and a self build. I was dreaming goodo until you mentioned a change in the law about DIY campers,is that something that's going to happen soon?

Buford T Justice · 06-06-2011 7:58pm

dubtom wrote: »

Savage job you did there fingers. Just back from a couple of days camping and we were discussing camper vans, herself likes the Old VW's, she thinks there cute:rolleyes: I'd settle on a transit and a self build. I was dreaming goodo until you mentioned a change in the law about DIY campers,is that something that's going to happen soon?

April 2012. Although, the wording that they use is very ambiguous. It can be interpreted as either it needs to be completed by a qualified individual or it just needs to be certified by an NSAI garage.

As an example, it could all just end up being the same as it is now with the certificate getting signed and stamped by a garage. Not 100% sure.

Macy0161 · 07-06-2011 10:45am

dubtom wrote: »

herself likes the Old VW's, she thinks there cute:rolleyes: I'd settle on a transit and a self build.

But they do! :cool:

Notwithstanding Fingers excellent conversion, don't tie yourself to the transit. The likes of the renault master lwb (and the same vans with an opel and nissan badge - movano and interstar iirc), will give 6ft height clearance in the back with a tin top, and you'll get pretty much 6ft width too. If I recall correctly the Ducato/ Boxer/ Relay will give you the headroom and the width in their lwb vans as well (although they're a bit shorter than the master types).

Also, no reason you couldn't do a self build on a T4 or a T5 VW, or a similar sized van like the vito or traffic, if the missus does want something smaller. You'd easily have them as a daily driver/ second car.

EDIT - visit the sbmcc website, and join even if it's only a serious contender rather than a definite. It's great for ideas, as well as the technical aspects of a self build.

Buford T Justice · 07-06-2011 5:41pm

I agree with not tying yourself down to a transit. There are other vans with straighter sides than the transit. It narrows at the top and was a pain to build inside.

All depends on budget really, and that was in mine at the time.

meercat · 08-06-2011 8:35pm

is this the biggest thread on this forum?

Buford T Justice · 08-06-2011 10:19pm

Not sure, is It? have i beaten the tip of the week? :cool:

Aidan_M_M · 08-06-2011 11:20pm

If I was doing a van for myself , I'd do either an LT/Krafter , a LWB Ducato , or a Master . And probably most likely the Master , they are very light on Diesel , very "square" inside , roomy , very very comfy , and the Front wheel drive layout makes the conversion easier . No propshaft in the way of tanks etc underneath , and a lower floor than a Rear wheel drive.

Aidan_M_M · 08-06-2011 11:26pm

Fingers McGee wrote: »

Not sure, is It? have i beaten the tip of the week? :cool:

You've more replies... TOTW has a few thousand more views!

Buford T Justice · 09-06-2011 1:17am

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

You've more replies... TOTW has a few thousand more views!

3000 more views, and the TOTW is 3 months older than this one....

Challenge extended methinks.........:D

Aidan_M_M · 09-06-2011 9:03pm

hahahaah....<nervous laughter....>

Buford T Justice · 09-06-2011 9:50pm

^^^
Lol

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

If I was doing a van for myself , I'd do either an LT/Krafter , a LWB Ducato , or a Master . And probably most likely the Master , they are very light on Diesel , very "square" inside , roomy , very very comfy , and the Front wheel drive layout makes the conversion easier . No propshaft in the way of tanks etc underneath , and a lower floor than a Rear wheel drive.

Never driven an Iveco, but I like them because of their sheer size. Once upon a time I was working for a fella who had a new at the time (03) master LWB. Lovely machine to drive and was very comfortable. Aren't they known for gearbox trouble tho?

Aidan_M_M · 09-06-2011 11:53pm

more so the Trafic . Fill the 'box to the higher level, only use good quality synthethic gearoil , and change it yearly , and you don't have problems .

Macy0161 · 10-06-2011 9:32am

If you are planning foreign trips, the Master comes in under 6m whereas the Sprinters and Crafters LWB don't, and as far as I'm aware there's a price difference on the ferry for over 6 metres.

The Iveco's are massive inside - nearly too big? iirc the mwb ones are nearly as big as the lwb master.

Aidan_M_M · 11-06-2011 12:21am

Macy0161 wrote: »

If you are planning foreign trips, the Master comes in under 6m whereas the Sprinters and Crafters LWB don't, and as far as I'm aware there's a price difference on the ferry for over 6 metres.

Have you ever seen them measure a camper going onto the ferry?

Buford T Justice · 11-06-2011 11:09am

I got my new log book in the post yesterday..... yaay, I now have a VLC that says its a motor caravan. Getting more and more official as time goes on.

I've insurance arranged with Dolmen, and I left the van in to have an engineers report done for them..............

I'm also downgrading my work van from a transit to a caddy, so I picked up my new (2nd hand van) on friday too. Then they called to say to collect the van.

Things were going so well up until that point.:mad:
List:
R/H/F Wheel Arch needs welding
R/H/F Chassis Support needs welding
L/H/F Chassis leg needs welding
2 Anti Roll Bar Bushings
No inner door handle on rear door
Battery clamp loose on leisure battery
No Side repeaters working on the L/H/S
Headlights need focusing
Tracking needs to be done.
Handbrake is hitting seat.

Now, fair enough with the welding that needs doing, but the sidelights? FFS, they're not even part of the original van design, they're an aftermarket install. Why do they need to work? Why can't he just call them reflectors?

Rear Door Handle? Ah come on!!!!! Half the vans around have the rear doors sealed up, and you're telling me I have to have a handle on the inside of mine? I've a good mind to just bolt the two doors together for him and be done with it (shakes stick) Its about €150 from a stealership for a handle, so not going there.

Handbrake is hitting the lever for rotating the seat. Seriously, just pull the plastic cap off and its not a problem!!!!
/rant

Buford T Justice · 11-06-2011 11:34am

Not to be deterred, I got stuck in.

I was too busy to take pictures of the Chassis leg welding, but managed to get some of the front wheel arch. T'was easier to plate from the engine bay

Bye bye rad and grille

Hello my little friend (can you see the rust)

And, Ala Ka ZAM!!!!!! Bye bye rust.

Lookout midlands, we're hitting the road today and heading you're way. Keep a weather eye out......

Suggestions on stuff to do is appreciated btw....

paddyp · 11-06-2011 4:57pm

Good grief Penfold twas more like collander than a van.

stooge_dude · 20-06-2011 3:06pm

Job well done Fingers..... looks good

Buford T Justice · 24-06-2011 12:36pm

And with all that, emails sent of etc etc blah blah

I finally got my insurance certificate in the post today. Wohoo. No more poxy law bothering me when I'm on the road anymore.

My Ford Transit Hi-Cube Conversion

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