Project van

[Philwhiskeydrinker]

Time to make the Transit seat more than 3 bums as the clock is most definitely ticking....

Marking up the floor to position & make sure none of the 16 bolts end up where they shouldn't.

After drilling the holes, time to add packing to level up the corrugated floor.

And a bit of extra bracing to the forward edge just to be sure. A 25mm angle backed up to 25mm box & welded together.
5 x m10 bolts (with their heads welded inside the box) hold it down, with suitable spreading washers & m10 nylocs.

The floor needs raising an inch, so in with 25mm of Kingspan.

And the original plywood floor, with suitably cut out slots for the seat rails

In with some Polyflor vinyl.

 

[Philwhiskeydrinker]

Next, time to bolt the seat mount rails in place and clip a seat in place to check for alignment....

And the next...

All done

The 16 x m12 bolts each have 3mm thick galvanised steel 'spreader' plates, a bzp penny washer and a bzp 12mm flanged nyloc nut.

Underbody steelwork gets a lathering of waxoil for good measure (well what did you expect)

Edit, not sure why some of the pics are cockeyed.

 

[nick949]

But can you still get a bike in there behind the seats? Critical consideration .

 

[austin]

Good neat job there Phil Its very precious cargo you are carrying in there.

 

[Philwhiskeydrinker]

But can you still get a bike in there behind the seats? Critical consideration .

Good point - I'm not sure yet, possibly if the twin seats are removed.
Of course, the other option is to say it won't fit & ride it, V can follow with kids & kit [emoji2]

Good neat job there Phil [emoji106] Its very precious cargo you are carrying in there.

Is that before or after I put the bike in...

 

[soho]

Top jobby Phil ! I've been thinking of trying that myself for a couple of years now.
Dunno what to do though ,as mine has done 74000 now. I'm thinking of selling it this month for a new Custom with extra seats. It's been faultless from new,but I'm getting nervous as it's now out of of warranty. Should I be worried ?

Edit : PS I "Luv yer Curtins" That's another job I never got round to ! My curtains are "cloth over bungie" all round.

 

[Philwhiskeydrinker]

74k... That's what ours is at, it had a new key fob & track rod under warranty, other than that nothing (still on the original tyres & brakes!)
I have no worries, Tranny's are not without their issues & quirks but they are pretty durable given a bit of tlc, and should run to 3 times that mileage without issue, particularly in swb/fwd format.
Easy to diy service too.
I want at least another 10 years out of this 'un - well I have just spent 400 quid on seats.... [emoji2]

Is yours a euro 4 or 5 Nick?

 

[Lowflyer]

Phil,


I can't see the photos ??
Maybe it's because my eyes are still streaming after the game today

Comments are sound though

 

[soho]

Euro 5 140 bhp Phil, only had a new Fuel pump & Turbo on recall. Replaced the discs & pads all round last month ( did it myself, 4hr job took me 10hrs ! Genuine Ford only cost me 218 quid for discs plus pads) Is there anything else looming that you know of, that's likely to go bang soon? ( don't know any other Tranny owners with mechanical minds).

 

[Philwhiskeydrinker]

So yours wasn't included in the oil pump recall then?
I didn't know they had turbo & fuel pump recall too ffs why don't manufacturers test things properly first....

At work I had a 12 or 13 plate fwd come in on recovery & the disc had literally split in half - the vents holding the two halves of the disc had literally rotted away, a month later another one came in the same! Ford must have changed suppliers 'cos older mk7s never did it.

Changing the front discs is worth paying someone to do unless you have a windy gun & some gear, it is a bit of a steep learning curve.... bit late now I suppose!
You probably don't want me suggesting that it might have been worth putting new wheel bearings in while you had it all off.....

Keep on top of servicing & she'll be good although we have had the odd one that won't regenerate the dpf, not sure what the outcome was actually.

 

[soho]

No - you're right, I meant the oil pump and they only replaced the turbo as a precaution 'cause the red warning light had come on. You've done well with tyres ! I'm on my 4th set of fronts an 2nd backs. Pads and discs were fully shot at 74000 !!!!

 

[Philwhiskeydrinker]

To be fair, most of our use is a gentle trundle to the North East & back so pretty easy on consumables.
I'll probably fit new tyres & front pads by the end of the year & maybe pop some new rear bushes in bottom arm too while at it.

 

[nick949]

74k... That's what ours is at, it had a new key fob & track rod under warranty, other than that nothing (still on the original tyres & brakes!)
I have no worries, Tranny's are not without their issues & quirks but they are pretty durable given a bit of tlc, and should run to 3 times that mileage without issue, particularly in swb/fwd format.
Easy to diy service too.
I want at least another 10 years out of this 'un - well I have just spent 400 quid on seats.... [emoji2]

Is yours a euro 4 or 5 Nick?

I'm not sure if I'm the right Nick, but here's mine anyway. Definitely not Euro-anything compliant, but it fits a bike nicely, with 5 of the 8 seats in place.

 

[Philwhiskeydrinker]

You must have a longer wheelbase van Nick. Mines 8' long in the back before fitting the extra seats.

 

[Stuart D]

Love the fact you kept the bulkhead in to keep the noise down whilst you're driving

 

[Philwhiskeydrinker]

I'm assuming you mean noise from the kids Stuart - that sounds like a voice of experience!
I was going to chop the bulkhead down but not so sure now...

 

[Stuart D]

I'm assuming you mean noise from the kids Stuart - that sounds like a voice of experience!
I was going to chop the bulkhead down but not so sure now...

3 seats = V and a child either side, she won't have to contort herself to attend their every need, stop any bickering that might ensue. You and the dog up front, maximising your attention for the journey in relative quiet (sound deadening on bulkhead) without those annoying "You'll have to pull over I need to get in the back to see to the kids, NOW!" Your shout Phil but don't say I told........

 

[soho]

Phil,before I search further. Do know anything about stopping the AirCon overflow running into the cab area ? Apparently it can get blocked and back up into the cab side of the bulkhead ? I could be blind but I can't see sh*t going on anywhere !

 

[Philwhiskeydrinker]

Contrary to Stuarts advice, the bulkhead has now been chopped down to open it all up. Time will tell if I've dropped a b@llock by doing so!
Rear speakers also fitted to keep them in the back happy.

Phil,before I search further. Do know anything about stopping the AirCon overflow running into the cab area ? Apparently it can get blocked and back up into the cab side of the bulkhead ? I could be blind but I can't see sh*t going on anywhere !

To be fair Nick, I've not had anything to do with aircon on a Tranny, there must be a drain somewhere

 

[soho]

There is a drain plug ,even says it in the Haynes. Still can't find it !

By the way,I had a full bulkhead and took it out recently. Shake rattle and roll baby !.................. well mostly shake and rattle now (and I keep imagining getting a Dommie or a cooking stove in the neck under braking too !)