browndog

I spotted this van about 10-15 years ago, driving down the motorway, and thought "ooohh, I am going to own that one day!" I tracked down the owner, and gave him a visit about 3-4 years ago, and have been in touch since. I told him if he ever wants to sell it, to let me know. Anyway, he spent the last 2-3 years getting it panelled and painted, and fitting lots of new parts on. He brought it over about 3-4 months ago to show me it, and said he would probably sell it next year. Anyway, he texted me last weekend saying he was ready to sell it, and to come over if I was interested. After another test drive, and some negotiation, a deal was agreed on. I have just paid a deposit to hold, and will probably pay for it end of November and collect it. Pretty stoked about it, unlike my other vans this one is not a project, I can use it straight away:) It has a 3.8 Holden/Buick V6 with 4 stage auto fitted. It is quite a harsh noisy engine, but my god does it go! It would give my Mk1 V8 a good run for its money I think. And being injected should be better on fuel too. Otherwise, it is fairly standard, not really any other mods done. discussion: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/50625-browndogs-supervan-2-yet-another-one/

Finally picked up my van on Friday First impressions when I saw it was "f#$k me, what have I bought?!" It looked quite bad So loaded it on to my trailer, and took it home. Spent the weekend cleaning it out, gave it a quick machine polish to see what it would look like once it was repainted, as the original paint was very faded. I also threw in a set of spark plugs and HT leads,cleaned and gapped the points, as it was running on 4 - 5 cylinders. Much happier about it after a close look. Rust around both rear wheelarches, along a seam on RH side, a little inside the A pillar on LH side, and 2 small holes in LH step. A few dents here and there, and that is pretty much it. Underneath is mint, wheelarches, floorpan and chassis rails are all perfect and won't need any work. The aftermarket air con system that was fitted when new even works! Waiting for my signwriter to come over and take tracings of stripes, then I will take it to my storage unit and start work stripping it down. A few more pics:

It cost $2200, plus another $1200 to get it to Sydney (it was about 600km inland in NSW) Then GST for purchase price and shipping on top of that, plus another $40 for customs fees. Cars can be around $1800+ GST to bring over but you need to shop around as I had quotes over $3K just for the shipping.

RORO ferry docked at Auckland ports this morning with van on board. A top secret agent of mine snapped a couple of spy shots for me using stealth technology on board, about to be unloaded: unloaded, waiting for inspection from the authorites: Will probably take a couple of days to be cleared, so hopefully will be delivered later this week:)

yes correct. My white one does too, bit of a recurring theme? problem is they don't fit in either of my garages, too tall! Luckily I have free storage in a nice warehouse unit And it's 3x Transit vans, one ex Police LDV van, and 1x Econoline campervan. Oh, and an Escort van! I got given a brochure at the last Caffeine and Classics by an old guy asking if I wanted to join a vannners club! Couldn't think of anything that would excite me less......... But speaking of rape vans, check out this bad boy that a friend of mine just bought, makes the Transit look quite innocent and friendly! :

project build here: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/49413-browndogs-1979-ford-transit-sundowner-yes-another-one/

It's a bit like waiting for a bus (or a minibus in this case!) you wait for ages and ages, then two come along at once! I had been looking for a Transit Sundowner for several years, and had pretty much given up on finding one, then a friend pointed one out to me for sale on another forum in Adelaide, and I bought it. I have only done a little bit of work on it so far, but still plan a stripdown and full resto. Then two weeks ago someone else pointed this one out to me, and I just had to have it. It is a 1979 build, in a colour called Marigold, and is very original, even down to the stripes. It has been parked up for about 20 years, and the person I am buying it off purchased it 3 months ago from the first owner, with a view to restoring it. Things changed, and he advertised it for sale. I saw some pics and had to have it Originally a 3 speed manual, it has been converted to auto. It had power steering fitted from new by a dealer, as well as air conditioning. The power steering box looks like a Ford Bronco one, it is quite a good conversion. The vendor is just getting the brakes working, as the shipping company won't move it on only the handbrake, which is all that works at the moment. The engine runs okay though. Anyway, I am just arranging to get it shipped back to NZ, and it should be here in a few weeks. Discuss here: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/49414-browndogs-1979-ford-transit-sundowner-yes-another-one/

I think it's a good idea, but I just wonder how much heat the turbo will generate, especially under light throttle/cruise conditions? The pipework to the core is usually quite small, 6-8mm usually, so not going to be a huge amount of flow, and it is just the central housing that the water flows around, not the exhaust housing. There will be some losses of heat as the water is piped forwards too. A water cooled turbo does not necessarily need the water cooling, they will operate okay without it, as the oil cooling will do the job on its own, so no need for diverters etc. It will still get a lot of cooling with the pump going, and the heater flap closed shut anyway. Another option might be to double skin the turbo downpipe, and blow air between the two skins, much like the original Porsche/VW heat exchanger. Should be plenty of available heat there. The only downside to this is that if you develop an exhaust leak between the two skins, it will kill you with carbon monoxide poisoning. But as a VW owner you probably knew that anyway

the yellow one that's been on TM? Looks really good. I would buy it if it were a panel van and not a camper. I bought a camper early this year so don't need another one, it is also a Ford, but a wee bit bigger than a Transit

The last appearance tonight of my van on Westside Ep. 5 below, the Sundowner is the armoured cash van in this episode, and Jackson's yellow Mk2 is the getaway van. Dougal tries to blow the doors off the back of the van to get the cash inside, and unfortunately has also manages to blow his head off But happily no Transits were harmed in the making of this production Click this link to watch the programme: http://www.tv3.co.nz/WESTSIDE-Season-1-Ep5/tabid/3692/articleID/115944/MCat/4513/Default.aspx

I think they are releasing it on DVD once the series has shown, so I will grab a copy. Originally they wanted 5x Mk1 Transit vans, the story was they would steal a new van every time they did a burglary. I laughed when they told me this, I said they would not find 5 of these old things that were left running, at least not in Auckland In the end they used the silver Mk1 twice, and put stripes and changed the wheels to make it look different. And we used 3x Mk2 Transits, which we will see more of in the remaininig shows.

thanks Just put some pics up of the shoot on the project thread: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/45288-browndogs-1972-v8-transit/ Both vans are being used in a UK movie, and filming starts this week for that. Will be quite a different look for them, but I can't reveal any details about it unfortunately.

Lots more of the old silver Transit in last nights episode, my white Mk2 also features as the paddy wagon used in the "dawn raids" as well as Jackson's plumbers van which is the armoured cash van. A few pics from the set: http://www.tv3.co.nz/WESTSIDE-Season-1-Ep3/tabid/3692/articleID/114634/MCat/4513/Default.aspx

It's now a star! Several scenes on Westside last Sunday night at 8.30: http://www.tv3.co.nz/WESTSIDE-Season-1-Ep2/tabid/3692/articleID/114498/MCat/4513/Default.aspx And I have just delivered this and my white Sundowner to the signwriters to be vinyl wrapped for their next role. This is for a TV production that will be UK based, so not sure if or when it will be shown on NZ TV, but I really can't say much more about it than that, due to confidentiality agreements with the production company. It will look like a standard Mk1 for this next role, so I have fitted some standard steel wheels to it, shown here about to be delivered to signwriter: discussion: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/45289-browndogs-1972-v8-transit/page-2

Damn, the Bedford beat the Transits at being first to feature on Westside! Oh well, I will just have to wait my turn

I just received notice that the first part of the mini series we did last year - Westside, is set for release on May 31st - looking forward to that! You can just catch a glimpse of the Mk1 at 0.38 in this TV trailer: www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/68492044/sneak-peek-at-outrageous-fortune-prequel-westside Talking to another production company at the moment, they want to use both of my vans in a UK based documentary set in 1980. These vans will be seasoned pros soon

okay not my old car then. I will have a look and see what cams I have there.

bugger me, that looks like one I owned in the late 1980's! Yellow 4 door with 2.0 and Sierra 5 speed. Does it have original rego papers? I have a few big Pinto cams here, Kent cams I think.

I so nearly bought this van! Saw it at Kumeu hotrod show with a for sale in the window, phoned the owner the next day, and went and took it for a drive. Pretty sure yours is a 302W, 351W is taller block and inlet manifold is quite wide. Have a look on the inlet, from memory it had an Edelbrock performer on it, and it will say Performer 289 or 302 on the manifold near the front. I thought it went quite well for a 302, esp. given this was originally a low hp smog engine. It was only the fact that I already own 2x Transits, 1x 1992 E350 Econoline and an LDV400 van that sanity prevailed and I realised I did NOT need another van! But was soo tempted, as it was not expensive, and was really nice. Stud pattern is a bit weird if you want to change the wheels, it is 5x5" from memory. You would have to get wheels from the US. Friend of mine recently bought this 1975 Econoline, which is basically the same van as yours. Look forward to seeing updates:) Conrad

a couple more pics a friend sent me from Sunday's show:

you jammy bastard, winning those wheels! Well done, much jealous

Dragged the two vans out on Saturday, I haven't driven or done anything on them in ages, as I have been so busy. Anyway, gave them both a good cleanup, fitted the freshly painted wheels and new tyres to the Sundowner, and then me and a mate drove back and forth to the All Ford Day so I could put them in the "Transit only parking" stand:) Managed to get 5x Mk2's and 2x Mk1's on display, probably a record for NZ!

oh no, the Cortina is gone! Hope it went to a good home, it was a nice one Whose is the happy looking Labrador? you guys haven't gone and gotten one have you? And is that the one and only Daihatsu 2 stroke station wagon in the background that I can see?

Probably would, they have featured far less interesting cars! But I heard a rumour that a replica Supervan 1 is being built in the UK, by a couple of the guys who built the original, and will be finished this year on the 50th anniversary of the Transit. That would get some attention! But may be just a rumour..... I plan to keep the engine front mounted, and just do the cosmetic stuff, like Escort style bubble arches, huge wheels etc. as well as the signwriting etc. So everything I am doing in the meantime is in keeping with the end result, hence getting chrome bumpers, front wing mirrors etc.

yes it has. Bad news is, I am going to convert back to Transit tail lights It's all part of a bigger plan!