browndog

exhaust fitted today

Time has been marching on, and I haven't touched the van for ages, as I have been so busy with other things.So I decided to book it in at work, as we have a new fabricator just started, and he is rather good! First job was to make the trans mount, and exhaust system. The trans crossmember is a tubular design, from 1 3/4" roll cage tubing. The exhaust is TIG welded 304 stainless, 2" primaries into 3" main pipe, and large muffler with side exit pipe. Next week will be a new engine crossmember and mounts, to a similar tubular design as the trans mount. Also a swirl pot for the fuel injection, weld in the battery tray on the RH side, wiring, fuel lines, air intake, etc.

I have been slowly working away on this van, and dropped the engine in yesterday. What a bloody mission! The extra height of the supercharger made it REALLY tight to get in there. I had to notch the front crossmember to allow the sump to drop down and clear it, and it is really tight for space in all directions. But it does fit! And no cutting or beating of the floorpan or bulkhead required! There are a few tweaks needed for clearance, but nothing major. Here is a pic of it sitting in place. I have also installed a MK3 Transit power steering box. The steering box was straightforward enough, remove the Mk2 mounting plate and fit the Mk3 version. For the steering column I used the Mk2 outer part, and cut it off where it protrudes through the bulkhead. I fitted the Mk5 shaft to this. And used a coupling from a Mk5 with the 2x UJ's so that I could get rid of the rubber coupling that the Mk3 has, and also keep the steering column on its original axis. There was a little bit more to it than this, but you get the idea. //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/50625-browndogs-supervan-2-yet-another-one/

Sounds good, assuming it is finished by then

gave the old girl a workout a couple of weeks ago, and moved the Sundowner back home into my garage:) It tows really well The NA engine is no more! I pulled it out yesterday, along with acres of really bad wiring! Gave the engine bay a good clean up, and I will fit the power steering box, and prep it for the supercharged engine //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/50625-browndogs-supervan-2-yet-another-one/

pulled the lid off to have a closer look. Here you can see the Eaton M90 supercharger, with throttle intake at the rear. These engines did not run an intercooler, although aftermarket ones are available. Looks like clearance to the throttle body will be tight, otherwise everywhere else looks easy

christmas pressie arrived today on a pallet, looks really good That will make the old girl boogie!

just bought another engine for SV2. Very similar to the one already fitted, but has an extra pulley on top

A more "appropriate" load today, off to a TV shoot early tomorrow morning with another Mk2 in tow

SV2 was bought with the intention of becoming my new tow vehicle, to replace my LDV 400 "police van". I went and got a quote for a towbar to be made for it, and was a bit shocked at the price of $1000 so I thought, "bugger that, I will make one myself" I really wanted a detachable towbar, so I scoured trademe and found a NOS Westfalia kit for a Subaru, which was rated at 1800kgs. I bought this, and set about chopping it into small pieces. In the end I used only the gooseneck, receiver, and a section of the square crosstube. I drew up some templates on autocad for the side and centre brackets, printed them out and a bit of a test fit, then sent the drawing to the shop to have them cut out of 10mm steel plate on the waterjet. The main side brackets needed a couple of kinks to follow the chassis rail,and then another test fit before welding, and they fitted a treat. Got my fabricator to weld them up for me, my welding is okay, but needed the skill of someone really good for this job, as failure is not an option! A can of black Hammerite and looking better: gooseneck and receiver fitted: And installed, still need to make a mounting bracket for the electrical connector: Now you see it: Now you don't And what better way to test it than find one of the most expensive race cars in the workshop, put it on the trailer and take it for a drive 30 minutes across town! Van towed beautifully, and has plenty of power for the job. All up, I came in a few hundred dollars shy of the price I was quoted to make a crappy fixed towbar, and this included me buying a 50mm gooseneck as well, because the kit came supplied with a 1 7/8" gooseneck. So I am a very happy chappy : )

went to friends place to pick up some parts today. He backed out his German firevan so that we could get at the storage area. Thought it was a good opportunity to snap a couple of pics of an early Mk1 (1969) sitting next to a late Mk2 (1985) They are essentially the same van from the screen back.

you having Transit withdrawals since selling the last 2? Let me know when they arrive, I will come for a nosey (and no I am not buying any more!!)

I was going to pick the van up at the end of November, but couldn't wait, so paid the balance and picked it up Saturday. Been driving it around all weekend, and really happy with it. It is very good to drive for an old van, quite tight. Took it on a long run yesterday, and refilled with fuel when I got back. Looks like about 20mpg, or 14l/100kms, which is very good for something that has the aerodynamics of a house, with a fairly large engine. And way better than my current LDV "Police" van, which will be replaced by this as my tow vehicle. Parked up at Hampton Downs yesterday next to my mates "Masport" V8 Mk2. They certainly got a bit of attention there!

yes came with FOMOCO plates, had the option to pay less without, but wanted those! I was thinking more like a Cosworth DFL? Even the owner said he was not super comfortable about that! I had a 3.8 Supercharged V6 from a Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe that I sold about 6 months ago. But no bloody way would that fit in a Transit without a lot of cutting and arsing about! So I sold it. The dilemna is that it goes so well, so I may just leave well alone for now. The owner had the matchbox car too. And gave it to his painter mate one day and said "make my van look like that please!" I have a nice die cast of Supervan (the original one) Might have to get Supervan 2 now:) If you carjam FOMOCO it comes up as "Ford Transit Supervan 2"

It is an Ecotec engine I think, and airbox looks factory. (although I am no expert on anything GM! ) The temptaion would be to find a supercharged V6 and slot it in I am going to use this as a tow vehicle for my race car, so the extra torque would be a good thing. Not that this is lacking in torque or anything, but more is always better!

Yeah a friend of mine told me about the dampers too, reckons he replaced a few of them. It is not shaking as such, or missfiring, it just sounds nasty when you get over 3000rpm. I am told they are all like this. Jackson Foster (who has the cream/brown Mk2) said his is the same. But I will give it a good going over/service once I pick it up anyway

//oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/50624-browndogs-supervan-2-yet-another-one/ discuss my addiction and suggest possible solutions/medication here

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