Popular Post browndog Posted September 10, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted September 10, 2014 (edited) As some of you have probably gathered, I have a bit of a thing for old Ford Transit vans. Not sure why to be honest, they never featured in my life when I was growing up, apart from the ones I saw driving around . I have owned loads of old Fords, (40+) from 100E's to Cosworths, and pretty much everything in between, so I guess that might offer some clue to why I like them Anyway, I have always thought the Sundowner would be the ultimate Transit van, Ford Australia built only 140 of these in 1978, and very few have survived. They featured the "new" 4.1 crossflow iron head engine, 3 speed manual (with option of an auto) high back "captains chairs" with swivelling bases, Sunraysia eight spoke wheels, full length carpet and headlining, pushbutton radio (wow!) truck style mirrors and of course the stripe kit and Sundowner decals. I did not really ever expect to find one, and I literally stumbled across this one being advertised on a UK Transit forum, and after contacting the owner in Adelaide a deal was done, and I had to wait 8 long weeks for it to arrive, back in August! After arrival I booked it in to the compliance centre, and it came back with a long list of things to sort Rust, brakes, non standard gearbox (previous owner had fitted a T5 5 speed) lights,tyres, lpg cert etc. etc. etc. The plan at this stage is to get all of the issues sorted, and tidied up so I can use it this summer. I will strip it back to a bare shell probably next winter, and give it a full resto. Anyway, enough chit chat, here are some pics: Original ad: and another: It arrived mid August, on board the "Courageous Ace" - an absolute monster of a ship, as big as a city block, and can carry up to 6400 cars: Prior to repaint by previous owner: As it appears now: These vans had the Borg Warner (Falcon) diff fitted: Sunraysia wheels: the mighty big block 4.1: I got these NZ P plates, to match the original Aussie plates: faded original tail lights: replaced with NOS tail lights I had "in stock" ditto for front indicators and headlight surrounds: I also bought a set of K Mac anti roll bars ( or "sway bars" if you are Australian!) Which about brings me up to date. Progress will be fairly rapid on it, as I want to get it roadworthy for summer, so I will keep this updated. Discussion thread here: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/45067-browndogs-1978-ford-transit-sundowner/ Edited July 11, 2017 by browndog reloaded pictures because photobucket are burgling bastards! 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndog Posted September 22, 2014 Author Share Posted September 22, 2014 Spent a few hours on the van yesterday. Decided I did not want the LPG fitted, so proceeded to remove it all. Only took a couple of hours to get everything out. Discovered the tank was full,(it was damn heavy!) and as I dropped it out on the ground the back of the van jumped up, must be a good 30mm higher in the rear now, sits level instead of bum down 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndog Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 Haven't touched the van for a while, but got back into it last week. Wheels were looking a bit second hand, so I stripped the tyres off, had the rims powder coated, and fitted the new tyres I bought, old school BFG T/A's in 225/60x14 for the front and 245/60x14 for the rear. Despite powder coating being a pet hate of mine, they were done this way from new, and painting was going to be very expensive, so I decided to go this way. I have the diff out at the moment, changing the ratio from the 2.7 that the previous owner fitted (ridiculously tall in first and reverse) to a more clutch friendly 3.45 from an EL Falcon. Van has a T5 box fitted, so will still have long legs in fifth gear. This van is also going to be used in a TV mini series set in the late 1970's, so getting it ready for its starring role, makeup, hair, wheels ..... Discussion thread: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/45067-browndogs-1978-ford-transit-sundowner/ 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted November 13, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted November 13, 2014 (edited) The Sundowner has landed a small role moonlighting as a Paddy Wagon in a TV mini series set in the 1970's. I put some standard steel wheels on (so that it didn't look like something out of the original Mad Max movie!) and refitted all of the parts I had taken off. Sorry I can't show it in Police drag, I am not allowed to! It peformed like a pro last night on its first mission I do not have it road registered in NZ yet, so had to trailer it to the shoot, the irony being that my tow vehicle is actually an old Police van! Edited July 11, 2017 by browndog 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndog Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 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! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndog Posted April 15, 2015 Author Share Posted April 15, 2015 a couple more pics a friend sent me from Sunday's show: 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndog Posted July 16, 2017 Author Share Posted July 16, 2017 appeared last night on "The Dance Exponents" TV programme as the UK gardeners van 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndog Posted August 14, 2017 Author Share Posted August 14, 2017 A brief appearance on "Westside" tonight, looks like the big chase scene is coming next week! 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted February 28, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 28, 2019 I had a call from the production studio last week, who are in season 5 of the TV programme "Westside" - a story set in the 70's and 80's about a West Auckland family trying to make it in the world. So I dragged out the Mk1 and Mk2 and cleaned them off, ran them up and down the road a bit, and then trailered them over to the TV studio. Feeling a bit guilty that I have not begun the restoration on them that was promised to them, but nice at least that they are out earning a few dollars to assist in this work which will happen eventually! 14 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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