browndog Posted December 26, 2020 Author Share Posted December 26, 2020 ...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted December 26, 2020 Author Popular Post Share Posted December 26, 2020 First job, get some bling on! Browndog's 1972 V8 Transit - Page 2 - Project Discussion - oldschool.co.nz 26 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted January 4, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 4, 2021 I spent a few hours today bolting on some parts; lots of NOS parts which I have been collecting for this project. Headlights temporarily fitted, new bezels, bumpers, clear front indicators, tail lights and rear reflectors. The headlights I bought a few years ago are an interesting thing for trainspotters like myself; a pair of Cibie Biodes. Invented in the late 1960's, before the H4 dual filament halogen bulb was invented, they take 2x H1 halogen bulbs. There is a separate reflector in the lower part of the headlight (which you can see) that is the high beam, and the upper bulb, which has a shroud and is not visible is the low beam. These were the choice of works rally teams in the late 1960's and early 1970's such as Ford Escort, Porsche 911 and Mini Coopers. Although very old technology, they are still give off an extremely good light output, even by todays standards. I was quite lucky to find these, they are extremely rare and sell for ridiculous money on Ebay. 24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted April 6, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted April 6, 2021 I thought it was time for an update. Been a bit busy on other things, so the Mk1 has not had a lot of attention lately. But just cracked into it a week or two ago, and it is nearing completion now. Lots of NOS parts being fitted, which is always fun. A few pics to show the progress. 35 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted April 19, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted April 19, 2021 completed last week, and took it to the Auckland All Ford Day on Sunday Browndog's 1972 V8 Transit - Page 3 - Project Discussion - oldschool.co.nz 24 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted April 19, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted April 19, 2021 a few more pics......... Browndog's 1972 V8 Transit - Page 3 - Project Discussion - oldschool.co.nz 30 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted November 8, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted November 8, 2021 I have been trying to sort the ride out a bit lately on the Mk1. I replaced the rear multi leaf springs which were really stiff (5 or 6 leaves? ) with a pair of 2 leaf springs I nicked out of one of my Sundowners. This lowered the rear 40mm, and softened the ride up at the same time. At the front, I replaced the multi leaf springs which again were really stiff, with a pair of single leafs out of Mk2. This lowered the front about 20mm. The rear already had an ARB fitted, so I fitted an ARB to the front axle to give some balance to the front/rear roll stiffness. I had to fit the front ARB virtually inside the front axle beam, to clear the sump pan, but it all seems to works well. It drives and rides much better now, and grip has improved somewhat. Okay I probably won't be able to load 600 kgs of cement bags in the back now, but its working days are long over! A few pics of the front end: I also got rid of the hydraulic throttle, which was always getting air bubbles in it, and limiting throttle opening. Being bottom hinged made it feel quite awful to drive, a bit like an old VW or Porsche with bottom hinged pedals. I replaced it with a Lokar pedal, and fitted a matching pedal pad to the brake pedal. Browndog's 1972 V8 Transit - Page 3 - Project Discussion - oldschool.co.nz 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted November 10, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted November 10, 2021 Photoshoot on Tuesday at the Whitford Wharf for NZ Classic Car magazine. These are a couple of my crappy iphone pics, no doubt theirs will be much nicer, but you get the idea https://oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/45289-browndogs-1972-v8-transit/page/4/ 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted November 10, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted November 10, 2021 Pickapart reopened yesterday in Auckland, and there was a mad rush for all of the good stuff! I have never seen it so busy, queueing to get in, car park full, big queue getting out. Bloody hot day too, I think I suffered a bit of sunstroke in my mad rush to grab the good shit! (this was only a small part of my parts haul below BTW, lots of parts for my race car were had too!) Anyway, the point of this trip was to get some better brakes for the Mk1. They have always been a bit scary - anything more than moderate pedal pressure will lock up the rears, not ideal! After some measuring, I discovered that the rear pistons on the Lincoln calipers were 65mm, whereas the fronts on the old Falcon XA calipers were only 61mm. The brake discs are similar size front to rear. So it actually has more braking on the rear than the front, which explains its tendency to lock the rears, not ideal for any car, especially a van with a relatively light rear end ! So, the solution I reckon will work is Mk4 Mondeo rear calipers with integral handbrake, discs and cables for the back end, and AU3 Falcon 2 pot front calipers, which will fit nicely on my existing slotted DBA rotors. I will rebuilt and paint them, and need to make some suitable mounting brackets, but hopefully that should sort the brake issues! All for around $250 https://oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/45289-browndogs-1972-v8-transit/page/4/ 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted October 19, 2022 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 19, 2022 About to start on the front brake conversion on my Mk1. Currently has Falcon XA-XF brake discs (DBA slotted) fitted with early Falcon/HQ PBR calipers. Going to fit AU3 PBR calipers in place. AU3 caliper sat on back of discs to give an idea of size, it is massive compared to the early Falcon caliper! And thanks to being aluminium, instead of cast steel, it is about 1kg lighter than the early caliper. Fits inside 15" alloy wheel easily, and appears to be correct diameter for the disc. Brackets will be tricky, but I think I know how I will do them. I will update this thread as I go. Should be a good upgrade. 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndog Posted October 29, 2022 Author Share Posted October 29, 2022 Just completed the rears today, no more locking rear wheels - yay! Needed this sorted before OS drags in December, wouldn't be fun locking up the rears at the end of the 1/4 mile!............ Previous Lincoln brakes, massive, bigger than the fronts! new billet aluminium bracket/bearing retainer: and "new" Pickapart Mondeo caliper and disc fitted: 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted November 7, 2022 Author Popular Post Share Posted November 7, 2022 Been driving it around a little bit, and "new" rear brakes are a big improvement, you can hit the brake pedal very hard now and it won't lock the rears, and consequently stops much better, as there is more pressure to the fronts due to the fact you are on the pedal much harder So I have started on the fronts now. I measured and drew up the front caliper bracket as best as I could, then broke it down into "layers" so that I could get it laser cut from mild steel, and then bolt it together - it is my cheap way of prototyping before I get my machinist to carve up an expensive billet of aluminium Trial fit tonight, and it is fairly close, but needs some tweaking. So have just redrawn it, and will get it laser cut again for trial fit #2. Browndog's 1972 V8 Transit - Page 4 - Project Discussion - oldschool.co.nz 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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