Popular Post browndog Posted October 29, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted October 29, 2015 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/ 20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndog Posted November 1, 2015 Author Share Posted November 1, 2015 (edited) 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! Edited July 4, 2017 by browndog reloaded pictures because photobucket are burgling bastards! 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted December 5, 2015 Author Popular Post Share Posted December 5, 2015 (edited) 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. Edited July 4, 2017 by browndog reloaded pictures because photobucket are burgling bastards! 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted December 14, 2015 Author Popular Post Share Posted December 14, 2015 (edited) 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 : ) Edited July 4, 2017 by browndog reloaded pictures because photobucket are burgling bastards! 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndog Posted December 15, 2015 Author Share Posted December 15, 2015 (edited) A more "appropriate" load today, off to a TV shoot early tomorrow morning with another Mk2 in tow Edited July 4, 2017 by browndog reloaded pictures because photobucket are burgling bastards! 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted December 19, 2015 Author Popular Post Share Posted December 19, 2015 (edited) just bought another engine for SV2. Very similar to the one already fitted, but has an extra pulley on top Edited July 4, 2017 by browndog reloaded pictures because photobucket are burgling bastards! 22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted January 5, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted January 5, 2016 (edited) christmas pressie arrived today on a pallet, looks really good That will make the old girl boogie! Edited July 4, 2017 by browndog reloaded pictures because photobucket are burgling bastards! 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndog Posted January 13, 2016 Author Share Posted January 13, 2016 (edited) 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 Edited July 4, 2017 by browndog reloaded pictures because photobucket are burgling bastards! 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted August 8, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted August 8, 2016 (edited) 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/ Edited July 4, 2017 by browndog reloaded pictures because photobucket are burgling bastards! 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted November 5, 2016 Author Popular Post Share Posted November 5, 2016 (edited) 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/ Edited July 4, 2017 by browndog reloaded pictures because photobucket are burgling bastards! 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted June 22, 2017 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 22, 2017 (edited) 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. Edited July 4, 2017 by browndog reloaded pictures because photobucket are burgling bastards! 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted June 23, 2017 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 23, 2017 (edited) exhaust fitted today Edited June 29, 2017 by browndog reloaded pictures because photobucket are burgling bastards! 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndog Posted June 29, 2017 Author Share Posted June 29, 2017 I received an email from photobucket yesterday, saying 3rd party hosting on my account had been temporarily disabled. Basically they want me to pay $399 to restore this service- they can get f$#ked! Please bear with me while I reload the pictures in this thread. Bastards! Edit: pics uploaded to the OS website, normal service has resumed. photobucket go fuck yourself! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted July 31, 2017 Author Popular Post Share Posted July 31, 2017 Just got the engine crossmember built. I wanted to make a proper crossmember with engine mounts welded to it, rather than the original style setup where the engine mounts just hang off the side of the chassis rails. So I got some 63mm black pipe bent to shape, drew the engine mounts and had them laser cut and folded, and got our fabricator to trim them and weld them up. Really pleased with the result, ties the chassis rails together, and is very strong. 21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndog Posted August 26, 2017 Author Share Posted August 26, 2017 been busy last week on the van! As you all know, the old Transits did not have fuel injection, and the fuel tank is not set up for this. So I built an aluminium collector pot, which the high pressure pump sits inside. A Facet low pressure pump lifts fuel from the tank, via the original pickup, and feeds into the collector, with a breather/overflow going back to the tank. The high pressure pump feeds fuel to the engine via a high pressure filter, and the return from the engine feeds back into the collector pot. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted August 26, 2017 Author Popular Post Share Posted August 26, 2017 The other job, was to mount the ARB's. I had a pair of 27mm bars custom made, and mounted the front bar to the front axle, using the U clamps and brackets supplied. I made my own top mounts, and welded these directly to the front subframe that the engine hang off. For the rear bar I drilled through the shock mount brackets, welded captive nuts inside, and bolted the clamps to these. I made my own chassis brackets, and welded these on. That should stop the rockin' and rollin'! 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted September 7, 2017 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 7, 2017 I have been busy on the van, and finally got it running and driving today!! Very impressed with the way the new engine goes, considerably more power and torque than the old engine. The first bootful I gave it left two big black lines from the RH side wheels! Sounds great too with the new big bore stainless exhaust To give an idea, my daily driver is a Mondeo ST220, which is a reasonably quick car. The Transit has very similar acceleration to the Mondeo, and jumps harder off the line, thanks in part to the shorter diff ratio, auto trans and higher power output. Anyway, still a number of jobs to finish off on it, but really nice to have my first drive in just over a year. The power steering is fantastic too -so light compared to the heavy manual box it had fitted the new Lokar shifter- nice piece but what a mission to fit and get working properly! and just after the test drive this afternoon. Engine cover not fitted, and still some tidying up and finishing off to do. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted September 18, 2017 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 18, 2017 New blower pulley arrived today - smaller pulley = more boost! I removed all of the wiring, pipework, radiator etc and gave the engine bay a paint in Ford Diamond white 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted September 21, 2017 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 21, 2017 I got the van back together yesterday, and drove it around today dropping off some parts for work. A few minor issues to sort, but it runs really well! Anything more than half throttle from a standstill will turn 2 of the 4 rear tyres into tyre smoke! The power steering is fantastic, although a bit "pointy" now, I will fit another castor wedge in there to try and help with this. The new big bore stainless exhaust sounds so sweet, not too noisy when you are cruising, but has a nice deep bark when you put the slipper in! Still need to fit the evaporator into the heater box and connect up the air conditioning, but other than that it is basically finished. Super happy with it! A few pics of the finished product: The pulleys run really close to the radiator fans! I also fitted a smaller pulley to the blower to up the boost to 10 psi Roll on OS drags Mk5! Big thanks to Muncie for the loan of the blower pulley tool Mk3 power steering box, with hybrid Mk2/Mk5 steering column: I needed to make an extra auxiliary wiring loom for the engine, and fitted relays to the headlights, and horn while I was at it. That is 7 micro relays, 4 mini relays and 16 fuses! I tried to make it look as "factory" as possible, so moved the battery tray to the RH side, and fitted the original airbox (which I had to modify a little bit) to the LH side. 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted November 10, 2017 Author Popular Post Share Posted November 10, 2017 couple of pics I took yesterday. My friend has just bought this original ex works mk2 Escort, which arrived at work in a container. Loaded up and about to be delivered to him! 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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