Popular Post browndog Posted July 7, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted July 7, 2021 I am well into this project, and just realised I hadn't started a thread for it! So I will begin with the back story............. Way back in November 2019, before the world knew what Covid was, I was trawling through an Australian damaged vehicle auction site, and stumbled across what I think is one of the holy grails as far as Ford Transit vans go! It was an early 1978 build Sundowner in Midnight Blue, with blue stripes. I have not seen that colour on a Transit before, or since. Same with the blue stripes, only one I have ever seen. To add to the difficulty, the van was in Tasmania, didn't start or run, and had no keys! Still, I like a challenge so........ come auction day, I bid until I owned it. It wasn't expensive, but I knew that was only the beginning of the spending! I managed to get a transport company to collect it and deliver it to an auto sparky. They struggled to get keys cut, so I removed an ignition barrel and switch from one of my vans and sent it over to them. The fuel tank was squashed, probably from being forklifted around, and was half full of water anyway! So a plastic fuel container was jury-rigged in the engine bay to supply fuel, and after a new battery was fitted, it started and drove, just! I needed it running so that I could get it sent here on a RORO ferry, otherwise I was in for a whole world of pain!....... 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndog Posted July 7, 2021 Author Share Posted July 7, 2021 So fast forward to early February, and discounting the various other hiccups in between, the mighty van was finally delivered to my place! Turns out it was an ex plumbers van, and even came with all of his old stuff still in it. I googled his name, and found he had died in July 1979, aged 81. The van had probably been sold by an executor of his estate or similar. So it had been used as a work van, and was fairly beaten up in the back. But as with most Aussie vehicles I have bought, rust was fairly minimal for something of this age. First job was to remove all of the shelving and other crap with had been Tek screwed/rivetted/welded in! 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted July 7, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted July 7, 2021 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted July 7, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted July 7, 2021 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted July 8, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted July 8, 2021 So I gave it a good cleanout, removed all of the old shelving etc. I gave it a machine polish, as it was very dull, and I wanted to see what the finished product would look like. It had probably never been polished in 40 years, lots of blue coming off on the mop! 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted July 8, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted July 8, 2021 And fast forward to yesterday, I stripped out the interior, loaded up the van with some NOS panels from my "stock", Loaded in the trailer and took it to my panel guy who did the Mk1 for me - exciting! 20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted July 16, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted July 16, 2021 My panelbeater has already made a start on the repairs. Rear valance removed, and new part sitting in place. Lower rear quarters removed, which will be replaced too. Some rust repairs to lower body sections will be required before these can be welded in, and a repair to the LH chassis rail behind the rear spring hanger, where it looks like the spring has made contact and punched it upwards! Quite excited to see it progressing already 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browndog Posted July 26, 2021 Author Share Posted July 26, 2021 Went to panel guy's place this morning to drop some parts off, and check on progress. This guy just amazes me every time with his sheetmetal skills! Door steps had some rust holes in them, so he fabbed up new ones, complete with correct swaging. Check out the detail, once painted it will be impossible to tell from original. Same goes for the chassis section which carries the LH rear spring shackle. Compare to the pic above, perfection! It is quite nice going up there and seeing progress. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted July 26, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted July 26, 2021 19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted July 27, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted July 27, 2021 Plates arrived today 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted July 27, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted July 27, 2021 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted August 17, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted August 17, 2021 A small update. Left rear wheelarch repair panel welded in, and lower rear inner panel repaired and welded back in. There is a small triangle panel which I was waiting for which is the lower inner arch, now the this has arrived my guy can weld it in, as well as the lower outer rear quarters, as well as the rear valance. Super happy with the quality of the job so far, it is really nice when you find someone who does this level of work 15 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted June 8, 2022 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 8, 2022 Progress has been a bit slow on this lately, with lockdowns etc. But I went to have a look last week, and we are getting close now. Really pleased with the quality of the work, it has not been a cheap exercise, but at least I will not be having to do it again the future! Still need to finish welding in the rear valance, repair some rust in the front spring hangers, rear seams of the front fenders, fit the mounting plate for the Mk3 power steering box, and notch one of the crossmembers to fit the 5 speed box, and that will complete this phase of the project.:) 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post browndog Posted August 22, 2022 Author Popular Post Share Posted August 22, 2022 I picked up the van today, all fabrication/panel work now complete! I got him to cut and add a filler piece to the crossmember above the gearbox so that I could fit the T5 gearbox in, which is much taller. I also go him to weld in the mounting plate for the Mk3 power steering box. I also bought a turbo and exhaust manifold off an FG Falcon, and am thinking about building a turbo 4.1 at a later date. Super happy with the work so far, just need to try and find some time to work on it myself now! Browndog's 1978 Ford Transit Sundowner #3 - Project Discussion - oldschool.co.nz 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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