Which MPV ????

[SmartWerks]

My old mans best mate took early redundancy from the RAF, he invested the money in a loads of rental flats. He also does gardening work and property maintenance to keep himself busy. He used a old passatt estate which he replaced with the new skoda version of the passatt, surprising what they can carry. I used to have an old toyota estate, proper wok horse yet still a nice car. Do miss the carrying space and with roof bars not much it can't handle. Carried concrete posts, timber, plasterboard, tools, cement mixer. Slept in it, the list is endless and as stated more affordable for your budget. Cheaper to run too

what are you actually intending to do?

 

[CRB]

I will get a picture of a near neighbours Dutton, a lot older by the looks of it though.

 

[Hitch]

I currently run (wife ugraded to a dispatch, this was hers) a 02 Partner Combi with 136k miles on and still runs great and before that a 51 Berlingo which had 150k. I deliberately went for the 1.9 non turbo engine on both as there is litlle to go wrong with them. The biggest cost to date is the refurb rear axle that i fitted myself last year over a weekend. If I need the full space in the back both rear seats are only held in with two T40/50 bolts so can be removed in less than 5min

Ive had 2 berlingo vans, the other half had the multispace, and ive got a partner van now. All the 1.9D By no means a flying machine, but quite happily keep up round town/rural roads.
Fuel wise, i'm not an economical driver by any means, tend to get about 400m on a tank.

All been excellent really, only niggle was the multispace cranked over a fair bit more than it perhaps should, but did always fire up.
The multispace had slightly more room than the vans, as all mine had bulkheads.
Even had a 3 seater sofa in the back of it once.

 

[W.olly]

what are you actually intending to do?

All DIY handy man work needed, small electrics/plumbing, plastering, wood work, etc etc gardens, what ever is thrown at me i will do.
In the car, racked out for the smalls, removable racks/cases for the tools to store in the house, gardening gear etc ect, heavy gear in a trailer.

I will get a picture of a near neighbours Dutton, a lot older by the looks of it though.

The one in the pick is 44 years old and the one on the drive is 39 and on my other is a wee young one at a 1986. Be good to see who and what which has, Phaeton/Melos/Leggara or Sierra

 

[CRB]

In the car, racked out for the smalls, removable racks/cases for the tools to store in the house, gardening gear etc ect, heavy gear in a trailer.



The one in the pick is 44 years old and the one on the drive is 39 and on my other is a wee young one at a 1986. Be good to see who and what which has, Phaeton/Melos/Leggara or Sierra

The one accident I had in the outfit was ith a Dutton too. Wrote off my forks with the chair at altitude. I am not sure I will broach the subject with the neighbour....just in case.

 

[W.olly]

The one accident I had in the outfit was ith a Dutton too. Wrote off my forks with the chair at altitude. I am not sure I will broach the subject with the neighbour....just in case.

I bet the Dutton didnt do to well either, built like a shoe box with a tooth pick frame lol

 

[phill d]

berlingo's and partners are rubbish, nobody gets 180,000 miles from one of them without a fair bit of work done.
so many of them got recalled, front springs having to have shields fitted due to broken springs piercing tyres ?
brakes fading with bad rubbers in the master cylinders.
brake light switches failing causing a few rear endings on the partners.
cam belts snapping and causing major damage, mum got hers done under warranty and there was about 6 in for same thing.
for a start off the small spring/damper for the alternator breaks £70 flywheel pulley breaks and fan belts snap very often.
most electrical switches break down bad and if any weight in them the clutches are weak and go bang, i don't mean wear out i mean BANG.
heater plugs pain in the **** as go about every other year.
crap on power compared to most other diesels on the road unless you get the turbo version.
the partner quicksilver is the top of range, plenty of storage and 5 door, but what a crap ride they are.
air con if fitted often leaks and radiators are also often holed by stones.
air filter down so low it can get water in it so be ware of deep puddles.
but wont get a tidy one for 1200 quid, youl get something worn out and ready to be scraped or re-built.
you might be lucky and get one that has had all the problems ironed out, but you wont like it after a week.
the idea of one is good.

you would be much better off putting a pug engine or better still the 1.8tddie 90hp focus engine and 5 speed box, depends whats available.
but either way far better than a berlingo/partner.
and those kangoo things are bloody terrible and too skinny , and don't even think about the Fiat doblo, they go wrong so much be cheaper to
run a petrol shogun spread out over 2 years.
the old shoguns were not bad motors, they did rust terrible but mechanically and electrically not too bad..
stay away from pajero and some parts only by import and insurance is a lot more on grey imports.

i would seriously put a diesel in the Dutton, make it a very cheap vehicle and would do exactly what you want.
you can always fit heavier suspension if needed and no worrys about rusty wings and panels.
and much better as advertising vehicle .

just my thoughts on it all.

phill

 

[W.olly]

they go wrong so much be cheaper to
run a petrol shogun spread out over 2 years.

lol kida, like that, that bad then hey,

you would be much better off putting a pug engine or better still the 1.8tddie 90hp focus engine and 5 speed box

which G box will go with the Ford to get RWD? pug is easy, done it a few times.

 

[Cobbler]

I don't want to possibly throw a spanner in the works, Wolly, but have you checked up about business insurance for the Dutton. Insurance companies can be funny about what they will insure for work, might be worth checking if you haven't already.

Glad to hear your picking yourself up, judging be your posts going back a bit you've had a bit of a rough time. Good luck with you venture, keep us posted.

 

[phill d]

well I would of thought using the gearbox that was from the mk 5 Cortina and sierra pick up trucks, they used this block pattern in the
diesel variant of them.so cant see why it wouldn't work,
and maybe (but not100%) the mt75 gearbox from the wedge shape transit ?.
probably need same bell housing as the focus.

interesting project for sure.

phill

 

[W.olly]

I don't want to possibly throw a spanner in the works, Wolly, but have you checked up about business insurance for the Dutton. Insurance companies can be funny about what they will insure for work, might be worth checking if you haven't already.

Glad to hear your picking yourself up, judging be your posts going back a bit you've had a bit of a rough time. Good luck with you venture, keep us posted.

Dont want to get down again like i was, neither does my wife, not like me at all that, so just want to keep on the positive side of things. Thanks kida
Insurance will be kept as is as only transporting a few tools now and then, and i never claim on ins, goes upto much if i ever do. Iy will only be for a few months while i am getting organised then i can get a van, 3-4 monhs to sort money out etc. will be doing it PT as i am after a PT job to keep a stable amount coming in.

I will look into this Phil, i have never heard of the conversion and i have heard of a lot from the 4x4 off lads for there engine conversions. Its alway been the VW 1.o9TD but needs an adaptor for an SJ gear box which is expensive or the Pug XUD9 TD which i have dome a few times, will need to fit bigger tyres though as the gearing is crap on the LDV g box, this will help with the gearing and crusing speed, 31`s work fine.

 

[Robotstar5]

Fuel wise, i'm not an economical driver by any means, tend to get about 400m on a tank.

400 metres? how big's the fuel tank?

 

[SmartWerks]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Cars-Moto...ma&rt=nc&_mPrRngCbx=1&_udlo&_udhi=1300&_stpos

the old Japanese built stuff are bullet proof, can't say the same for the later uk built cars. Would go for a petrol motor tho

 

[CRB]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Cars-Motorcycles-Vehicles-/9800/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=toyota previa estima&rt=nc&_mPrRngCbx=1&_udlo&_udhi=1300&_stpos

the old Japanese built stuff are bullet proof, can't say the same for the later uk built cars. Would go for a petrol motor tho

I was looking at that family too, and was loving the look of the TownAce, proper Space1999.

I did not fancy the fuel consumption though, and IF major engine work was required, the necessity to remove the floor pan at the front. at least that is what I understood from the few sites I checked.

 

[SmartWerks]

I was looking at that family too, and was loving the look of the TownAce, proper Space1999.

I did not fancy the fuel consumption though, and IF major engine work was required, the necessity to remove the floor pan at the front. at least that is what I understood from the few sites I checked.

The townace, not driven one but very boat like apparently. Well the 2.0 3s will do 32amp in a car, and if I remember right aren't the townace 4x? 25 mps on a good day I would imagine. Not sure about removing the floor pan, sounds dubious to me but I don't know

 

[W.olly]

well I would of thought using the gearbox that was from the mk 5 Cortina and sierra pick up trucks

Correct me if i am wrong but the MK5 tina had a pinto engine so a Type 9 was fitted? upgrade from the Type E.

 

[W.olly]

The townace, not driven one but very boat like apparently. Well the 2.0 3s will do 32amp in a car, and if I remember right aren't the townace 4x? 25 mps on a good day I would imagine. Not sure about removing the floor pan, sounds dubious to me but I don't know

i had one many man y moons ago ago and shuite on fuel, one the head went and would of cost well a new mortgage to fix, made me laugh aswell, back then i stuck it inn a garage as i was wet in the head, and they pulled it apart and sent the head off, but then they couldnt remember how to put it back together again, i was peed of then but i could laugh at them after a while. Not many good ones about now and if so fetch good money.

 

[phill d]

no a diesel sierra or diesel mk5 Cortina did NOT have a pinto engine.
none of the pinto engines were ever diesel, pinto engines are 1.6 and 2.0 in general, although they did make a 1.8 pinto as well.
the sierra 1.8 diesel engine hd been around a while before it was put into a pick up, same engine had been used in a few mk Cortina's in
the uk and had been in Australian pick ups for years before we got it..

but the i.8 endure engine can be found in a few rear wheel drive vans that have been converted from a petrol 2 litre etc.



phill

 

[W.olly]

no a diesel sierra or diesel mk5 Cortina did NOT have a pinto engine.
none of the pinto engines were ever diesel, pinto engines are 1.6 and 2.0 in general, although they did make a 1.8 pinto as well.
the sierra 1.8 diesel engine hd been around a while before it was put into a pick up, same engine had been used in a few mk Cortina's in
the uk and had been in Australian pick ups for years before we got it..

but the i.8 endure engine can be found in a few rear wheel drive vans that have been converted from a petrol 2 litre etc.

lol, think i got the wrong end there, yes i know the pinto was never fitted to a diesel engine,

i need to sleep as been upsince 2 am and head is tired.

 

[Dee J]

I ran an old style TownAce for a while. Looked great, and really fun to drive slowly. Great 4 wheel drive and low ratio box. Handling was very individual - reminded me of my old J4 van. But.... it was incredibly noisey, objected loudly to much above 55mph (Japan has low speed limits), and finally the engine blew up in an unfeasibly expensive way...