skotl
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normspanners
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I got my vw ambulance from the scotish service coz they are/ were white.
Wedg1e
They call me Mr. Bodge-angles
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I always fancied the old slab-sided Master, especially one that was already a minibus as all the windows were done, there was usually a side door and sometimes a tail-lift 
Don't know how well the later Master would stack up though.
Don't know how well the later Master would stack up though.
MattH
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Wendelspanswick
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Any progress on a conversion?
KemppiFrog
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A few thoughts. Friend had an LDV with the Ford Turbo engine. Complete dog. It conked out here and the local ford agent could not find an exchange injection pump, they had it rebuilt ay a cost of €2,500. About what he paid for the van... It conked out a month later with the same symptons. Local Honda outfit cleaned the multi connector on the cpu that controlled the injection and turbo.... off it went.
I think it was Honest John from the Telegraph who pointed out that all these vans are aimed at users who will do 200K miles in two years, then sell them off, so corrosion is of no interest. Further down the sales line, it hits the secondary buyers. Esp. Merc Vitos in UK and Transits..
UPS use the same vans as other delivery companies around here. BTW, Grumman is a US Aerospace outfit, not German.
One thought, if you bought a van out here, then converted it in UK, you would probably get a longer lasting body from the rust point of view, as they don't salt the roads so much ( not at all around here) And, since your aim is Europe cruising, the wheel is on the right side (err, left actually)
Best reasearch is to find out which engines and boxes will give you the least trouble. My neighbour bought a Trafic conversion last year. It has had continual overheating problems due to water loss. Not too difficult, one might think. But it is still doing it with no obvious signs of loss. The engine is not a Renault, but Italian ?? I think the same unit that Land Rover fitted to some export Range Rs back in the 80s. Looking at the net, he is not alone.
My choice would be Ducato.
GM and Renault share bodies, so back to engines. If I was a masochist, I would go for a big old Master with the space age clunky body. Lots around here converted and still running. There is a Renault Estefet locally in daily use. I used one in the 80s, a hoot to drive. Probably a bit small for camping though.
I think it was Honest John from the Telegraph who pointed out that all these vans are aimed at users who will do 200K miles in two years, then sell them off, so corrosion is of no interest. Further down the sales line, it hits the secondary buyers. Esp. Merc Vitos in UK and Transits..
UPS use the same vans as other delivery companies around here. BTW, Grumman is a US Aerospace outfit, not German.
One thought, if you bought a van out here, then converted it in UK, you would probably get a longer lasting body from the rust point of view, as they don't salt the roads so much ( not at all around here) And, since your aim is Europe cruising, the wheel is on the right side (err, left actually)
Best reasearch is to find out which engines and boxes will give you the least trouble. My neighbour bought a Trafic conversion last year. It has had continual overheating problems due to water loss. Not too difficult, one might think. But it is still doing it with no obvious signs of loss. The engine is not a Renault, but Italian ?? I think the same unit that Land Rover fitted to some export Range Rs back in the 80s. Looking at the net, he is not alone.
My choice would be Ducato.
GM and Renault share bodies, so back to engines. If I was a masochist, I would go for a big old Master with the space age clunky body. Lots around here converted and still running. There is a Renault Estefet locally in daily use. I used one in the 80s, a hoot to drive. Probably a bit small for camping though.
normspanners
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renault masters use iveco engines
that would probably be the old turbo engine with the lucas flyby wire pumps, absolute crap that is why I built my own pump for my 4x4 one out of half a montego turbo and half transit bosch pumps I have modded loads of none turbo one to bosch.
whats wrong with transits, i know loads of people useing them and have them myself in the past. you get problems as with any van shaped object.
The VP44 pumps do the selonoids on the back of the pumps but they are about £150 max and a day spinning spanners if you havent done one before. transits do have there problems but hell the bits are cheep, the ford techs seem to be a bit useless, as in they are highly trained ect ect ect and cant get it running. and you get two bodgers in a shed can go one ebay spend a few hunderd quid on an old laptop and a ripped off IDS intereface ad get it going. ( the realise they never needed it )
one think i have noticed with the newer transits is they EAT relays for fun and you can get some OMFG problems that'll ghost as anything other than a relay. 90% of electrical problems ive met on them have ether been wet / corroded plugs or relays
The VP44 pumps do the selonoids on the back of the pumps but they are about £150 max and a day spinning spanners if you havent done one before. transits do have there problems but hell the bits are cheep, the ford techs seem to be a bit useless, as in they are highly trained ect ect ect and cant get it running. and you get two bodgers in a shed can go one ebay spend a few hunderd quid on an old laptop and a ripped off IDS intereface ad get it going. ( the realise they never needed it )
one think i have noticed with the newer transits is they EAT relays for fun and you can get some OMFG problems that'll ghost as anything other than a relay. 90% of electrical problems ive met on them have ether been wet / corroded plugs or relays
arther dailey
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iveco daily, but look at a lot untill you find a clean one. reason is they have a proper chassis, check for oil in the water, clutch pedal height and what ever you do dont just dont buy the automatic version. they have faults but just dont buy anything slightly rough , pretty much the same with any make really.
KemppiFrog
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Yes, I agree. It has been mentioned on the web a few times about the pumps. just bad luck that he bought one. He is non-tech.
normspanners
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The bosch pumps are ok is the lucas epic's that where the pain. I have had trannies for years and really loved my county 4x4 one. It even towed a volvo f12 with a low loader on and a canal boat on it, from a dead start on the steepest hill around here, with it one day. The driver was amazed and said nobody would believe him he had been recovered with a transit!
arther dailey
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ye right, ivecos are rubbish !!!! thats why mine has 524,000 miles on it and straight through its test yet again, I have run iveco s for over 20 years and never,never broken down, mainly due to proper servicing and maintainance, dont get me wrong they are far from perfect, but good work horses.
Irrespective of what make you buy, if you buy a crappy unserviced vehicle it will cost you, if you buy a well serviced maintained one you at least have a better chance, I looked at a merc 313 recently for my brother for a camper conversion, it was a total piece of rusty junk with oil leaks all over the engine, but it drove superb,nicer than any of my ivecos! but was a rust bucket head to toe, looked at a another make. body was rust free clean, but engine had head gasket/cracked head problem, so far probably looked at over a dozen , all various makes including iveco and I wouldnt buy one of them at any price.
You have to remember generally commercials are used by all and sundry when operated by companys so dont get treated with kid gloves, it takes a long time to find a good used commercial any make, and tes all of mine were very secondhand when I got them.
So really its a case of keep looking untill you find something you like to drive and is in good enough nick to make it worthwhile putting the hours in to convert it. only buy what you like, then if its wring you only have your self to blame. Arther ps good luck hope you find something decent. and me I am looking for a clean merc 313 myself as liked the drive so much !
Irrespective of what make you buy, if you buy a crappy unserviced vehicle it will cost you, if you buy a well serviced maintained one you at least have a better chance, I looked at a merc 313 recently for my brother for a camper conversion, it was a total piece of rusty junk with oil leaks all over the engine, but it drove superb,nicer than any of my ivecos! but was a rust bucket head to toe, looked at a another make. body was rust free clean, but engine had head gasket/cracked head problem, so far probably looked at over a dozen , all various makes including iveco and I wouldnt buy one of them at any price.
You have to remember generally commercials are used by all and sundry when operated by companys so dont get treated with kid gloves, it takes a long time to find a good used commercial any make, and tes all of mine were very secondhand when I got them.
So really its a case of keep looking untill you find something you like to drive and is in good enough nick to make it worthwhile putting the hours in to convert it. only buy what you like, then if its wring you only have your self to blame. Arther ps good luck hope you find something decent. and me I am looking for a clean merc 313 myself as liked the drive so much !
arther dailey
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the older 2.8 s are heavier than the later 2.3 s, if you get a van single wheels at the back and dont go over 60mph the mpg is unbelievable, I use a swb high top as a run about , brilliant on fuel. like all things depends how you drive/ loaded etc.
I have a 2.3 tipper, a 3 litre chassis cab and vans have 2.3 engines. will be selling tipper soon and one of the vans. Arther
I have a 2.3 tipper, a 3 litre chassis cab and vans have 2.3 engines. will be selling tipper soon and one of the vans. Arther
cianh91
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Vw lt bro-in-law bought an ex ambulance one and converted it fits a full size double bed in back with bed for kids under it double in front shower kitchen and storage in the rear he got his mapped for a bit more piwer and it's fantastic to use/drive .
He had a transit camper before it and was ok but rusted like there mad after no length
He had a transit camper before it and was ok but rusted like there mad after no length
