1963 Taunus Transit Rayvern V6

[samtaunustransit]

Hello, I will (hopefully) use this thread to document the second custom build of this Taunus Transit van. Previous owner grizz detailed his very considerable efforts in the past here:

retrorides.proboards.com/thread/37192/1963-taunus-transit-fk1250

I bought the van on Ebay in July 2013 and drove it happily around for a few months. The 1.8 Zetec engine runs sweetly but I found the original gearbox, back axle, brakes and steering to be somewhat lacking... The van has more than double its original power without updates to anything else.

Eventually the brakes failed and I decided to embark on a full custom rebuild. I have owned classics all my driving life but never anything custom, so this is a steep learning curve.

I decided Ray at www.rayvernhydraulics.com would be the man to re-engineer the suspension and give the van a proper stance. The engine needs to go higher and further back to enable the fairly modest drop that I am aiming for... Ray is determined to get the van on the floor but I want it to be very useable and will resist!

As we intend to change the gearbox and back axle, it seems that we might as well change the engine again at the same time... it is heart-breaking to read the amount of work that went into getting the Zetec to fit and function, but it seems as though it will be simpler to start again.

I am most inspired by Oldbus and his Cologne V6 engined Taunus Tansit... Seeing how well his van runs makes me think that I should go for the same.

Current thinking is as follows:

Cologne V6 in mild state of tune. 2.3l or 2.8l?
Automatic gearbox - to avoid complex gear change linkage to column shift
Back axle - Atlas?
Disk brakes all round

I have looked around for suitable donor vehicles... or I could buy all the reconditioned bits separately.

I realise that this project is going to be expensive but if I am going to go to the trouble then I want to build something that works really well and will be reliable for a long time.

Any advice would be most appreciated!




 

[qwerty]

Don't go for a 2.3. 2.8, 2.9 or a 24v will be your best options.

Probably best donor will be a mk3 Granada.

[Dez]

rayvern?

[penski]

Sept 6, 2014 14:54:34 GMT Dez said:

rayvern?

Read Rayvern and was waiting for someone to post similar

*n

[grizz]

Hi Sam

Welcome back.

It seems you will be doing the van justice.

Look forward to following its evolution with you.

[samtaunustransit]

Some progress!

I have bought an engine from Specialised Engines Ltd in Essex. it is a 2.8 Cologne V6 rebuilt to Stage 1 which means gas-flowed heads and everything balanced, new camshaft and heavy duty bearings. it should kick out 145 reliable BHP which is plenty

They are going to supply is fully dressed and are also helping me to source an A4LDe auto box. I will either buy a fully reconditioned one or have it rebuilt.

I have 2 original back axles that are 50" long. I don't know what type they are or if they are worth rebuilding.. I will probably buy a decent Atlas and use that. Apologies for the rubbish quality of this image... Does anyone know what type of axle this is?

[samtaunustransit]

Current thinking is that it will look something like this

 Kandy Brown mmmmmm

[deanchad]

love the colours dude

[samtaunustransit]

Sept 20, 2014 15:19:57 GMT deanchad said:

love the colours dude

Proof that you can't polish a turd

But you can roll it in glitter and then polish it

[samtaunustransit]

Some progress... I bought an Atlas axle on Ebay. It's in Nottingham and the helpful chap who sold it to me says he can store it for me until I make the mission to Rayvern with some bits...

Specialised Engines are supplying D4Le auto box as well as all of the bits for the engine (Carb, pumps, pulleys, manifold etc)

A question: Does anyone know what will happen when I tell the DVLA about the mods to the van? Presumably i have to do this having tripled the original power output and replaced more or less everything apart from the actual shell? Will my van be able to keep its registration number? Will I be able to get classic insurance? Will I still get free tax?

[eternaloptimist]

Sept 27, 2014 16:53:51 GMT samtaunustransit said:

A question: Does anyone know what will happen when I tell the DVLA about the mods to the van? Presumably i have to do this having tripled the original power output and replaced more or less everything apart from the actual shell? Will my van be able to keep its registration number? Will I be able to get classic insurance? Will I still get free tax?

You'll need to tell the DVLA the size of the engine and the engine number.

The registration number question is interesting - the DVLA have a points system - each original major component has a point value and if the vehicle has more than (I think) 8 points, it retains it's original identity. Is the van on a separate chassis or is it a monocoque? The original chassis or monocoque is worth 8 points (from memory) if it's unaltered from original. The magic number of points you need (from memory) is 8. Steering is worth 1 point, front axle 1, rear axle 1 etc. The Association of Car enthusiasts (ACE) have a decent summary of the legislation on their website. I think you'll be OK assuming the shell/chassis is unaltered. If it doesn't make the required number of points, you'll have to pass an inspection and you'll be awarded a Q prefix registration and lose your tax free status.

Classic insurance shouldn't be a problem whatever happens.

By he way, you've got some cracking cars in your fleet.

[samtaunustransit]

Sept 27, 2014 18:19:04 GMT eternaloptimist said:

The registration number question is interesting - the DVLA have a points system - each original major component has a point value and if the vehicle has more than (I think) 8 points, it retains it's original identity. Is the van on a separate chassis or is it a monocoque? The original chassis or monocoque is worth 8 points (from memory) if it's unaltered from original. The magic number of points you need (from memory) is 8. Steering is worth 1 point, front axle 1, rear axle 1 etc. The Association of Car enthusiasts (ACE) have a decent summary of the legislation on their website. I think you'll be OK assuming the shell/chassis is unaltered. If it doesn't make the required number of points, you'll have to pass an inspection and you'll be awarded a Q prefix registration and lose your tax free status.

Classic insurance shouldn't be a problem whatever happens.

By he way, you've got some cracking cars in your fleet.

Really appreciate your eternal optimism! However, having read the regulations it seems that you need to get 5 points from an unaltered monocoque or chassis (and mine will not be unaltered!) plus another 3 points from either original steering, suspension, axles, engine etc... My van will fail miserably. So, maybe notify DVLA of engine swap only? Or don't say anything and then plead stupidity/ignorance if I get busted?... 

[penski]

Ignorance is never a defence.

*n

[grizz]

Couple of brand new rear light lenses for sale on EBay, if you are interested.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111577962481?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

[Bus Stop]

Hi Sam
How are things going with the van, Best, Jim

[grizz]

Mar 18, 2016 1:32:37 GMT Bus Stop said:

Hi Sam
How are things going with the van, Best, Jim

Last online January 5th 2015, so over a year ago.

I seem to recall Bruce, Mystery Machine saw the van in Croydon once.

Maybe if someone knows Sam, they could contact him directly and ask for a status update.

I hope this suddenly pops up at a show and surprises everyone.......

[Bus Stop]

Hi Grizz
Thanks for posting. I read all your threads on your Taunus Transit, just great to read and you are a real inspiration. I hope I can look after mine just as well as you did, Best, Jim

[samtaunustransit]

Hi Bus Stop and Grizz!

Thans for the nudge. I haven't posted anything for a while because not much progress has been made.

The van is with Rayvern, together with a freshly built Cologne V6 (a 2.8 in mild state of tune), an auto gearbox and a Baby Atlas rear axle.

Sometime in October last year I bought the front end of a T25 Transporter from a breakers yard which is going to give up its steering and front subframe.

Ray is building a completely bespoke chassis with airride suspension, and then he is going to drop the Transit shell over the top.

I am going to use the spare dashboard that came with the van to make a RHD version by using 2 binnacles.

I have some nice Sparco seats from a mini that sit very low, as I am well over 6' and ray is determined that the van must sit on the tarmac. Head room is therefore limited!

Current thinking is to get the van running in a slightly ratty state and then decide what to do with the cosmetics.

Serious progress should made in the next couple of months and I will take some pictures to share.

Keep the faith!

Sam

[VIP]

Apr 21, 2016 11:11:56 GMT samtaunustransit said:

Hi Bus Stop and Grizz!

Thans for the nudge. I haven't posted anything for a while because not much progress has been made.

The van is with Rayvern, together with a freshly built Cologne V6 (a 2.8 in mild state of tune), an auto gearbox and a Baby Atlas rear axle.

Sometime in October last year I bought the front end of a T25 Transporter from a breakers yard which is going to give up its steering and front subframe.

Ray is building a completely bespoke chassis with airride suspension, and then he is going to drop the Transit shell over the top.

I am going to use the spare dashboard that came with the van to make a RHD version by using 2 binnacles.

I have some nice Sparco seats from a mini that sit very low, as I am well over 6' and ray is determined that the van must sit on the tarmac. Head room is therefore limited!

Current thinking is to get the van running in a slightly ratty state and then decide what to do with the cosmetics.

Serious progress should made in the next couple of months and I will take some pictures to share.

Keep the faith!

Sam

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/354071/M1_IVA_inspection_manual.pdf

I'd get reading the above in preparation so you can take things into account as your build progresses.

[grizz]

Any updates Sam??