I thought it was about time I started sharing a few of my many ongoing projects. The problem with having so many on the go is that it leaves little time to make lengthy and photo-rich posts on them, but I will endeavour to do my best!
This is the latest in a long line of projects, which is just about to commence. The base vehicle was purchased via this very forum and photos of it as it stands can be seen in the for sale thread......
retrorides.proboards.com/thread/208015/1994-transporter-mold-north-wales
Now the reason behind this project is that we have restored/upgraded/repaired/partially kitted out many, many Campervans and motorhomes and they seem a popular mainstay of our work. I’ve never owned such a vehicle myself, but I’ve been tempted to get in on the action and whilst we’ve never kitted a camper out from scratch, we currently have two large resto jobs in, which also entail kitting the vans out. Now I have a few good ideas (I think!) for these, but if I test a few things out on my own van that I’m unsure about, that makes sense to me.
I was swaying towards buying a Mazda Bongo Friendee as we’ve worked on many of them, but they do rust terribly and can be a pain when they go wrong. T4s in comparison are a walk in the park. I was drawn towards this particular T4 as it is such an early example. I have since deciphered that it comes from the first month of T4 Production and was amongst the first few hundred ever to come roll off the production line. It was only registered in the UK in 1993 and the V5 states “previously used overseas, declared manufactured 1990”. It’s definitely a UK spec van and it’s an original Multivan, so not a converted panel van. I’m currently trying to find out from the DVLA where it was “imported” from, but it must be Ireland or the Channel Islands or something like that as I had the same scenario with one of the very last MK4 XR3is I owned many years ago.
Anyway, in spite of obvuious cosmetic issues from looking at the van, it’s actually in remarkably good, straight and solid condition. There are hardly any dents or dings and not too many areas of previous repair work. The few repairs there are are absolutely hideous, but should be too bad to rectify. The biggest let down are awful front arch repairs, with the seams filled over and the wrong type of windows poorly fitted. Easily sorted apart from the O/S sliding window from a caravan, which has been bodged in by cutting most of the original window frame out very badly as it’s far too big and looks awful and has gone rusty as none of the edges have been treated. Anyway, easily sorted, just annoying to see such terrible workmanship causing easily avoidable issues...
The van was bought as a non-runner. Part of me would have liked to have rebuilt the original 1.8 carb engine as it’s a bit of a rarity, but with 67bhp it would be unbearably underpowered in a Camper Van, so I’ve found a MK3 Golf GTI 8v AGG Engine with only 34k on the clock, compete with loom and immobiliser parts and as they share the VW CE2 electrical system it should be an easy swap. It will just mean very minor modifications to the engine mounts, updating the fuel system, relocating the dip stick and a few other very minor changes.
I have also ordered a very long list of parts. The highlights include a Bilstein B12 suspension kit with -45mm Eibach Springs, some proper VW alloy wheels and decent rubber, full polybush kit, full set of proper tinted rear windows with 2 x sliders, every new rubber seal on the van including new scraper seals, some proper insulation (what’s been put in it is good quality insulation, but next to useless as it’s only a third of the thickness it should be!), a high quality 12mm ply floor, ply rear panel kit, plenty of 4-way stretch carpet, some nice perforated grey leather hides, some proper T4 seats, 3/4 rock and roll bed and some bespoke units and nice floor covering, plus lots more trim parts which are required.
Body-wise, as the underside will be rebuilt with the new suspension it will be treated to a proper clean up and coated in black raptor and lots of cavity wax etc.
Whilst the engine is out, the engine bay will be fully stripped and painted in tintable body colour Raptor to protect it and everything else can be refreshed/refurbished or replaced.
This will be finished off with a full, glass-out respray. My original thought was Nardo Grey with black detailing, but Last night I spotted another colour which I may be swaying more towards. I will be doing some samples of each and then making a decision or I may go in a diffeeenf direction completely yet, but either way there is plenty to be getting in with in the mean time!
Hopefully some updates to come soon!
This is the latest in a long line of projects, which is just about to commence. The base vehicle was purchased via this very forum and photos of it as it stands can be seen in the for sale thread......
retrorides.proboards.com/thread/208015/1994-transporter-mold-north-wales
Now the reason behind this project is that we have restored/upgraded/repaired/partially kitted out many, many Campervans and motorhomes and they seem a popular mainstay of our work. I’ve never owned such a vehicle myself, but I’ve been tempted to get in on the action and whilst we’ve never kitted a camper out from scratch, we currently have two large resto jobs in, which also entail kitting the vans out. Now I have a few good ideas (I think!) for these, but if I test a few things out on my own van that I’m unsure about, that makes sense to me.
I was swaying towards buying a Mazda Bongo Friendee as we’ve worked on many of them, but they do rust terribly and can be a pain when they go wrong. T4s in comparison are a walk in the park. I was drawn towards this particular T4 as it is such an early example. I have since deciphered that it comes from the first month of T4 Production and was amongst the first few hundred ever to come roll off the production line. It was only registered in the UK in 1993 and the V5 states “previously used overseas, declared manufactured 1990”. It’s definitely a UK spec van and it’s an original Multivan, so not a converted panel van. I’m currently trying to find out from the DVLA where it was “imported” from, but it must be Ireland or the Channel Islands or something like that as I had the same scenario with one of the very last MK4 XR3is I owned many years ago.
Anyway, in spite of obvuious cosmetic issues from looking at the van, it’s actually in remarkably good, straight and solid condition. There are hardly any dents or dings and not too many areas of previous repair work. The few repairs there are are absolutely hideous, but should be too bad to rectify. The biggest let down are awful front arch repairs, with the seams filled over and the wrong type of windows poorly fitted. Easily sorted apart from the O/S sliding window from a caravan, which has been bodged in by cutting most of the original window frame out very badly as it’s far too big and looks awful and has gone rusty as none of the edges have been treated. Anyway, easily sorted, just annoying to see such terrible workmanship causing easily avoidable issues...
The van was bought as a non-runner. Part of me would have liked to have rebuilt the original 1.8 carb engine as it’s a bit of a rarity, but with 67bhp it would be unbearably underpowered in a Camper Van, so I’ve found a MK3 Golf GTI 8v AGG Engine with only 34k on the clock, compete with loom and immobiliser parts and as they share the VW CE2 electrical system it should be an easy swap. It will just mean very minor modifications to the engine mounts, updating the fuel system, relocating the dip stick and a few other very minor changes.
I have also ordered a very long list of parts. The highlights include a Bilstein B12 suspension kit with -45mm Eibach Springs, some proper VW alloy wheels and decent rubber, full polybush kit, full set of proper tinted rear windows with 2 x sliders, every new rubber seal on the van including new scraper seals, some proper insulation (what’s been put in it is good quality insulation, but next to useless as it’s only a third of the thickness it should be!), a high quality 12mm ply floor, ply rear panel kit, plenty of 4-way stretch carpet, some nice perforated grey leather hides, some proper T4 seats, 3/4 rock and roll bed and some bespoke units and nice floor covering, plus lots more trim parts which are required.
Body-wise, as the underside will be rebuilt with the new suspension it will be treated to a proper clean up and coated in black raptor and lots of cavity wax etc.
Whilst the engine is out, the engine bay will be fully stripped and painted in tintable body colour Raptor to protect it and everything else can be refreshed/refurbished or replaced.
This will be finished off with a full, glass-out respray. My original thought was Nardo Grey with black detailing, but Last night I spotted another colour which I may be swaying more towards. I will be doing some samples of each and then making a decision or I may go in a diffeeenf direction completely yet, but either way there is plenty to be getting in with in the mean time!
Hopefully some updates to come soon!
