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Post by michelle09 on Oct 23, 2015 2:45:10 GMT 1
Hi guys, My name is Michelle and this is the first forum ive ever joined so I apologise in advance for any mistakes I make and for my lack of mechanical knowledge.
Here is my story. I have bought and fallen in love with a 1973 mk1 pink ford transit that was used as an icecream truck. I own my own baking business and plan to restore the old girl to a food truck for myself. When I bought the car it was completely gutted and I mean gutted but she still had so much character so I felt like I had to save her from a worse fate. So here I am. I have taken her to a mechanic who will help me get her back to a beauty. at the moment she has a pinto motor in her and it starts first go everytime but I am concerned that as I add heavy equipment into the cab that the motor will struggle. here are my questions if anyone can help me:
what motor should I look for that has enough grunt that will fit in the existing body? my mechanic suggested that I look for the bullnose version grill and bonnet so I can fit a larger motor. does anyone know someone who has a pair of these and what motor I should then be looking for? im also searching for a front drivers seat,. I am grateful for any help and or advice. Thank you soooooo much.i will try and post a picture soon.
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Post by jonochap on Oct 23, 2015 6:11:20 GMT 1
Welcome M-09, a perfect start to a mk1 transit forum by having a mk1 transit! Loads of very knowledgable Aussies on here so I'm sure you will get the advice and help...and yes, no pictures means it didn't happen! Sometimes reliability is as important as speed when you're using an old van for business, good luck with the resto
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Post by FredTransit on Oct 23, 2015 9:53:39 GMT 1
Welcome mate! To post pics you need to upload them to a hosting site like photobucket.com.
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Post by sleepy on Oct 23, 2015 10:29:00 GMT 1
Welcome Can't wait to see pics. Sounds good
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Post by retiredtruckie on Oct 23, 2015 11:22:54 GMT 1
Welcome Michelle and what jonno said
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Post by michelle09 on Oct 23, 2015 11:39:51 GMT 1
Hooray for such a great forum. I amazingly managed to attach a picture of the transit on my profile picture.as you can see there is some work to be done. Thank you johnno, fred sleepy and retired truckie. hope you can see the old girl clearly.
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Post by cadill69 on Oct 23, 2015 13:12:46 GMT 1
Ooh, I saw that on Gumtree at Hornsby. I was thinking of buying to put one of my homeless friends in! What is the hole in the grill, that is how I recognised her. I've got a hankering for a flat front these days. There is another lady owner (Sharon) on this forum from Sydney... We could have a transit moot soon. All three of us are Mkoners plus there is a long wheelbase van close by. I'm on the North Shore if you are local and need a hand. I've got most of the part suppliers sorted for most bits that are needed apart from your donk and box. Welcome Edit: Just saw on another thread that your are interstate. Did you drive her home...?
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Post by irishtransit on Oct 23, 2015 14:09:21 GMT 1
hi and welcome.
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Post by muttleymk2 on Oct 23, 2015 21:41:49 GMT 1
Hello and welcome to you, plenty of help and advice here and down under too
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Post by troppo on Oct 24, 2015 2:33:36 GMT 1
Welcome to the end of sanity Michelle, these old girls never let go once they have their hooks into you. I`m a motor body builder by trade and have done what you describe once or twice, i did a mk3 mobile coffee shop and that only had a pinto in it and it pulled like a train. I would really think before you change the engine, you would be suprised at what a pinto can do
Edit Where abouts are you?
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Post by michelle09 on Oct 25, 2015 8:06:16 GMT 1
hi everyone, to cadill 69 - yes it is the same one I bought from gumtree. she is a beauty. I live on the mid north coast and didn't want to risk driving her up so I offered the guy some cash and his friend drove it up for me. winner. he left late at night (for traffic he said) but im sure it had more to do with the missing windows etc for the police. once I get the big stuff sorted I may give you a holler for all the right places to get the extra bits. im learning so much as I go....
irish transit - thanks for the welcome
muttleymk2 - hi and thanks heaps. I agree.i am so happiy surprised at all the help I am getting. its car therapy for the blind for me. such relief!!!
troppo - thank you for that advice. luckily I was mad before I bought her so the sanity loss won't really factor .i'm so hooked its crazy and my daughter has already planned what she is doing with the truck when I go so we as a family are transit hooked. I live at valla beach nsw. Cant believe 3 weeks ago I didn't care about cars and now im a ford lover and am already passing the love on to my little girl. hilarious!
to everyone I am so grateful for such lovely people willing to help out a complete novice. what a great forum and an awesome bunch of people. loving it!
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Post by cadill69 on Oct 25, 2015 9:12:12 GMT 1
Valla Beach ay! I'll see you at Bello markets perhaps.... Is the global on this year? I understand in NSW that if you have a full chassis which yours has they are easier on the rego as the cab/body doesn't become part of the integral strength. Cool hey Worth doing a bit of research.
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Post by michelle09 on Oct 25, 2015 9:22:52 GMT 1
cadill 69 - I actually supply food at bello. global wasn't on this year.they had the world music festival instead which was different than global.instead of being at the ground they had them at venues all over town. but you know bello always a festival on. if ever you are up this way let me know would love to see you transit and you mine. you are so right about the rego.thought I was going to get grilled re blue slip but only have to do general pink slip stuff as you say the cab/body doesn't count.although im thinking of replacing as the prev owner cgopped a few air vent holes in her and this may trigger the electrical engineer to want a redo and vs redoing a fair bit of rust will go and get some quotes re rebuilding the cab. thanks for all your help.stay with me.cheers michelle
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Post by cadill69 on Oct 25, 2015 9:34:02 GMT 1
Yo Sis, shame the Global is not on. I have a place next to the showground which was a real hoot apart from my fence getting cut by peeps sneaking in. Yep I'm due up there soon. The festivals are getting a bit exxy up there particularly if they are at different venues. All the musos and artists seemed to have moved to Dorrigo or somewhere. Its gone a bit yuppy.
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Post by michelle09 on Oct 25, 2015 11:22:00 GMT 1
cadill 69 yeah. just didn't have the same feel as last global. . they just had a big festival in Dorrigo this weekend. give us a shout out when you come up.
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