Transit[ion]

Munkyslut
Excellent!!!!!

Nigel Chapman
Right, got some Pegasus "T's 23" wheels so I'm good to make a start.

Munkyslut
Sweeet!

Nigel Chapman
Off to a flying start with the body mods. My builds are always fluid so I decided to change the Lights. Found a pair off a Lamborghini Jota In the spares stash. Rather pleased with the first test fit.

Munkyslut
Side door mod is very slick mate 👍

Munkyslut
Those Lamborghini lights are very cool 😎
, I wanted to try frenching the tail lights on mine but I dont think I got the skillz 😉

Nigel Chapman
Thanks. Frenching the lights sounds great. Sometimes you just have to go for it. I didn't think I had the skills until I gave it a try.

Nigel Chapman
Rear lights completes and Miliput applied before continuing with bodywork

Chaz Gordon
Are you planning a Sliding side door?

Nigel Chapman
I thought about it but after some research will go for a lift up door

Nigel Chapman
Front grill 95% complete. Really proud of the end result. Just got to fill In the old indicator mounts.
Thinking of modifying the front spoiler and adding a scratchbuilt bull bar.

Munkyslut
Ahh that's cool, could've been lifted straight from an F150, looks proper factory😉
I chromed my stock grill & darkened the headlight lenses. I was happy with it but now I fancy making a chromed bar grille that covers the lights.
That kit front spoiler is actually pretty good isn't it?

Alexander Grivonev
Man, those are some gnarly looking engine parts. That is a serious construction site you have going on, hats off to the dedication👍

Nigel Chapman
Munky that grill sounds great. All custom Bedford CF's seemed to have them.
Alexander your bang on. I've spent one afternoon with the Dremel sorting the Engine bits out. I think I have some workable parts with added bling from the parts stash.

Nigel Chapman
Concentrating on the rear doors. Not happy with test fit so added Evergreen no116 strip around the window frames to get a flush fit.

Munkyslut
Nice! Are u smoothing out the real valance?

Nigel Chapman
Not sure. I was going to scratch build a set of rear bumpers combined with some sort of light guard like you see on Land Rover Defenders.

Bozzer
I need to keep an eye on this build. I'm after a set of those rear doors myself. I have a link for a set, but I can't remember if it's for the same company?

Nigel Chapman
Motobitz.uk - They do all sorts of resin parts for the Transit. My rear doors have been modified as usual

Nigel Chapman
Upper hinge for side door finally sorted after spending the day bending bits of wire

Nigel Chapman
Gone through loads more wire and tube and now have working hinges for all three doors. Scary part is to fit them !
Thanks to Dominik for the encouragement

Munkyslut
Impressive work mate!
I really wanna try it but I darent do it on something any smaller than an old 1/8 Monogram or Revell C2 Vette

Nigel Chapman
I'm getting there slowly. I would never have attempted anything like this without Scalemates. I'm inspired now to get on with my Chevy van.

Nigel Chapman
Yeah baby!! Completed my first ever set of working doors. Not exactly perfect but they do work. That was one hell of a learning curve.

Munkyslut
Looks fantastic!
I'm not brave enough yet ........

Nigel Chapman
This project got left by the wayside due to the Ratillac, so I need to crack on starting with a change of engine. Despite my best efforts, the resin Rover engine block is just not useable, so I have raided the spares stash and got a 70 Buick GSX engine (355 big block ?) which I have cut up and widened 0.60 mm to fit the Transit oil pan making the engine look more beefier.

Bozzer
Lol, I remember the touring Transit. Man, that looked good, flying around the track! Keep it up mate!

Nigel Chapman
Nice one thanks

Bozzer
If you get the chance, have a look for the tourer? It's a MK3 if I remember, but it's an impressive bit of kit! It was in Ford Racing colours, I think mate?

Nigel Chapman
Yes, Supervan 3. It was around in the nineties powered by an F1 engine I believe.
There was a MK3 Transit with a jag XK220 engine that appeared on a Top Gear episode.

Bozzer
Lol, you remember it well! Oddly enough, it doesn't seem that long ago, but I'm sure that you are right! I guess that means I'm getting closer to retirement, than I'd like to think? I'd better start looking at slippers, instead of Nike trainers, and expect a Damart catalogue, in the post? On the plus side though, I should be kept busy with my trucks. But it's gonna be a very long time, before I build another Euro. These things were designed by Satan himself.

Chaz Gordon
I seem to remember the term "Rapid Transit" That F1 engined machine was more than just the engine, it was a good chunk of F1 chassis too, with proper F1 slicks.

Nigel Chapman
Chaz I think it was like the Renault Espace F1. Lightweight body on an F1 chassis and engine. I think Supervan 1&2 were similar.
Bozzer, I'm nearer retirement than I'd like as well but I still wear the trainers, have my ear pierced and crank the music up to 11 in the car much to my teenage boys disgust.

Munkyslut
Great work Nigel! Good to see the Tranny get some attention, good choice of motor too, it was a 455 that the GS-X's used, well over 500 lb/ft, proper torque monsters😉

Nigel Chapman
Hey Munky thanks for the info. The big block suits the Transit size plus the added supercharger and air intakes will make it a monster.

Nigel Chapman
Chassis work started with wheels enlarged and rough hole cut for engine. IRS and IFS will need to be built next to determine if any more chassis needs to be removed.

Munkyslut
To be honest mate you could drop a moped engine in that & still make it look Kool😎

Nigel Chapman
Nice one. Let's see how it goes. At least we haven't gone all electric (yet)!

Nigel Chapman
Engine mods going fine with a lengthened blower to be mounted to a scratch built manifold. Everything has been de-chromed as some parts were showing their age and reapplied with a Molotow pen.

Nigel Chapman
Hmmm....suddenly realised having cut the rear deck for the engine, it was too far back for the rear differential. The engine is bigger than I realised so it will have to be moved forward into the cab, which I was trying to avoid. Ah well...

Munkyslut
Move the engine in to the cab????? ..... I just had a brilliant bit of inspiration for a future Transit build........... mid engine!
Remember the yellow Bedford CF with the mid mount blown 440 Mopar? It's still charging up the strip at the Pod 👍

Chaz Gordon
I believe that the various mid engined Transits featured a Transaxle, as a short prop shaft would not allow the rear axle any suspension travel, and short prop shafts will remove your fillings rapidly. You could easily craft a convincing transaxle by cutting off the taper cone from the existing transmission, then cut the taper and bellhousing off another transmission. If there are any linkages moulded into the second piece, file these down to appear as case ribs. You'll need to find an appropriate greble to form the rear cover, then mount in place of the diff from an independent rear suspension setup.

Nigel Chapman
Munky - The photo on the Project page was a Bedford CF with a roof chop in Yellow with purple flames and mid mounted V8 (It said Jensen on the Rocker covers). Is that the the one?
Chaz - I had considered a trans axle but want to keep the complete IRS, so moving the engine is the only choice. Thanks for for info on the prop shaft though.
Typical me - cut first then think about it afterwards!

Munkyslut
YESSSS!!!! I am so slow sometimes the pic is staring me in the face 😄 😄 😄

Nigel Chapman
Photo was taken at the 2015 NSVA Nationals, Akeley near Buckingham

Nigel Chapman
Found an interesting blog, www.munchtech.com covering a Custom Bedford CF build with mid mounted SB Chevy and Jaguar IRS built in New Zealand. Got my ideas to go forward.

Munkyslut
I'm checking it out now! 😉

Nigel Chapman
Engine looking good, now awaiting paint.
Next thing is to sort is the suspension and correct the large hole in the chassis.

Nigel Chapman
Got 5 days self isolating out of the blue so cracking on with this build and making the Motobitz rear IRS.

Nigel Chapman
Phew, a nerve wracking 5 minutes supergluing the shocks into position. Just hubs and callipers to go.

Munkyslut
Those Motobitz IRS 's are the bollox ain't they? Looks proper mate 👍

Nigel Chapman
They are mate, very authentic. Looks spectacular but not for the faint hearted. They are dammed fiddly

Nigel Chapman
Front IFS completed. Looking good. Touch up the paint and chrome before attaching to chassis.

Martin Oostrom
Nigel, you're nuts. And if you aren't now, you will be at the end of this build. That suspension does look the part 👍

Nigel Chapman
Thanks Martin. I do love a mad build. I'm not quite nuts yet.

Jv
Love the detail in your builds
Always interesting

Nigel Chapman
Memo to self - install the suspension before engine! So out with the Dremel and cut a section out of the chassis for the rear IRS which of course will dictate where the nine goes. It's simple once you have thought it through.

Jv
Lots if inspiration that i haven't got skills for yet
But let's see one day
Always great to see how you have done it
Loving scalemates for that

Nigel Chapman
Hey Jv thanks for thumbs up. It's not necessarily having the skills but just trying/working something out to create that vision.
The more you do the better the skill. I am well outside my comfort zone with some of my builds as my Chevy van project will testify!!

Jv
Yes I see lots of you guys do some great stuff
And yes thanks I know my skills will get better
For now im just experimenting whed lots of new things
Having lots of fun whed it
I got 4 new kits last weekend and will get 10 new ones this weekend
Sens I have seen some interesting builds
None of the last kits or the ones this weekend
Are cars
Like to try some other things to

Nigel Chapman
Wow lots going on with this build!
Interior Frame work scratch built using Evergreen 2.0 & 2.5 mm square sections. This gives a location for the new scratch built floor from Evergreen
0.30 mm sheet. The chassis will now locate along with the rear suspension. All this to a get ride height for the IRS.

Nigel Chapman
Rear chassis mods coming along slowly but surely.
Looks like I can narrow the wheel space and thus tweak what I have just done!

Nigel Chapman
As the song by Orange Juice goes Rip it up and start again.
Rebuilt the rear chassis and squared everything. It already looks much better. A small section needs to be taken out for rear IRS.

Munkyslut
That's proper Kool mate! You don't sit still for a minute do ya? 😄

Nigel Chapman
I always try and keep busy

Nigel Chapman
Some more Dremel surgery with revised hole cut for engine and pieces removed and trimmed for rear IRS. More work needed to fit the front IRS.