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zepper
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My "Race Support" vehicle. The RS can't really stand for "Rally Sport" when the 0-60 time is 11 seconds.
The motorcycle platform was a three way idea collaboration of me, my dad, and my sister's boyfriend's father who runs a metal shop. It works pretty slick.
It is 1/4 or 3/8" diamond plate aluminum and bolts into the seat lags and also the D ring lags in the back. It uses a locking motorcycle chock and special clamping tie downs at the footpegs which elliminate the need for the tie downs at the bars. This was important b/c the tie downs at the bars wouldn't work b/c they would have to pull the bike down and forward into the chock and b/c the bike is so far forward that there are no tie down points far enough forward.
Anyway it turned out well the bike is secure and solid and there is room for all the other race gear which is relatively protected inside the cab vs. a pickup truck bed where it can be easily stolen.
The transit is really a dream vehicle for me. I had been using a ford F150 as a daily driver and for race transport I pulled an enclosed trailer. Well on its best day the F150 would get 18 mpg, closer to 14 mpg around town. Not fun. It was also huge. I got a new place last year and the truck barely fit in my driveway and there was no place to keep a 14ft enclosed trailer so I had to re-evaluate my vehicle situation. I sold the truck and trailer and bought the used transit and still had money left over! The transit fits in the drive way and even IN the garage (cali has small garages)! The transit costs about 1/2 as much to register and insure and the fuel economy is so much better.
Thank you Ford for bringing it here.
The motorcycle platform was a three way idea collaboration of me, my dad, and my sister's boyfriend's father who runs a metal shop. It works pretty slick.
It is 1/4 or 3/8" diamond plate aluminum and bolts into the seat lags and also the D ring lags in the back. It uses a locking motorcycle chock and special clamping tie downs at the footpegs which elliminate the need for the tie downs at the bars. This was important b/c the tie downs at the bars wouldn't work b/c they would have to pull the bike down and forward into the chock and b/c the bike is so far forward that there are no tie down points far enough forward.
Anyway it turned out well the bike is secure and solid and there is room for all the other race gear which is relatively protected inside the cab vs. a pickup truck bed where it can be easily stolen.
The transit is really a dream vehicle for me. I had been using a ford F150 as a daily driver and for race transport I pulled an enclosed trailer. Well on its best day the F150 would get 18 mpg, closer to 14 mpg around town. Not fun. It was also huge. I got a new place last year and the truck barely fit in my driveway and there was no place to keep a 14ft enclosed trailer so I had to re-evaluate my vehicle situation. I sold the truck and trailer and bought the used transit and still had money left over! The transit fits in the drive way and even IN the garage (cali has small garages)! The transit costs about 1/2 as much to register and insure and the fuel economy is so much better.
Thank you Ford for bringing it here.
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and 103west 43rd st.. thanks for the details on your conversion.. Very nice job.... too bad it's beyond me to do that..
I will hire you to mod mine though.. let me know if you'de like to earn some side ca$h.. thanks Jim
thanks again for your insite on the euro mirror mods..
good job!
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Zepper... have you had any luck in locating from the French?? the Euro Mirrors for our transit connect that are built for out USA driving lanes?? thanks.. Jim
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By 103west43rd · Posted
Jim, my pleasure to give you more details.
It starts with the fact that all out side mirrors will bend toward the door if hit with some force.
They are designed to protect pedestrians.
The top larger mirror flat is adjustable, the bottom smaller convex mirror is not.Since I needed to move the mirror angle closer to the door, I first gave it a shove and adjusted it so the view of the bottom convex mirror was where I wanted.
There are then two ways to proceed.
You can fix the mirror in the new position and loose the safety movement ability (the easy way), or, you can modify the swivel joint between the mirror assembly and the mount on the door (much harder).
I first tried the easy way.
Look under the joint. You will see a circular cover plate. it has two slots 180 degrees apart. Insert a small flat blade screwdriver to release the plate and pull it down and off. Use the slot that is closest to the door.
The joint is held together with three screws. After moving the mirror to its new position, drill two starter holes between any two of the screws and screw in sheet metal screws to lock the joint in place. Snap the cover plate back in place and you are done. Should take 15 minutes.
I left the mirror like that for a few weeks, but to lose the safety factor bothered me so I finally went with the hard way.
Take the cover plate off and remove the three screws holding the two assemblies together.
You will then see that when the mirror assembly swivels it acctually moves up on two small ramps built into the joint on the lower section.
Using a Dremel cuting wheel, I cut a small portion of the ramps away, only about an eighth of an inch, this allows the mirror to be re-assembled in the new position perserving the safety ability. Instead of just drilling new holes and using machine screws to put it back together, I noticed the mirror assembly portion of the joint has more than three tapped holes for assembly. I then drilled three new holes in the bottom joint, all an eight inch on center from the existing holes to match up with the new position of the top(mirror) joint. The existing machine screws could now be reused.
Take care, and good luck.
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that looks just like a Kia Soul.... \Im not a fan..
I may go for the new regular transits being built here for the USA next year or so...
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103west..... can you please show us HOW TO.. how did you 'change the mounting angle'??
Im going to do this too.. my mirrors are just too darn small...
Did you use a wedge? or shims?? thanks...
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By 103west43rd · Posted
Correct. That is why I added the ScanGauge.
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But this is once and done, correct? You can't have a continuous readout.
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By 103west43rd · Posted
It comes packed with the jack and tools. You can also order it from Ford if you need more than one, although Ford is supplying them in black if ordered.
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Can you tell me anything about the tow point / front ring? Where did you get it? Thanks!
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