Hi, newbies with a very sad Fiat Ducato (1 Viewer)

KatyD

Free Member
Aug 5, 2016
2
1
Frome
Funster No
44,437
MH
Fiat Ducato
Exp
newbie
Hiya,

We have embarked on our first low-cost campervan adventure and have failed at the first hurdle! I chose the van because it was unusual & cheap, spent some time sorting out the messed up interior & cushions, fixed a few things, particularly the very squeally fanbelt & set off on our first proper trip.

About 80 miles from home she expired. The previous owner had failed to tell us that the temperature gauge wasn't working so we had no warning. By the time the AA diagnosed the water system was pressurised, hose blown off the rad, water pump seized and head gasket blown. There was worse. The cylinder head is cracked beyond repair.

Its a 1992 Fiat Ducato 14, 1900cc turbo diesel, Murvi conversion. I need a Fiat 280 A1.000 engine. I have found a head in Germany but am a bit stumped how to get it . The garage & I have been scouring ebay for 3 weeks. The casting no. is 5990529 S8VM-CU

I've searched & searched to no avail. Any help much appreciated! Some might say we should scrap her but I've fallen in love with the mad Murvi styling & the layout is just right for us. Here she is;
 

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Oct 15, 2012
10,129
56,780
Market Harborough
Funster No
23,304
MH
C Class Laika Ecovip 7R
Exp
2012
Hi and welcome to FUN, sorry to hear your tail of woe, it looks a great van, parts for older vans can, sometimes, be hard to come by. Hope you get it sorted.

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Feb 16, 2013
19,505
51,186
uttoxeter
Funster No
24,713
MH
ambulance conversion
Exp
50 years
Hiya,

We have embarked on our first low-cost campervan adventure and have failed at the first hurdle! I chose the van because it was unusual & cheap, spent some time sorting out the messed up interior & cushions, fixed a few things, particularly the very squeally fanbelt & set off on our first proper trip.

About 80 miles from home she expired. The previous owner had failed to tell us that the temperature gauge wasn't working so we had no warning. By the time the AA diagnosed the water system was pressurised, hose blown off the rad, water pump seized and head gasket blown. There was worse. The cylinder head is cracked beyond repair.

Its a 1992 Fiat Ducato 14, 1900cc turbo diesel, Murvi conversion. I need a Fiat 280 A1.000 engine. I have found a head in Germany but am a bit stumped how to get it . The garage & I have been scouring ebay for 3 weeks. The casting no. is 5990529 S8VM-CU

I've searched & searched to no avail. Any help much appreciated! Some might say we should scrap her but I've fallen in love with the mad Murvi styling & the layout is just right for us. Here she is;
Probably be better looking for a replacement engine, or best guy on here for old engines is @Willdbill
 
Feb 16, 2013
19,505
51,186
uttoxeter
Funster No
24,713
MH
ambulance conversion
Exp
50 years
There you go
Bargain

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CWH

LIFE MEMBER
Jan 29, 2014
5,128
245,488
UK
Funster No
29,909
MH
WildAx PVC
Exp
From November 2013
Hello and welcome to the Fun
upload_2016-8-5_12-2-8.png


That van is CUTE! Hope you get her fixed. Any chance of interior photos? :) (I'm a fully paid-up member of Fun's NMC = Nosey Mares Club)
 
OP
OP
KatyD

KatyD

Free Member
Aug 5, 2016
2
1
Frome
Funster No
44,437
MH
Fiat Ducato
Exp
newbie
Hi all, the newer Boxer engine doesn't fit - it was altered & has ecu etc, so I need to find the older engine ref. 280 A1.000.

The interior was dreadful but we ripped out all the plastic sheet linings and rotting curtains & I did some quick covers for the bed/seats. I like the openness of it. The drivers seat is dreadful.

Some pics - some are 'during' & we've put some of the cupd doors back since. Can be two bench seats with the back door flipping up, so pretty versatile. The portaloo doesn't fit in the designated box! Still needs plenty of attention......

Just got a message from the garage - they are bringing her home to die in our drive :(

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Dec 12, 2010
5,368
21,190
Cumbria
Funster No
14,651
MH
C Class
Exp
since 2011
She is a cutie pie, don't give up on her yet. I've bought a couple of things from German ebay, Google translate is your friend. Send them an email, they can only say nein.
 

Langtoftlad

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 12, 2011
8,832
148,806
Langtoft, South Lincs
Funster No
16,024
MH
WildAx Aurora FB [PVC]
Exp
Since 2015
Hi @KatyD
Welcome & good luck with resuscitating your van
I'm no use for that, but there are plenty here with lots of helpful advice.

Just a heads up, as a new member of this forum you get 5 free posts, then become read only.
Annual subscription is only £15 but you'll get back far more than that - not only monetarily but also with help & support.
 

camperlove

Free Member
Nov 30, 2015
236
180
kent
Funster No
40,481
MH
fiat ducato mwb
Exp
17 years
before you replace the engine, you should try k seal for your particular problem. Im told a lot of garages and people use this product.

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DBK

LIFE MEMBER
Jan 9, 2013
17,969
47,804
Plympton, Devon
Funster No
24,219
MH
PVC, Murvi Morocco
Exp
2013
Hiya,

We have embarked on our first low-cost campervan adventure and have failed at the first hurdle! I chose the van because it was unusual & cheap, spent some time sorting out the messed up interior & cushions, fixed a few things, particularly the very squeally fanbelt & set off on our first proper trip.

About 80 miles from home she expired. The previous owner had failed to tell us that the temperature gauge wasn't working so we had no warning. By the time the AA diagnosed the water system was pressurised, hose blown off the rad, water pump seized and head gasket blown. There was worse. The cylinder head is cracked beyond repair.

Its a 1992 Fiat Ducato 14, 1900cc turbo diesel, Murvi conversion. I need a Fiat 280 A1.000 engine. I have found a head in Germany but am a bit stumped how to get it . The garage & I have been scouring ebay for 3 weeks. The casting no. is 5990529 S8VM-CU

I've searched & searched to no avail. Any help much appreciated! Some might say we should scrap her but I've fallen in love with the mad Murvi styling & the layout is just right for us. Here she is;
I suggest just buying the head from Germany and letting the seller get back with a shipping quote. I also think there is a way eBay can arrange international shipping on behalf of the seller.
 
Jun 30, 2010
7,921
27,188
Cornwall
Funster No
12,372
MH
1992 VW Auto sleeper Mono
Exp
Since 2005 this time
@Willdbill is the fella to contact, tho he is touring Scotland at the moment

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roadster55

Free Member
Apr 15, 2016
285
666
Deepest Cornwall
Funster No
42,487
MH
Van Conversion
Exp
On and off for 20 years
I admire your persistence and determination to keep her going. One day you might look back on this experience and say "golly we almost wrote her off, but now we're glad we didn't". Good luck and be persistent, she looks very cosy inside.
 
Nov 18, 2011
11,857
42,475
Planet Earth
Funster No
18,938
MH
A van
Exp
Over 25 year's
Hiya,

We have embarked on our first low-cost campervan adventure and have failed at the first hurdle! I chose the van because it was unusual & cheap, spent some time sorting out the messed up interior & cushions, fixed a few things, particularly the very squeally fanbelt & set off on our first proper trip.

About 80 miles from home she expired. The previous owner had failed to tell us that the temperature gauge wasn't working so we had no warning. By the time the AA diagnosed the water system was pressurised, hose blown off the rad, water pump seized and head gasket blown. There was worse. The cylinder head is cracked beyond repair.

Its a 1992 Fiat Ducato 14, 1900cc turbo diesel, Murvi conversion. I need a Fiat 280 A1.000 engine. I have found a head in Germany but am a bit stumped how to get it . The garage & I have been scouring ebay for 3 weeks. The casting no. is 5990529 S8VM-CU

I've searched & searched to no avail. Any help much appreciated! Some might say we should scrap her but I've fallen in love with the mad Murvi styling & the layout is just right for us. Here she is;
Hi welcome to the forum I am away at the moment if you haven't taken the head off try a cupel off bottles of Kseal its amazing stuff
It could well get you out of a bind.
Thee are sume German speakers on the forum.
Who could translated for you to have the head posted over won't be that much but I would haver your water pump and radiator checked out
The hole sytem will nead a good flushing
Bill

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TheBig1

LIFE MEMBER
Nov 27, 2011
17,509
42,755
Dorset
Funster No
19,048
MH
A class
Exp
many many years! since I was a kid
the same 1.9 engine was used in a few peugeot cars of the same age
 

Debs

LIFE MEMBER
Jun 9, 2014
6,277
179,604
West Notts
Funster No
31,908
MH
A class Adria Vision
:pink:.....sorry to hear your woes but if you can get help to resuscitate her anywhere, it's probably going to be here...there are lots of folks with knowledge of.....well, everything really:D it's well worth the £15 years subs.

Lovely looking van and a Murvi? Must be well worth you giving her your best shot.

Good luck x

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Jun 9, 2016
228
306
L'Isle Jourdain, 86150 France
Funster No
43,512
MH
C Class I think
Exp
Just bought an Eriba FT 580
The seller of that head states only ships within Germany but you can always ask if that's set in stone. However, the head looks a bit rough and he does state that the temp sensor is broken and looking at it's remains you might need a special tool to get it out.

If you need help with asking questions in German let me know.
 
Aug 6, 2013
11,941
16,533
Kendal, Cumbria
Funster No
27,352
MH
Le-Voyageur RX958 Pl
Exp
since 1999
Hiya,

We have embarked on our first low-cost campervan adventure and have failed at the first hurdle! I chose the van because it was unusual & cheap, spent some time sorting out the messed up interior & cushions, fixed a few things, particularly the very squeally fanbelt & set off on our first proper trip.

About 80 miles from home she expired. The previous owner had failed to tell us that the temperature gauge wasn't working so we had no warning. By the time the AA diagnosed the water system was pressurised, hose blown off the rad, water pump seized and head gasket blown. There was worse. The cylinder head is cracked beyond repair.

Its a 1992 Fiat Ducato 14, 1900cc turbo diesel, Murvi conversion. I need a Fiat 280 A1.000 engine. I have found a head in Germany but am a bit stumped how to get it . The garage & I have been scouring ebay for 3 weeks. The casting no. is 5990529 S8VM-CU

I've searched & searched to no avail. Any help much appreciated! Some might say we should scrap her but I've fallen in love with the mad Murvi styling & the layout is just right for us. Here she is;
Search for a Ducato / Fiat specialist rather than a main dealer. There will be a number of engines that will fit with minimal modification to the vehicle.
 
Jan 29, 2014
1,315
973
Scunthorpe
Funster No
29,917
MH
Autotrail Apache
Exp
July 2013
Hi @KatyD
Welcome & good luck with resuscitating your van
I'm no use for that, but there are plenty here with lots of helpful advice.

Just a heads up, as a new member of this forum you get 5 free posts, then become read only.
Annual subscription is only £15 but you'll get back far more than that - not only monetarily but also with help & support.
Heads up. Ha ha

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Jun 9, 2016
228
306
L'Isle Jourdain, 86150 France
Funster No
43,512
MH
C Class I think
Exp
Just bought an Eriba FT 580
Search for a Ducato / Fiat specialist rather than a main dealer. There will be a number of engines that will fit with minimal modification to the vehicle.

Agree with this - I had to fit engines in similar but not the same vehicles and often it was just a matter of additional rubber mountings. Tranmission usually had to come too though.
 

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