The Dispatch | Expert | Scudo Hub

Shadows

Member

From: Wiltshire

Registered: 2022-01-10

Posts: 3

Hello Everyone!

Hi All,

So I have reacently become the owner of a 1.9D 2005 Despatch with plans to do some mini camping / adventures in it so though I would say hi and introduce myself!

I do allot of outdoor sports Climbing, walking, kayaking, caving, biking etc and wanted somthing big enough for a few nights and kit storage. I have been after one of these since pre-Covid times but the price when I had the funds just went crazy!

Roll on last thursday when this popped up local to me at a price where even if I had to scrap it for some reason I wouldnt loose so I took a gamble. Its a bit cosmetically challenged but once I visit a scrap yard or two, replace missing trim, cracked front grill and pull out a couple of dents it will be ok.

The engine sounds like it has a bad injector or timing slightly out (Very tappy at low RPM) but starts fine. It's not smoky but is little underpowered (maybe its normal for this van, never driven one before) Ill be giving it a very good service and some love, its only done 96K!

I took it for an MOT and was pleasantly suprised it only failed on a tyre, number plate bulb and a very small bit of welding.

The drivers drivers door steady looks to have been ripped out which could prove interesting to fix but I like a challenge.

I have named it Crusty Smurf for now! (This is its best side )

The previous owner did a very rough and basic conversion which I will be taking out and starting again

Pictures of the missing door steady (not sure why they uploaded sidways!)

It will be a slow project, when funds are there I will do stuff to it! The first part it to sort out mechanical issues, service and make it a bit more presentable before turning my attention to the conversion.

The only question I have which I couldnt find an answer for using the search is where the clutch should bite? Having never driven this type of van before I dont know whats 'normal', at the moment its very high to me but I am use to my Land Rovers TD4 being very low. It changes fine, no slipping or popping out...

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Sit down, buckle up - its about to get bumpy! 

Casper

Member

From: East Lothian

Registered: 2015-12-20

Posts: 2,181

Re: Hello Everyone!

That hole looks like a missing door stay. Im sure they are just held in with a roll pin. Yours looked like the winds took it out someone's hand and blew open ripping that out at the same time. I have had two of these vans with the same engine. Clutch was just higher than middle when mine started to bite. They are very under powered (71 ish BHP) and crap on fuel unless you stick to 55/60 on a run. I always averaged 35mpg. My first one was an Expert what i made a camper out of. Took that down the black forest Germany then up to Holland for a bike rally and TBH the wee van never missed a beat. Apart from overheating the brakes on a mountain decent it was brilliant fun. My 2nd one (Dispatch) was used for work and i threw everything at that van and many a time to heavy a load and again it was flawless. Only changed stuff that you would need to change regardless. Battery, exhaust and the likes. Since moved on as i wanted a larger camper so got a Coachsmith convoy now and my work van is a Maxus. Looks like you are parked next to on in your picture.

Shadows

Member

From: Wiltshire

Registered: 2022-01-10

Posts: 3

Re: Hello Everyone!

Hey Casper.

Door stay, thats the word I couldnt quite remember! I think thats exactly what happened to someone, I'm hoping I can fix it with a plate and captive rivet nuts.
Thats good to know about the clutch, it will just take a bit of getting use too and the extra revs required to get the thing to move! I can see myself having allot fun and learning in this thing for at least a couple of years before I upgraid.
Its not the engine I was hoping to have but with such a low budget and anything half deacent going in a flash I really dont mind, 35MPG is better than the Land Rover and 55/60 seams fast enough (I will probably have kayaks on the roof any how).

Im not sure what I was parked next too but would love somthing like that one day! That was at the MOT station I drove it stright too as it came without a MOT.

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Sit down, buckle up - its about to get bumpy! 

Casper

Member

From: East Lothian

Registered: 2015-12-20

Posts: 2,181

Re: Hello Everyone!

I had an old defender on a long term loan. Not Shure of engine size but it was an old Perkins Diesel. Bloody worse motor i have had the misfortune to drive  I could not get the seat back far enough  to drive comfortable. It was so noisy you could not hear the stereo at full volume and the steering was all over the place but then its no rack n pinion is it. Just the old steering box what was probably shot. Got that steering in my Convoy what is waaayyyyy better than the Land rover was.

You on about wanting a bigger van eventually. Pre covid you could get a convoy from a 500 quid with an MOT. 1000 for a maxus in reasonable nick. Van prices just now are crazy as every bugger wants to be a courier or make a camper. Once folk start heading to the sun again like it was before i think there will be a lot of cheap vans around

Shadows

Member

From: Wiltshire

Registered: 2022-01-10

Posts: 3

Re: Hello Everyone!

I love old defenders, not something I would want as a daily driver though! I had an 80's one ages ago where the previous owner swapped out the engine for an Isuzu one and wow could it go! anything past 60 and bit rattled and it felt like it was going to fall apart.

I know, I kinda misses the boat on that but life through me a curveball anyway and a little solo camber that can fit in normal car parks suits me just fine at the moment. I only paid £375 for what I have now, probably looking at £100 worth of work to get it through the MOT mostly on the welding one skill I dont have.

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Sit down, buckle up - its about to get bumpy! 

Casper

Member

From: East Lothian

Registered: 2015-12-20

Posts: 2,181

Re: Hello Everyone!

probably looking at £100 worth of work to get it through the MOT mostly on the welding one skill I dont have.

You can buy a Chinese gasless mig welder for around £80. Hobby mig around 100 for 2nd hand. Plenty old washing machine sides sitting around council estates with free steel for you to practice on. Welding is a cheap fix if you can DIY so worth learning. You dont need to be neat you just need to be good enough to make the MOT man happy. I bought a gassless mig when i got my last convoy. I managed to weld up the convoy and pass two MOT's and the wifes car i welded up wheel arches where the rear belt mounts sit and get a pass. Not bod considering my bus floor was my practice