1987 Fiat Ducato MURVI 1.9l petrol - help needed

[hideyspidey]

Hi

we purchased this lovely example at the weekend, however we have a few queries on cosmetics and engine

it is a 1.9 petrol engine, is it worth putting LPG on as we were told that on the old carburerttor/CVH engines it made no difference

Can we put power steering on ( although we love the big trucker wheel)

Were running on 14" wheels that are quite thin, is this OK

What do we need to watch out for?

Rust around windows

Seatbelts in the back

 

The good points are - all undersealed, 45k mileage and 1 owner from new. All original furnsishings and we love her

Thanks in advance

[Mel B]

Congratulations on your new toy, however, I wish you'd come to the forum before buying as we could have given you advice before you committed to it, but I note you haven't yet collected it according to your others posting.

 

I assume this is the one (click on 'read full description' for the info):

 

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/fiat-ducato-murvi-2-4-berth-camper-or-van-45k-miles-tax-and-test-multi-purpose/1030693471

 

Anyway, it is possible to after fit power steering but it won't be cheap assuming you can get the parts. As for LPG to power it, unless you are going to do a lot of mileage then I can't see the point as again it isn't cheap and I'd be wary of doing something like this to an older van plus according to the advert it is apparently getting a fairly good mpg anyway so it doesn't make much sense doing so IMV.

 

At first I thought it was a private seller rather than a dealer but have since found this advert so assume it IS a dealer and despite what they say, it actually has had 2 owners from new including them, not 1, but that's not anything to bother about for a van of it's vintage!

 

http://www.caravansource.org/caravansforsale/tyneandwear/caravan/79/Fiat_MURVI_Ducato_Camper

 

As the dealer has done some welding and paintwork on it I'd be inclined to pay for an early MOT and ask the garage to give it a good check-over whilst they're at it, this can save a lot of grief if there are problems with it, or alternatively, put your mind at rest that you're buying a good-un! :-D

 

Is there any warranty with it? If so, read it carefully and ensure you are fully aware of what is covered and more importantly what is NOT.

[Derek Uzzell]

According to Wikipedia

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Ducato

 

the 1981-1993 Ducato's petrol motor was 1796cc or 1971cc - I'm guessing yours is the latter. The usual reason for fitting an LPG conversion is to benefit from the cheaper fuel, but maximum benefit will come with large-capacity, high-thirst motors like those used on USA-built RVs. I don't think you'd obtain any performance increase from taking the LPG route (and the Wiki-quoted power/torque data look pretty reasonable for propelling a smallish vehicle like a Murvi). As Mel B advises, unless you plan to cover a huge mileage it's unlikely you'd recover the costs of an LPG conversion, so I suggest you forget it.

 

A few companies have offered a traditional power-steering conversion for these vehicles, but the latest approach involves electric/hydraulic assistance. These links refer

 

http://www.jktowers.fsnet.co.uk/motorhome/power_steering.htm

http://www.talbot-express-power-steering-conversions.co.uk/

http://www.talbotoc.com/electric-power-steering-t3868.html

 

Unless you find living with unassisted steering really challenging I suggest you leave things alone and save at least £600.

 

I can't see why 14" wheels should be a problem provided that the tyres fitted to them are suitable for your Murvi's maximum permitted axle loadings (as shown on the motorhome's VIN-plate) and you don't overload the vehicle. Smallish wheels/narrowish tyres were commonplace in the 80s and, if you opted for wider tyres, you'd make the steering even heavier.

 

This webpage

 

http://www.practicalmotorhome.com/advice/mk1-fiat-ducato-talbot-express-common-problems

 

mentions potential problems and has some useful contact links (eg . No 1 Gear)

 

Each month in MMM Magazine there's an interesting "Classicmotorhoming" article by Martin Watts relating to motorhomes 15 years old or over, but your best bet for specific advice is probably the Talbot Owners Club http://www.talbotoc.com/portal.php

 

 

[pepe63xnotuse]

Hi..

Back in the early/mid nineties, I had a 2L petrol Talbot Express van of approx' your vintage(..twas our ex works van, that had been thrashed and half beaten to death!)..

 

I converted it to a day van and used it for a couple of years...before the engine finally let go...in a big way!

 

Watch out rot around the screen and the base of the screen pillars(my was showing signs, even back then).

The gear change could be a bit *hit and miss,mainly finding reverse.

I recall there was mod' available to correct that though, so probably best ask through the owners club.

 

(* I think when in "original " LHD form, the gear change was column mounted).

[hideyspidey]

Thankyou everyone, all info taken on board

[George Collings]

LPG works best on computer controlled engines where the existing ECU is also used to control the gas. Cost are probably upwards of £1500.

 

Carburettor equipped vehicles can be converted but its much more difficult to tune them and loss of refinement is common and performance may be reduced.

 

The payback period for low annual mileage vehicles is decades if not centuries.

 

PAS conversion used to be available from a firm in the Corfe Castle, Dorset area who specialise in catering for disabled drivers. I will see If I can find details tomorrow.

[Derek Uzzell]

A company called Delfin Designs used to offer a power-steering conversion (and a gear-linkage modification) for Talbots/Ducatos, but I understand they've ceased trading.

 

SVO, based in Calne Wiltshire and still trading, has offered 'traditional' power-steering conversions for many years:

 

http://www.svoptions.co.uk/motorhome.htm

 

This 2005 forum-thread refers and a cost of £1700 is qoted.

 

http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Caravans/Caravan-Chat/talbot-express-power-steering/3713/

 

The "Green Conversion Company" - at Stratford-on-Avon - I gave a link to earlier

 

http://www.talbot-express-power-steering-conversions.co.uk/

 

apparently replaces the Tabot/Ducato steering-column with a column with electric power-assistance sourced from a Vauxhall Corsa. The vehicle's original low-geared steering-rack is retained, so the same amount of steering-wheel movement will be required when driving the vehicle as before, except the effort will be much reduced when manoeuvring at lower speeds or when the steering weights up during tight cornering. The traditional approach, that replaces the original steering-rack with a higher geared powered rack, would speed up the steering as well as reducing the effort. I had reservations that 'powering' a low-geared rack might produce over-light, twitchy steering, but the comments from people who've had the conversion carried out suggest not.