I have been trawling the Internet in a desperate search for a focus van with no luck... Rocking horse...
So I'm building one!
Is anyone else out there embarking on the same quest or has anyone done it before?
I'm surprised fords only made them for Ireland!
It's a focus, mark 2, 3 door (that was hard enough to find!!) 2.0L petrol titanium. Be great to get a discussion going and I'll post photos along the way

 

 

Before....





After...

 

As I'm converting to a van... I no longer need the side rear airbags.
I have disconnected them now but the light is on on the dashboard... Does anyone know how to loose this completely and but maintain the front airbags 100% surely the rear part of the airbag circuit can just be removed?

 

Not sure about the airbags,
Also why are you doing this, I understand if it's an estate so can be used as a van but I can't see the point of this? Surely insurance is going to be an issue aswell

 

find out what resistance the rear airbags create by being connected and simply replace them with resistors of the same level and the light will be out

 

Thanks botters I was thinking about doing that but just wondered if it can be removed completely. But that sounds easy.

 

Mk1turboestate
I'm doing this as I needed a smaller van.. But not too small like a fiesta
I Looked around at the usual connects and belingos etc and they are just basic and ugly.
Just fancied a project and fancied something different.
An estate would be too long plus everyone has done that one

 

What are you doing about the side windows? I was after a van but really wanted rear seats so was looking at a mk4 astra. I didn't so much need the space as all my tools fitted in my fabia but just thought a van looks more professional. Ended up taking a corsa sri cdti in part ex on my octy vrs and thought I'd convert that to van. The metal van panels were Ł80 each then I'd need to spray them and have them fitted so instead got the windows vinyld and sign written.

Colour looks fine at this sort of angle but is slightly off side on

Think it cost Ł100-120 though so I'm not that bothered. Left it as a car so can still use it to take the kids in but looks like a van for work.

 

Looks good
I want to get rid of the glass and either fit the focus van panels (but only available in Ireland) or weld them up.
But apparently the best solution will be to wrap them in 1mm alloy and bond them in over the glass.
I'm glad someone else has converted (kind of) a car into a van.
This was my inspiration (but the body shape isn't going to change..

 

Ideally I'd of put the metal van panels in but you can only get them from Vauxhall and it looked chavvy turning up at jobs in it so just for ease I had the windows vinyld and tinted the rear window so you couldn't see through.
I don't know how good of a finish you'd get cutting some 1mm metal I think the curve of the window would be too hard to get looking good?? If it can be done I'd do it to mine and have it sprayed as it does bug me the colour is off when I look at it side on. If you manage to sort this out let me know I'll look into it for mine

 

Forgot to say I didn't want to try welding in a panel or something like that because I like the colour of the van and didn't want to spend out on a respray as to be honest it's not worth putting the money into. If need be I would just matte black it but to be honest I'm not keen on matte black and think it would look pretty shit hence the choice to vinyl.

 

I have a guy that builds security vehicles and armoured trucks so he reckons it'll be easy and won't cost much at all.
The 1mm alloy is thin enough to bond straight to the window, then it will still leave a recess which will have a sealer run around the edges to seam it to the quarter panel.. Then it'll be painted. Just before it goes in for paint I'll have it done and put on a photo.

 

Cool projet matey

 

Well thank you 😜
But I haven't really started yet

 

Hi,
If you need any help with insurance at all for this type of conversion then please feel free to drop me a line.
Regards,
Dan.

 

Thanks Dan.. When I had my series two RS escort when I was younger I used you guys so I probably will be returning

 

Anyone know the size of resistor needed to blank the rear side airbags off..? I've used a 2 ohm resistor but light is still on 😔

 

Find out what resistance the airbags have then use the same resistor. You may find that the light will need to be turned off via diagnostics once it has come on.

 

Looking for an St kit for a my project..
But cannot find one close by (Hampshire) can anyone courier one? Or anyone know a good place on the net to get a modest kit?

 

Latest photos to share on the van project.
The back is now ply lined

 

Any more updates on this? Have you done anything about the windows yet?

 

To be honest this week I have been flat out with work so I haven't had chance.
But the next thing to do is the windows. Hopefully this week I can get it into the workshop for the windows to be panelled and welded... Then it's official.. I have a van! Then I've got the body kit to fit... Then respray

 

 

That looks spot on!! How much did he charge to do that and do you have his contact details? It bugs me that the colour on my vinyl isn't 100% so want to do this and paint it. Did you just stick it on with some adhesive to the glass?

 

Initially we were going to take the window out and weld the panel in but found that if we did do that then we would loose the door seal so we just wrapped it in alloy and sealed it in like a windscreen. We also put a slight lip between the door and the glass so you would never know a window was there...(also it's a much stronger construction)
It's a mate of mine who builds security truck etc the company is Agenda down near Andover on the a303. Great guys. And was an easy hod for them.
Just need it painted once the kit is on

 

What sort of price is it to get this done? It looks so good I want to do it to mine and paint it so it looks like a proper van

 

Not sure as me and a mate did the work (favour) but it took an afternoon, a sheet of 1mm alloy and some stickaflex.
Probably about Ł150 but it depends where you go and I'm not one to be pricing it up.
It's not that hard to do yourself really.
Just get the right stuff and take the time getting the template perfect

 

Fair play to you mate for giving it a go, one thing that would be a one of a kind is if you blended the back quarter into one so it was more " van like" than covering the window

 

To blend or not to blend...
I did think about that but felt that leaving the edge in would make it look better. I thought that if I did blend it in as one then it would look too bubbly if you know what I mean.
But that's my opinion.
What does everyone think?

 

if I were repainting the whole car I'd blend them in but if you were leaving the paint I would leave them as is.

 

....complete colour change to either white or satin gun metal.
The panels are sealed to the body so it's a soft line instead of a gap

 

My fear would be all the effort being put in to look like a focus with a painted back window, like the corsa above!, the focus above looks quality

 

Custom front bumper coming along... Think I should of just bought an St one now rather than be original...a lot more work than I thought

 

Moving on...
Bulk head finished with shelf

 

Cool Project.
But why not just buy a factory Focus Van instead of converting?

 

Yes this would of been easier however they never made them in the UK just Ireland

 

....also I fancied the challenge!