Welcome to my channel. I'm Matt! I'm currently converting a Mk1 Ford Transit Connect into a weekend camper. This is my first camper van build, so I've certainly thrown myself into the deep end! Along the way, I'll be covering electrics, welding, solar, carpentry & more!
I was diagnosed with Autism in early 2020 & after initially struggling to come to terms, I've since learned to embrace it. My alternative brain wiring allows me to see things from completely different perspectives, & to think of unique solutions that others would likely miss. The name 'Atypical Workshop' came about through the fusion of two very different themes:
During lockdown, while training myself in carpentry, I also began watching Atypical (Netflix). The show both helped me to understand what I was going through, & reminded me of how capable I am. On 'The Atypical Workshop' I aim to use my unique skill set to both overcome the challenges I face and provide entertaining & informative content.
Nice fella sorry I’ve not been around sadly been in hospital but thankfully getting back on my feet again so looks like I got a lot of catching up to do 😂👍
Yes that works too, it’s just very difficult to get the chip out of the old key. The chip I programmed was from the key to my old van, so I had to chop it up to retrieve the chip! If you struggle to remove the chip, you can keep the old key on your key ring and hold it against the immobiliser when you start the engine, it’s just time consuming and impractical. Hope that helps! Best of luck :) drop me a message on instagram if you get stuck 👍
You’re too kind! Don’t go polishing my ego too much, I might start thinking I’m too good for replying to my viewers 😂 Glad to help :) let me know how you get on
Morning, bruv. All door locks and filler cap changed over. Realised that it was the switch behind the ignition that was faulty so i removed that.. Now its old key for steering lock and imobilizer, and ive installed a rocker switch on the left of the steering column to turn the van on, and a non-latching push to start button for the starter moter! Do you have a link for the instructions that you used to swap the bonnet lock wafers? As im afraid ive had the same luck in buying a lock bundle... Bonnet lock is too short! Many thanks
Great job locating the faulty harness. The solenoid fuse blew when you were undoing the harness with the battery connected at the start. Blown fuse wont give you intermittent faults but a permanent one.
Hey, im struggling to unlock my door with the key, but the bonnet and transmission are fine, so i think the issue is with the barrel in the door. Do you know if im alright just changing the door barrel and using a different key to open the door without having to code it? Cheers, Mike
Hi Mike, sounds as though you’re on the right track here - I can’t see any reason why this wouldn’t work and, it’s completely non destructive if it doesn’t work. Give it a go and let me know how it goes? Cheers Matt
How so? Are you asking if the installation process is the same? I would imagine yes. Bear in mind that the wiring may or may not be a reversal of a RHD, you’ll have to check! Switches will be opposite because drivers side has 2 switches, passenger side one
Did your by chance already have the window switch or did you have to change the harness out to be able to add the power window option. I ask only because I swapped out my doors already and my power mirrors work but the power windows will not because the center console does not have the wire harness.
Most obvious would be books and/or games. Maybe throw in a usb porton there as well, so you can charge a device while using your table, or connect a usb reading light or something.
Good thinking Rick! I reckon I’ll put the socket on the board behind the table in the opening (I now realise I forgot to include how I made that bit, I’ll have to cover it in a future video)
Yeah this should work, just be careful when you remove the transponder chip. I couldn’t remove it so I guessed and chopped the key up on the mitre saw to open it 😂 Good luck!
You got away lightly.....the inner stiffener on mine was rotten both sides... We went for a full pattern part outer sill to include the shaped ends.... Everything else was fabricated from scratch... A lot of work
Great! I’ll continue with it, see how it goes 👍 The foldout table is mostly done now, just need the rain to stop so I can get the face panel back in and mark where I need to cut 😄
Very cool video, i like the format , its gives a good structure to you for making the video also....Speaker sounds better out, but thats ok....looking forward to the dome video, i think I'm going to fit one on my van too...keep up the good work , and thank you : )
Thanks for your feedback! I’ll stick with this style see how it does :) Yeah I’m very happy with the speaker outcome! I’d best get editing them! I will do, and you’re welcome :) Matt
Thank you! And super practical too :) I should probably do a video covering how I get internet in the van. Is this something you’d be interested to see? Matt
Tell me about it! I had to edit out a lot of swearing 😂. It's a 115w panel - SPM041151200 www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Datasheet-BlueSolar-Monocrystalline-Panels-EN-.pdf
Actually, I’ve been traveling for several years. Went 10,000 miles last summer from Oregon to Prince Edward Island and back . I really love most of my design, but there are always things I’d would change if given the chance.
Hi Mr Ploppy :) you certainly don’t need to remove the knuckle like I did in the first half of the video - though my honest answer would be that the dust shields are not worth replacing. They’re not a not fail and are therefore not required. If you consider how rusty mine got, the very thing that is supposed to protect the brakes was likely flaking all over them. A new set is better than none, but at what cost? At a guess your Getz is around 15 years old or more. You need to ask yourself if it’s worth the hassle. Hope this helps :) Matt
@AtypicalWorkshop the crumbling cover is contaminating the abs sensor with crumbling bits and putting the light on. Maybe easier just to remove the bad one.
I agree - see how much of the old one you can remove first. I assume you’ve jacked up the car and removed the wheel? Pop something underneath too to protect your drive 👍
Are there any other things you plan to do to your van? Let me know if there are, and I can let you know if any of my planned videos are of the same topic :)
This video has less views because the algorithm decided it didn't need it yet. Your view count is pretty typical of what I would expect for a channel of your size making content like this. Give it time to get discovered and keep creating.
A bottle of Capt. Tolley is also handy to have in the tool bag, in the never end fight against leakage. I found your glamorous assistants lack of faith and dry sense of humour, spot on.
@@AtypicalWorkshop It goes on like milk, but it is flexible and clear, when dry. Have used it on a leaky (naturally) Land Rover and on a few boats, as well. The way it gets into all the nooks and crannies via capillary action, so good.
*must watch video before making assumptions on the title 😉 0:10 - the containers work just fine off the shelf. Use of a welder is required only for optional upgrades 1:55 - in this scene I fabricate a label plate by hand. I do not own a laser cutter myself. Since I had so many to cut, I paid a company £10 for 50 plates (20 per plate).
Thank you! Yeah I’m pretty pleased overall 👍 I think I paid about £60 for the pair of sills - unfortunately the eBay listing has expired and they were bought in dans account - I can ask him to look tomorrow. Paint: (2 x grey hi-build primer cans, 1 x grey stonechip can, 2 x colour matched metallic base coat cans, 1 x super gloss lacquer can. I paid about £120 for all of that, but that should be more than enough, since the passenger side which is yet to be sprayed will require less paint. You’ll want some filler, and some 180 grit sand paper to smooth it back too. Hope this helps! Matt
Because it was in december, we did one sill per afternoon/evening. In this weather you could get them both on in a day assuming your inner sills were in good nick
Believe you me I tried that! 😂unfortunately I don’t have a sheet metal bender, so just making one of them was far too time consuming. In the end 2-3 hours work for 30 odd containers was a good sacrifice for how useful they’ve been to me :)
Really appreciate this! I’ve some ideas for future videos on the topic - it’s a bit easier now that a few years have passed since I was diagnosed with autism in 2020, and I have strategies in place that I can share
You’ve got to use what’s available! My dad has kept every lidls potato salad container since about 2008, so there’s a whole shelving unit just for screws 😂
Hey, I'm going to be starting a Connect conversion in the coming months, love the detail and work you put into you videos, well done Sir : ) ...Cant wait to see the camper finished ......Do you still think the Connect is a good choice for a mini camper van conversion?
I would say size wise the t230 is an excellent choice. Unfortunately the newest version of the mk1 is now 12 years out - mine is 15. Expect work to fix rust every year. If you know your way around the mechanical side and have time to do some welding or are happy to pay someone, go for it. If not, I’d go for something newer. It’s a shame that the mk2 connect doesn’t come in the high roof version like mine, but if that’s not an issue, they’re a decent size.
@@AtypicalWorkshop hey, yes ,size is what attracts me , you can sit in the back, without hitting your head off the roof, i dont know another good option for a van this size., and yes, why didn't Ford make a high roof version of the next model , there is a 2024 connect now, which looks nice, but i dont think there is a high roof version of that either : ( .... I'm currently building a workshop, hopefully be finished by September, and then I'm going to buy one, some of the police ones come up an Ebay occasionally, usually pretty mint, but a little expensive, although maybe saves work / money, down the line .
@SillyMonkeys have a look on autovillage.co.uk too. I find they often have vehicles that don’t appear on autotrader. For example - www.autovillage.co.uk/used-car/ford/transit-connect/cli_2757-1_6186631
