Tom's Metro Van Project

Like a few people Tom had had the idea of making a Mk1/2 K-Series Metro for a while but the amount of time and work finding all the parts, then cutting up your car and doing the work to convert it is a big step to make. 

When Tom bought this Mk3 he wasn’t planning to do this conversion. However, having seen the totally different driving experience of the K-Series when a cheap Mk2 van came up for sale on eBay making a Mk1 1.8 K-Series van seemed too good a opportunity to miss! 

Body

• 1993 Rover Metro Rio
• original steel van panels fitted, rear bulkhead, floor extension, spare wheel cover
• Mk1 Turbo bonnet
• Mk1 tailgate fitted
• Mk1 bumpers and lights, grill
• new rear arches and rear panel
• modified doors for security locks, deadlocks also fitted
• modified Mk1 front wings, made 1 inch longer than standard
• modified scuttle 1 inch longer than standard
• custom made front panel
• upper fuel filler welded, lower fuel door welded in, fuel filler inside car 
• roof aeriel removed, rear wiper removed
• custom made full bolt in roll cage, boxed mounting platforms, main hoop tied into rear jacking points
• custom made alloy roof rack
• Mk2 Turbo body kit
• custom mixed colour based on nardo grey

Suspension & brakes

• fully rebuilt suspension all new parts
• Individualised / lowered / stiffened
• front sock absorbers fitted, gaz adjustable
• modified rear subframe mounts and large droop stops
• front and rear anti-roll bar
• MGF front brakes
• MGF 14 inch steel spare wheels banded from 5.5 to 7 inch 185/50/14 tyres

Engine

• 1.8 VVC K-Series rebuilt with new pistons / liners etc.
• standard R65 5-speed gearbox
• K&N air filter
• remapped ECU
• modified MGF alloy rad with electric fan
• remote thermostat
• stainless steel powerflow side exit exhaust and decat
• omex rev limiter
• sump guard

Interior

• MG red carpets
• MG 130mph speedo
• GTi seats
• Schroth 4 point ASM harnesses
• Grant steering wheel with d1 spec quick slim release