1972 OZ import: Engine Fail :(

Discussion in 'Show Us Your Ride' started by Marmite monster, Feb 20, 2016.

  1. Having finished the interior and had some more new stuff fitted shocks etc, it was time for our first trip to the coast. Destination Croyed, Devon 190 miles.
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    It was going so well ...sun set etc

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    Got 14 miles away from the campsite and the big guy gave up. The top end tappet noise that started around Cheltenham that I thought was exhaust gasket didn't get any quieter after trying to cure it with more miles lol.

    We made it all the way down the devon link road and the last hill before you hit Barnstable finished us off, lucky a police car came past and the guys helped me push it down the road into the next lay buy . This is where things got interesting as the AA man kindly informed us that we downgraded our cover from relay to roadside 6 months ago .....oh balls forgot about that. This left us with one tow and 15 miles in the bag. After much deliberation I decided the best place to put the bus was out side Barnstable VW dealership.
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  2. Oh cock! Hope it gets sorted sooner rather than later. Bad news!
     
  3. My mate managed to get us a last minuet room at the Thatch . big thanks to them as they just threw him the keys to the room and said sort it in the morning, buy this time it was 1.00am. Me and my mate got up early and went down to the VW dealership to explain the scrap left on the front of the nice forecourt. They were so cool and agreed to let me keep it locked up out the back safe till the Monday while we sorted out a plan. Thanks chaps :)
    Its new home for the next few days.
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    So after a few chilled out days on the beach, staying at friends house I came up with the following options
    Pay to upgrade the AA cover to relay £80 and pay £2.50 per mile to get it home (do the maths :( .)
    Find a local tow company £350 ish
    Get lift home with mates borrow trailer come down and tow van back.
    Leave van in Devon get it fixed come back down in mrs car then drive home.

    After talking with Graham at MEB I decided to go with the leaving it in devon plan . Graham put me in touch with Bob at Resto Haus in Braunton, Really nice guy came and picked up the van and towed it back to his unit.
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    never a good sign
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    so thats the story so far, the engine is coming out next week to check it all good for the exchange then will be fitting a recon unit.
    Bobs going to put a few hundred miles on it for me then I will drive it home ..slowly eek
     
  4. Sorry to hear of your bad luck but if it's any consolation your bus looks awesome :thumbsup:
     
  5. You have identified the problem right here in that sentence. Spent to much time making it look nice rather than making it run right .
    lesson learned !
     
    Jack Tatty, Lasty, 3901mick and 4 others like this.
  6. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

    hope you get it sorted out soon fella :(
     
  7. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    You can't do everything at once. :)
     
  8. Could happen to anyone. They can last for yonks or let go when you least expect it.
     
  9. Sympathies !
    Life is just one big learning curve


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
     
  10. it is a common mistake ,people forget about brakes ,fuel lines etc etc...

    but thank god you took the visor off....:D

    I had a red bus that sprayed oil over the back ,the engine breathed like a ninty years old..:hattip:
     
    taiga79 likes this.
  11. PIE

    PIE

    When it starts to get hot and knock more miles seldome cures it!
     
  12. Keep going mate, get some more holiday down there before heading back...lovely bus btw. :) I always say engines et al are easily replaced it bodged bodywork which is pricey to put right and yours looks lurvely ;)
     

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