Didn't get time to do this today as I've been stripping windows and G3'ing the Swede in my 'breaks'. The paint has come up surprisingly well, just got the roof to do now. http://s289.photobucket.com/user/Bathtub57/media/1976 Swedish Van/IMG_0145_1.jpg.html][/URL] I'm debating painting the bumpers, I was going to keep it completely patina'd but the cleaning and polishing bug has got me.
Might as well match them to the condition of the buses paint. They look a bit at odds now the rest is shiny.
Gave the bumpers a quick go with the polishing mop today and they are coming up ok so may be able to avoid a paint job. I've been busy replacing fuel lines, fuel pump, fuel filters and installed interior lights. For a small bus they certainly have a lot of bits!
Time for an update. The Swede seems to be running OK now having replaced the fuel lines. I don't get the feeling we are at 100% just yet but certainly headed in the right direction. There is a small hole in one of the heat exchangers which is causing some exhaust blow and the other exchanger is not the correct type as it does not have the port for the fan tube to attach to. I can live with it for now but new exchangers are on the cards down the line I think. I've fitted anti squeal shims on the brakes and so far so good but I have not yet done a good long run. If it works I'll post up my pics as I was unable to find anything online that shoes this process for the complete idiot, such as I am. The bigger jobs I have done are to have a go at the scarred nose. I don't mind patina but this was way outside of that. Ultimately it will need proper body work but for now I have merely sculpted and rattle can finished it. Unfortunately the rattle can colour is quite a way off the van colour, it is far too yellow / brown. I have the 2k paint Russ used so may need to rub it back for a repaint down the line. This is what we had And now looks like Note deliberate poor light long distance photo.
I scrapped off the residue of the old roof insulation which came off surprisingly easy but made a hell of a mess. I have fitted a roll of Dodo van insulator. FYI the 3m pack does about 2/3 of the bus so another roll is on the way. I then fitted a floor using 9mm ply with 3mm hardboard on top. And then fitted some cheap carpet tiles which actually give quite a good Westy look I think. 9 tiles required FYI but don't quite cover the entire floor under the bed, but that does not bother me. Next up a dry fit of the Vanwurks units What a lovely bit of kit and really change the feel of the bus. The gas bottle unit will not fit with the Westy bed in place so I will be making up a temporary unit. I'll be fitting the vanwurks bed once the cushions have been made up. This all has to come back out again so I can drill holes in the floor for the gas vents, waste water and table leg holder. Not looking forward to that job! I spent a good couple of hours last night figuring out the electrics and think I understand it. Looking at it as an overall job is daunting but as far as I can see it is fairly straightforward if you take it one step at a time. Hopefully we will be ready for a maiden voyage at the end of the month for half term.
Thanks all - I need to do something about the headlining. I might go for something temporary before doing a proper liner in the winter.
Yep, windscreen out for the headliner and all the rest because the trim around the windows needs doing too. Ply is an option. I need to take the Westy windows out to swap the round and the other side ones should be simple enough so could probably get rounds the windows trimmed now. I want to get the units fitted properly and get the electrics sorted first though and am running out of time as I'm away from Monday for two weeks and was hoping to get a few days away in half term at the end of the month.
I speak Swedish too and live an hour from Helsingborg...ive seen that HIF logo somewhere....have you got the Swedish reg. no. ? I can do a search with that.
I took a drive today, first time since working on the front brakes and I am pleased to confirm all went well. I bought some anti squeal shims from Brickwerks per @onions advice, thanks mate. They are pretty straight forward to fit - there were no grooves on my pistons which are new replacements so I simply secured with the pins. I gave a reasonably liberal smearing of copper slip on both sides of the shim, I wasn't sure how much was enough so may have put on too much but all seems to be pretty ok. The hardest part of the job was relieving the pressure on the pistons which had to be pushed back in so as to take the extra depth from the shims. I just opened the bleed valves and pushed and that did the trick, I just had to clean up some of the overspill. I'm sure this is not the tecnically correct way to do it and am happy to hear advice from those that know better. Driving with non-squeal brakes and some sound deadening is a whole new and massively more enjoyable experience. I've replaced most of the hoses and pipes and that seems to have helped the engine I will now focus on sorting out the valve adjustments, timing and general clean up of the engine block. I'll post up some interior update shots when at the pc again.
JFJ992 is now the ref of a 2006 bmw so it was either scrapped or exported in 2005 from the look of it.
That seems to tie in with the timing of when it came over. Meanwhile in other news.. The Vanwurks cushions are on back order so I have fitted the RHD Westy bed. This is different to the R&R set up Vanwurks use so the gas bottle storage does not fit in the gap. I thought I'd give my old RHD unit a whirl and it fits mm perfect! This enables me to carry on with the gas lines and electrics when I get back (away on business now). The iPhone pano picture is perfect for getting a full on interior shot. I need to find a few trim items. Firstly to cover the walkthrough end vent here I'll probably just carpet this And I need to order a proper sill trim as my angle iron botch doesn't work.
Mad matz did me some to wrap around the seat bases all the way round the bulkheads. I found a decent aluminium nosing trim, about 60 x 30mm and filed down the 30mm edge to suit the plywood. I'd like to find a nice cover for the air vents too... was considering a simple aluminim L after the dog got his foot stuck in them!!
