A restoration for Iris

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by JamesLey, Jul 6, 2015.

  1. Hi James, so pleased you have solved idle running and are now properly mobile. Did you have to remove much to be able to take off the intake manifolds?
     
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  2. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    I cheated a little and removed the studs that hold the downpipes to the cylinder head. Then just took out the downpipe section. Saved undoing the whole manifold.


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  3. Great stuff, which bleed kit did you buy btw? There are lots out there, but i trust your judgement :)
     
  4. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Wouldn’t trust me too much! It was the pagid one from eurocarparts. I wasn’t keen on using one which puts pressure into the reservoir in case it went bang and chucked brake fluid everywhere.


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  5. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Alternators.
    I replaced ours about 4 years ago as the thread on it got stripped by the nut that holds the belt on.
    New one worked when I started resto.
    I found a thread on here about testing them which I’ve followed. Tests carried out:
    1. Voltage at alternator when engine is off matches voltage across battery terminals
    2. Ignition on and alternator warning light comes on.
    3. Started engine and measured voltage across alternator. No change from step 1.
    4. Wired a bulb across B+ and D+ to try and trigger it into action. Bulb lights up but doesn’t go out.

    So from the above I’m guessing my alternator is goosed? Interestingly at step 4 I set up my camera in the cab and the warning light didn’t go out (or even flicker?!). I would have thought that joining B+ to D+ would send 12v to the other side of the bulb and turn it off?



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  6. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    One of the risks of doing all the paint myself is not quite getting it right the first time round. I sprayed the front panel far too dry when clear coating it, so when I came to cut and polish it I broke through to the base coat.

    Flatted back and all masked up:
    [​IMG]

    3 coats of clear later:
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    Much better:
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    I’ve already painted the sliding door two times already, but it still didn’t look right. I’d corrected some pinholes the second time, but not done a very good job of blending the repair into the paint, when flatted back you can see the section that sat a bit high:
    [​IMG]

    So I flatted the whole panel and shot the base coat on, only to realise I’d not got all the clear off the panel causing it to bubble up horribly! :( I went home at this point as I’d had enough of it, and felt pretty low.

    Back down this morning and I made damn sure I had all of the clear off the panel:
    [​IMG]

    And finally happy with the door. Third times a charm!
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    Finally got a video of the van running under her own steam too. So satisfying!
     
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  7. Might need a couple of tweaks for the MOT .. nice work...

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  8. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    A stack of Hankook RA18s ready to go on. I want to underbody wax the arches while the wheels are off first though.
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  9. Merlin Cat

    Merlin Cat Moderator

    That fab paint job is almost like a mirror! :)
     
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  10. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Danke!


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  11. i'm in awe of all your meticulous work and how your bus looks like new!:thumbsup:
     
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  12. :hattip::hattip::hattip::hattip::hattip::hattip::hattip::hattip::hattip::hattip::hattip::hattip::hattip::hattip::hattip::hattip::hattip::hattip:
     
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  13. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Cheers! Final big push to get her back on the road now.


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  14. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

    cant wait to see the bus at Techenders maybe
     
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  15. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    More cutting and polishing this week, cab doors this time.
    [​IMG]

    Both cab doors rehung on the van, and all built up with new handles and mirrors (you can just see the new wheels on too, love how these look):
    [​IMG]

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    I’ve started cavity waxing the life out of everything to try and preserve my work. Bumpers and track covers:
    [​IMG]

    Rear valance and rear chassis leg sections cavity waxed and bunged up:
    [​IMG]

    The van has always had a small engine oil leak which I assumed was just part of the old van charm. However with the engine back in the leak was now more than I was comfortable with (I should’ve addressed this years ago really!). The leak was coming from the front of the engine so I highly suspected it was the front oil seal.

    So it was back out with the engine:
    [​IMG]

    My mate Wayne came down to give me a hand as taking the engine out solo is a bit of a job. I didn’t get any pictures of the oil seal, but it was a rubbish silicone seal which was leaking a large amount of oil. We replaced the seal, the o-ring and the clutch (the old one was soaked in oil, no idea how it was still working!):
    [​IMG]

    While the engine was out I also changed the faulty alternator for a new one. Engine all back in:
    [​IMG]

    The engine now runs without a whiff of an oil leak, and the alternator is successfully charging the battery! I’ve also swapped out the 009 dizzy since this picture for the SVDA.
    I’ve re-taxed the van and declared it MOT exempt for now. It’ll be getting an MOT for peace of mind though.
     
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  16. i love good standard wheel s
     
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  17. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Yeah I've never been one for alloy wheels. stock clean wheels for us.
     
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  18. me too love hubcaps too much
     
  19. arryhancock

    arryhancock Supporter

    Looking good james
     
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  20. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    Both rear pieces of glass back in tonight with a huge hand from Max. These are quite simply horrible to fit.
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