First time T2 Bay... I have the fear!

Hi All,

I am new around these parts so hello!

My story is simple but slightly loopy. I have always liked a classic car having learnt to drive in a Morris Traveller and subsequently run a series of MGs until the seats fell through the floor. That was quite a while ago and the closest I have been since has been the design classic (if not true classic) Nissan Figaro.

That was until a week or so ago and a few to many glasses of wine down at Brighton Beach. I decided that fateful day that I would sell my near new family Mini Countryman and swap it out for a bus.

36 hours later the deal was done (quite a good selection of Campers in Brighton as you can imagine). I had sourced a T2 that felt right. I settled on a RHD 1978 Devon Moonraker. Very retro. Very cool. I bought it from a very nice chap who had had 10 years of joy in it with his family. Tatty but totally original inside and solid all around the arches and lower edges. Doors were all good, paint pretty good bar a few minor blisters and a new engine to boot.

Perfect.

I drove it home (a 1 mile journey) and yep... You guessed it. It died. All the electrics went kaput...

And don't you just love it that your breakdown doesn't kick in for 24 hrs!

The next day I fixed it. Dodgy switch for the washer pump and it blew the fuse... Not too bad. The following day, I went to drive it to a welder (the get the underside totally checked out). When I got in the bus I smelt petrol and deep joy, half the tank was running down the road!

I think it is probably a bad hose but as I learnt yesterday, to check out the fuel tank you need to take the engine out!

Ahh... I am sure that will be small bill when the issue is resolved! Can't wait for the welding report after!

It has all genuinely made me laugh as I now truly remember my late teens and the permanent oily hands.

I do hope the bus will actually be back together soon. Just so it can be named.

I was thinking "Damien"

Think I will need all the help I can get on here!

Cheers

Ollie

 

Hello & Welcome from The Colonial Contingent

 

Sounds like you know your way around old classics Ollie.....there's no real surprises with these buses...whatever can go wrong will probably do so at some time or other...parts are plentiful, help is never far away, and you get to talk bus -related sh*t on forums like this.....what's not to like?
Good luck with the welding....sit down when he 'phones you
Welcome

 

That's how it looked... Last time I saw it! Ha! Ha!

 

Hi and welcome from East Anglia

 

looks nice! Orange is definitely the best colour....apart from green.....

 

Hello, Welcome

It will get sorted and be fun soon enough, just blowing out its cobwebs

 

Nice one Ollie, I saw that bus on eBay and it looked a cracker.... Don't be put off by the things you've encountered, we've pretty much all had similar experiences. Loads of info on the site as you're no doubt aware but as ever ask and someone will have the answer. Love the colour BTW.

 

Thanks all. Oddly it does look orange in the picture but it is in fact "marino" yellow (well, so I am told!).

 

I know it's early doors, and it may not be your thing, but there's a weekend event, held a couple of times a year, where owners meet up and work on their own buses, or volunteer their services FOC ....good excuse for a few beers and a great chance to pick people's brains.....see the Techenders thread.....bit of trek from Brighton perhaps, but a great introduction to bus ownership

 

Your never to stuck when you've got the late bayers on the job .....everything is talked about , welcome OllieR and nice bus too .

 

But everyone knows Yellow in all its glorious hues is the ultimate colour.
Just ask @MorkC68

 

I assume you'll be at breeze in a couple of weeks @OllieR - we're hoping to get there this year.

 

I hope I am with the Bay @3TNC. Even if the bus is still in bits, I will be there.
Actually, it would be quicker to walk for me than drive! Fingers crossed for sunshine!

 

Sounds okay to me @vanorak !

 

There will be a few of us there - look out for the Late Bay stickers and come and say hi.

 

Welcome from Lancashire - I've had my '73 Westy since May - and I too am brought up on MGs . We've been to the Lakes twice = broke down twice. Binding brakes first time - overheating 2nd time ( well it was in July on the hottest day of the year). Exhaust fell off after 2 weeks, bouncy suspension needed new shockers, wobbly steering traced to worn ball joint(s) now replaced and put new coil and other bits on - all on a van I thought needed nothing spending on - and the MOT is in 3 weeks - oh joy!

 

@cunny44 I really hope that football bet comes off tomorrow... Think I will be needing the cash!

 

might be a idea next time to do the welder to check it out before you buy the bus...

But gota say it looks pretty nice ..

welcome..