Hello from the wilds of Scotland

Morning all,

I've been lurking around as a guest for a while and having poached lots of helpful info already thought it was time I got on and introduced myself (and asked a heap of stupid questions).

I'm totally new to the whole bus thing but am pretty close to handing over my hard-borrowed cash for a 73 tintop camper so the wife, our very little person and I can set off into the wild blue yonder whenever we like. I'm currently not very mechanically minded (i can remove a spark plug and tell you which end's which but not much more) but am hoping to learn as I go along.

I don't know if this is the right place to ask some last-minute pre-purchase questions but if it's not then feel free to shout me down.

If it is, can anyone tell me; is it ok to run a 1600 engine with a 1700's gearbox? The bus I'm looking at appears to have started life with a T4 engine (it's got the inspection hatch) and the current owner was told it was a 1700 but even to my untrained eye it looks like a T1 engine.

Also, I know they're old and unassisted but just how heavy and ineffective should I expect the brakes to be? Maybe, having only drive modern stuff up til now, I was being too gentle but they seemed really tough, even for a 16-stone knacker like me.

Anyway, cheers in advance for any advice, and I'm looking forward to spending a lot of time on here should we end up getting this van.

 

i'm no expert here so don't take it as gospel but i wasn't aware a 1973 had a hatch regardless of the engine fitted.....has it got a fuel filler flap or just a petrol cap? i'm wondering if it's tax free but (cough cough).... anyway welcome and a picture or two would confirm some things.....someone a lot more knowledgeable than me will tell you more.Rick.

 

Welcome to TLB. Nice intro.

Running a 1600 engine with a 1700 gearbox isn't going to present any real issue. If it pulls away well, drive fine and can cruise at 50 plus then you wont have any problems.

I find the brakes work well (ours don't have the servo either). I don't think you should feel shocked by their performance as long as you take into account the weight.

 

It is possible that the hatch was added retrospectively.

In the engine bay can you see the stand for an air filter (or evidence of it's removal) on the right hand side ?

If you could supply M-plate codes and chassis number then things can be checked out.

 

hello
bek

 

Welcome - brakes will be heavy after modern ones but they should work okay - like has been said, it's a heavy vehicle. Gentle isn't the way to go

 

All the above but if your bus did start life as a 1700 it would have had servo assisted brakes. The issues you have with braking may be due to this having not been coverted to non servo or the servo not being connected as most 1600 engines will not have a servo take off on the manifold. If this were the case - ie the servo is there and not connected and all is mechanically well with the servo then replacing the carb manifold (depends on engine type as to which one) with a servo one and reconnecting the servo pipes might result in better brake performance and you not needing Vin Diesels RIGHT leg to stop it!!!!

Have a look and see if theres a servo on the front beam. There will be a servo pipe leading to the rear which should have a non return valve on it and then another pipe continuing to the manifold. If no servo then......

Best to start a discusion on "tech" cut and paste this so folk will know what you are on about.

Welcome to TLB. Enjoy

 

hello from way down south

 

Welcome

 

Cheers for the welcome and advice.

Sorry, I should have said, it looks from old MOTs that the van had a new engine about 7 years ago. I think this is when it ended up with a 1600 rather than coming out of the factory with one. I read somewhere that from late '72 if you specced a type 4 engine an inspection hatch was fitted, it certainly looks factory rather than after-market. And yup, it has a fuel flap and is allegedly tax exempt.

I'll need to try and have another poke around underneath, see if there is a servo. The brakes are my main worry at the mo, but maybe I'm just being a big softie.

Either way, I think we're pretty set on it so hopefully there'll be some pics by this time next week.

 

Looking forward to the pics

 

Hello and Welcome from The Colonial Contingent

Looking forward to seeing the photos of the bus, cos we all like photos here.

When you say "the wilds of Scotland", I assume you live in Glasgow

 

welcome to the site mate

 

Welcome to TLB

 

^^ Yea gads no, not that wild ;D

Nah, I'm down in the green and pleasant Borders. I can see trees from my house and everything.