ICT issues: I'd had some poor runing with the ICT carbs so finally got around to sorting this out. New huco low pressure fuel pump, rejetting (original jets supplied by eurocarb are way too big) plus i had Mike Leather (way out westie) set these up for me. Bus runs much better now. Full write up here: http://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/weber-ict-jetting-fuel-pump-pressure.77276/
I've been out and about loads in the bus recently but not taken may pics. Here's a few though from Stonor Park at the weekend. I met up with the Wolfsburg Bus Crew guys at beaconsfield and we drove up to the show in convoy, 34 busses all together on the m40 turned a few heads Stonor Park 2018 by Rob E, on Flickr 34396679_1895897010502994_3494468615606894592_n by Rob E, on Flickr
Just back from 500 mile trip around Snowdonia with the kids. Bus ran great, only minor issue was handbrake which i've now adjusted (Oxford hills are nothing compared to Welsh mountains..) and i need to remember wide open throttle on v hot starts, but otherwise all good. Only a couple of the bigger hills that were a struggle (2nd gear at one point coming out of Blenau Ffestiniog) but otherwise a great trip. We camped at Lake Bala, then Blenau, Surf Snowdonia in Dolgarrog, Llandudno, then Llanrwst then home. map by Rob E, on Flickr Untitled by Rob E, on Flickr night time lake Bala by Rob E, on Flickr Erw Glas: Untitled by Rob E, on Flickr
Popped over the Bicester Heritage Sunday Scramble the other weekend. I'm not much of a photographer but luckily the official BH photographer managed to catch me in one of the shots - can you spot me? Bicester Heritage Sunday Scramble October 2018 by Rob E, on Flickr Shame it's the last one of the season - it's a really great event.
.. and a couple of pics from the last camp of the summer, down at Durdle Door not cheap but a great view, stayed two nights, swam in the crystal clear water - lovely trip. Durdle Door Dorset by Rob E, on Flickr Durdle Door Dorset by Rob E, on Flickr
Update: MOT passed, no advisories Should be last MOT test that is needed due the the age of the bus, however i'm planning to keep doing this as an annual safety check. Got some of the correct tin pieces for the rear of the bus from davidoft - fitted one (bugger to get on as the heat exchanger needs to come off) will get the other one on and get some pics at the weekend. Fitted some og westy cupholders. These were from a t25 but the brown fits pretty well with the rest of my interior. Rather than drill the bus i've added these to the buddy box so they can be used when driving or if the box is out of the bus when camping. Untitled by Rob E, on Flickr Untitled by Rob E, on Flickr Mr Whitewalls red stripe (hot wheels style); will get some better pics at some point: Untitled by Rob E, on Flickr Need to track down some centre caps for the zenders. When i got these originally i put some cheapo plastic vw logo caps on, didn't really suit as they look too modern and plasticky. Didn't re-fit them after the stripe - searching for better options.. On my "to-do" list: - steering box; my brazilian /trw box has hit the limit of adjusting so i'm going to re-build my OG box that's currently sat on a shelf (or find a better original box) - brake fluid change; overdue.. bought a bleeder, just need to get on with it - heat exchangers; mine are pretty ratty and have holes but i have some good OG sat on the shelf here. i'll start collecting all the parts/ seals i need to get these swapped over at some point. oh, and oil change, valve adjust then i'm set for the summer
Looking good Rob, the red walls look nice and suits the wheel style and body colour well. You need a wash though
ha ha yes. that's what happens when you use the bus through the winter. needs a good spring clean inside and out.
not surprising i dont' really get much heat from these lots of holes, no seals.. Untitled by Rob E, on Flickr
Don't really think of my bus as being *that* low but parked up next to Rich's stock height '73 it does sit nice.. Volksworld_Show2019 by Rob E, on Flickr
Finally got around to fitting my Reimo R&R bed safety latch - bought the kit off someone on here more than a year ago but its been sat on the shelf since then.. IIRC the original 78 westy bed had a latch of some sort that kept the seat base locked in position, my original interior had one i think but that went when i sold off the remains of the original interior. When i fitted my new westy style full width bed back in 2014 i hadn't really considered this, but when you start camping and carry heavy stuff (cooker/gas bottle) under the seat and you've got your kids in the back you don't really want to think what would happen if you had a crash/rolled over and all that stuff was bouncing around.. The Reimo latch is pretty simple, big sturdy latch auto locks when the seat base goes down, and to release you need to pull a knob. Reimo kit is part number 58060 and is desribed as "seat lock for variotech classic" whatever that means, either way it fits fit on a westy t2 R&R bed. 58060 by Rob E, on Flickr Untitled by Rob E, on Flickr Untitled by Rob E, on Flickr The knob that comes with the kit is ivory/white, First thing SWMBO said when she saw it was "shame about the white knob, would be better if it coordinated with the interior better.." so i dug out some brown paint and appropriate primer and gave it a quick coat. Now brown, looks much nicer. Other stuff; Half term week i did another trip up to Snowdonia with the kids, bikes on the back too for this trip, didn't take any decent pics but heres one. Pant Yr Onnen campsite right on the edge of Lake Bala, very cool spot and the kids loved the bike rides, canoe hire on the lake and sunset bbq and campfire at the water's edge. Untitled by Rob E, on Flickr Also did the Stonor VW event again, parked up with the Wolfsburg Bus Crew line up. Good weather again and good to catch up with a few friends too. Stonor 2019 by Rob E, on Flickr We're down to Devon this weekend too, Lyn Valley Classic is on Sunday so we will go down and stay at Putsborough.
Some Stonor pics from Wolfsburg Bus Crew (Rich Coxhill): Stonor 2019 (Rich Coxhill photo) Wolfsburg Bus Crew by Rob E, on Flickr Stonor 2019 (Rich Coxhill photo) Wolfsburg Bus Crew by Rob E, on Flickr Stonor 2019 (Rich Coxhill photo) Wolfsburg Bus Crew by Rob E, on Flickr
nice, where did you get the safety catch, i dont have anything on my r and r either and thats a good solution
Bus is getting a lot of miles at the moment which is great. We were camping down to Devon a couple of weeks ago, camped over at Shuttleworth last weekend and will be there again this weekend for the evening airshow. Kids break up next week and we're off for a week away, not yet planned but somewhere in the bus. Can't wait. Running issues: I've had issues recently where the bus just doesn't seem to like extended full throttle. 3/4 throttle it ran great, but long up hill slog if you went full throttle it would bog down. I was convinced it was over fueling (blackened plugs, backfiring, high emissions, poor fuel economy) so this time last year i did the following: -replaced stock fuel pump with low pressure jobbie (huco) as the stock FI elec pump is way too high a pressure for the ICTs - re-jetted and balanced carbs (mike leather) as the ICT's come supplied with wrong jets for type 4 - 123 distributor (actually i think this was the yr before, but either way, should rule out spark?) - new plugs, coil and leads. it was loads better after all that but still not 100% re-checked the valves and also replaced grubby fuel filter with a new one (possibly causing poor flow?). Still not right.. Anyway, cut a long story short, i'd had the 123 fitted by a local classic car place as i didn't have a timing light. They'd assured me it was set up right. As i was getting to the end of my tether trying to resolve this i though it's prob worth re-checking the timing myself, just to double check. £15 quid timing light purchased off ebay and guess what - timing is WAY OUT, hence why its running rich. Initially set as per Bentley (7.5btdc at idle) but that didn't seem to work very well, so i took the advice of the internet (this forum and samba) and set it 3k rpm, vacuum hose off, 30-31 degrees. Yep, that works bus now runs better than it's ever done and seems to be using half the fuel it did before. Oh, and i did some more reading up on the 123 distributor; it had been set on the default "0" map which the booklet describes as "one-fits-all-curve" but if you read the detail it means for a 1200, 1300, 1500 ie type 1 motor. The blurb makes no reference to my OG distributor (p.n 021 905 205 "P") but lists 021 905 205 "G/J" against type 2 1700 for which it recommends map 9. I've changed over to this new map and it runs great. I also swapped the NGK plugs for the Bosch Super W8CC copper plug as recommended by ratwell. No idea if that made a difference but they do seem to make a tighter fit with my plug leads.. every little helps as they say, and a new/ non-sooty set of plugs is going to be an improvement? The bus decided to remind me who's boss though after i'd resolved the running issued and developed a pretty significant oil leak - luckily just rocker gasket seal so easily resolved, and the oil it dumped on the h/exchanger on that side will mean that slows the rusting process on that particular part Anyway, enough words, lets post some pictures:
Lyn Valley Classic (Lynton and Lynmouth, North Devon): Lovely small low key show right down by the sea - did this a few weeks back: Lyn Valley Classic by Rob E, on Flickr Winston's favorite place; he sits up here and watches the world go by..: Winston - Lyn Valley Classic by Rob E, on Flickr .. whereas Spencer prefers the drivers seat: Spencer - Lyn Valley Classic by Rob E, on Flickr Can't believe how big spencer is getting - 9 months old and he's already massive - he's going to be huge when he finally stops growing!?
Nice trip over to Shuttleworth this weekend to camp for the evening airshow. Shuttleworth July Evening Airshow by Rob E, on Flickr Bumped in to @sANDYbAY and ex-member and ex-champagne owner rickyroo also camping over. Shuttleworth July Evening Airshow by Rob E, on Flickr Shuttleworth July Evening Airshow DH 88 Comet by Rob E, on Flickr