Arkansas to Bristol '78 import bus

I think it's the dk code t25 boxes you need.

 

Took the bell housing off yesterday & started to strip & inspect the driveshafts. Could someone tell me what these digits are?

 

I haven't had a lot of chances to work on the bus lately but I had an hour up there today.
I fitted both adjustable spring plates & managed to undo the 46mm rear hub nut so I can strip & clean all that.





I also decided I wanted to attack the 'patina' on the roof.
I used coarse scotch pads & some wet & dry. I only did the front section & the gutter rails. When it's all done I'm going to satin lacquer the whole van.





Managed to source some more Fuch wheels from another member on here. I had to get a lot of details from him before I commited as I have only just sorted my last issue. Luckily the seller was very understanding.

 

Nice bit of Pat and Tina.

 

Thanks, I can't wait to get it in the bodyshop.

 

Looking forward to seeing this on the ground.

 

It's probably a daft question, but can I ask why you've cut the bump stop things off?

 

The van is going to be running about 2 splines lower than standard so the bump stop needed to be removed so I removed the complete bracket.I'll then clean up the surface
of the chassis rail & rust proof it.

Me too mate.I'm really hoping to have it done by the end of the month if all goes to plan!

 

Took the plunge & ordered a pair of wheels off a member on here.
Great communication & very understanding of my paranoia due to my last issue.
Won't mention any names until they turn up & I can gush then!!!!!!

 

Did a few hours up the unit.1st I cleaned all the parts necessary



I then wire wheeled everything.



I then replaced the hub bearings & seals & refitted everything. I cleaned the original brake lines & blew them through.
I fitted new wheel cylinders & adjusters & rebuilt the brake system.





Just got the otherside to do next time & I can then put the old girl back on the ground.

I'm going to start looking at shock absorbers next but this looks like a mine field of trouble. I did a quick search & it looks like the best way to do things is to let the van settle then measure between top & bottom mount & order some like that!
Unsure if that's correct so any info would be helpful.
Cheers.

 

Finally got the rear end complete & the van down on the ground.
I then measured the centres of the shock mounts & ordered a set of Spax from Machine 7.
I allowed for a little wiggle room in the distances to allow me to raise or lower as I please.
I'm debating whether to go down a little more on the rear.
Also need to order new rear drums as I discovered mine are different. When I rebuilt the rear hub & installed one side & fitted the wheel I could not turn it as the lip of the drum was binding against the backplate.
Also fitted my new wheels supplied by @onion with new 195/60 tyres.

 

Van is booked into the bodyshop Wednesday next week
Today I cleaned the servo, stripped & cleaned the master cylinder & also stripped the calipers.
I couldn't move the pistons in the housing. They were seized absolutely solid.
I'm going to look into brake upgrades to compare prices against the standard items as I need disks, calipers, pads & retaining pin kits.

 

Looks like some good progress, which body shop are you using?

 

Thanks mate.
He's actually my neighbour.
Proper one man band, old school shop in Bristol.
He doesn't advertise & doesn't normally take on outside work but I've been his neighbour for over 10 years & he sees all sorts of projects on my drive.
He used to do crash repair on Vw's back in the late 70's early 80's.

 

I'm still waiting to get the van in the shop so I thought I'd tinker with it a bit today.




I then cleaned the fuel tank,removed the sender & tested it.





Straightened out the fuel tank cover,zinc primed & painted it.



Also discovered that the gearbox mount is screwed.

 

Van is finally going to the bodyshop tomorrow. Turned it around ready for collection.





When he starts pulling it apart I'll get more pics.

 

Picked up my beetle project today & got the bus to the bodyshop. Couldn't resist a few pics of it outdoors.
I've been told the bus should be no more than 4-5 weeks away.







Here's a pic of when I 1st got the bus last year.

 

Haven't updated this in a while but if I'm being honest I haven't really done a great deal.
The van has been in my mates bodyshop having a bit of welding done,then having the paint matched & blended & a coat of satin lacquer over the top half.

I've had a bit of a battle getting my Jeans beetle back from a mate of mine who was going to restore it. After a year & me giving him money for panels & parts I finally got it back in exactly the same way I delivered it to him. I had to threaten legal action to retrieve my money.
This kind of killed me off for a while.

I've also just started having my driveway ripped up so when the van's done it has a home. Should be finished by the weekend but as you can imagine it's tapped me out financially.
Looked like this at 9am....





This by lunchtime...



Then by tea time, new footings in for perimeter walls & over 30 tonne of earth moved.



I did fit my new spaxs shocks to the van.









Hoping to have the van back by the end of next week so I'll sort pics then.

On a positive note, I was offered a complete 2 litre n/a engine & all parts needed for a conversion. Since then the guy has offered me the whole car for the same money.