Campervan-ia Rust-oration (78 Camper - Danbury?)

Discussion in 'Restorations' started by mm289, Jan 3, 2012.

  1. rickyrooo1

    rickyrooo1 Hanging round like a bad smell

    i like the way your posting matey, it's the way i do it too, sometimes you get lots of replies sometimes you don't, it will pick up the more people recognise your posts. keep up the good work.
     
  2. Your doing a great job on the van and posting

    My converted panel van has gone in all the same places but the roof was shot as well

    Keep the updates coming
     
  3. hailfrank

    hailfrank Admin esq.

    enjoying your thread mate :) keep it coming.
     
  4. Looking good so far nice one
     
  5. Cheers team :)

    Thanks for the karma as well.

    MM
     
  6. So having got the engine out, time to have a bit closer look around.

    Bulkhead area doesn’t look too bad....

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    Although chassis rails are definitely showing signs of krustiness! (We were talking about the chassis and where we could jack the front end to remove the beam, I pointed to the front lateral outrigger/jacking point with my foot and was met by a pile of rust falling on the floor :eek:)

    [​IMG]

    Quick question on the heater pipes. They are metal to the join in the middle of the van then a kinda corrugated rubber/paper pipe from there – is this normal or a “DIY fix”?

    So, engine is now off and ready to be stored for a while until we prep it and strip/rebuild together with 3 rib box

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    What I have now realised (which is blindingly obvious to you no doubt ::)) is that this is a Type 1 1600 engine which as far as I can tell wouldn’t have been fitted to a ’78 van. The van should have a Type 4 2000?

    What made me not question this initially is:
    a) I am more used to recognising Wasserboxers!
    b) The V5 is listed with a 1600 engine so it has obviously been in here for a while.

    Doing a bit more investigation the engine code is AB which makes it an engine manufactured for stock rather than production. It also is equipped with a Bocar carb made in Mexico.

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    So, I do all my own engine building etc. so will probs refurb this one for fun and sell on and acquire a base T4 2000 to rebuild and warm up for rusty but until then educate me peeps, what’s the story on AB blocks and would it have come originally with this carb or is this an aftermarket?

    How easy is it to get a Type 4 for rebuild and what fuelling setup would a ’78 UK 2000 have had.

    And would the 3 rib box be right for this year or would it have a 6 rib?

    Engine and box rebuild are a ways off, but one of the decisions I will gradually make (especially when I have identified the interior) is whether to rebuild as a “period piece” close to original but just better or do a “blank canvas” and build something new. So knowing what power train would have been in there helps with this decision making process.

    Not around much this week, but next job is getting the front beam off and then mounting on rotisserie – yummy 8)

    Cheers,

    MM
     
  7. If you look in the for sale bit, Fish is selling a couple of 2 litre type 4's for rebuild. Might be a good starting point?

    Also, if you go down this route, you'll also need a 6 rib gearbox.
     
  8. rickyrooo1

    rickyrooo1 Hanging round like a bad smell

    ref the pipes, do you mean the big pipe from the y piece to the front? i've just got hold of one of the cardboardy types as well so they are normal although there are also thick rubbery types too, and the year being 1978 doesn't mean it is neccesarily type 4 1700/1800/2 litre....if specified as 1600 it would be type 1 engine so it's possible it's correct.
     
  9. Thanks guys,

    the M plate, courtesy of your wonderful decoder :thumbsup: shows it as a 2000, just the logbook says 1600, so I think it would have been swapped at some point.

    Yeah it is the big pipe from the y piece so that's cool thanks :)

    MM
     
  10. I've finally caught up with your thread at last ;D

    great looking project you got, nothing is beyond saving IMHO .......just depends on how much time, effort, welding, paint work, money .........................you want to spend >:D

    I've been doing mine for 2years + every weekend :(

    looks like your getting stuck in with the jobs (and they all look so familliar ;D)

    I'm liking your posting style :thumbsup:

    I like lots of pics and long rambling descriptions interspersed with humor.......I like to ramble a bit (in case you hadnt noticed ;D)......starwars, that reminds me :thinking: ....................

    good luck with the project, I'll be following your resto

    K+ for a new resto thread
     
  11. Thanks Diddy :)

    Got my V5 back so at least Rusty is registered in my name now. Also noticed that although the engine has been changed to 1600, it is a different engine code and number :eek:

    On the log book it is an AD whereas mine is an AB - not that I expected a matching numbers van of course :)

    Progress is slow at the moment, busy with my other job and am also trying to paint the workshop floor as it is bare concrete and dusty as a desert!

    Want to get Rusty's bay done before I put him on the rotisserie as it will be impossible to do then so got his bay totally cleared (moving compressors, engines, gearboxes, interior for my T25 ::) ::) ::) ) then got a sealing coat of polyurethane paint on (50:50 with thinners). Trouble is it is so blooming cold it is very reluctant to go off so I can put a top coat on.


    Grrrrr, couple of warmer days Wed/Thurs so maybe if I get the heaters on it might get upto about 12-14o and firm up........

    Then I can do some fun work (just bought myself a lovely plasma cutter - lots of fun coming up...) >:D

    TTFN,

    MM
     
  12. Some of us have late late bays [T25`s]as well ,pictures will be good... ;D

    Nice project and good use of arrows ,I would have been tempted to leave the engine till all the other works was done ,having a rolling resto instead of a push and pull me... 8)
     
  13. This is uncanny this could be the sister to Gladys my bay the colours are the same same rot - I will follow with interest a nice job so far


    Dale
     
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  16. Alright "The Kentish Mafia" need to book a meet, all in say ayeeeeeeee 8)
     
  17. OK, its been ages since I have been able to work on Rusty. Been sorting out the workshop, painting the floor, building storage for my collection of T1 and Wasserboxer engines, and picking up a couple of T4’s from Fish for fettling later. O0

    [​IMG]

    Excuses, excuses, but went to DubFreeze at the weekend which has re-focussed me. ::)

    So, attacked the beam. Van up on axle stands and needed to remove the front beam so I can mount the front rotisserie frame.

    First remove the pedal box cover, disconnect the handbrake cable and clutch cable. Then separate and remove front gear selection shaft. Remove brake servo to pedal shaft and various pipes to servo. Brake pipes to callipers, bored yet? I was! :eek:

    [​IMG]

    Remove heater pipe/conduit, steering damper and steering box drop arm and maybe, just maybe you are ready to undo these bolts… ::)

    [​IMG]

    And then it still won't move, stuck solid. :mad:

    So after 2 of us gently "persuading" it to move with a couple of club hammers we eventually got it to drop off the frame.

    So here is the beam in all its glory. :eek:

    [​IMG]

    Now, a bit closer inspection and oh er……

    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]

    At least 3 historic patches to the side plates and beam and loads of new holes. I think my beam is toast. :(

    So, now need to look at beam options – not into slamming, don’t mind dropping a bit though, maybe 40mm but no shortening? Saw some nice bits of welding at Dubfreeze, what are your favourite flavours? :thinking:

    Cheers,

    MM
     
  18. All good stuff dude

    Dont worry rotten beams can become beautifull swans

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    A good healthy mix of narration and pics in a resto thread gets my thumbs up dude
     
  19. Good thread and great with the naration, keep it up. Looks to be in similar nick to mine.
     

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