Hi All, I've just got my '74' Bay Oscar out of the garage after a little over 5 years! Its a long story why 'Oscar' has been sat so long so I'll try and explain a little. My brother and I bought Oscar just over 6 years ago when he was diagnosed with Cancer. We had both been into cars for a while and played with Land Rovers for some time and a Camper had always been on the list! Anyway I saw Oscar on EBay and due to the situation hit 'Buy it Now' and popped the Van into my Bodyshop where I worked straight away for a tart up. Oscar had new Cab Doors, Rubbers all around, Re-trim of the seats and of course a semi-good paint! Anyway my brother loved Oscar and toured Wales, The Lake District and many other places between treatment. Unfortunately he lost the fight 10 months after the Diagnosis. To be honest it's took me 5 Years to pluck up the courage to know what to do, anyway here we go. Me the mrs and my two girls are going to enjoy Oscar and enjoy him as much as my brother did. Getting to the point of this post- I'm unsure as to the state of the Engine and Gearbox and so plan to change these once Mot'ed. The engine has a pipe that looks exactly like a piece of my hosepipe so I think it needs a rest! So my question is who would you recommend for a New engine and Gearbox?? Advice would be most welcome!!!!
Save your money, change the oil, fit a battery and turn the key Post a pic of what you think is wrong
Chances are that you shouldn't need a replacement engine and box unless you know for definite they're bad. For the engine, before you even attempt to start it make sure you change the oil, spark plugs and fuel hoses. All of these are quick (and cheap fixes). See if you can put a spanner on the bottom pulley (crank) and try to turn it clockwise by hand. It needs to turn. Also, grab that same pulley with your hands and pull/push it in and out. If there's almost no movement in/out this is good. This means you don't have much end float. Pop off the distributor (usually red) cap and make sure the points inside look ok. Also ensure that the carb is clean and that no dirt has got inside. For the gearbox, sit in the cab and see if you can get all 4 gears plus reverse easily enough. If you can't, crawl under the van and take a look at the gear linkage. this is a squarish connector which joins the shaft to the nose of the box. The gearbox would also benefit from an oil change. This is fairly easy to do. There's a drain plug on the bottom of it (Male 17mm socket from memory) and the filler one is usually on the side. I've dragged gearboxes out of fields and after just changing the oil have got hundreds of reliable miles form them. As you have a bodyshop I'm guessing most of the above is possibly obvious to you but my main point is that what you have should still have some life left in them. Don't forget that original engine can always get rebuilt and you'll know exactly what you have once finished.
Wow what a thought provoking story Hope u get the old chap back out on the road soon And get engine serviced ect iam sure it will be fine.
I can totally understand why you've left it so long, it would have felt rude to just get in and carry on after your brother died. I'd have done the same. Now's the time though, I'm sure you're brother would have wanted you and your family to enjoy it as he did. As the others have said, you may have a useable engine and gearbox already. Maybe someone can nip round and help you service it/give it the once-over with you. cheshire's a bit far for me or I'd be on my way, but there are loads of good guys and gals on this forum who'd be happy to help.
