Hello I'm new

Hello there! I am a new late bay T2 camper owner, based in Streatham, South London, and don't I wish I found your forum before I bought my van!
She is a 1973 automatic called Bluebird, and needs a lot more work than I realised from the advert and my first impressions.
I seem to have made the standard mistake of getting a little carried away and purchasing without doing enough research or getting a mechanic to look her over.
She is currently in Plymouth with Dan Munday getting a gearbox recondition and service.
I paid £9k but I am told is worth a lot less due to rust and lots of filler ("I have scrapped better vans" he tells me
Oh well, I am in now, and nevertheless up for the challenge and really looking forward to bringing her back to some glory as as low a cost as possible if I can. Hoping to have your advice along the way!
Nice to meet you
Jo

 

Hey at least you got a driveable one, you should look at the absolute rotboxes that get rebuilt on these forums. Unless it’s literally cut in half, it probably won’t get scrapped around here

You’re gonna love it in the long run as long as you realize it’s an expensive hobby and you probably won’t ever make your money back Think about the smiles per gallon instead.

Enjoy

 

Welcome along Jo. Sadly a story we are all too familiar with on here. Don’t be afraid to ask for specific help. In amongst the nonsense on here is some really good advice from a helpful and knowledgeable community.

 

welcome £9k isnt a great deal for an on the road camper regardless of work required

 

Welcome along , at least it`s drivable - there`s a few on here who`ve paid far more for much less

 

Welcome.
Also you'll learn all about your bus as you do the work.

Try and drive it as much as poss... Do a 'rolling resto'.

 

Welcome...slap...x did you mean 'is'...

Out of curiosity I just had a quick flick on fleabay. Asking prices have gone mental. There are a lot of buses folk are valuing around the 20k mark. Haven't seen that many for a while

 

Hi everyone - you've all made me feel really welcome and a little more hopeful against barrage of negativity from 2 mechanics and my boyfriend about my rash decisions!

 

Do a review on the gearbox refurb, would be quite interesting, and welcome

 

Hi Jo,

same here, new to forum and just getting started on T2 journey, loving it so far even if had to sell my car to help pay for the work

 

Welcome to the madhouse

 

Welcome along! Restoring them is half the fun

 

Hello and welcome. Lots of very helpful people here

 

hello welcome.

post some pics

 

Hi PIE - as in, a review of the refurb work? Will do.
I'll be scouring the forum on auto T2 shortly actually. Have been advised that buying an auto was a bad idea as it will cause me probs over years and not be cost effective. They say no transmission fixers will want to touch them (or won't fix, only full recondition). I am only licensed to drive an auto (long story) so will see how long this refurb lasts me!

 

Hi From West Lancashire . Mine is a money pit too - but I guess all 50 year old cars are at some point.

 

Welcome. The gurus on here will give you all the advice you need, they really know their stuff. They won't sugar coat the advice but it'll be straight - the sometimes different opinions make it all the more fun and you'll learn loads. Think of it as a free complete encyclopedia on everything T2. Without it I couldn't have got mine done (nearly there!)

Edit: This is never going to be a cheap hobby - think of it as entertainment you're paying for

 

I have had an Auto for 13 years, no problems except a defective vacuum modulator, I like it!!

 

Hello from Essex. watch out for this lot they Bite!