My ride - 1978 Champagne Microbus US Import - Lucky

Great job Frankie. Love to see the photo resto on Lucky. My 76 Riviera is fresh out of the states so I'm off this morning to see if the engine is a runner!
Was so tempted to buy a Champer wagon myself, these buses are way cool so look forward to seeing yours one day.
Keep it up man and have some fun in the sun

 

Any work on the van has been hampered by the wonderful weather we are having at the moment. It feels like ages since I was able to take the rain cover off the van and do some work on her.

However, I managed to take of the pedals and gear lever etc and give them all a good rub down, vactan, prime and spray...I present my shiny bits...



I'm now using my 'inside time', (I'm not in jail, just relegated to working on things inside due to the apocolyptic rain and hail we seem to be having), to work on the door cards so more soon...

 

Hi,

Not much of an update but I though it would be good to catalogue the stuff I do on the van on here so I can have a record of the whens and wheres...

So, got an afternoon without rain or interuptions so I went about changing the ignition system. Plugs, leads, dizzy cap, rotor arm and coil all changed for new:





Not quite engine porn on the same level as others on here but I like it

Next job is electric ignition, (it hadn't arrived when I did the above), and I'm going to take off the dash top plate to sort out the radio and wiring behind there and get some of it running off the leisure battery. I'm also working on upholstering my door cards in the evenings if I have any energy left!

I've left the FI problem for a bit as it was getting annoying so hopefully I can come back to it soon with a fresh approach and get it sorted, (I just need to test the fuel pressure as I'm pretty confident its the fuel pump but if it is then I'm going to change all my fuel lines at the same time).

 

Right, little update to bring things up to present...

After chasing my tail to get the FI working I'm 99% confident that it's the fuel pump so BigRich is sending me one to test the theory, fingers crossed.

Since the sun has been out I've been able to crack on with the interior, (and ignore the FI problems for a bit)...

1) Empty cargo bay, nice and tidy with no rust



2) I want to fit the stereo to the leisure fusebox so was trying to work out a way to run the wires with minimum visibility, then I noticed this little hole at the back of my bulkhead...



3) I realised that it went under my passenger seat where the wheel jack usually sits, so I hatched a cunning plan:







4) So wires sorted, floor going down:





5) Then a nice capet tile from B&Q, (on special offer)



6) The r&r bed back in and under seat kickboard installed with speakers, (the board you can see on floor on the right is the base for my units):



7) I've now cut out the wood for the units, ready to get making when I get a couple of hours of dryness...my units:

 

Coming along nicely dude

 

Nice van love the colour.

 

Good work mate, hope to see it soon.

 

Right, a lovely weekend down here and with my father in law down an extra pair of hands were put to good use

Units fixed and getting a lick of primer. Currently painting them 'platinum kitchen paint', which is a slight off white colour and has a slight sheen and is wipe clean.





Knocked up a little fuse box, erm well, box to keep little fingers from prying. It's got small holes at the bottom on each side to feed the leads into and also you might just be able to make out holes in the front, (bottom as you look at the pic), for switches so I can turn things on and off as needed.



With lid on



While I waited for that to dry I got stuck into the cab bunk, it fitted perfectly and as my front seats are able to recline I fitted it in and kept my headrests...







Also cleaned the headliner with some cif, (I won't bore you with a picture), but the amount of dirt on it was crazy, look almost new now!

Fuel pump also fitted, this now works a treat, however the engine still doesn't work. I followed the FI troubleshooting handbook again and it now points to the air flow monitor being faulty so I'm on the lookout for one of them, or it's over to carbs...

 

Right, new update, FI problems seemingly fixed. For anyone interested the mechanic took out the ingnition and FI systems, gave them a clean, tweeked a few wires and re-seated it all and she now works.

So the mysteries of the FI system remain intact but as long as she's working I won't question such witchcraft!

She also passed her MOT, for the record, she failed on tyres, illegal number plate, front wipers and no pressure in the washers so a quick change of tyres, plates, washers and a refit of the washer pipe and that's all she needed.

Units are all painted and ready to go in the van when I pick it up later tonight, hob etc all ready to be connected up.

Here's a little hint of the door trim design from Delilah...



So, similar colours to the original but with a little modern twist.

 

Very very nice

 

Another update, coming thick and fast at the moment in preparation for camperjam...

Madmatz going in



Giving her a little bit of VW badge makeup...

 

Cool ride 8)

 

Nice bus pal, can you do me a favour & sell me the middle seat. I've just bought one of these buses & I need one.