Newbie with loads of questions.............

Hi everyone - new owner from the New Forest.

I've just recently bought our first classic camper - a 1973 T2 and am trying to soak up as much info as possible.

Margot (that's what my wife has christened her - middle class and high maintenance apparently) was built on 13th March 1973 as a RHD panel van, and then left for Australia 2 days later, where she remained until 2012 when she came back to the UK. Over the subsequent years she has had a bare metal refurb, windows inserted, interior build by All Things Timber, and BAT, and we are now in our ownership we're just going through the mechanical bits to make her the best we can.

Y'all seem a pretty decent bunch, so hope you won't mind my seemingly endless quest for info, that my amateur attempts using the search function haven't thrown up.

 

She arrived with a 1600 engine that was generously spraying the immediate surroundings with oil, so our first task was to see what that was all about.

So of to Andy at VW Engineering in Chichester, and after a short deliberation we decided to go for a new engine - a 1776 from the VW Engine Company, to which we're adding twin CB Performance Weber 34ICT kit from Eurocarbs, using WayOutWesties' guide to jetting, changing out the dynamo for a Bosch 55A alternator, Bosch Blue Coil, Vintage Speed Exhaust, new refurbed Bosch Vacuum Distributor, all new Cohline fuel and oil hoses (yes, I've been paying attention ) with a Malpossi fuel regulator, remote oil filter, Mocal oil cooler and oilstat, Bosch L5 battery, Blazecut fire suppression, and powdercoated tinware.



So that pretty much covers the big stuff in the engine bay - outside of this, we've had new opening quarterlights, new seals all round, wiper spindles, fuel gauge, instrument wiring, gear linkage bushes, and the wheels are off at the powdercoaters as well.

I've found the suppliers in the most very helpful - VW Heritage, Custom & Commercial, JustKampers, Machine7, etc to name the main ones.

So my first question is on crankcase breathing - do I need it?, and if so, what's the best way of acheiving it on a bulk standard 1776 engine (no we're not looking to up the performance of this down the road...). I've read many threads on various forums and there seems to be a multitude of confusing methods. We want to get the best out of our new engine, and treat it accordingly.

 

Welcome along. Your van looks lovely. Great colour. Fantastic interior. You should get all the advice you need on here.

 

And the fuel tank breather to the other filter. You need that too.

 

Welcome along

 

Welcome from Sunny Sheffield, Tidy Van you have there. Ours also spent its youth down under

 

Welcome along from just down the road In sunny Poole!


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These are the dates on the 'Zertifikat' from 'Stiftung AutoMuseum Volkswagen:

 

Welcome to the mad house

 

Love your Burled Walnut veneer, very slosh! I'm more used to seeing that on $50 million Gulfstreams!
Tony

 

Hello from Ipswich. Lovely van. Great production date - 13th March - that’s my birthday !!

 

If it were mine, I'd keep a large tub of beeswax polish in the Bus

 

Very nice bus. Hello and welcome from rural Dorset.

 

Looks fantastic!
Hopefully i’ll get to see it and meet you at a Techenders event.

In the mean time, I’ll be here offering zero advice and spying on all the questions you ask!
I can offer moral support, but by the looks of your Bay you’ll not be calling for it much


......•......
www.transmission610.com
‘No record of the nameless’
(a free documentary)


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Hi From West Lancashire - lovely interior .

 

Hello and Welcome from The Colonial Contingent.