marge lives again

As some of you may know, our engine went bang on the M5 nearly two months ago. Since then, we bought a 94 golf with a solid diesel donor engine, transported both car and bus to Dorset for major surgery. Finally, after lots of hard work from our new best friend (Charlie the mechanic), Marge is back where she belongs, on our drive. We picked her up yesterday, all looked good until we drove a few miles. Parked up for a break, then the bus wouldnt start, recovery said the battery was not holding charge, so a trip to Halfords and an extra £100 to the bill. Anywho, just got back to Worle after her maiden voyage with her new motor, it was sweet. I will get some pictures on here when i get a chance, just wanted to share the good news

Glad its all sorted bud PICS

Just fitted the new lino, still lots to do but gotta start somewhere.

just a quick update on where we are.

refitted roof rack, replaced slats and made a custom skim board



bespoke units, cooker unit still needs a door or two. reused hob/grill from original set up.



same as with sink, just replaced the waste and plumbed in.

Right then, I got my drill out and began attacking the seam rash. "Be brave" I told myself, how bad can it be? Well found a couple dodgy repairs but not as bad as I feared. Found metal in most areas, midway though giving two coats of anti rust, then sand, fill n prime.

glad you got your motor sorted

alflars bus wrote:

That looks lick a 1Y engine ?1.9D ? or is it a 1.6 JY ?

I seem to remember you said look for a 1Y before, its a 1.9 diesel from a 94 Golf. Engine only did 130k and runs really nice. Never gonna win a race at the lights, but its starts on first turn of the key without fail. I have noticed a few spots of oil on the drive recently, any ideas on where it maybe coming from, access anit great because of the tray.

alflars bus wrote:

I seem to remember you said look for a 1Y before, its a 1.9 diesel from a 94 Golf. Engine only did 130k and runs really nice. Never gonna win a race at the lights, but its starts on first turn of the key without fail. I have noticed a few spots of oil on the drive recently, any ideas on where it maybe coming from, access anit great because of the tray.

Yeh this is a frustrating one and one that I still have.
It will more than likely come from the rocker cover.
Because the engine leans the old engine would have had studs around the cover securing it and making a good seal for the gasket.
The one you and I have only has three nuts on top securing it so when pressure builds up it slowly leeks through the tilted side of the cover, trickles down the engine on to the mounts and, well mine drips on the the exhaust.

I have removed the cover and gunk ed both sides of the gasket with "instant gasket" witch is silicon based. this has improved it but not cured it.
I got my gasket from brickwork's and its a plastic rubber thing that I don't think is all that good. I am looking for a cork type along with the gunk I think will work.

They are good strong engines and I would imagine you have noticed the difference in power compared with the old one.

All the best

Yeah, when we park up after a run u get a warm oily smell at the back of the van, also lots of black specs on tailgate as well. Its not loosing much oil, but its annoying after spending so much on getting it back on the road. I will have a look n see if it is coming from the rocker cover at some point.

As per performance, i/we have been very gentle with driving her since the new lump, didnt want to push to much to quickly, plus its only got four gears. But the othe day i felt bave.... and pushed it to a dizzy 70 mph, i know scary eh?

My 1900td was 4 speed and i could sit at 80mph all day but 70mph was good for me, up the profile of the rear tyres and will help with the gearing for your gearbox,

what tyre size do you hace on the rear ??

Also mine leaked from the rocker cover same as yours, try what g man said and find a cork rocker cover gasket

I think griff was telling me the 5 speed box makes no differance ,as the final ratio's are the same as the 4 speed .....1st on a 5 speed is more of a crawler gear ,maybe he can confirm

You're right Nomates, on a 5 speed 5th is the same as a 4 speed 4th.

dubberatlast wrote:

My 1900td was 4 speed and i could sit at 80mph all day but 70mph was good for me, up the profile of the rear tyres and will help with the gearing for your gearbox,

what tyre size do you hace on the rear ??

Also mine leaked from the rocker cover same as yours, try what g man said and find a cork rocker cover gasket

Wasn't your gear box from a 2ltr petrol ? so the ratios are different anyway.
I'm looking for a better matched gearbox for my motor but not sure where to start.

The G wrote:

dubberatlast wrote:

My 1900td was 4 speed and i could sit at 80mph all day but 70mph was good for me, up the profile of the rear tyres and will help with the gearing for your gearbox,

what tyre size do you hace on the rear ??

Also mine leaked from the rocker cover same as yours, try what g man said and find a cork rocker cover gasket

Wasn't your gear box from a 2ltr petrol ? so the ratios are different anyway.
I'm looking for a better matched gearbox for my motor but not sure where to start.

AIDEN TALBOT specalizes in t3 gearboxes he be the man to speak too. it ain't cheap though swapping out cogs.
mine cost £500 for rebuild and that was by the guy in burnham behind mad dog bikes did take about 6 weeks to get it back.

http://www.aidantalbot.com/live/

griff wrote:

The G wrote:

dubberatlast wrote:

My 1900td was 4 speed and i could sit at 80mph all day but 70mph was good for me, up the profile of the rear tyres and will help with the gearing for your gearbox,

what tyre size do you hace on the rear ??

Also mine leaked from the rocker cover same as yours, try what g man said and find a cork rocker cover gasket

Wasn't your gear box from a 2ltr petrol ? so the ratios are different anyway.
I'm looking for a better matched gearbox for my motor but not sure where to start.

AIDEN TALBOT specalizes in t3 gearboxes he be the man to speak too. it ain't cheap though swapping out cogs.
mine cost £500 for rebuild and that was by the guy in burnham behind mad dog bikes did take about 6 weeks to get it back.

http://www.aidantalbot.com/live/

Thanks Griff, Iv just sent him an email so I will let you know what he relies.

We put the bus in for its first MOT under our ownership yesterday, I was bricking it! But, it wasnt to bad, two bits of welding, front brake binding, washer pump not working and number plate bulb blown. As luck would have it, my uncle does welding, so he is gonna do it on Friday and we have 12 monthes ticket.

Apart from that, I havent had a chance to do much work on it recently.

good work, gives you another 12 months of work for the next MOT.

This is very true Griff! Got a couple of jobs on the advisory, mainly rust issues. But, the main thing we have to consider is seatbelts. We are 3 plus one, due at any time, so need belts in the back. I have two 3 point belts, which I removed from the golf (engine donor car), but have been putting it off until we had the MOT done, Any advice?

alflars bus wrote:

This is very true Griff! Got a couple of jobs on the advisory, mainly rust issues. But, the main thing we have to consider is seatbelts. We are 3 plus one, due at any time, so need belts in the back. I have two 3 point belts, which I removed from the golf (engine donor car), but have been putting it off until we had the MOT done, Any advice?

you can get a belt in the rear of a t25 easy, top mount goes behind the rear outside vent area, and then there are mounts i belive in the rear.

the belt you need is really long

check out just kampers for belts and advice.

i have fitted rear belts in one of these before. there is a bracket for the reel to fit in the rear, top mount goes behind the vent and the lower mount and buckle go under the back seat.
if it was a panel van originally there will be no mounting points at all