rusty nail to sow's ear

Mon 1st August 2011

Dubs at the Castle



Anyone want to buy an awning?

Thurs 4th August 2011

MOT work today, CV boots, perforated n/s chassis leg....

More...

Fri 5th August 2011

Front of chassis leg



+ rear of chassis leg



+ just in front of rear bumper hanger



+ new CV boots



= new green ticket

tango_van wrote:

More...

Are you sure, there's another 20 odd pages......

Thurs 18th August 2011

Awning sold and motordome sleeper on it's way.
This weekend's project rescued from a customer's shed.

Sun 21st August 2011

The new X Factor project.

Sun 21st August 2011

Disassembled, stripped of rotten veneer and sanded.









Needs another good sanding and then I think I'll just give it a few coats of varnish.
Anyone know of a cooker and lid going spare?

Mon 29th August 2011

Just got back from a long Bank Holiday JK forum weekend camp near Carsington Water in the Peak District. Weather was a bit variable to say the least.



Another field, another awning.











Memo to self;
might need brake disc conversion if driving down any more hills like this weekend
might need to raise ride height or leave family and camping equipment at home....

Wed 31st August 2011

Thurs 15th September 2011

Hmmmm, not too keen on the engine hatch finish.
Only trouble is that it's rotten and I can't afford an import in the near future, so a quick tart up is on the cards.


Quite fancy a change of wheels, what do you think?



Although during the wheel change I noticed that the 14" rims rub on the bottom balljoint.... :?



15" 4 1/2" rims



and 15" 4" rims

Thurs 15th September 2011

Almost ready for paint tomorrow.

Fri 16th September 2011

Painted and fitted, now I'll have to do the rear corners.



It's dark now and is raining so I've had to pack up and come in.
Been chasing a brake light fault most of the day, they only glow very faintly when you jump on the middle pedal. After tracing all the wiring found a broken cable under the front chassis leg (probably caused by driving across a field.... ) and now need a replacement brake light switch.

Sat 17th September 2011

Brake light switch fitted between the torrential showers, and with a freshly polished reg plate all ready for the cruise up the A38 to Berkeley tomorrow.

Mon 19th September 2011

Just thought I'd post some recent pics.

Camper & Bus October 2011, VanWest feature, centre pic



Berkeley VW show





show and shine line-up

Fri 23rd September 2011

I dropped some wheels off at a friendly powdercoater earlier in the week, but had a call from him today to say that he can't process any of the wheels for 12 weeks.



Before I got home though the wife attempted entry to the garage and had a small accident with the pile of wheels that were in there. So some will have to go.
I'm going to make a start tomorrow on the Type 3 4 1/2" 15's, popped in to my local paint suppliers and mixed my own shade of red for them.

Sat 24th September 2011

After a night soaking in rust treatment,





washed off and primed,





and now red.

Sat 24th September 2011

The missus and daughter aren't so keen, and hinted that they might not want to come in the bus if the wheels are red. What a result, won't have to raise the suspension then.





"Pink wheels! How gay are you?" was the daughter's response.

Sat 1st October 2011

After the recent pic in Camper & Bus I've decided to try and sort the scabby red oxide and primer filler on the roof.



Before,



and after a gentle 6 hour session with a scraper first to remove the primer filler, 60 grit for the red oxide and a final go with 600 grit, here's the result....





....I'll have another go at the white tomorrow when my fingertips have had a night to recover.

Sun 2nd October 2011

Today's achievements....







....takes feckin' ages. I'll have another bash during the week before I depart for Oktoberfest.

Mon 3rd October 2011

Today's endeavours.





Run out of 600 wet and dry and skin on my fingertips.

Tues 4th October 2011

Here's a cheeky shot of my "new" wheels.

Mon 10th October 2011

Just a few pics from my extended Oktoberfest weekend.

Thursday morning, billy-no-mates.



Another field, another pic...










Friday morning



That's better, some company.



What a motley looking crew, more like care in the community.
Anyway this is us off to Roger's Cider Farm with my new mate, Teddy the Help for Heroes bear. He'll be off hiking round the country starting from Lands End next year to raise money for the mental health part of Help for Heroes. If you see him please give generously.
(Edited, can't post the link)
















Sunday's "show and shine", won by a black T4 apparently.

Sun 13th November 2011

Haven't done much to the bus recently as work's got in the way a bit, can't complain too much though.
Finished the roof a couple of weekends ago, but have lost the pics....
Anyway, new project started today. I acquired another swing out Devon unit yesterday which is complete apart from the drawer, but it's all in bits and a bit of a state.



Onwards and upwards.

Sat 19th November 2011

Well, it's about time I did some more on the bus.
Rear roof is blended and just needs a t-cut and polish, pics to follow.

Today was meant to be "replace front valance day", but turned into "various little mechanical job day".

Tracing the front beam clunk lead to front n/s wheel bearing regreased and adjusted, replaced off-side track rod end, regreased beam, stripped and redrilled worn brake pedal and master cylinder pushrod to fit larger clevis pin, stripped and welded throttle linkage to reduce play which in turn lead to faffing around with hex bar linkage and deciding to invest in a CSP bellcrank kit asap....



.....and I've still got the clunk.



Stock height,



that's better.




There's a new project down the yard, not my cup of tea, but it's huuuge next to my bus....