rusty nail to sow's ear

17th May 2013
Just a couple from VanWest 2013





That is all.

2nd June 2013
As it was such a nice day I took the sunroof off, gave it a clean, Helen repaired some of the stitching and then it got a coat of Fabsil.



New velcro strip on the roof and then back on.





Shame that it seems to have shrunk.....






While the roof was off out came the T-Cut and polish for a bit of turd polishing.
After all I don't want to show up anybody at Bristol Volksfest next weekend...

14th June 2013
Just a couple of pics from Bristol Volksfest.











Had a few visitors on Saturday.









Look what I've just found in the depths of the stash while looking for something else.....

11th July 2013
Oh, I really, really need to un-wire the heat exchangers.....










Who said the stock VW heating system was shite?

2nd August 2013
Well, the old single port seems OK still after filling it with 5W30 and setting the timing too far advanced.
Received a package from Eurocarb containing the vents and jets for the IDF 40s. Just need to get these fitted and some oil lines made up (what do people recommend?) and we should be ready to drop the engine and gearbox out and change the fuel sender, shift rods and bushes and paint the engine bay.

Anyway I forgot to post some pics from Dubs at the Castle, cracking weekend.
First one there again.



The line-up.





Been driving the bus in this glorious weather we're having and having a think about some changes.



Would like to cut the roof off and turn it back into a tintop, maybe paint the roof black.
Narrow the beam, fettle the stance, change of wheels.....
But with black bumpers.

17th August 2013
Tintop or not, black or body colour roof?









Not that I can't do anything on the bus as it's raining and I'm bored....

26th August 2013
We took a quick trip down to Uphill Marine near W-S-M over the weekend, and met up with some friends.
Nice little site with a massive speedramp at the entrance, got the new and only just fitted jockey wheel caught and had to remove it before I could drive any further.....
Anyway, all set up next to a seasonal pitch.





Time for a drink I think.





Slightly uneven pitch.



Friends finally arrived.





Maybe solved the jockey wheel problem, raised it 2" by removing a couple of pieces of box section from between the hitch and chassis.







All I need to do now is fit the stroker motor and gearbox, replace the shiftrods and bushes, sort out the fuel sender, fit the late bay steering box and I'm sorted for Oktoberfest.

6th September 2013
I have rediscovered the joys of fettling of an evening.

Jet washed, wire brushed and sanded, rust treated and primed.













A coat of gloss black if the weather stays fair tomorrow.

7th September 2013
A coat of gloss black, and then retreat into the garage as the rain lashes down. So much for the light showers....





When that's cured I'll fit the new sender unit, and an 8mm fuel outlet that I'll bring back from Busfest in place of the one that doesn't.

21st September 2013
Had an overnight camp at the Tudor Arms the night before Berkeley.
Just a couple of us, there were a few more still to arrive.



The earlybay.com line-up at the show.









Shame that a load of traders didn't turn up, and the weather forecast put a few visitors off as well.

21st September 2013
Let the fettling recommence. Acquired a few bits over the last week or so.



Half wire brushed and sanded.



Pressure washed and ready for stage 2.

21st September 2013
This morning was a steering session.
Decided to swap steering boxes with one I've had in the garage for a couple of years. If it's furbar I've got a late box to fit anyway.
Old one out,





"new" one ready to go in.





Bit of a bastard job removing both Pitman arms, but with Nick's assistance (actually, he removed both   ), twas done.
Not an instant success as I didn't know whether the "new" box was OK. Bit of roughness, but there's 80% less play and next to no wander at *speed.
Heat exchangers wired open as well, it's that time of year again.



This afternoon stage 2 started.
























*speed - off the clock on the downhill section of the M32

24th September 2013
Stage 3





Did the fanhousing again.





Stage 3





Did the fanhousing again.

26th September 2013
Did a bit more fettling tonight.



Hmm, garage is getting busy again.

28th September 2013
Today was mostly moustache bar modification to clear the full flow oil fittings.
It had already been slightly modified, but I cut that out and fitted a box.









Just needs a degrease and some paint now.



Having a bit of a wheel rethink, the SA Rostyles are OK but don't really "do it" for me.
Decisions, decisions....







I think that the '66 Beetle steels will be a temporary fitment after Oktoberfest.

29th September 2013

Wheel decision made. Shorty bought the SAs.

Back to the moustache bar, clearance seems OK.





I've also decided to clearance the seam where the heat exchanger/exhaust joint is as well.

As the weather was dry and warm out came the valance again.

2nd October 2013
Guess what?
Off to Oktoberfest tomorrow.

6th October 2013
And so another Oktoberfest has been and gone.
On my way Thursday morning.



The rain started about Taunton. got heavier at Tiverton and then became a biblical downpour at Exeter.
It rained so heavily during my 20mph slog up Telegraph Hill that water was coming up through the pedal shaft holes in the cab floor, through the quarterlights and cab door rubbers, and the sunroof might as well have been open.
I pulled over at the top by Exeter Racecourse and opened the cab doors to let the water out.....

It finally went off enough to get out of the bus and set up camp.







Billy-no-mates again.



I know it's a shitter, but that's taking the piss.



A couple more turned up Thursday, and the day dawned clear on Friday morning.



Time for breakfast.



T'was a tad fresh at night though.



But a cracking sunrise on Saturday.







Waiting for the traditional Saturday night curry to be delivered.



And the sun sets on another gert mint weekend.

11th October 2013
Operation late bay steering box started this afternoon.
Well, after a couple of cups of tea anyway.









Crush tubes removed.



I'd show you a pic of the other side of the chassis leg trimmed ready for the conversion plate, but it was so awkward to cut the excess metal out I couldn't be bothered to take one tonight.

12th October 2013
After last night's messing about cutting out the chassis, I thought today would be straightforward.
Was I wrong about that.

Chassis plate lined up and ready to go.





Maybe not then. Note the difference in the plate between the next two pics.





And the way the bolt holes line up, or not in this case.





Plate tacked in place, note modification to inner valance to allow steering box to sit over location holes.



And not forgetting to enlarge the round hole in the other side of the chassis leg.



Welded in place, ground down and rust treated.



Now to sort out the hole misalignment by redrilling the crush tubes.



Late box finally in place and clamp plate modified and fitted.





To be honest, if the late box mounting plate had fitted properly it would've taken about 4 hours less to do the conversion, and if I'd checked everything before starting the job it would've been less stressful as well.
But if you buy a plate ready for the job you would expect it to fit first time, wouldn't you....

Anyway, it's done now and the difference is unbelievable. Much lighter and more responsive steering, no play or wandering and I now know where I'm heading rather than take a vague stab in the general direction.

Oh, and swapping from 5.5" wheels and quality tyres to 4" steels and budgets makes a large difference in handling when you launch into the first roundabout at the usual speed, believe me.

19th October 2013
There was a bit of a late pick up and type 3 vibe this morning at the yard.





So much so that I was relegated to the land opposite....



Oh hang on, there's more....








I've had a whiff of fuel recently after about 5 minutes driving, so after a bit of investigation I found all the fuel pipes to be like this.





The rubber had hardened and just pulled off the brass stubs on the fuel pump even with the clamps fully tightened.
That's R9 rated fuel hose 3 years since being fitted.
As a temporary measure I replaced the section between the pump and pressure regulator, and cut the end off all the other joints and refitted them. It should last long enough until I swap engines in a couple of weeks time.

23rd October 2013
Had a couple of days tinkering with the stroker and associated parts.









8mm fuel line fitted, just need to blank the spare 6mm and 8mm fuel inlets on the l/h carb, any ideas?

27th October 2013
Had a trip to Final Fling over the weekend.
Left early Friday to pick up some cider, drop some stuff off in Tiverton and get to Putsborough for a cheeky surf.
Obviously much pleasure comes before pain.....
Sudden lack of oil pressure as I was negotiating the very narrow lanes between Putsborough and Woolacombe, with a couple of cars behind and no space to stop and let them pass.
Managed to get to the campsite and set up without total seizure of me or the engine, although it didn't sound or feel very healthy.



Parked up next to Justin, and then had a cider or two.
Let the bus cool down and checked the oil, or should I say examined a dry dipstick.
Topped up the oil but made no difference. I'm almost positive it's just the oil pressure switch playing up, but it's the last planned trip before the engines get swapped anyway, and there's always the big yellow taxi home.

Gets dark quick this time of year as well.

27th October 2013
There were a couple of good bands playing Friday night, but the best set was a couple of young lads called 2 Filthy playing right at the end of the night.



We had a proper old skool rave for a couple of hours, even the t-shirts came off.
Check them out, they've got a facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/twofilthy

Saturday dawned dull and windy.







And the weather deteriorated for the rest of day.
I'm glad Justin had the Rapido for shelter, and I must get a roof cut, or take more washing up bowls to catch the leaks through the roof.
It did clear enough for us to stand around the fire pit drinking, and talking bollocks with Rich and the lads from Street until midnight.
Bit windy during the rest of the night though.

The trip home. Saved about £30 worth of fuel, but the seats were really uncomfortable in the recovery truck. And I lost a pair of Oakley sunglasses.







Still convinced it's just the oil pressure switch, but the AA man wouldn't let me drive home just in case.

29th October 2013
Told you, here's the culprit.









Still, better safe than sorry. I know I'm swapping the engine out now, but I didn't want to grenade the single port.
I wouldn't have made another 100 yards if it had been an engine problem rather than electrical.
The coincidential loss of power was a dodgy ht lead.....