rusty nail to sow's ear

Thurs 3rd September 2009

I know, let's drop the engine out.



Stripped off dynamo, carb and inlet manifold ready for alternator conversion and twin 34's.
Change gearbox over the weekend and replace gearshift bushes at the same time.

Can't wait to start driving the bus about at last.

Sun 6th September 2009

Best part of 5 hours from this....



to this.



Another job I don't want to do again. Broke a 6mm allen wrench trying to loosen the cv joints, had to borrow a few tools from Nick's workshop.
Engine lid shut on my back, so that had to come off as well.....
Smashed top of left thumb with 4lb lump hammer breaking tension on cv bolts, quite a lot of blood and swearing at this point. I think the nail will definitely come off some time this week.
Anyway, I hope that the replacement box is OK.

Another half hour job that taken the best part of 2 hours.

Hmmm, that's probably why the gearshift is a bit dodgy. Do you think the shift rod is supposed to be straight as well.





Need to order some new bellows now and then reconstruction can begin.

Wed 9th September 2009

Some shiny bits added to engine tonight.



34's were a pain, quality and fit of manifolds and mounting end plates is poor. Looks good though.
Forgot to get tee piece for fuel pipe so that will wait 'til after Vanfest.
Will see if I can get gearbox back in before the weekend.
Waiting for the gearshift bits to arrive, and maybe some purchases from Vanfest and then let the refit commence.

Sat 12th September 2009

Had a good day today.
Sliding door ready for new glass and rubber, don't get much paint in a rattlecan anymore do you?








Got the z hinges and bench seat in and adjusted at last,







All ready for gearbox to go back in, and a big list for Vanfest tomorrow.

Sat 19th September 2009

Right then, up early this morning to crack on with getting the gearbox and engine back in.
New fuel pipe and filter and got the cut-off solenoid fitted.



Gearbox went straight back in...



...although I had to turn the shiftrod through 180 degrees to get the rear coupler to line up. Whilst doing this I had to give the rod a bit of a push from the front of the bus. It moved quite suddenly after putting a bit of force into it, and my thumb went through the hole in the chassis along with the shiftrod. The hole is just big enough for the rod, so have removed the top of my thumb.



Couldn't take a pic of the actual damage 'cos the blood was making a bit of a mess.

Engine next, and got it lined up exactly and on it went....
No it didn't, got the wrong clutch pressure plate fitted.
Another cock-up, and waste of a day. I'll have to get the correct one on Monday and try to get the engine in and running Monday night.
OktoberFest is looming rather quickly.

Mon 21st September 2009





At last, it's back in.
Not running yet though, alternator connections, throttle cable, clutch adjustment, blah, blah..

Thurs 24th September 2009

Bit of a bugger to adjust the clutch cable, need three hands really, and there's not much room in there, and the bus is lowered.

Hmmm, need to think of something.



Rear wheel off for a bit of elbow room and....





Sorted, clutch adjusted, tinware and engine bay rubbers fitted, rear valance on, and off round the block a few times to make sure I've got all the gears.
Windows fitted tomorrow, a quick tune up, and OktoberFest here we come.

Fri 25th September 2009

...and running



The window man, he come...





Cracked on with the little jobs today, brackets to stop seat back flopping backwards,



and carpet and kick panels.

Wed 14th October 2009

Hooray, dashtop's painted,



and fitted.





earlybay.com on at last.

Thurs 29th October 2009

Been a while since last update. Not too much done, other than fix brake fluid leak and readjust clutch play.
Decided on finished look, thanks chaps.



unless I change my mind.

New eBay purchase.

Mon 30th November 2009

Have been rather bored lately, what with the lack of work and the awful wet weather.
So today, with the break in the rain, I took the cover off the bus, bailed the water out and started her up.
Still can't make up my mind about the bumper colour, so this is what I did..









I shall probably go for the black bumpers after seeing them in the flesh so to speak.

Thurs 17th December 2009

Bored, bored, bored.
No work, no money to spend on the bus.

Still, I've got a wire brush, wet and dry, rust converter, black hammerite, elbow grease and plenty of time.

before





during





after







It's a shame it'll be underneath the bus...

I've worked a total of 6 days in the last 7 weeks.
Can't even get the bus down to workshop 'cos the emulsion tube is f*cked on one of the 34's, so it only runs on two cylinders.

Thurs 14th January 2010

Had the front badge pinched from inside the bus at some point when it was parked up at the workshop, so eBay came to the rescue yet again.



Now what colour shall I do this?

Sat 16th January 2010

Found a bumper stashed in an old lock-up I thought I'd cleared.
Now I've got two.

Tues 26th January 2010

God! I'm so bored. I wish I could get some work.

Anyway, put the newer bumper on to see if it fits...





When I've sorted the carb problems out and got the bus running properly, I'll take it down the workshop, remove all the bumper bolts and weld it up smooth to match the rear. Then prep it and leave for a few months.

Thurs 28th January 2010

Got fed up with doing nothing, so the bumper's been stripped, and split ready for welding up over the weekend.

Wed 3rd February 2010

Didn't think the new badge would go with the bus.



So...





Just got to wait for the paint to harden off and the weather to clear and then I can fit it.

Thurs 4th February 2010

Had a really fucking shitty day today!

So when I eventually got home, I thought I'd cheer myself up by finally giving the bus it's face back.

Sun 7th February 2010

The dash vents turned up on Friday, so I'd thought I'd give them a little rub down and a quick coat of satin black to tidy them up.
Hmmm, my "rust free" imported parts are not as rust free as I'd hoped.
Same story a while back with the opening quarterlights.



A bit later, rubbed back and ready for a pickle in some rust inhibitor.



Primed, top coated and ready for fitting when I can find the screws.

Sat 13th February 2010

Found the screws.



Starting a new contract on Monday, so at least I can look forward to re-starting the resto.

Monday 15th March 2010

After curing the misfire (2 sets of dodgy plugs ), I'm back in love with the bus again.
Drove the really long way home from Nick's yard on Saturday afternoon.

Front bumper's now welded up in one piece and all the holes plugged ready for some attention to the steps and a bit of paint.





So on with the rear.

















Finish isn't brilliant, but we are talking sow's ear here.

Anyone want to buy these really rare rear early bumper irons?

Sat 20th March 2010

Front bumper welded and repaired, but it's a pain stripping the many layers of paint from the inside...











...spent so long on it today, I can almost see it with my eyes shut.

Fri 26th March 2010

Finished work early today, so the rear bumper is now back on, I reckon it looks the dog's danglies, even if I say so myself.
The black bumpers will look ace against the finished paintwork
New rear lights fitted as well. Had to fit them before the bodywork is done, as the old brake lights were practically invisible.

Sat 27th March 2010

What joy to have in the spring with a 1mm cutting disc.











Bit of a breezy drive home from the yard up the M32.









Just a coat of primer before the cover goes back on for a week or two.
Then a bit more work with the grinder, before finishing off and then the gutters are started.

Fri 9th April 2010

Bumper's back from the blasters.
Needs a little bit more work than anticipated.