More of the same with added panel sandwich n rust sauce in the front cabin area. Compliments of Doods Dubs
looks like they know there way around a camper, good looking work and the way to go with full panels etc.. will be a cracking bus when its done and youll have peace of mind knowing that its basically all new and not carved from filler ..
Not posted in a wee while and a fair bit of progress. Most of the welding is complete but still stuck for a rear right side D Pillar repair panel :-( Van on turnover stand for underside and running gear work, temporary bar welded in as a D Pillar. Surprisingly the running gear was in pretty good condition considering what we have seen so far. Beam and brakes in good order with only cleaning, painting and new pads required. All new rubbers, brake pipes, cables etc. I've chose to drop it a couple of inches with drop spindles, new shocks all round and lowered rear adjustable spring plates. All has been protected by waxoyl a waxy stone chip. Will be back on its wheels in no time! Also picked up a replacement recently rebuilt engine to replace the unknown quantity that was in it. It was cheaper to get this than rebuild its own. The replacement engine came ready just to drop in, even engine hangers and as you would expect after only 1k miles or so since the rebuild in great condition! The back box has the usual instant surface rust but I will be replacing it with a standard back box as I don't think the twin out suits these vans. If can just get hold of a bloody D Pillar it could be in primer in a short space of time!
Another good visit to Doods Dubs yesterday. Ok we were getting nowhere with a d pillar so found this section on fleabay, was more expensive than the repair panel but had no choice. Also dropped off the tombstone seats. Always when I've left wish I had taken some pictures. Anyway van looking good d pillar now welded in and talk off it coming off the spit and back on its wheels next week! Drop spindles, rear Creative spring plates, new gas struts all round, braking system complete and bled. In summary all underside complete and reprotected with flexible stone chip. Still lots to do but no stopping us now.
Ive just stumbled on this thread, blimey you've had your work cut out. Doods Dubs have made great progress, looking forward to seeing the bus finished and lowered! Good luck with the rest
Doods Dubs is clearly a quality one man band. Good on you for rescuing a bus and frankly having the good fortune to find a great restorer
Another milestone reached today. First bit of paint going on in the engine bay to allow us to get the engine off the floor and saves pushing it about the workshop. Primer first and keeping the orange behind petrol tank to show some history. Presume this is factory original sound proofing from above the engine bay hardboard?
Update time. Engine in Then back out again as there was an oil leak that was of the large variety. Stripped bolt on the oil strainer. New bolt in and torqued up, phew dodged a bullet there me thinks. Also when when taking a closer look found some other bits n bobs that needed attention. So back in as above giving needed floor space in the workshop. Will tidy up wiring and a good clean after paint. Moved upstairs to the pop top which has been ignored until now. Sadly more rust found under front roof rack area, oh when will it all stop. Oh and a little matter of a rotten canvas which came apart if you looked at it too long. So before taking the the whole thing apart and before the canvas melted away any further we fitted the gas strut assistance kit I spec'd from SGS Engineering. Works a treat, well worth doing! Internal H bar removed as no longer required when using the gas struts. So now to fully remove the pop top, fix the new found rust and start the paint prep process. Starting to think this year might pass the van by but keeping my fingers crossed for a camping trip late September.
You lucky so and so... That was the starting point of my engine build! Sent from my Hudl 2 using Tapatalk
