Evening all

A couple of years ago, in a moment of madness, I finally relented and agreed to buy the sheila a "camper van." Over the last 90 pages or so, you've all read of the still continuing saga that then started……………...

Well, we were on holiday in France last month and I'd neglected to take a birthday present with me…... I'd been exceeding busy at work just trying to get away and my poor little brain struggles sometimes

I did manage to get a card from the local French supermarket for the boys to give her (and apparently, the more than serviceable, second hand off ebay, industrial, no expense spared (well maybe a bit) overlocker (clever sewing machine) that I successfully bid for (and won) and then had her collect just before we went away, counts for NOTHING…...

So, in a moment of weakness I promised to buy her something that she wanted and today that resulted in a long day and an overseas trip

The Isle of Wight was quite sunny as you may be able to see from this photo



and at 6pm this evening I presented her with the keys She was in it like a rat up a drainpipe









A little bit of welding, some work to suspension and some TLC and it will be fine (oh and eventually a matching paint job)

A man can't have too many projects, can he?

That's all, I'm knackered

Cheers,

Steve

Brilliant, great going Steve, glad the trip went well.

Mary looks chuffed........

I think you may have just got away with forgetting her birthday pressie.........

I fitted my restored Gentlux Pop top, restored VW OG interior panels & restored OG Devon Interior and quickfitsbs seat belts to Peebles and I was nervous. I cross threaded one and sheared the nut off the panel ...it only needed a tack to hold it in place while I tightened it up...and I cocked that up..
First thing I bought was four pots of touch up paint...
Most damage I did was bleeding everywhere all over the place when I cut my finger...Evreytime it stopped i knocked it and more blood...
At least I now have my DNA signature on my bus...under the door cards..LOL
I restored all the panels and fitted them all with only one incident not drilling a hole but missing the hole on the edge of the rear door lower the screw skated over the curved edge but dave touched it up.

I saw a loveley silver and orange bus in Otley on Sunday and thought of your colour choices..

Tuition is good for us all..
G

LOL
Nice...

You will have to tell the secret of ...
Dear...I bought you a present....and get away with buying something for you to tow...

PS add line 301 and 302 to the I NEED spreadsheet

* Autocraft tow bar with removable neck and hang down angle up electrics, snatch cable, connector socket

* Bosch elctronic flasher indicator unit to operate the increased number of bulbs

Graham, just send me a copy of your spreadsheet please and I'll cross out the things I don't need Better still, publish it and sell it to folks for Lagavulin tokens

....now there's an idea!
BUT
I have given up alcohol for September..
Today has been hard.......never mind September
Pint o' clock came and went
Fizz Four came and went
G n T time came and went
Nip to bed will be the hardest..

But I need some Lagavulin tokens....to celebrate

I'll polish the spreadsheet and add some links...

Has to be 16yr old tokens, mind you............. ahem...

I've posted this as a separate thread in the "Technical" section

Can anyone advise me please?

rusty1962 wrote:Hi all

I know very little about engines.
My engine builders have asked if I am going to mount the breather box in the engine bay or did I want it mounted on the fan housing?

I have a bug pack that came with my donor engine.

What's the best option for me? What works or looks best?

It's a 1776 if that makes any difference.

All opinions welcome - I'm entering a new unknown phase in my build

Thanks in advance

Steve

Doesn't really matter, it comes down to personal preference, and routing of oil lines. If you mount it on the fan housing, it is self contained, so if the engine comes out, it will come with it. Mine's attached to the roof of the engine bay, to give extra clearance for the hex bar linkage for the twin carbs, which may be a consideration for you if you have twin carbs.

Position will have no effect on performance, just make it higher than any of the points you're venting from for obvious reasons!

AdrianReeve wrote:Doesn't really matter, it comes down to personal preference, and routing of oil lines. If you mount it on the fan housing, it is self contained, so if the engine comes out, it will come with it. Mine's attached to the roof of the engine bay, to give extra clearance for the hex bar linkage for the twin carbs, which may be a consideration for you if you have twin carbs.

Position will have no effect on performance, just make it higher than any of the points you're venting from for obvious reasons!

Thanks Adrian.

Yes I have twin carbs, but it seems to make sense about being self contained. I also have a Firetec system to go in on roof of engine bay

Any photos anyone?

Evening all those not at Busfest and those there with wifi

Now Mary and I are a couple of "Puckers" we had a good look today at the Puck. There's stuff to do but we're looking and learning and she's cleaning it out

Meanwhile, I got on with the prospective towing vehicle

I've worked out that I'm more productive if I get several bits into various "stages of filler." That way there's always something to do while something else is "going off." I got a bit more built up on the other cargo door



and while that was going off I was "roughing out" Rusty's right buttock This process, as many of you will know, takes quite a lot of time with not much to show at the end



I then knocked back the first fill on the door and then gave it a good slavering of filler. My spreading technique is definitely improving with practice



I spent a good hour bare metalling the left buttock



then did the biggest filler mix I've ever dared to do



and it was just enough to do the whole of the left rear lower corner in one pass



I've done a few various little bits here and there but this filler work is really time consuming so it's a good job it's me doing it rather than paying some one else. I'm hoping that with Gary's ongoing help we can get it ready for paint, without any more prep being needed, or just minimal work in the paintshop.

On an engine note, and thinking ahead a bit, I would like to see some photos of folk's engines so I can get an idea of how to arrange all the peripherals. Breathers, leisure batteries, fuel pumps and filters and cut offs etc. etc. Can anyone help with this? Do I need to think about an oil cooler with a 1776?

Cheers

Steve

Evening

Another week finished and another weekend over. This coming week I'm hoping to get the Vespa over to the paint shop It's being done in the same colours as Rusty, as a sort of test or trial run, just to see if the paint scheme looks ok

Today was another snow day and the cave floor is once again covered in filler dust, along with me, though I've had a shower now My first job today was to begin "roughing out" the n/s/r corner. This is all original. I had to weld up a few holes and beat out some dents and I also installed a leisure battery tray instead of the standard gas bottle tray. I paid attention to getting the bottom edge nice and level (although I doubt it will ever be seen) to match the new o/s



The concurrent job is the second cargo door which is coming along nicely , albeit slowly



There is no doubt about it. Filler work is deeply boring although I know if I keep "chipping away" then it will eventually be done. I take a step back every so often to admire his rear end



I have been titivating it most of the day and I keep finding small curves that don't quite "flow" so another dollop of filler goes in and I go again



after eight hours I decided to call it a day and me 'n' the Sheila sat on a beer crate in the late evening sun for half an hour. Rusty made himself useful and became a drinks tray



Laters,

Steve

Its coming alony nice, regarding the engine id go with an oil cooler if i were you as your going to be towing and working the engine harder than a bus not towing. Run a sandwich plare thermostat and your sreted aswell as adding external oil filter at the same time. I have recently redone the engine bay and full flow oil filter so maybe i can pop over so you can have a nose

Thanks Andy

That sounds like a plan

Good to hear you've got your engine woes sorted.

Morning

Rusty on hold for a while I'm afraid. I ended up yesterday having an emergency eye op for a detached retina

On the way to the hospital though, I did manage to drop the Vespa wheels in for blasting and hot zinc spraying

Hopefully Gary still coming tomorrow so I will stand and watch and make tea

A little pic for you pervs, not of Rusty, but connected all the same. A new cover for the Puck which is now shelved and protected until Rusty's done



Hopefully I'll update after tomorrow

Cheers,

Steve

Sorry to hear that the eye needed surgery.
Best to get it sorted now though.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery

Better than ....

Regards G