Today in the garage - fitting axle boots

I thought I would be getting a lot done today, but it was one of those days where things don't go as smoothly as you hoped - I had a lot of grief with the removal of the axle tubes and had to make a new gasket, made one and fitted it and then found it was still too tight, so all off again and a thin one installed, that did the trick - then on to the other side, the gasket sealant that I had used before (back when i was test fitting at Pekas) had stuck the paper shims together . so more gaskets needed and then more probs with the tubes not wanting to fit as I still had the bearings in the hubs and that caused grief, I think the shim had cocked in the bearing carrier, lots of banging and pulling and huffing and puffing - got there in the end though .

Then it was time to get home, I have the rear kinda ready to fit to the bus again, so I plan to tidy up the rear brake hubs etc and install them after Ive fitted the gearbox back in to the chassis.

Next job is to get the front beam ready to fit back in, I need to grind a little form the front flipped spindle so that it allows the disc brake to rotate without scraping - this is the next job. After that Im gonna get the bus back on jack stands and fit the front and back suspension, at least then I can be nearer to moving it on the trailer to the new garage place for this winter - I would really like to finish installing the hard brake lines (just some holes to be drilled and fasteners fitted) and get the wiring loom in and spray the under side with black paint and under sealer.... only got a couple of half weekends left until autumn break....

Are you crazy enough for the Volkswagen Station Wagon?

Autumn time....


Its that time again, the birds leave Hjälsta and the buses return.

Dan came by and dropped his high roof of for the winter hibernation, we had a coffee and a chat at the garage and then I took him to the train station in Lelles 21.

Generations - 60's 70's and 80's - lelles 21, Dan's hight top late bay and the Syncro,

News this week - other then the big VW diesel scam (plenty of funny jokes going around with that one) me and Lelle got the syncro stuck in the mud! and we had a lot of fun trying to get free.

getting slapped in the face by mud from the front wheels spinning while looking out!

Steve and Lelle getting muddy

It wouldn't have been a problem with some good mud/snow tires fitted - coming soon

I have 3 weekends until the Autumn school break - during that time I plan to move the samba, syncro, tools and lelles buses into a warm, I repeat  WARM! garage in Enköping! At last after 11 years I will experience what its like to beaver away in a warm garage right through the long dark, cold Swedish winter.

The jobs im looking at this weekend is to fix the exhaust blow on the syncro and fit new rocker cover gaskets - I ordered gaskets form the local mekonomen.

Then on to the samba - plenty of Jobs to do, but at the moment its all about getting the jobs completed that will allow me to get the bus off the tip girl and back on its wheels - so the bus can be trailored to the new garage.

These jobs are:

1. Steering arm - check bushes for play then most probably order new bushes, install and re ream. then fit steering pin etc.
2. Gear shift rod - check I have all the parts needed to reassemble, check the length - do I need to order a new front section?  look at how the bushes work and order relative parts.
3. Fitting of 1 drive shaft boots - remove the drums, break down the hubs etc and install the 1 pice rubber boots. Make new side plate gaskets, seal and bolt everything back.
4. Route in the main part of wiring loom and fasten.
5. Continue spraying cavity "waxoil" into any place that can take it.
6.Weld new accelerator brackets.
7. Install the steering box into the bus, make shims and gaskets to lower if needed,  apply gasket sealant and tighten up and check play - fill with lube later???
8. Grind a little material away form flipped spindle so the disk clears - re fit hub to spindle.
9. Install front beam
10. Install gearbox
11. Fit wheels (where are the ones ordered last December?  10 months waiting ??)
12. Check the offset etc of new wheels.

 FOR REFERENCE - HOW TO!
steering arm - bushes etc

New garage space for this winter - should be able to have space for 4 buses + space for working and benches ; )

wheels !!!!!

 Checking the wheel clearance to the spring plate - my original vw steel wheels touch the spring plate adjuster, I fitted a big wheel spacer just to get it to turn - but this was a temp solution to move the bus about - JONNY from Finland has banded steel wheels on the rear of his 56 samba, no problems with offset there.

Moon eyes Japan 

 have 2 types of offset available in the speed master series of wheels.

Speed Master Wheel 15X5 5H205 +13 for Early VW
2 type of offset, +13mm & +21mm is available.

I ordered The JBW From MWS through Cool Air in the UK - INFO SAYS :

                                       

NCA 5x205 JBW 15x5.5inch SMA Wheel Et14

Traditional Retro Design, Superior Craftsmanship. This Traditional Alloy Wheel comes painted In Sand Brushed Silver with High-lighted Rim & Bolt on Centre Cap. Type: SMA Colour: SAND BRUSHED SILVER HI-LITE Size: 5.5 x 15 PCD: 5-205 Offset: ET14 

 Fitment: VW BEETLE -Up to 68, VW SPLIT- Up to 68,VW BAY- Up to 70. 

 Not currently available as of 07.09.15

Also I missed out on this nice middle seat advertised on blocket

I called 10 mins too late - damit !

I hope it went to someone who needed it!