Merry Christmas 2015
Back in October I continued to mess around with the gear box, the temperature dropped rapidly and I found my self again working in the cold at around zero degrees and to a dead line... I needed to get the gear box back together, in the bus and the hubs and brakes on so I could roll the bus on a trailor and get it moved to its new place - the warm garage in Enköping - I was a little concerned that we would get a full on winter and I would find my self in the messy situation of trying to transport a bus in the snow - ( I need not have worried so much as those bad winters seem to be a thing of the past)
Anyway after a particular frustrating episode I left the garage and gave it
some thought, this is a solution I use a lot now, I returned and all
went well, its amazing what a night or 2 away form the problem can do.
I managed to get the drive shafts back in, like it is supposed to be, get the one piece rubber boots on and then on my own lift it in to place, this was pretty tricky, laying on my back wiggling the box in on the jack and balancing the whole thing on a couple of extra jack stands.
I was on my way now, the next job was the front beam, I knocked out the old bushes and installed some new ones as I was not happy with the gap, reamed them again and this time was happier then I called my pal Panos up to help, he came over after work one day.
After just a little bit of head scratching and pulling we had the thing ready to go up, and it did pretty much with out any hassle - we then fitted the drop arm, that took a bit of messing around with made up shims and the arm needs to compress the spring washer but allow the top of the pin - anyway in the end after a few attempts we had it in just like it should be.
I also fitted the steering tube and box in to the bus, again trick on your own but it can be done.
So then I threw on the wheels, dropped it back down to earth.
That week I was off, so I borrowed the works van, moved the entire garage and once that was done I hired a car tailor from the local OKQ8 at skolsta, borrowed suz car (VW CC auto 4wd) got the bus strapped on too kit over to the new garage.
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| Bus in the new garage - Enköping |
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| work space taking shape |
So that brings us up to date...
This last few weeks I have began hanging doors, checking alignment and cleaning the threads everywhere, I have changed the 6 v wiper motor to 12 v. Found out that the doors are as slightly different shade of red, so they have to go back to be resprayed in January.
The belly pans have now been sprayed in the sealing wax red.
This week I have been over to Hans - I talked to him about engines and from his expert advice I decided not to go crazy - He will build a 1776 and run it with single 34 carb to start with.
311 heads'
35.5 intake/ 32 exhaust twin port heads
311 rods
Dual relief case
Alternator internal reg
38 mm csp heat exchangers
38 mm csp python exhaust
Swivel "ball" rockers
200 mm flywheel for 12v starter motor
Python 38 exhaust
Clutch - 9 spring - note have to check if I have one of these....and the tin ware.
have to start thinking about - Temp gauge, oil pressure and fuel gauge.....
I have also possible found some one locally to come and take a look at the head lining....
Soon new year - middle days between now and then im hoping to get in the garage and start threading the wiring loom into place and continue with the deluxe trim polishing, also cleaning and painting up the sunroof parts...
Steves new list:
order this
Headlights - sealed beam units -bosch?
gauges
cluch
tinware
airfliters that look and work well
rear brakes hoses - braided...and mounts/clips
re-chrome golde handle
see about seat covering - headlining
start reading about woodwork....
