72 Early Bay X-Over

Hi guys,

I have just been out and purchased my first aircooled wagon. After a few letdowns I have managed to find myself a van. The missus is pretty happy with it too. Its a 1972 1.6 which I managed to pick up with 12 months MOT for 5K. Even better than that was the insurance quote of 154 quid with European and UK breakdown cover.

Below are the pics:









So, now it begins... jobs to get sorted soonest..

The steering wheel movement before you get any feel for the tyres is mental. I can probs turn the wheel from the 11'o'clock to the 1 'o'clock position without any movement from the bus. I assume this is wear in the steering rack?

Gearchanges feel like a c0ck in a sock. I think I will look around for a gear linkage rebuild kit and see if I can sort that out.

Headlining is missing. This really makes the van look scruffy so is a must do job, either by sourcing a kit to fit or if not I will look for some melomine board and cover in perforated white leatherette.

Heating, the dash is pretty rubbish with no heater controls and when you sit in traffic you get fumes coming into the cab. Any ideas on fixes for this??

Long term is:

Lowering it some (lots)
Recovering of the seats
Repair some of the sketchy areas of paintwork
Treat any rust with POR15 and paint
Wheels.. A big sticking point...


I have stripped off the doorcards and now the locks are working well, they have been greased and worked over so they work with no risk of the key snapping.

I have changed the fuel lines and moved the fuel filter but the solid line is quite badly bent so i need to cut and refit.

I looked into fitting the stereo but the wiring is terrible at best, I have cut a load of the crap wiring in the wagon and got it working well, leading on from here I managed to pay for a loom from 67panel. Will have a split system in shortly

I have also managed to get hold of some bits for a Westy interior. I have a spoken with Campmobile70 and I have a sink unit, buddy seat, wardrobe and overhead locker to collect tomorrow.

Thought I would put up some pics of how she looks right now..

















(stupid sticker to be removed)

So I have managed to get some jobs done and order a few bits and bobs.

1. Behind the doors there was no membrane and the water was running into the doorcards. I have now put a membrane on the doors. Purchased some decent window levers as they were rubbish.

2.Started making a headlining. The old one is missing, so I have looked around. I tried to find some J-Channels but too expensive so I went with some tiling edging strip which seems to work well enough. I have cut the hardboard and covered in faux leather. Waiting to put back in soon.

3.The numberplate was a massive bugbear of mine, so for now I have installed some temp lights and mounted the plate back on the engine bay hatch.

4.Picked up a rough westfalia interior. Its from a LHD so I have cut and trimmed the buddy seat and the sink to fit a bit better. I will be putting a SMEV in at some point as the sink looks rough and dated.

Nice looking bus.

nice looking bus Mr Fresh your going to have to lower it to get in that garage

Its off to Harry Harpics to get lowered next Wednesday. haha! Then I will have to save up for Dropped Spindles.

harry harpics ? wheres that mate ?

Its in Essex haha! I am over Peterborough at the moment with the missus, hes 'the man' apparently.. Cannot wait to get it on the deck(ish).. Wheels next, although 5x100 means options are limitless..

Superfunkyfresh wrote:
The steering wheel movement before you get any feel for the tyres is mental. I can probs turn the wheel from the 11'o'clock to the 1 'o'clock position without any movement from the bus.

Hey that's not bad!!

Nice looking bus!

I think it will get tightened up some..

Nice looking bus

Its not that nice at the moment, needs a good polish, the roof has a few patches that need some POR15 treatment too..

Interior is starting to take shape.. New floor down, westy wardrobe fitted, roof treated on inside,sink unit doctored to fit, buddy seat still needs some work. Having a break today, missus doesnt have long left off work but I am off all next week so will crack on then..

Dicky

Heres a few pics of the camper from the past.. Digging through the paperwork...

Before the respray



Old for sale ad..









Van During Restro...





Van After Restro...

Dont use por15..its utter shit.
I used it on mine and it all could be peeled off in big sheets.
Use epoxy mastic,,
This stuff is supposed to be the best you can get,hardens so tough that even a wire wheel has a job to get it off.
I'll be doing mine in this soon.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RUSTBUSTER-EPOXY-MASTIC-10-m2-CHASSIS-PACK-/330617674466?pt=UK_Body_Shop_Supplies_Paint&hash=item4cfa595ae2

Cheers mate,

Just used POR 15 on the inside roof and it worked quite well.. I bought the sample kit, so Marine Clean, Prep and Clean, then POR15 paint.. Worked well, so I was gonna do it and then topcoat of white paint to match the roof..

The worst part for me which I didn't notice when I bought the van is that the sliding door track cover has been fucking welded to the body and smoothed which means no door adjustment!! FUMING!! Going to cut it off and get a new one from somewhere.

Dicky

So, I have managed to get a few photos off my phone and uploaded onto Photobucket.. Heres a quick update..



This is the faux leather headlining I have made, using contact adhesive and some hardboard. I haven't got J channels so I have rivetted some Tiling trim to the side of the van and it seems to work quite well, I am happy enough with it..



Cutting the hardboard to make the headlining.



Put away under the canvas for the night...

Managed to pick up the westy LHD interior, here are a few pics of the journey home and it being fitted:



Stopped off for some grub and Nikki took an arty pic of the wardrobe on the roof of the Audi

Test fitting the Wardrobe



Test fitting the buddy seat and sink unit

Treated a few rust scabs before I put the headlining in..

Strip it drill attachment from Frost
then
Marine Clean
Prep and Ready
POR15 Grey paint..





Front headlining boarding to be removed cos it looks terrible and replaced with original material, just need to source the bows..

Numberplate relocated...



Just need to get a decent plate now, oh well another part to add to the list...

Superfunkyfresh wrote:Numberplate relocated...

Much better. Always bugs me why people move the plate when there's an obvious place for it to go???

Shame the pop tops been removed

substandard wrote:

Superfunkyfresh wrote:Numberplate relocated...

Much better. Always bugs me why people move the plate when there's an obvious place for it to go???

Shame the pop tops been removed

I know mate, the track cover has been welded on for a 'smooth look' too, so I have just picked up another one so will have to go at her with the grinder at some point as the sliding door is shit atm..

Need to get out and work on her today but the cold is putting me off haha

Superfunkyfresh wrote:

LHD????

Superfunkyfresh wrote:

Need to get out and work on her today but the cold is putting me off haha

Yeah I should be out there on the DAF brrrr

I didn't write that, the previous person did, I don't think its ever been a LHD.

I have to sort out the headlining and try and refit the overhead cab today! Just cannot be arsed..

This week was supposed to be spent working on the camper too.. Fat lot of good that was

Put clothes on, walked downstairs, had breakfast..

Read a note "10 weeks today we get married baby"... Smiled

Put overalls on, walked outside, got to van, touched van... Too cold..

Back inside, clothes off, pjs on, lying on bed with a brew ... While my missus texts me saying shes about to go in the gas chamber.. haha.. Joys of us both being in the military, I feel her pain!! Suck it up princess, we both have to do it...

Now, back to building my model ZX6 I was bought for xmas (prefer if it was a gixxer)

Back in from epic Daf welding. Welding keeps you warm
Sandwich and Minder time