'95 LWB 150 minibus conversion

[MattBlackMinibus]

I take it you haven't met me yet... Or haven't got any back problems - yet
I'm still hoping... If not, you'll be seeing me hitch-hiking on M25/M40 junction with mig welder in one hand and "MANIA" sign in the other (JOKE!!!)

With your determination Nada ... See you there

[markbradleyf1]

Good luck with the project Nadjenka

[Nadjenka]

Greetings to everyone, after some time things have moved in the right direction. Been on holidays after Transitmania (it was great to see a lot of you there! I really enjoyed it! ) and now it has come to the time when I need to put Lola back on the road. I'll have to start in the week before Transitmania and take it nicely from there

After all that bad luck with the engine and bits and situations related, in a very weak moment two days before Transitmania - I bought another van... Yes, Transit - otherwise I wouldn't post it here It's a SWB Transit 80 which has failed it's MOT because of rust (well...) but has been in a service for hospital somewhere up north in London and therefore only done 49.000 miles during it's life. It was delivered to me only on Friday morning (Transitmania friday morning) so I couldn't really do anything with it, just skip around it, clap my hands and get all excited like Mary Poppins. Here it is as it arrives...



The truth is I really only bought the engine and gearbox. At least that's what the advert said. The fact that the Transit is still attached to it was revealed to me only after we agreed the delivery of the "engine"! But I have to say that I am pleased with it as poor little Transit has got loads of nice bits and pieces that can be useful to someone. As in my "breaking transit" thread...

Now today morning MinorMatt has arrived to "give me a hand" with the engine swap from the donor to my Lola. I have to say - he didn't "give me a hand" he literally threw himself into it - head to toes and worked like on Duracell batteries all day long!!! It was me at the end who was only lending a hand and handing out tools here and there... Here we go with the engine transplant - out with the old one, in with the "new" one...







I'm sure Matt has got quite a few bruses and muscle ake, it's not that much fun to get squashed by the engine here and there... But all good, engine was in, fingers counted and everything seemed to be in the right place AndyG turned up too, another pair of helping hands and positive thinking and Jono paid us visit for a while too. There's where I lost track of what is happening where on the engine or on the donor and it all looked like I COULD be on the road in the evening. Well - think again! With my luck and brainless head I managed to snap the PAS mounting bracket and Mary Poppins suddenly changed into the Hound of the Baskerwilles Silly little thing, but it just made me really angry, and if I wasn't told that diesel actually doesn't burn that well, I would probably shoved lit match down into the fuel tank just to be done with it! Early fireworks I was thinking about...

Once again Matts patience and Andy's positive thinking stopped me and gave me some hope and brigter light onto the situation. It doesn't need much to be back on the road - I keep repeating that to myself now, doesn't need much, doesn't need much and if I'm not taken by the men in long white coats and sedatives tonight, then it really "might" get on the road really soon. And when I'm finally done with it, it will be probably the most expensive wooden spoon MK5 van there is...

After today I can genuinly say - it's got everything, sweat, blood and tears on it now! Anybody has got a PA mounting bracket kicking around?

[Altransit]

Top stuff Nadjenka, and well done to Matt and Andy as well

Sorry I couldn't get there to lend a hand as well

[AlanN]

Well done, keep the pictures coming, sorry I couldnt make it

[MinorMatt]

No bruises Nada (at least none that wernt there before....) only that tiny cut!

No muscle ache either

But you did forget to mention something... the new engine is in and running but none of the front is back on (including the rad).

See it at the ace on Saturday...

[Altransit]

... the new engine is in and running but none of the front is back on (including the rad)

[Nadjenka]

LOLA IS ALIVE AND BACK ON THE ROAD!!!!

I'm the happiest person alive right now! Thanks to MinorMatt determination and time yesterday, Decky75's PAS mounting bracket and AndyG's "patience of a dead horse" (as he said it) and his time today LOLA IS BACK!

And I can get back to welding...



HUGE THANKS TO YOU GUYS!!!!!

[Nadjenka]

No bruises Nada (at least none that wernt there before....) only that tiny cut!

No muscle ache either

But you did forget to mention something... the new engine is in and running but none of the front is back on (including the rad).

See it at the ace on Saturday...

Thanks, I couldn't even think straight yesterday evening anymore... I meant to post a picture of the finishing stage, where there is no radiator on, no bonnet, no grill and stuff, but the important part yesterday was the transplant, which you have so succesfully done! I will now die trying to find a way how to return all the hard work and time you and AndyG spent with me and Lola... There are no words...

[MinorMatt]

Excellent

Been out driving yet??

Whats the new engine like?

Matt

[AlanN]

Must be out in it now

[Nadjenka]

Excellent

Been out driving yet??

Whats the new engine like?

Matt

It's lovely so far. Only drove it around the estate, but it's doing all right! And the clutch is actually good as it is too, I think I had it high before as well as I didn't find it weird. There is knocking noise coming from the steering somewhere though... Needs to be looked at at some stage. But that doesn't stop me being happy bunny right now Thanks for everything you've done!

[Nadjenka]

Must be out in it now

No I have to calm down first, because the excitement is blanking my vision I can only see pink and green stuff right now

[Muttley]

Well done Nada and friends! Sorry I missed out on the fun (NOT) Glad to hear you are mobile again

[MinorMatt]

I was pleasently suprised how well the engine started...

I ran a wire from the stop solenoid on the pump and did the same to the starter solenoid... it caught straight away! Just the same in Lola

I can see that its going to be a very good engine