'71 SWB Bus

[madmark]

well done andy great work ,oh and a pit in the garrage everybodys dream!

[Southerner]

well done andy great work ,oh and a pit in the garrage everybodys dream!

Aint it just, but like I told the wife, "baby we moved here because of the space for you and the kids, of course it had nothing to do with the pit - that was just a bonus"

[Southerner]

Not much doing this week, getting closer to painting the top half and the last two wheels:



Just a case of sanding it all back really, although I've got one dent in the scuttle panel I have to sort out which has got me thinking, I posted a question in the technical section to see if any panel beaters can advise the best way to approach this one.




I just need axle shaft gaskets to finish the rear axle overhaul, I'm hoping mk3 ones will be fine. Already got the new oil seal for the diff on, new shockers, shoes, adjusters, cylinders as well and I'm gradually replacing the brake lines.






With any luck and no cold snap I'll have the spraying done in a couple of weeks.
Cheers,
Andy.

[Southerner]

...well those couple of weeks flew by

finally made a start on the spraying







Still getting to grips with using a spray gun (definitely a skill), only the 5th time I've done it and wasn't entirely satisfied this time, mainly round the window frames where I missed the second coat and the first wasn't so good. So I'll need to flat it back and go for a second coat in places. Wheels need the other side doing anyway and some of the internal panels so no big deal.

Garage is too small to do the roof so this will have to wait, managed to get the gutters finished though. Probably go to the body shop for that when I'm all done .

I think the door interiors look a bit wierd two tone. I noticed Geoff's mk1 van thread was recently revived and the pictures show the top colour on the door interiors which makes sense (wish I'd seen that earlier). Now in two minds as to whether to do this with mine, would make the lines alot cleaner (to me anyway) but not sure when the doors on whether it will bother me.

Was a bit disappointed with the white - I really love the blue and after putting the white on I wasn't made up with it initially but it's growing on me .

Managed to sort the dent out in the scuttle (thanks for the tip Luke), I was worried that hammering it out would cause a problem for the frame but the steel's alot thicker than modern cars and this wasn;t an issue.

Finished overhauling the back axle - although the mk3 axle shaft gaskets look fine on the computer, they are a load different when they turn up, seem to fit OK, but kept the old ones on as well for good measure - obviously haven;t had it out yet to be sure but i think it's all good.

Hopefully get a bit more done this weekend (famous last words). Andy.

[Southerner]

Time for an update... The master plan to get it on the road for the summer, make it down to Gaydon etc etc didn't come good. Part of that plan was to take it off the road this winter and sort the engine and finish off the rest of the underneath, so at least I'm on track for that.




Should be on the road by the spring, no problem.

[pipeforce]

Just where does the time go. Good on you mate top job

[madmark]

well done mate you are dooing a great job ,you need to get her on the road for 2010 as its the 45th of the transit so there might be some more shows on!

[Southerner]

Thanks guys - definitely want to make it to Gaydon and transitmania next year, really tired of telling people it's in bits in the garage - driving me crazy! Cheers, Andy.

[Luke]

yeah get a move on i'd like to see it too

[jerry2]

Looking good m8.

[Southerner]

Engine out and had the bay cleaned up and painted. Looks a bit better in the photos than up close as I brush painted with Hammerite, couldn't be bothered with the hassle of spraying and to be honest it was going to be hard to warm the garage up enough. Defintely better than having all that underseal on there though.







Next I need to start scraping off all the remaining crap from underneath and take the front springs off. I really hate underseal. Andy.

[Southerner]

Been scraping more underseal, I'm getting there.





In between getting bits of crap in my eyes (and as the weather's warming up a bit) I put new seals on the rear doors. Couldn't find a similar seal to the orginal (left) so went for something that I thought should do the trick (right). Seems to fit fine now its on.





Got the seal from Woollies and stuck it on with super glue as they recommend, works a treat. I used a different seal for the front doors (arrow type), again worked well, pretty sure the arrow would do the same job on the back ones.
Cheers, Andy.

[madmark]

looking good andy ,am looking forward to seeing this bus

[transitandy]

looking good andy ,am looking forward to seeing this bus

You and me both m8 very good thread and great work

[malta transit]

It's coming up great. The underseal has preseved it. Though i like it better painted as long as you preserve it.