Will you be driving up to The Falcon next weekend Sparky?
1967 Neptune Blue Deluxe
- Thread starter sparkywig
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They do look nice, from a 944?
911
Falcon, what's happening there @Martin L
WBC 9th B'day Bash Campout......at Fir tree Campsite.
First drive from lockup to Nick's at CJ Motors for a nut and bolt check and fettle.
The running issues were solved by fitting the IDF40s off the old bus engine. So much easier with the hatch. Also had a sticky rocker, that was probably due to the engine sitting for such a long time before fitting.
Fairly successful apart from sitting stationary traffic for 1 1/4 hours and then being diverted through the back roads of Bedminster. Gear shift deteriorated rapidly, only left with 3rd and 4th.
Anyway, finally got to Redfield.
Saturday morning started well, poured a litre or so of ESSO E5 down my leg and into my boot whilst topping up the fuel level. Then as I went to move the bus out of the way so the workshop could be accessed there was a loud metallic noise and the gear shift went all floppy.
I reckon this could be the issue.
So back on axle stands again for a while.
Quick trip back across town to the lock up and came back with the CSP modified shift rod that was in the "parts that don't fit" box.
A bit of heating up and re-bending it finally sort of fitted.
While the front end was in the air, I found the top shock mounting nuts missing and the bolts just hanging so replaced those.
Other jobs done on the ramp, brakes re-bled much better now, fuel leaks sorted, and clutch conduit tube reattached to the torsion bar housing.
Drive home was uneventful, apart from the modified modified shift rod is fouling on the steering idler so 2nd gear is very hard to find.
Anyway, Barryfornia here we come.
The running issues were solved by fitting the IDF40s off the old bus engine. So much easier with the hatch. Also had a sticky rocker, that was probably due to the engine sitting for such a long time before fitting.
Fairly successful apart from sitting stationary traffic for 1 1/4 hours and then being diverted through the back roads of Bedminster. Gear shift deteriorated rapidly, only left with 3rd and 4th.
Anyway, finally got to Redfield.
Saturday morning started well, poured a litre or so of ESSO E5 down my leg and into my boot whilst topping up the fuel level. Then as I went to move the bus out of the way so the workshop could be accessed there was a loud metallic noise and the gear shift went all floppy.
I reckon this could be the issue.
So back on axle stands again for a while.
Quick trip back across town to the lock up and came back with the CSP modified shift rod that was in the "parts that don't fit" box.
A bit of heating up and re-bending it finally sort of fitted.
While the front end was in the air, I found the top shock mounting nuts missing and the bolts just hanging so replaced those.
Other jobs done on the ramp, brakes re-bled much better now, fuel leaks sorted, and clutch conduit tube reattached to the torsion bar housing.
Drive home was uneventful, apart from the modified modified shift rod is fouling on the steering idler so 2nd gear is very hard to find.
Anyway, Barryfornia here we come.
Aw man, that sounds stressful! Great perseverance and sorting it to be able to go to Barryfornia! Whoop whoop with hopefully only small issues going forward all your hard work has really paid off and the bus has been resurrected and you can enjoy driving a bus again! 
Thanks, Barryfornia has been and gone.
I can say it was a successful first outing. A couple of issues, the gearshift definitely needs addressing, there's a small oil leak from the temp sensor housing, there's still some leftover mousehouse even after all the cleaning, a side light isn't working and a small wiper issue on the way home in the heavy rain.
I can tell you the windscreen semi clears over 50mph....
I can say it was a successful first outing. A couple of issues, the gearshift definitely needs addressing, there's a small oil leak from the temp sensor housing, there's still some leftover mousehouse even after all the cleaning, a side light isn't working and a small wiper issue on the way home in the heavy rain.
I can tell you the windscreen semi clears over 50mph....
A few pics from Barryfornia.
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@sparkywig
That hatch is such a great addition!
Have you removed the firewall between engine and fuel tank or does that year bus not have one?
That hatch is such a great addition!
Have you removed the firewall between engine and fuel tank or does that year bus not have one?
Buses produced from August 1967 to April 1968 didn't have an engine firewall, this was introduced from May 1968.
Good to catch up you and the family, mate.
creationblue
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Lovely looking bus in the flesh, full of character and love the stance 
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Loved the engine hatch really made life easier on many service parts like plugs and removing the carbs if needed and getting to the engine top bolts for removing that engine as and when.
Well, that was a frustrating day.
Front shift rod fouls the steering idler, so I can't select 2nd gear.
So with a bit of heat and a slight bend I thought this would fix it. But no, it now fouls the beam adjuster.
So a bit more heat and a couple of adjustments with a ball pein hammer.
And it still doesn't fit.
I've ran out of gas, so more mods will have to wait until the weekend.
Anyway, let's get one job finished at least.
3 hole washer jets replaced with stock.
Front shift rod fouls the steering idler, so I can't select 2nd gear.
So with a bit of heat and a slight bend I thought this would fix it. But no, it now fouls the beam adjuster.
So a bit more heat and a couple of adjustments with a ball pein hammer.
And it still doesn't fit.
I've ran out of gas, so more mods will have to wait until the weekend.
Anyway, let's get one job finished at least.
3 hole washer jets replaced with stock.
Right then, where were we?
Oh yes, the shift rod.
Well, with a new gas bottle and another couple of hours of adjusting, the shift rod is now fitted and I can select all gears.
Next job was connecting the horn. Well, that works but doesn’t stop.
Upon further investigation it looks the isolating ring at the top of the steering column was damaged during fitting, so the steering column is in pieces until the postman delivers that.
I had a 1960s Blaupunkt Hamburg radio converted to DAB and bluetooth but the fascia it came with was just a little too small for the original radio slot.
Another couple of hours making and painting a fixing plate.
Doesn't look too bad with the radio installed.
Seat belts next, but still waiting for the paint to dry on the relocation brackets,
so started on the little interior fittings.
Oh yes, the shift rod.
Well, with a new gas bottle and another couple of hours of adjusting, the shift rod is now fitted and I can select all gears.
Next job was connecting the horn. Well, that works but doesn’t stop.
Upon further investigation it looks the isolating ring at the top of the steering column was damaged during fitting, so the steering column is in pieces until the postman delivers that.
I had a 1960s Blaupunkt Hamburg radio converted to DAB and bluetooth but the fascia it came with was just a little too small for the original radio slot.
Another couple of hours making and painting a fixing plate.
Doesn't look too bad with the radio installed.
Seat belts next, but still waiting for the paint to dry on the relocation brackets,
so started on the little interior fittings.
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Stereo looks awesome, doesn’t even need switching on 
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I like the look of that stereo too. Styled much more nicely than my own retro sounds unit.
The job you've done has got me thinking that plate would be also be good if made from a piece of plastic cut from another glovebox lid, so that use of the VW textured plastic carries through.
The job you've done has got me thinking that plate would be also be good if made from a piece of plastic cut from another glovebox lid, so that use of the VW textured plastic carries through.
It would be too thick for the spindle mount radio, it's only secured by a couple of threads with this plate.
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