'72 Tintop, low front big back - Does it qualify?

[Tintop]

I managed to source some genuine front archs, they went on reletively well. Bit of patience.

German and Swedish sourced the arches for me, if not try Alan Schofield, Volks Heaven or Custom & Commercials.

Apologies for delay in getting back to you - the engine failed and i've been busy with that.

Pulled engine out, compression tested it, psi showing 50, 25, 40, 10 = Crap! Also believe bearing gone.

Have sourced new engine and trying to get ready to fit in.

 

[Camperdan]

Hi Tintop,

Still so impressed by your van... looks great!
Sorry to hear about the engine and hope it's all sorted soon.

Thanks for your answer on the arches by the way. I ended up sourcing some genuine NOS arches and the fit is much better, as you would expect.

For the benefit of Justin & Mutley and anyone else for that matter, with hindsight and now a little personal experience - if I were to ever do the front arches again on a 72 crossover bus and without the privilege of NOS parts I think I would tackle it in one of 3 ways:

1. If you are not too fussed that your bus keeps its original looks with the flared lip - then use some good quality complete arches for a pre 71 bus with the flat lip.
2. If you are fussed about keeping the lip and your arches aren't too bad - see if you can get away with repairing the arch with either just the outer skin repair panel for a 73-on arch and/or the inner and outer step repair panel for a pre 71 bus - although this may take some skill to mate all the parts correctly.
3. Or finally, (and my preferred option) fit a genuine 73 on arch but rather than cutting the inner step area off the 'arch' (as many people seem to advise), instead either replace the cab floor sections with those of a later 73-on bus that include the cut-outs for the inner step - (as most likely these will need replacing anyway) - or - cut out the inner step shape into your original cab floor - which should then mean that the cab floor will mate up correctly with the inner step on your later arch. Ok - so it won't look original when you open the door but only you will see that, from the outside the bus looks correct with the lip and the arch/step should fit much better this way than trying to modify it to your existing cab floor.

The above is just my opinion nor have I actually tried these options but that is what I would try next time - I'm sure others may agree or disagree but as I said - just my opinion that I'm putting out there :wink:

 

[Tintop]

Hi Dan

I now have a single port 1584 vw engine in, with a few minor mods.

I've added an electric fuel pump and regulator.
Run as sweet as, except for once warm, sometime, stalls when stopped. will try and sort carb out today.

Will move on to interior soon.

 

[Justin & Muttley]

Solid advice on the arches - mucho appreciated!

 

[Camperdan]

Hi Tintop,

Glad the engine is almost there!

I had a similar cutting out problem to that a few years back and after much fiddling with the carb it still did it.... finally I replaced the little electric fuel cut-off valve (soleniod) on the side of the carb and hey presto, all sorted. So may be worth checking that too?

Good luck and make sure you put up pictures on the developments with the interior etc!

Dan

 

[Guest]

top job this one looks great. I noticed it might be a westy, the double louvred window is a devon addition if its OG?

 

[Tintop]

Yes, after checking the vin plate and chassis codes it appears to be a Westy weekender (tintop).

Have soundproofed the rear and under the R&R bed, heat insulated the panels, made and upholstered the front door cards.

Will post more pictures when i get chance.

 

[Tintop]

Engine swapped, just got round to putting photos on;

Up she goes!

Out it came

Cleaned up box, painted firewall, fit new clutch/bearing etc, painted chassis.

Put new engine in, accelarator cable too short!!!!!!!!!
So fit new cable front to back.

Will get some photo uploaded soon.

 

[Tintop]

Hi Dan

I now have a single port 1584 vw engine in, with a few minor mods.

I've added an electric fuel pump and regulator.
Run as sweet as, except for once warm, sometime, stalls when stopped. will try and sort carb out today.

Will move on to interior soon.

Now sorted thanks to a carb repair kit and new needle valve, courtesy of German & Swedish - £8

 

[Camperdan]

Hi Tintop,
Glad the carb kit sorted the stalling!

Still absolutely loving your bus.... every time I see new photos I just think wow :shock: and hope my bus looks half as good when I finally get round to getting a fresh coat of Neptune on to it!

Keep the pictures coming.... they are my inspiration!

 

[Guest]

the finish looks great im sure your happy

 

[gninnam]

Well done tintop - glad the op didn't get in the way of the swap!
Looks very good and like the use of the tree trunks 8)

 

[mcvw]

Oh man!

Neptune blue, westy louvres, fuch's and pascha seats!!!

For our 71 we've so far collected two westy louvre windows (the "long" single style), NSU fuch's, and black pascha seats - AND our bus was also gonna be Neptune blue.

Looks like we'll have to re-think (yet another!) concerning colour else we'll be twins!!!

Great looking bus tho mate

 

[Tintop]

The more the merrier. Neptune blue is a brilliant colours and suits the campers.

Now moved on to the interior.

Soundproofing under rock n roll bed:

Insulating inside panels

Made, upholstered and fitted the door cards:

Have sound proofed rear panels and boot floor.

Currently upholstering the rear inner panels and the will move onto inside roof


And had the new engine set up on the rolling road.

Will post pictures as soon as i can of rolling road.

 

[Tintop]

A few pictures of rolling road:

Taken on mobile phone so not brilliant quality i'm afraid.

 

[Camperdan]

Hi Tintop,

Interior looks like it is coming together nicely!
How'd the tune up go on the rolling road... what power you making?

 

[Tintop]

When i got there and did the first run on the rolling road i was pushing a staggering 20 Horse power!!

Once the carbs had been tweaked and the timing set up it was running 35hp.

I've been advised with the engine being brand new and running 'tight' i needed to do circa. 1000 miles and then go back to have the carbs jetted, this should show a marked improvement.

The guy was really decent guy, would definitely recommend him.

 

[Benyon]

Where did you go for the rolling road. I'm looking to install some baby dells and when I do I want to get everything correct tuned/jetted.

 

[easy]

what was the BHP? should be around the 55+ mark :mrgreen:

 

[Tintop]

Where did you go for the rolling road. I'm looking to install some baby dells and when I do I want to get everything correct tuned/jetted.

http://www.kp-motorsport.co.uk/index.html

Like i said decent guy.