Advise please on essential upgrades

[wilkie]

I have just entered the world of early bays with a 1970 californian import. Nice and dry and apart from being lowered with adjusters on the front beam I think its running standard kit. Its just gone through an MOT. I have some money to spend and am tempted to buy all the nice shiny stuff but before I do Can you please advise on any mechanical esentials that might stop me from killing myself and familly. Also that might make the driving experience a little more enjoyable.

Many thanks
Eden

 

[birchyman]

reel seat belts was the first thing i bought and a new headlight relay (IF YOUR MAIN BEAM DONT FLASH" makes things a lot safer

 

[Wannabay]

install an automatic fire extinguisher in the engine bay
cost £100+ from Firetec
lots of threads on here

no effect on the driving experience but major peace of mind

 

[Araon]

fuel lines, filter and clips......again peace of mind

 

[aogrady]

fuel lines, filter and clips......again peace of mind

And dont stick the fuel filter in the engine bay!

Make sure the brakes are in top working order, they are only drums, and you have no servo - same as mine, it wont stop like a modern car, and people will pull out in front of you!!
Get the mechanics proper sorted and reliable, and then start blinging it up!!

Alistair

 

[wilkie]

Thanks for the advise, any body else got suggestions.

 

[ProfessorWheeto]

Some good advice so far
When you know its dry (if its got the luxury of a heated garage or wait til spring) waxoyl the underside and all the cavities, but make sure the drain holes don't get blocked up.
Use the proper spray on waxoyl, not the brush on stuff in a tin. It sprays easier if you heat it up and you can even mix it with a little used engine oil.

Won't make any difference to your driving experience but after its had a few brit winters its not longer a nice dry import van!

The other thing you may want to consider doing is upgrading from a dynamo to an alternater.

 

[Tofufi]

In my opinion, a standard, well maintained bus will always see you well.

Remember a lot of the chrome bolt on stuff is utter cack.

Chrome tinware and chrome pancake air filters on engines are awful compared to standard ones and can be detrimental to engine life and performance. Same goes for 009 (non vac advance) distributors and so on.

Be careful and research a lot when changing anything

Many modifications are useful (but not many are necessary if you don't want to go fast).

However, even things such as the standard engines and drums should be adequate under normal conditions

 

[easy]

fuel lines, filter and clips......again peace of mind

And dont stick the fuel filter in the engine bay!

Make sure the brakes are in top working order, they are only drums, and you have no servo - same as mine, it wont stop like a modern car, and people will pull out in front of you!!
Get the mechanics proper sorted and reliable, and then start blinging it up!!

Alistair

Perfect! 8)

 

[currylager]

Remember, as an old ancient proverb says CROME DONT GET YOU HOME :lol:

 

[Bookwus]

Hiya wilkie,

Congratulations on your new Bus!

Lots of good advice here about jobs to tackle in restoring/renewing that Bus.

But I would urge you to follow this advice before doing anything else.....................Make sure your brakes are PERFECT. You are going to trust your life and the lives of your family to those brakes. Check everything. Drums, shoes, hardware, wheel cylinders, rubber brake lines (especially rubber brake lines!), metal brake lines, master cylinder, master cylinder switches, brake fluid reservoirs, connecting hoses. EVERYTHING. And anything that does not look or function perfectly should be replaced.

The brakes are the single most important system on your Bus. Once they are done go after the fuel system (before you start driving it around).

 

[froggy]

I was told at a show that always make the bus reliable before shiny.
If you've got money then (as said already)start with the brakes / running gear, then the engine, electrics, interior and finally the outside.
Whats the point on having a show winning exterior sat on the drive! :wink:

 

[easy]

Whats the point on having a show winning exterior sat on the drive! :wink:

You can sit in it on the drive and go "BROOOM BROOM!"...................sorry dood :wink:

 

[mjknight71]

Wobbling Jesus............eeeeeesssssssential :lol:

 

[aogrady]

Firetec mentioned above, at least a hand held extinguisher, less than £20 from Argos

A bit of a camping choice, but: tea bags, coffee and milk, water, dont take up much space, always handy for a brew up somewhere - you can get cheap single hob burners in a carry case for about £15
Dried pasta and sauce in packets handy too.

Back to the motoring, good selection of simple tools, point, plugs, condenser, fan belt, gaffer tape, cable ties, selection of various crimps and fuses and bulbs. Engine oil, bike pump for the washer bottle.

Stuff to keep the kids interested - you can't concentrate if they are shouting!!

Think i carry far too much stuff to be honest, but it's all stored away so it dont matter.

Breakdown cover too - one that will cover you in any vehicle, just in case the gaffer tape and cable ties don't get you home!!

12V cig socket - charge phones, ipod, and you can get testers that monitor voltage etc which plug in, or wire in, handy to monitor voltage in case the fan belt breaks and it stops charging - and more importantly, stops cooling the engine!

Alistair

 

[wilkie]

Thanks for the advise. Is it worth upgrading the brakes to discs? or am I being paranoid.

 

[Bookwus]

Wilkie, wilkie, wilkie............

Speaking as your analyst, I can assure you that you are merely suffering from delusions induced by acute paranoia. Electro-shock, drug therapy, or a properly working drum braking system will eventually lead to a cure for your current situation.

And remember, even when you are cured, just because you are no longer paranoid doesn't mean that there aren't people out there who want to get you. That will conclude our session for today and don't forget to pay the receptionist on the way out. Oh, and please make an appointment for a session next week.