Buddy the bus: 69 Dormobile

[SiDev]

Well, had a bit of time so decided to tidy up the crusty can floor, it's solid but had a bit of surface rust, so rubbed it down, cured it, etch primed and then a bit of topcoat: unfortunately the previous owner gave me paint codes that couldn't be further away from the actual colour of the bus so the paint looks rubbish, but it's better than rust.

Then got my Gene Berg shifter on, nice bit of kit as everyone says.

Next job is to get the 6-rib gearbox in...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[vassy69SC]

Great looking Dormobile and good to see it being well used.
The 1641cc with dual 36DRLA's is a great combo.
We have the same setup in our '71 Dormobile. About 70,000km on that engine now and it just sings along.
It will be interesting to see how you go with the different gearing in the 6 rib.
Look forward to your thoughts.
This is a couple of pics of ours.

 

[SiDev]

That looks sweet, do you see many Dormo's out there or not? The original factory where they were converted is just down the road from me, small world...
I think the 6-rib box will be fine, I had the bus on the rolling road last year and the bhp and torque were similar to a standard 2ltr type 4 motor. I'm planning on a bigger engine in the future so it's a sensible mod to make, I also like the idea of sitting comfortably at 65mph rather than 55mph.

 

[vassy69SC]

Sounds great!!
Don't see too many early bay Dormobiles but a few more of the later bay ones they made in Canberra, Australia.
I had a look at your tyres, with the lower profile (compared to stock/ours) the extra legs of the 091 will go nicely.
Bit exciting to be just down the road from the factory.

 

[SiDev]

Finally got round to swapping the bell housing on the 6 rib box

Got a new seal on there too just to make sure.

Trial fitted it to the motor to see if the input shaft needed cutting down and it didn't, result! [SMILING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]

And finally got my trumpets fitted on the carbs, so much easier with the lump out.

Looking forward to getting it back in next week and seeing how much better it sits on the motorway to Volksworld.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SiDev]

So, picked the bus up earlier with the new 6-rib gearbox and....what a flipping difference. It's made it a completely different machine. Where as I would normally tuck in between lorries and it would be at around 4k revs at 60 mph it now sits at 65 mph comfortably. It's going to make the long trips so much better.
Also got my new shocks on and it rides loads better now too. Looking forward to VoWo now...



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Dickie524]

Sounds good Si and it's one of the things I have been thinking about. What is the difference in final drive ration them between the standard gearbox and the one you have uprated to?


I have a 1641 twin carb, newly built, and am being gentle for the time being and havent done any motorway miles yet, so am interested in your experiences with 'longer legs'!

 

[vassy69SC]

Great to hear that it went well!
It is a fine balance for gearing and motors but is so good when you know you have it right.

 

[SiDev]

Sounds good Si and it's one of the things I have been thinking about. What is the difference in final drive ration them between the standard gearbox and the one you have uprated to?

Final drive on the early bay 3-rib was 5.38 and on the 6-rib is 4.57.

I have a 1641 twin carb, newly built, and am being gentle for the time being and havent done any motorway miles yet, so am interested in your experiences with 'longer legs'!

It's made a big difference: my speedo is a little optimistic so I've recorded the speed with GPS and I would previously sit on the motorway at 52-56 at 3700 revs, if I overtook it would would be revving at around 4K doing 60 mph, now sat on the motorway last night I was cruising past the big trucks at 65 mph at 3700 revs, and at 4K revs I was over 70 mph. Mine is a 1641, mild cam, twin Dell 36s pushing out just under 80 bhp on the rolling road and it seems like a good match so far. I have heard people saying need to change down to 3rd more but I'm not sure that's the case for me, more driving around town will tell but so far I'm stoked.
As for the actual mechanical aspects, it's a very easy job to do.

 

[SiDev]

Great to hear that it went well!
It is a fine balance for gearing and motors but is so good when you know you have it right.

Yep, it sure is. I remember my late bays romping along the motorway, with the switch this one is now mechanically similar to them, so happy days. It's probably my favourite modification so far.

 

[vassy69SC]

Perfect rpm for that engine at those speeds.
The 1641 like we both have with little Dells is an absolute ripper combo.

 

[Dickie524]

Sounds very similar to my engine setup too, I have also gone for 1641cc, twin carbs, engle 90 cam and a vacuum advance dizzy, for what it's worth, but the gearbox is standard so far. My speedo is also all over the place so will have to try sat nav as you suggest and find out what it's really doing! Cheers for tht Si I will continue to follow this with interest!

 

[SiDev]

Some pics from VoWo today....

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gninnam]

Nice photo's and looks like the weather was good.

 

[SiDev]

So spent more time driving the bus than actually doing anything to it, but my Mad Matz carpet set that I ordered at Volksworld turned up so I started stripping off the 45 years of crap that was under the seats to get it fitted.
What do peeps use to stick it down, I plan to use spray adhesive?

Found this random clasp, any ideas?

And then my 3 year old started stripping the Radio Flyer down for a re-fresh, not bad work...

He reckons he'll have it done by the weekend...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SiDev]

So, a bare metal resto by a 3-year-old takes longer than they promise, no different to adults then, but he's chuffed with the results and wants to put it in the line up at Alive and V Dubbin this weekend.

It also cost more than he initially thought.....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[marcher]

My old Radio Flyer brushed up very well :lol:

You got anymore of those apples

 

[Dickie524]

The clasp you found by the way Si is where the aluminium heat/ wind sheilding from the original dormobile 'Radford' stove fits - tucks under there and is held tight. Natty!

 

[matty74]

Great thread and pics ... where did you get your awning / canopy from??

I've got a massive drive away awning but want something more simple for short weekend breaks etc ... Yay, found something very similar, the remit from the Mrs was it had to be beige'ish [obviusly] ... Camping & General Gelert Lakesbury 4 porch £45 delivered

Cheers

 

[toffo24]

Looks Great Si great work!