Bumpy Ride - Lowered '68 - How?

[Slammed]

Yep, you can get KYBs from Cool Air or SSP.

Don't go for coil overs unless you're fitting a Red 9 kit as they transfer the stress (weakest) point to your shock mounts.

Ball joints need to be pressed in at a machine shop, you'd have a job doing it at home.

8)

 

[cunning plan]

Yep, you can get KYBs from Cool Air or SSP.

Don't go for coil overs unless you're fitting a Red 9 kit as they transfer the stress (weakest) point to your shock mounts.

Ball joints need to be pressed in at a machine shop, you'd have a job doing it at home.

8)

Thanks slammed.. What about the rears?

Here you go guys, some better pictures:

1 adjuster? Whats the adjust do?

 

[Clarkson46]

I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but that van is dangerous do not drive it in that condition. Someone has cut the torsion leaf retainer off your lower beam tube so that all you front suspension is taken on the top tube only. In this condition you have no alternative but to source a replacement front beam and re-engineer the thing properly. Personally, I would return the whole thing to stock height and have a nice safe drivable van.

 

[speedwell68]

That was a one year only beam too. How many more of these oh so rare parts are going to be destroyed in the name of lowering. Return it too stock, lowered buses are deadly anyway.

 

[cunning plan]

:!: sh!t guys.. this is getting expensive!!!!!!!!!!! I was just hoping I could put some better shocks on it and problem solved.......................

What do the lowered guys think? :?: :?: :?: :?:

 

[Joval]

I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but that van is dangerous do not drive it in that condition. Someone has cut the torsion leaf retainer off your lower beam tube so that all you front suspension is taken on the top tube only. In this condition you have no alternative but to source a replacement front beam and re-engineer the thing properly. Personally, I would return the whole thing to stock height and have a nice safe drivable van.

Well spotted, didn't see that :shock:

Looks like it was cut for an adjuster but none fitted...

 

[Slammed]

Jesus, didn't notice that either. :shock:

As Clarkson says, get it sorted asap with a new beam, lowered or stock, your choice.

 

[speedwell68]

:!: sh!t guys.. this is getting expensive!!!!!!!!!!! I was just hoping I could put some better shocks on it and problem solved.......................

What do the lowered guys think? :?: :?: :?: :?:

That beam is fubar'd in my opinion. A '68 only beam is going to cost you around £300, plus fitting. At a guess you'll need new leaves too. I'd bank on £150 ish for getting the balljoints sorted, then some new track rod ends, probably another £80 in fitting. Maybe an Idle pin kit £20ish + fitting. New shocks will be around £40 +fitting, then you'll need bump stops, Your anti roll bar is missing, you'll need one of those, plus new clamps and bushes. All of this is before you find what horrors lurk elsewhere. I'd be getting at least £1000 - £1500 together to get all of that sorted properly. I will get flamed for this statement, all lowered buses are death traps, people will tell you they aren't, but they are. When you look at a lowered bus, think about where a car will hit the bus in the event of a head on accident. Yes there is 2mm of metal between a car and your legs. At least with a stock bus the bumper will offer some protection. On a lowered bus you have zero protection.

 

[cunning plan]

**** sake.. right you are guys.. Why do people **** around with this if they arent going to do it properly :x

Plan is then, keep it off the road until bonus time at work (thats if we even get it with the economy the way it is :roll: ) then a new lowered beam and decent shocks.. Any preference??

What about the back end - is that as easy?

 

[cunning plan]

:!: sh!t guys.. this is getting expensive!!!!!!!!!!! I was just hoping I could put some better shocks on it and problem solved.......................

What do the lowered guys think? :?: :?: :?: :?:

That beam is fubar'd in my opinion. A '68 only beam is going to cost you around £300, plus fitting. At a guess you'll need new leaves too. I'd bank on £150 ish for getting the balljoints sorted, then some new track rod ends, probably another £80 in fitting. Maybe an Idle pin kit £20ish + fitting. New shocks will be around £40 +fitting, then you'll need bump stops, Your anti roll bar is missing, you'll need one of those, plus new clamps and bushes. All of this is before you find what horrors lurk elsewhere. I'd be getting at least £1000 - £1500 together to get all of that sorted properly. I will get flamed for this statement, all lowered buses are death traps, people will tell you they aren't, but they are. When you look at a lowered bus, think about where a car will hit the bus in the event of a head on accident. Yes there is 2mm of metal between a car and your legs. At least with a stock bus the bumper will offer some protection. On a lowered bus you have zero protection.

Arrr.. Do i just sell it on?????????? I though i had an issue with the oil leak thats now kind of sorted, this is turning into a shed and quick

 

[speedwell68]

:!: sh!t guys.. this is getting expensive!!!!!!!!!!! I was just hoping I could put some better shocks on it and problem solved.......................

What do the lowered guys think? :?: :?: :?: :?:

That beam is fubar'd in my opinion. A '68 only beam is going to cost you around £300, plus fitting. At a guess you'll need new leaves too. I'd bank on £150 ish for getting the balljoints sorted, then some new track rod ends, probably another £80 in fitting. Maybe an Idle pin kit £20ish + fitting. New shocks will be around £40 +fitting, then you'll need bump stops, Your anti roll bar is missing, you'll need one of those, plus new clamps and bushes. All of this is before you find what horrors lurk elsewhere. I'd be getting at least £1000 - £1500 together to get all of that sorted properly. I will get flamed for this statement, all lowered buses are death traps, people will tell you they aren't, but they are. When you look at a lowered bus, think about where a car will hit the bus in the event of a head on accident. Yes there is 2mm of metal between a car and your legs. At least with a stock bus the bumper will offer some protection. On a lowered bus you have zero protection.

Arrr.. Do i just sell it on?????????? I though i had an issue with the oil leak thats now kind of sorted, this is turning into a shed and quick

TBH, I'd keep it and sort it, it'll be worth more that way. IMHO these are all minor problems, really. Get someone who really knows what they are looking at to look at it. In the greater scheme of things an £1000 repair bill on a bus of this age is nowt. I have a '68 that I bought as an easy fixer, 3 years in I am £10k lighter with another £5k to spend to get it perfect. It seems bad now, but the only way is up from here. Find someone that knows and work from there.

 

[cunning plan]

TBH, I'd keep it and sort it, it'll be worth more that way. IMHO these are all minor problems, really. Get someone who really knows what they are looking at to look at it. In the greater scheme of things an £1000 repair bill on a bus of this age is nowt. I have a '68 that I bought as an easy fixer, 3 years in I am £10k lighter with another £5k to spend to get it perfect. It seems bad now, but the only way is up from here. Find someone that knows and work from there.

I know you are right... I am looking at the complete kits where you get the beam which is adjustible, shocks and some kits even have disc brakes fitted - what do you think of these and if I do sort the front like this, what do I do with the rears?

Sorry for all the questions..

 

[Guest]

**** sake.. right you are guys.. Why do people **** around with this if they arent going to do it properly :x

Plan is then, keep it off the road until bonus time at work (thats if we even get it with the economy the way it is :roll: ) then a new lowered beam and decent shocks.. Any preference??

What about the back end - is that as easy?

:shock: wow i wasnt expecting it to be that bad, definitely if your staying low then a CE Weedeater beam is a good option at around £450 then you need to shorten your torsion leaves and track rods which is relatively easy to do or cheap if you know a machine shop.

 

[easy]

**** sake.. right you are guys.. Why do people **** around with this if they arent going to do it properly :x

Plan is then, keep it off the road until bonus time at work (thats if we even get it with the economy the way it is :roll: ) then a new lowered beam and decent shocks.. Any preference??

What about the back end - is that as easy?

:shock: wow i wasnt expecting it to be that bad, definitely if your staying low then a CE Weedeater beam is a good option at around £450 then you need to shorten your torsion leaves and track rods which is relatively easy to do or cheap if you know a machine shop.

I agree with Johnny, go creative beam and shocks, the best way to lower the front end and you dont need a anti roll bar :mrgreen:

As for waiting till Bonus time :roll: you know the drill, get a 0% credit card with about 15monthes interest free on purchases, buy all of the stuff and get the work done properly on the card and then slowly pay some of until bonus time, then pay the rest off and bingo slammed and sorted :wink: :mrgreen:

 

[sparkywig]

TBH, I'd keep it and sort it, it'll be worth more that way. IMHO these are all minor problems, really. Get someone who really knows what they are looking at to look at it. In the greater scheme of things an £1000 repair bill on a bus of this age is nowt. I have a '68 that I bought as an easy fixer, 3 years in I am £10k lighter with another £5k to spend to get it perfect. It seems bad now, but the only way is up from here. Find someone that knows and work from there.

I'm doing the same with my '69 that has been bodged by probably all the previous 14 owners.
Not necessarily the cheapest route, but I've got an early bay on my drive, and it will be nearly how I want it.
Don't worry, there are loads of rot look buses like mine out there. Just do the work as and when you can afford it/get parts.

Keep going and post the pics.

 

[cunning plan]

Alright guys thanks for the advice, i do like the bus but I already figured I had alot of pannel work to do (something I promised myself after the last van I wouldnt do again :shock: ) along with the engine but now all this too :? hmm..

SOoooOoOoo, do I:

* Get a normal beam then fit adjustable spindles (expensive as said before) http://www.coolairvw.co.uk/ca/3764/mia/d/type+2+rust+free+beam/pid/6559317 + http://www.coolairvw.co.uk/ca/3764/mia/d/type+2+1968+79+drop+spindles/pid/6559313, will also need shocks..

* Get an adjustable beam, return it to stock then lower with, decent shocks..

OR

* Get one of those kits that include adjustable beam, shocks, all new torsion etc BUT with disc brakes already fitted.. (do i need to fit a servo to use disc brakes?)

Then once I have done one of the above, what about the back of the van, how will this have been lowered and do I need to do anything to it?

 

[Guest]

i think you need to work out your budget first? what have you got to spend on the beam? then you can narrow your options.

 

[Clem]

I will get flamed for this statement, all lowered buses are death traps, people will tell you they aren't, but they are.

Not getting into 'flaming', but that is your 'opinion' certainly not 'fact'.

 

[cunning plan]

i think you need to work out your budget first? what have you got to spend on the beam? then you can narrow your options.

I dont really want to spend more than 1k sorting this.. But if a disc setup is X amount more ............. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Anyone want to buy a bay :lol:

 

[Joval]

Bring it to a professional to get it looked at -

http://www.thebusstation.co.uk/servicesbus.html