change in direction? opinions please

[aogrady]

After spending years getting my bay how it is now i'm considering a pretty drastic change over the next year or so.

I love the way it looks at the moment but the older(and wiser?) i get the more and more stock buses are appealing to me.


Things i'm thinking about

1. replacing my devon interior with a stock devon one, again i love how it looks but in hindsight i wish i'd left it how it was.

2. replace all suspension mods frt and back with stock parts and raise him back up again,

3. og wheels and caps with og spec tyres.

If i deceided to raise the bus my 6 bow rack would no longer fit on the bus because of the garage, so that would have to go too.

I love the idea of having stock suspension and not have to worry about long distances, speed bumps or getting on ferries etc.

Its a lot of work that i have not got time for at the moment, so just after opinions at this stage

ant

Hi Ant!

Your van looks proper sorted as it is, but i can understand the need for change. Funny thing is a lot of people would aspire to have a van as nice and sorted as yours - me included, so interested to hear to you may be going stock.

I can understand how you feel about the ride - stocks nice and tall and floaty and wallowy......just how i like it, no stress trying to park or drive with pothole dodging, can get to any campsite - 'cos I'm tall see?

I love stock, but i also love your look - though perhaps to really use the van as it was meant, maybe stock is a little more practical?

I'm leaving mine stock, put my own mark on the interior. I love my bus, warts and all, but i also love yours, and to be honest, it's nice for you to evolve your van how you see fit, to blend in with your current lifestyle, and that's what it's all about.

Plus, as you have nice kit on your van, I'm sure you'll be quids in when you come to sell, gibing you plenty of cash to spend on petrol and get out there and enjoy it!

P.S Can i buy your hub caps?!

Cheers!

Alistair

 

[ant]

I've changed the whitewalling on the bus this afternoon, gone for a different look. Let me know what you think at VF.

Considering how low the bus is the suspension is good, very good. I need some better shocks on the back but thats about it.

I do love the "up in the air" look tho. You know, taller than stock on those already mentioned knobbly tyres. I may go that way for next season for a laugh.

Again guys thanks for your input

 

[windsurfer]

Too much thinking will make your hair fall out mate :lol: :lol:
Dude, your bus is amazing, I love it. You have put so much effort into it, would be a shame to change it. The stock interior sounds a cool idea (like Jon said) but I would not go to stock height personally. Stock height's a nightmare on motorways when lorries etc pass you anyway :lol:
Oh yeah, the rack adds so much to the look, where'd you fit the stiks on your trips to Saunton?

You just want a project Is a full time job, wife, dog and new business not enough :lol: :lol:

 

[mcvw]

Ant, your bus is tops! But... If you must change her... Sell the interior (and roof cladding) and replace with stock Devon units - and a westy ply headliner to match the units.

She'll be even more beautiful then. But don't raise her up - keep her slammed(ish) 8)

 

[gninnam]

Like the bus now
No matter what you decide, sure I will still like it :mrgreen:

 

[crede999]

hi ant .............slamming is so last year LOL
heres my stocker daily driver which just completed 3443 miles around europe it has a slight lowering job 1 at the back cut and turn on front just for them high wind moments !!! get it done not a lot goes wrong when its stock , and its always off the shelf and cheap !!

regards
chris

 

[K@rlos]

I think you should leave as it is mate, your bus looks dope, and i'm diggin the interior 8)

 

[BigG]

Regarding your rack, you could ditch it and get yourself a nice westy trailer.

With whitewalls of course :mrgreen:

 

[K@rlos]

Have two vans, one slammed, one stock! Problem solved!

Like your thinking, but i'm poor and can just about afford 1 van :lol:

 

[bananacustard]

Been admiring your bus for a while now Ant ( I'm partial to a 68 Caravette ) and I must admit I've always had a bit of a niggle with the 'tongue & groove' interior. Doesn't do the rest of the bus justice in my opinion ( sorry ).
I'd love to see this rolling a tad higher with a stock interior.

 

[aogrady]

Been admiring your bus for a while now Ant ( I'm partial to a 68 Caravette ) and I must admit I've always had a bit of a niggle with the 'tongue & groove' interior. Doesn't do the rest of the bus justice in my opinion ( sorry ).
I'd love to see this rolling a tad higher with a stock interior.

How about a interior with super glossy "piano" like finish and fittings. Re-trim the furniture with a darkish wood and super varnish - like those old 50's style boats, the kind James Bond would be cruising around in Monaco.....

So super glossy finish wood - and matching roof liner, with recessed lighting, be it wood, or the boarding you have already stained and varnished dark, along with flowing curved furniture with stainless or bright alloy edging and fixings, with crème leather furnishings - super luxurious for the jet set dubber!

Dark wood would blend nice with the vans exterior paint.

Cheers!

Alistair

Champagne bucket on ice optional!

 

[ant]

Not a fan of dark wood, i love my interior just wish i'd left more of the devon doors/surfaces in.

 

[faux]

Considering how low the bus is the suspension is good, very good. I need some better shocks on the back but thats about it.

I don't think shocks are going to help, I've seen under your bus, it is resting on the bumpstops. So the suspension you have at the rear is ........ The tyres. :mrgreen:

Si's was like that too, mine has about 10mm of travel at the back.

Jon

 

[windsurfer]

Considering how low the bus is the suspension is good, very good. I need some better shocks on the back but thats about it.

I don't think shocks are going to help, I've seen under your bus, it is resting on the bumpstops. So the suspension you have at the rear is ........ The tyres. :mrgreen:

Si's was like that too, mine has about 10mm of travel at the back.

Jon

Jon's right, Clare moaned like crazy about sitting in the back before (making lots of references to needing as ports bra :lol: ) but says it's much better since being raised (slightly) :mrgreen:

 

[Danbury Doug]

Whilst I like to see the various changes and mods people make on their buses, I have to say I'm another one for stock.

 

[two benders steve]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ! to stock height suspension , Yes to original interior , or parts of it, and if your getting a bit restless put your time and money into a PHAT ass motor you'll love it ! steve

 

[aogrady]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ! to stock height suspension , Yes to original interior , or parts of it, and if your getting a bit restless put your time and money into a PHAT ass motor you'll love it ! steve

Stocks the new low dude! arty0006:

Cheers!

Alistair

 

[ant]

On route to vanfest we hit a dip in the road at around 40 the frt bottomed out :shock:

It was due to the adjustable dampners in the coilovers being set to soft. With the red9 coilovers there are 28 points of adjustment and mine was set at the softest. The ride was good but the frt needed stiffening up with me having the suspspension so low to cope with larger bumps in the road. Just turned the adjustment screw on the coilovers 10 clicks and all seems good, and the ride quality is still spot on. Thinking about coilover rear now.

Also on the way back from VF there was a can of stella on its side in the road, not wanting to run over it with the tyres i aimed to drive over so it passed down the centre of the van. The beam is that low that it clobbered the can and sent it spraying and spinning across the road, bloody waste it i'd knew it was full i would of stopped.

 

[froggy]

Does look a bit low!