drive slammed import-scary!help *PICS ADDED*

[faux]

A couple more pics to compare, sorry they are not the best:

 

[dubdubz]

the section you have drawn - is that a separate part that i bolt on - using same/longer bolts or is this something i need to weld on (like the pre made beams you see for sale)?

If the beam turns out to be able to be reused - I'd do both ie bolt in place [it is a seperate piece] - tack weld, remove beam and seam weld, then you have fixed the top shock mount issue, it will be bolted and welded so strong.

someone has covered the bottom shock mount

The bus looks like a decent one though and although not an overnight fix it should be possible to fix, and depending on your welding/fabricating capabilities not that expensive

 

[Simon Hall]

where was the timber pic taken as that dont half look like my bus back there!

 

[radish]

If egotrippin comes over for a look, get him to call me. If i can i'll with him and cast my eye over it.
I would put a new beam on it, much easier if you can afford it.

 

[sackmcgannay]

pic with timber is in San Deago California - although bodged the work must be pretty strong to take that load of timber!

I just dont have the money to buy a new beam right now so if i can use the existing one thats better for now.

So -
i've got a king link beam and i've got some dropped spindles - how do i tell the quality of these to determine if i can keep and mod to work?

So if the beam and spindles are good i -
*bolt and weld some end plates to take the top strut mount
*relocate bottom shock mount - could anyone post a pic showing where that would be?
*replace adj tir rods

and i'm sorted - but i wont be as low cause the top shock mount will now be lower

I just dont have the money to buy a new beam right now so if i can use the existing one thats better- for now anyway- I've got more time than money so going to try and sort what i can do myself.

The van is in Lewes if anyone can come and have a look that would be amazing cause otherwise i'm a bit stuck - want to get this all sorted for the summer time.

 

[radish]

Thinking about that beam you could buy some end plates from oneonone get them on ebay for £45, This would be cheaper than getting drawings done and laser cut special ones for your needs. You can then cut the centres where the tubes are and you will have something like described earlier.
The bottom shock mount might be simple just cut that shit bracket off and return to stock by replacing the stud and pin. You may need to cut the trailing arm as that beam looks narrowed 4.5", this is also simple. If you do get it all aprt i can look at the spindles to, i've built loads in the last 6 years over on the ssvc.

The rear needs looking at really with eye's as the mounts may not be in the right places on either side.

Looks cool though.

Darius

 

[EgoTrippin]

Yeah we could pop over one weekend for a look.
Drop me and Darius a pm......

 

[Bwuttonmoon]

have the ends of the arms been cut down? an the beam looks like a replacement item.. altho it will still need a good look over to just double check.. there was a story about a company producing very poor quality beams not long ago if i remember right, was this company US based??

Eastcoast slammers. I bought one unfortunatly, ended up scrapping it. It was from UK

 

[Sparky]

and i'm sorted - but i wont be as low cause the top shock mount will now be lower

The shock location shouldn't affect ride height, that is set by spring position (and your dropped spindles). You will probably find your shocks are too long once you have some correct mountings, this may be why they where relocated? If your shocks are too long the bus will sit on them and destroy the shocks and mounts very quickly.

Sparky

 

[jacks906]

now the rear really concerns me:

removed rear top shock mount is because someones cut the chassis, chopped top shock mount off, moved the chassis section up and welded plate at either end..... this REALLY needs wheel off and better photos as if its not been strengthened properly this is not strong at all and will collapse!!!!

also not handbrake cable/cables fitted

an again shock mounts front an rear

all in all not too bad and easily fixed, i have seen worse UK buses MOT'd on the road, mine included before i sorted out previous bodges

plus i'll PM specs on mine to ya dubscum save clogging up thread :mrgreen:

Rear needs a serious look at the notch, if the notch has been done like it looks you will have no strength in there at all, as the centre rear legs that come off the rear tube will also be cut... If you could get a good pick of the inside of the rear chassis an get the wheel off to take a good one will be good

Altho it sounds bad a few hours welding will sort it.

 

[Guest]

looks like the full weight on the back chassis legs is held by that plate bridging the box sections :shock: . An easy repair would be to weld in some gussets an turn them into a box section.

it does look like a cool van though. 8)

 

[mister]

Hi. Good to see another EBer in Lewes. Your bus looks real good and look forward to seeing it around once you have it sorted. Unfortunatly I can't help you with the getting sorted bit! But if you want to look at a (currently) stock bus to see where yours has been tooled with let me know.

 

[graybum]

As above, I doubt there's much I could do to help, but I'm just down the road in Hassocks so will look forward to seeing this bus sorted, as it looks hot.

 

[Pete B]

Maybe it's too obvious, but no one appears to have mentioned it so far. The rear shocks are mounted upside down.
Not wishing to cover the same ground as others, but really, it is horrifying what some people will do and regard as acceptable. Hopefully the vendor will suffer some serious debilitating injury as pennance for passing on a death trap to an innocent overseas buyer. Presuming the vendor was using this bus on the road, one has to wonder how highly he valued his own life......

Still, positive thoughts, should not take too much work/money to sort out and then you will have one very cool (and safe) bus. Looks the dogs doo-dahs fella.

P.S. If it were me, my overwhelming urge would be to fly out and punch the vendor firmly on the snout for having the bloody cheek to sell such a death trap :evil: . That said, I'm a bit of a wimp so maybe I'd just send a snotty e-mail. From someone elses' e-mail address so he couldn't trace me... :msn4:

 

[5erge]

I'm no mechanic but even I can see the horrendous bodge jobs.

Surely no one in their right mind would make all the hash ups then stand back and be proud of themself. "Well Hank, that's one mighty fiiiiiiiiiine piece of lowering you've done right thur".

I wouldn't mind punching the vendor for you, the Earlybay lot will form an orderly queue and I'd name and shame them if I were you.

Once sorted it will look even better than it does now because you have the knowledge it is safe.

Des

 

[PetrolHead]

If egotrippin comes over for a look, get him to call me. If i can i'll with him and cast my eye over it.
I would put a new beam on it, much easier if you can afford it.

Demon Dweebs the 5th emergency service :mrgreen:

Good work Guys 8)

Seems to be a few Non-Dweeb local (Sussex) earlybay members on this thread.
Feel free to ingratiate yourselves at a Dweebs club meet over the summer

 

[Trikky2]

Wow - thats some of the worst bodges I have seen - unbelievable.

Its a prosecutable offense to sell a vehicle in such an unroadworthy state here - unless its been clearly marked on the receipt that its unroadworthy etc.

 

[sackmcgannay]

thanks a lot for everyone's help and advice with this. ..I'm going to have another look at the bus in next few days and will take pics of front beam adjusters - hopefully i can keep the beam and weld endplates on etc. I'm pretty confident i can do the welding as long as i know exactly what i'm trying to achieve.. Strengthening the rear chassis where its been notched - has anyone got any idea's on that (i'll take the rear wheels off and take some proper pics)
Radish and Egotrippin - would be amazing if i could get you over to have a look - once i know what i gotta do i can get on with it but at the moment i'm a bit stuck. Happy to pay you for your time as it really would be such a help to have some expert eyes look it over.

Name and shame - san diego classic volkswagen restoration (sdcvr). I suspected the job done on the lowering would not be great but wasn't expecting this!
To top it off they only sent me the ignition key - no key for doors rear hatch etc!(who can change the lock barrels for me? do i need to send them off?) plus was supposed to arrive with a r&r bed in the rear but didn't

Anyway the important thing is that the bus made it here and it's solid.

thanks again for all the help

Rowan.

 

[Pete B]

Regarding the locks/keys, believe Custom & Commercial are the boys for this. Think they can rebuild locks to match any key so you can have the 'one key fits all' situation as it was upon leaving the factory. Not too dear as far as I know, bearing in mind the end result.
Shame I dont have the parts, looked after a fleet of Mk4/5 Escort vans a few (shit, more like 10 plus :shock: ) years back and was constantly rebuilding their locks. Piece of cake when you know how. And you've got the parts....

 

[graybum]

Name and shame - san diego classic volkswagen restoration (sdcvr)

Fuck me, I thought this would have been a home botch job, not someone claiming to be a VW restorer!! :evil: :roll:

Sounds like you've got the right attitude to get this sorted though dude.