Frankenstein.. Missus calls him Kermit!

[Doris]

welcome mate.great to see your enthusiasm.look forward to watching the bus transform so keep the pics coming ;-)

 

[T2 Brinky]

good luck with the van m8 , i like the smooth front end

keep the pics cumming

 

[AIR_CHILLED]

Hello Dicky,

Nice Bus and good luck with the van.

Just pm'ed you regarding local meets, it might be worth putting your location in your profile so people can see where your from.

cheers,

Mike.

 

[superfunkyfresh]

Heres a few pics of the camper from the past.. Digging through the paperwork...

Before the respray

Old for sale ad..

Van During Restro...

Van After Restro...

 

[superfunkyfresh]

So, I have managed to get a few photos off my phone and uploaded onto Photobucket.. Heres a quick update..

This is the faux leather headlining I have made, using contact adhesive and some hardboard. I haven't got J channels so I have rivetted some Tiling trim to the side of the van and it seems to work quite well, I am happy enough with it..

Cutting the hardboard to make the headlining.

Put away under the canvas for the night...

 

[superfunkyfresh]

Managed to pick up the westy LHD interior, here are a few pics of the journey home and it being fitted:

Stopped off for some grub and Nikki took an arty pic of the wardrobe on the roof of the Audi

Test fitting the Wardrobe

Test fitting the buddy seat and sink unit

 

[superfunkyfresh]

Treated a few rust scabs before I put the headlining in..

Strip it drill attachment from Frost
then
Marine Clean
Prep and Ready
POR15 Grey paint..

Front headlining boarding to be removed cos it looks terrible and replaced with original material, just need to source the bows..

 

[superfunkyfresh]

Numberplate relocated... New Chrome rings around the taillights (although the seals look rough now)

Just need to get a decent plate now, oh well another part to add to the list...

 

[superfunkyfresh]

Shes Lowered!!! What an epic journey.. TH Dropped spindles, 60mm narrowed beam. Adjusters on highest settings, rear dropped 2 splines.

 

[dubdubz]

It was easy :shock: kinda... Looks good though... Your knuckles, my left knee and an empi shifter are the only real casualties haha

 

[Myvanway]

nice work dude.

Paul.

 

[superfunkyfresh]

Heres a few pics of before, during and after the lowering...

This is the test drive where I managed to break the EMPI shifter..



Got a bit of money for getting married so we decided to buy a few bits for the camper. We now have on order all the door seals inc scrapers etc for both front doors, 2 bows, a new cab headlining and a side window seal to try and sort out the leaky sliding window.

Hopefully will make some progress once I get the bus down to camp in a few weeks.

 

[dubdubz]

and you stil have a shiny shifter sat in my garage...plus your old beam!

not sure what happened re matey who was interested I didn't get a chase so presumed he was sorted.

pm me when you're next about!

 

[superfunkyfresh]

Ok, so its been ages since I did an update here..

Well, I got married and moved house, so I now reside in Tewkesbury and I now have a drive and a garage, so its been full steam ahead most nights, before I go spend 4 months in bloody Afghan from Sunday.. So here goes.. Whats happened.

Well after she was lowered we packed her up to the hilt with all the stuff we bought for her and drove her from Peterborough to Tewkesbury, blasting down the motorway no probs..

So once she arrived at her new home we decided to see if she would fit in the garage...

With about an inch to spare off the roof rack..

And the bike fits.. Just.. Winner..

So then after that we decided to actually work on Kermit.. We got married abroad and threw a little party back in the UK for those who couldn't make it.. We made a sweet shop..

We had the table cloths left over (and big bellies from all the sweets) so decided to make these...

 

[superfunkyfresh]

So,

Since then I have played a bit of Ice Hockey, I played for the RAF against the Army and Navy in the Tri-Service cup. After holding the cup for the last 4 years we lost to the Army 4-0. Possibly the worst day of my career..

Makes it worse because I play in net..

Fast forward a few weeks and we get some glorious weather, so the wife and I have cruised about in the camper, generally loving it..

Then I decided to tackle this ..

Lots of filler.. I decided after looking through behind the battery and seeing the plating, that I didn't want to pick at it, so I grinded it neat and began filling..

Its been a whiles since I've done any bodywork, so got out the 240 wet and dry and started flatting back..

Only had some primer and no black, so threw a coat of primer on and flatted back with some 400 wet and dry to look for defects and pinholes.. (found plenty)

Only had this U-Pol filler (which apparently has no pinhole technology) and didn't have any stopper or green stopper, so threw another coat of primer on

Then dusted on a topcoat

The paint match is terrible but I didn't have the van with me and just wanted to throw a top coat on to protect it (even though it will be in the garage for 4 months)

Happy enough with how its looking for now.

 

[superfunkyfresh]

So, I got a bit sidetracked, went to watch the Chisora fight in Wembley.. Thanks Tickets for Troops..

Missus didn't approve of this pic on FB, anyways I digress..

Picked up some material from Dunelm for the RnR bed from Rusty Lee

Off it goes to the Mother In Law to get made whilst I am in the Ghan'

And I set about putting some knobs on the westy doors..

After going two splines on the rear and dealing with the bloody knocking I decided to scour the net for some horseshoe plates.. Found them on here.. £70 delivered. Bargain..

Finally treated myself to some literature whilst I'm away..

... I think we are pretty up to date on her standings at the moment.. Shopping list whilst I'm away will undoubtedly grow as boredom sets in.. Who knows, I might have a monster engine to build when I get back.. Or I might just fit my ICT 36's I have here

 

[superfunkyfresh]

Opps I lied.. 67panel on here was selling a kit which inc. Leisure battery split relay, hot start relay, electric fuel pump feed and 3 aux wires.. So I decided to fit. Only in typical fashion and being a x-over I didn't have the beam to mount it to. So I ended up mounting it by the battery...

Currently only have the hot start relay hooked up but having a few issues as when I pull the key out the ignition the engine keeps running.. Daves looking into this for me at the moment.. Pretty mental if you ask me haha.

Because of where I have mounted the relays, I am conscious of the need to weatherproof from the vents above.. I might look to make a cover/shroud for them. Who knows. Ideas??

 

[superfunkyfresh]

Well I've begun my journey to the desert, the place I'll call home for the next few months. Already began populating a shopping list whilst on the first flight, so looks like I'll have a spare room full of gear for when I get home

 

[gninnam]

Great write up and pics

Hope your tour in Afghan goes well !

 

[carl_hendy827]

Mate,

Hows trick's dont worry got you a blazecut to keep the bus safe!!! give me a shout when you get back. My bus is off in on monday back to the guy who built the engine for a few chages and upgrades.

So should be cruising by end of next week.

take it easy carlos.