Hi guys,
Here's the photos as promised. I'll start with the steering rubber coupling!
Replaced my original one because it was badly cracked with a repro one from GSF. After the steering column was reassembled we found that everytime we turned the steering wheel the horn went! Karl checked all the wiring out for a short through the steering column but couldn't find anything. Spent ages and ages testing everything. The steering column which takes the steering wheel as you all know is isolated from the outer tube. The wire that runs from the horn push runs through the center of the column and connects up to the rubber coupling which connects to the steering box. The horn works by pushing the horn push which earths the hooter out through the steering box. After lots of head scratching and testing everything in sight, we decided we'd have to take the column out again. Once the column was out we just left the center tube which the steering wheel fits on to connected to the rubber connector which is then bolted to the steering box. We then put a continouty metre on and a pair of mole grips on the steering tube. We could then turn the mole grips as if we was turning the steering wheel and when we was turning the column once again the buzzer sounded on the metre. We then knew it had to be the coupling that was causing the trouble!
Hope to see the finished article at the Final Fling then. CAN'T WAIT!
On taking the rubber coupling off, we then pushed out one of the steel bushes and could then see a ring of steel around the inside looking through the hole. The original coupling is made up in sandwiches of rubber and webbing and then the four holes are punched out and the four steel inserts are put in. This way the four inserts are totally isolated from each other, which then in turn isolates your steering column from your steering box. We decided to cut open the new steering coupling. On cutting it open we could then immediately see what the problem was! Cheap repro rubbish!!! As Karl said, somebody making something which is totally unsuitable for its purpose! Not only did we consider this totally useless, we also wondered how long it would last because as you all know there is quite a lot of tension on that rubber when you're turning. See the photos below for what we found!
Took it back to GSF and never really got a satisfactory answer as usual, just got blank looks! Came away with my money back. As you all know, this is the sort of thing we're all up against which is cheap repro rubbish flooding the scene!
Also ordered some rearlight pod seal rubbers from Heritage, the ones that go round the back of the light pod and cushion up against your body work and also ordered the ones the lens would cushion on to from the pods. What turned up was an absolute joke! What they sent was a piece of round rubber about 4mm in diameter cut to length. This wouldn't go anywhere near the groove it was supposed to fit in! They also sent the same thing for the inner seal. For that I guess they probably charged £20 (Karl ordered them) which he will be returning! I ended up making my own seals out of some rubber that my friend gave me some years back. Fitted absolutely perfect, right size and dimensions and cost nothing! We know when we contact Heritage we're going to get the same answer, nobodies complained before etc... But as you all know it's one step forwards and 6 steps backwards!
Anyone considering changing their steering coupling, my advice would be to try and source a genuine NOS one. I was lucky enough to have Karls friend donate one to the project for me, cheers Karl.
I checked out all the couplings I could see at Brighton on the weekend and they were all by the same manufacturer which was the rubbish I bought!
Moving on...
The next picture is of the electronic speedo sensor which Karl has mounted directly behind the speedo which if you've seen the previous pictures, you'll know was made out of the old speedo and runs off the speedo cable which then gives us the rotating drum with four magnets on which the sensor then picks up.
Also shows a picture of the back of the LED's which are now used for indicators, oil light, ignition light and main beam. Really pleased with the way these look from the front.
Here you can see the outer seals bleeding. This is the Waxoyl dripping out.
These were taken before the final spray with Waxoyl.
The bus is now sitting on its four wheels, off of the lifting jig. Probably the first time in 18 months! The belly pans are now back on which we finished in black gloss powdercoat. We've also refitted the bellypan at the front and the one that Karl made to cover the remote servo. These too are in black gloss powdercoat. These were fitted after the whole of the underside was sprayed with black Waxoyl. There is probably 3+ gallon gone on this bus! The underneath looks absolutely stunning. I'll try and get some pictures when it goes to the MOT next week.
Now for the nice bits! I have at long last fitted my table top brackets! Well worth the weeks work making them by hand in the shed. I've also fitted my interior rear view mirror. For the eagle eyed of you out there, see if you can spot what vehicle this mirror is from. It is not a 68 Bay but it is vintage Volkswagen. Really pleased with it and I know Karl is as well. I picked this mirror up a couple of years ago at Volksworld, it was in the parts fair upstairs laying in a box under a table. Didn't know what it was off of at the time, just thought it'd look cool on my bus. It's turned out when I researched it, it is a one year only mirror. Can't remember if I've already put what it is but have a guess... Paid £7 for it.
Here's Karl beavering away at the paintwork again.
I came back Friday evening and we now have no parts left in the parts box. Yippee! We've now got all the door cards fitted. Had horrendous problems with door rubbers where the doors wouldn't shut properly and were sticking out 10-12mm. These are genuine VW rubbers with part numbers on which I've had for a few years, think they were made in the 80's so they should have been spot on. We know they were seated properly around the edge of the door, ended up taking them off and dyegrinding about 8-10mm off the back all the way around. Doors now shut properly.
Also fitted my parcel shelf and have just got the centre section to fit once we wire up the 12v socket then put my kick panels in and the very nice grills that Karl made that go over the heating duct on the totum. Not sure if you've seen them yet? So we're literally only 2-3 days away from the finishing line now. Just got the paintwork to finish polishing, check the gear linkage for smooth operation and clutch adjustment, fine tune the engine, good valet and then MOT.
Providing we don't get any trouble with the security side of things, for obvious reasons I've never said what we've done to the vehicle, it's first debut outing will be (honest!), the Final Fling. Haha!
If any of you guys are there, please come over and say hello so I can then thank you personally for all your comments you've given over the last few years.
The next post I put up will be of the finished article!
The Final Fling is the 27th and 28th October at Woolacombe. This is always a really good weekend so hope to see you all there.
Once again thanks for looking.
Regards.
Steve.
