Thanks Guys
been a while since last post ( been busy see) So apologies but this is a long post to catch up , and theres limited pictures as well ( i know ! ) must start taking more photos !
Light switch is the bain ( I'm blaming the light switch for things but its probably something else) a new/ original one i will be getting! just so i can wire it without guess work and rule it out if nothing else !!!
Wiring/ electrics have become are becoming a little clearer thanks to Paul ( ill come back to that )
but yeah its getting there
So thought i was there , had done all on the MOT Failure list and some more just as it was needed easier to do at the time .
Mot was booked , checked everything all good ! .
Dropped it down off the axle stands , started it up for the first time in a two weeks, didn't want to run ( tick over ) kept revving and then sparks smoke oohhh boll…! generator ( dynamo ) sparking smoking and looking very unhappy !!! as was I .
My local garage picked it up the next morning ( MOT Day) as i was desperate to get the Mot and get the V55/5 sent off and the insurance company ( through adrian Flux) had only given me 60 days to get it uk registered and i was working 5 days a week ( unusual for me !) so was running out of time .
So my local garage who are great and i give lots of work to through my main job ( all there cars go through there ) are not Aircooled "specialist" so there was a bit of a learning curve , but were doing me a favour and fitting mine in between other jobs .
Was hoping the dynamo was repairable , but was " possible but not ideal" and i didn't want to spend the cash repairing something thats condition was questionable .
So Just Kampers Alternator conversion kit was purchased ( 55amp as that was the only one in stock , and i was very impatient ! ) but think it should be ok . although "KIT" is a bit of a leap , not supplied in the kit carb spacer ( ok they don't know what carb/s you have ) nuts bolts instructions any shims gaskets etc , however JK are very local and always really helpful when you go there great bunch of people full of advise , but if you order online you might not realise so check whats included .
Garage fitted it all up for me and gave me an MOT ( although wouldnt give the van back until it had "actually" passed an mot! . But that let me get the V55/5 sent off and sorted .
Needed another ball joint , electrical work ( alternator still runs though the regulator ? not sure there not just using it as a junction box ) but all seems to work , which was the brief i gave them
" get me an mot and running , ill sort the rest out later " which is exactly what they done so no complaints .
they spent some time getting it to run/ tick over and its still not quite right , but drivable theres hesitation / lag etc . but starts pretty much first time ! How cool is that !
So sent off v55/5 and all the relevant paperwork on a wednesday ( 1st class special delivery, better safe than sorry )
and received a full V5 back on the following Wednesday no questions no vehicle check how happy was i !!!
Ordered Plates from Framptons
Arranged with garage to collect the van ( all ticking over nicely , and they done the front brake pipes between flexi's and callipers ball joint and wheel bearing ) on the following thursday .
Plates finally!!! arrived on the thursday afternoon ( were promised monday or tuesday ) but just in time so i was all happy !
So Thursday !! 1st October 2015 . First time i drive my van more than 100m ( even though id owned it for 2 months !)
Garage stuck the rear plate on for me , couldn't decide what i wanted to do with front plate , so have decided will make up some brackets for the front bumper .
And then to drive it !!!
So I have to admit here that i was .. well .. shitting my self .. my stomach was in knots , i was sweating , and in the 4 mile journey ( down country lanes ) i was both excited ecstatic nervous scared smiling laughing thinking **** what have i done ! the daily mantra of "One Day ill Drive It " was today ! and i wasn't ready for it ! but it was everything i hoped it would be !
Id got it home , it was registered Mot'd Insured and MINE ! it was all a bit overwhelming to be honest , and had been a very long time coming / looking / getting the money together , etc . But i was happy ! ( that scared nervous knot in your throat kind of happy ) and i was all a bit a sea .
So a hour later id calmed down enough to venture to the petrol garage and half fill the tank , then a little detour about 40 miles! round the houses , and it hadn't broken down blown up caught fire ( surely somethings wrong ! ) and i was breathing a little easier .
So Friday i was invited down by Robbo ( who started all this nonsense of old VW's) but he lives down the A3 and round the M25 from me ! this meant main roads not just country lanes , Nervous was not the word and honestly i didn't think i was going to make it Flux Rescue was on speed dial ! but…. i got there ( hills were a struggle) and on time ( which although not a first is very rare !)
and then the next day i got all the way home ! , hang on ! it gets me from a to b without breaking down and a massive smile on my face ! do people know about this ! it can be reliable and fun !! WTF
So saturday arrived home with the intention of doing a little more work ( really stiff accelerator pedal) but went and seen my dad , then my sister , then a little drive about ! a few waves from people which is nice ! and done bugger all , but smiled drove and had fun
Surely Thats what its all about !!
Theres loads to do loads thats annoy me loads thats not right , but I'm smiling and having fun , the rest ill get back to !!!
Posted a question in technical about it if anyone has any ideas ?
