vdubkev
Well-known member
Well after owning a few buses that had been done up by there previous owners I decided to start searching for a bus I could restore for myself. After many weeks of scouring the internet, going to view many no good buses, I found a 69 bay deluxe recently imported from Texas. So after deciding to go and view yet another one I felt quietly confident this was going to be a good one. On arriving at its location I saw it on the drive under cover. The chap met us and started to take the cover off, while he was taking the cover off my wife whispered in my ear, "Why has he got a cover on it , its a rust bucket"I gave her to look and started looking over it. After some time looking over it I realised that this is a virtually rust free motor so decided to give up £6900 of my hard earned. On my way home the heavens opened up and the first thing was the wipers decided to stop working, then I couldn't get any gear apart from 3rd, it just wouldn't go in to any other gear, at this point I thought myself what have I bought here, god only knows what the misses will say when I tell her its knackered and how am I going to hill start in 3rd,and now to top it all its misfiring like mad. "this is going to be a challenge".
After some time nursing her along, I finally arrived home.
On looking over it again, the body really is solid so I restored my faith and felt happy with the purchase,I checked on the early bay forum to see If I could find the course of the gear shifting problem, the answer was the adjust a metal plate at the base of the gear shifter,(thanks early bay) so I adjusted this and gave it a quick blast around the block, ha presto the gears had found there rightful place.
I decided to use it to go to work for a few weeks, only to find still misfiring and now leaving a lot of oil where ever I parked it.Looking under neath it looked as if the oil was leaking between the gearbox and engine,So out with the engine it is, "never done the before, "Gulp".
That wasn't to bad!"famous last words"
On checking where the oil was coming from I found the oil seal had gone behind not the fly wheel and the nuts where loose on the oil stand.
Should be an easy fix.
My mate came down toggle it the once over with me (him being a mechanic ) and suggested we check the pistons while the engine is out,,,
Well have u ever had that sinking feeling when some says its knackered ..
Crank grooved to hell ,play in big ends,worn gudgeon pins and so the list went on,"Bang goes the budget"
What to do next ?
After a long discussion with my mate, we come to the conclusion it would properly be best to get rebuilt block.
I went for a long block 1641 twin port built by Steve Strong.He said it would be around three weeks.
So I decided to crack on with the gear box and engine bay.
Engine bay striped and painted,brake lines done, thrust bearing replaced, gearbox oil changed,drive shafts rebuilt and fitted.
Engine has arrived.
Well over the Christmas hols I've be busy striping tinware, painting and putting engine back together, to say I'm happy with the result is an under statement. Now just waiting for the weather to improve so I can get it back in the bus.
Going to run-in on stranded set-up and later going to fit twin carbs and stainless exhaust.
Thats about it for now ,hope i've not waffled on to much,"But its exciting" lol
After some time nursing her along, I finally arrived home.
On looking over it again, the body really is solid so I restored my faith and felt happy with the purchase,I checked on the early bay forum to see If I could find the course of the gear shifting problem, the answer was the adjust a metal plate at the base of the gear shifter,(thanks early bay) so I adjusted this and gave it a quick blast around the block, ha presto the gears had found there rightful place.
I decided to use it to go to work for a few weeks, only to find still misfiring and now leaving a lot of oil where ever I parked it.Looking under neath it looked as if the oil was leaking between the gearbox and engine,So out with the engine it is, "never done the before, "Gulp".
That wasn't to bad!"famous last words"
On checking where the oil was coming from I found the oil seal had gone behind not the fly wheel and the nuts where loose on the oil stand.
Should be an easy fix.
My mate came down toggle it the once over with me (him being a mechanic ) and suggested we check the pistons while the engine is out,,,
Well have u ever had that sinking feeling when some says its knackered ..
Crank grooved to hell ,play in big ends,worn gudgeon pins and so the list went on,"Bang goes the budget"
What to do next ?
After a long discussion with my mate, we come to the conclusion it would properly be best to get rebuilt block.
I went for a long block 1641 twin port built by Steve Strong.He said it would be around three weeks.
So I decided to crack on with the gear box and engine bay.
Engine bay striped and painted,brake lines done, thrust bearing replaced, gearbox oil changed,drive shafts rebuilt and fitted.
Engine has arrived.
Well over the Christmas hols I've be busy striping tinware, painting and putting engine back together, to say I'm happy with the result is an under statement. Now just waiting for the weather to improve so I can get it back in the bus.
Going to run-in on stranded set-up and later going to fit twin carbs and stainless exhaust.
Thats about it for now ,hope i've not waffled on to much,"But its exciting" lol
