New member from York

[Derrick’s dad]

Hello everyone, just joined up having been a regular visitor to the site for the past ten months or so.
Initially, I was just seeing what was out there for sale having restored a 71 Westy, which I sold in 2019. I’ve been looking for something original and subsequently found a 70 model , built in Oct 69 , Sportsmobile camper , imported from the USA.
It’s had a lot of work carried out in the last few years but it developed a serious engine issue and the previous owner took the decision to offload . I’m concentrating on replacing the engine which will hopefully be in by the end of this month before sorting the interior to my taste.
Body is staying as is with only some light preservation rather than restoration, which is a pleasant change.
I’m intending to get out about for Spring so hopefully will bump into a few of you at some point but not literally !

 

[ozziedog]

Hi there and big welcome to the forum. I’m guessing that Derrick might be the lowered four legged furry type in your pic? So what’s about to happen in your noisey cupboard then? And what sort of issues has this little bus got at the moment ?

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,,and welcome again !

 

[sparkywig]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Derrick’s dad]

Hi there and big welcome to the forum. I’m guessing that Derrick might be the lowered four legged furry type in your pic? So what’s about to happen in your noisey cupboard then? And what sort of issues has this little bus got at the moment ?

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,,and welcome again !

Thanks for the welcome and yes , you’re correct , that’s Derrick.
As I said in my introduction, the van is quite solid having spent most of its life in California and Arizona. The PO has spent a lot of money with VW specialist over the past couple of years replacing a lot of the usual stuff that is worn out on these old buses. All the wheel bearings, bushes, steering box have been replaced or reconditioned. New suspension parts including Bilstein shocks, CSP front disc brake conversion to name the main things.
The issue has been that the engine had serious end float which has led to the flywheel seal been blown off and rather a lot of oil dripping everywhere. The VW specialist had suggested that the engine needed replacing or reconditioning prior to it happening but I think it was at this point the PO had decided to cut his losses and pass it on to me.
Ive removed the engine and are in the process of replacing with an engine I have had reconditioned which came with another project I’ve done. There’s been a bit of cleaning up underneath that I wanted to do before refitting as well as replacing the rear brake pipe that passes over the gearbox whilst it’s accessible but apart from that, I’m hoping that mechanically it’ll be very sound.
The interior is mainly original but is a cross between Huggy Bears limo and my late grandma’s front room and whiffs a bit. So, it’ll be all coming out and something simple, clean and functional will be going in but that will be later in Spring. I’ll store the original interior for future.
It’ll keep me out of a certain amount of trouble for a bit.