Progress Pics - Dormobile X-Over

[gninnam]

I have just read through this again. I know how you feel, but take a break if you can and finish it when your mojo comes back arty0046:

I took a ten year hiatus, but even though I only got finished last year, the good times we've had since are priceless
http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?t=69499

As has been said, you know every inch of your van, like I do mine which is pretty special, plus you'll get peanuts for an unfinished project so it even makes financial sense to finish, then sell if you still feel that way.

It would be a shame as you've done loads of great work and you should/would get so much from using the fruits of your labours for fun times. whatever you decide, good luck - you've saved a van either way

Nobbly

Thanks for your post.
Will see where I end up but to be honest the feeling is to see it go at the moment.

 

[gninnam]

Sad to hear you're thinking of selling; but I guess it is understandable (even if I don't agree with it!)

Hope the shoulder heals up soon - it is a right pain having to live with an injury.

All the best to you and yours

Cheers G
Still working on it and plan to get it at least through an MOT then go from there.
All good - hope you and yours are also good (how's the Beetle?)

 

[gninnam]

So - spent a few hours underneath the bus.
Took out the heating tube so I could clean it up and also clean up the underneath and remove any surface rust.
Good news is no repairs are required
Treated it to rust converter stuff so any surface rust is kept at bay.
Will do a few more hours tomorrow also.

Pic of the now cleaned up heater pipe - will get properly painted and protected (and wrapped) before going back in):

A very poor view of underneath:

 

[Caboose]

Looks like you chromed the heater tube Andy well done

 

[gninnam]

Looks like you chromed the heater tube Andy well done

Looks that way doesn't it

 

[gninnam]

25.06.2017

Bugger - trying to remove two bolts from the chassis which I had to cut the end off to get the brake pressure regulator removed from the chassis. So, just 2 little bits of thread sticking out - found 2 x 13mm nuts and welded them on.

The first bolt came out
The second bolt, the nut came off so cleaned it up again and welded it back on, but had the welder to close and ended up welding up the mig tip - tried to get it out and it snapped so the swan neck is goosed (no pun intended…)

Ordered a replacement from Machine Mart so when that arrives will have another go at removing that bolt then onwards etc…

No pics I’m afraid

 

[gninnam]

07.02.2017

Nice weather today so after watching the MotoGP spent a few hours on the van.
Tidied up the chassis and threw a few cans of etch primer on.
Also, made some slots so I could put the loom through the chassis (was hanging below) and also the clutch conduit.

What diameter is the tube for the loom to go through?

A few pic of the etch primered chassis (Nearside first)

Offside:

Another quick question - are these rear drums worth salvaging or better off buying new?

Cheers

 

[gninnam]

18.07.2017

Carried on pluggin away last night.
Trying to remove a broken bold - attempted to weld a nut onto what is left but when trying to twist it out, the nut just comes off - looks like I will need to go to full power.........

Spent some time using a flap disk on the drums to get the surface rust off - looking better:

Run out of 13 mm nuts so will find something else to do

 

[graysummers]

Keep dipping into the progress you're making. Not sure about brake drums. Better safe in my eyes, so I'd be Googling if I didn't have Paul for advice. I'd be Googling too, come to think about it, anyway though. So I did and it seems rust is an inherent over time anyway. But as with Google...you get opposing views with 'severity' and 'effectiveness of the issue. Like here, other blogs discuss back and forth, YouTube may show removal/turning/techniques, and expert opinion gets really technical. The underside of your bus.....Looking clean and solid. Good stuff.

 

[gninnam]

Keep dipping into the progress you're making. Not sure about brake drums. Better safe in my eyes, so I'd be Googling if I didn't have Paul for advice. I'd be Googling too, come to think about it, anyway though. So I did and it seems rust is an inherent over time anyway. But as with Google...you get opposing views with 'severity' and 'effectiveness of the issue. Like here, other blogs discuss back and forth, YouTube may show removal/turning/techniques, and expert opinion gets really technical. The underside of your bus.....Looking clean and solid. Good stuff.

Thanks

 

[gninnam]

24.09.2017

Well - spent a few hours on the van this afternoon!!
One of the rear trailing arms was missing the bump stop cap (not sure what you call it).
Thanks to Hilly from here, he gave me a couple of old/used CO2 canisters which I butchered to create the bump stop.

Started with this:

Cut the end of and ended with this:

Tidied up the cut and sanded down the top of the trailing arm so I could weld it on:

Welded on

Will now paint the parts in epoxy paint now and look to start putting it all back together!

Cheers

 

[gas1man]

Still keep an eye on this thread for ideas and progress. May not comment but always thought of.

J & P

 

[gninnam]

Still keep an eye on this thread for ideas and progress. May not comment but always thought of.

J & P

Thanks

 

[Aircooler]

Good job andy! Looking forward to see more updates!
Best regards
Reto

 

[gvee]

That's a smart fix!
Is there anything special you have to do when cutting in to a canister?

 

[gninnam]

Good job andy! Looking forward to see more updates!
Best regards
Reto

Thanks Reto

 

[gninnam]

That's a smart fix!
Is there anything special you have to do when cutting in to a canister?

You should screw the end off which will expel any remaining gas and depressurise the canister!
Or, if the canister is very old then just cut into it (don't try this at home kids). I did this as the screw end was rounded by my attempts and I had no issues :msn4:

 

[Hilly_70]

See.. knew we'd get you back on it bud!

Glad the canister came in handy .. thats 2 buses with the 'mod' now!

Hilly

 

[gninnam]

See.. knew we'd get you back on it bud!

Glad the canister came in handy .. thats 2 buses with the 'mod' now!

Hilly

Think your so clever don't you :mrgreen:

 

[gninnam]

02.10.2017

October already - WTF!!

Anyway, bought 5L of Swarfega Metal Cleaner and Restorer to clean all those nuts and bolts and hopefully get them usable again.
Will also use it to clean some of the other metal such as the rear drums, but thought I would start on smaller bits first.

Pic of said liquid and the asorted bits:

Let battle commence:

Will see tomorrow how it does (hope there will be something left......)


As an aside, checked the government website for MOT and it says my van was first registered in '71...........

Very strange!