Been awhile since I posted. I got the running gear sorted out and put some miles on her (Bertha) around town looking as below.
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A few days of city driving I decided to put Bertha on the freeway for the first time since I brought her home. Boy was she slow, even had her on a diet that day and it was all she had to get to a safe speed not to be reard ended. We quickly exited and headed home, that night the motor came out. This was more than just an old bus being slow. I was right, all the intakes were full on oil and when the heads were removed each spark plug hole was cracked in 3-4 places! Worst I have seen in a long time. This was all the reason I needed to start ordering parts.
Aside from the normall rebuild kit I upgrades to a 74mm crank and eagle 100 cam amongst other little trick bits help hold her upon the long run. This a neat motor combo using a stroker crank, stock rods and pistons with the a cam, I always thought this would be a great readable motor on a budget.
I couldn't stop there, enter a new vintage speed exhaust
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The quality in the box was amazing. However, what is the point of exhaust with out the carbs to match. I took a gamble to try out the new solex/kadron 44mm duals with electric chokes.
All said and done I ended up with this,
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3 weeks after the first freeway drive Bertha fired up with a new heart. I havebeenbusy dialing in the chokes which hold the throttle open way to much for a warm cycle. I have hardly started to adjust the mixtures or jetting but the first 30miles I have on the motor are great. The motor has terrific pull in all ranges of driving. I am very pleased with this motor bang for the buck I am pleased.
The exhaust is even better, tons of ground clearance and great sound, not obnoxiously loud inside or out the van. Well worth the money, I am thinking about ordering one for my 1303.
During the motor rebuild I also pulled the shell off the roof and sent it my friends shop down the road for a refinish.
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Hope to have this back on in the next week and ready for camping soon.