SHE RUNS :0

[angus]

My, am I excited!! After about 6 years stationary in my dads drive, the van fired up for the first time this evening. Of course it was dark, and raining, but a pic anyway...

I had re-assembled the engine on my last visit to my parents - you can see the pics on our website http://www.mystuffonline.co.uk/3.html - although I have to update that with re-assembly pictures.

Anyway - engine hasn't run for years - took it apart (just the tinware, fan etc - didn't break the case/or take the heads off) - cleaned her, painted her and added some new bits.

Yesterday I turned her over, but no luck. Spark from main HT lead, but none at spark plug. Searched on here and various VW books - doubted condenser. Called in at G&S in Exeter this afternoon, new coil (just in case) points and condenser. Popped them in, and (once I had remembered to put the rotor arm back in - doh!!) a spark appeared. Fuel tank isn't connected yet, hence the open fuel can and pipe!

Also bought new battery. Turned her over, and she chugged - once fuel had been sucked into the system she just started!! Sat there idling like she'd never been off the road!!

I'm so chuffed! I'm sure some of you can appreciate the joy of hearing that sweet air cooled chugging into life!! Bit loud as the tail pipe isn't fitted yet, but apart from that....

I hadn't touched any settings either - just bolted the new points in (no idea what the gap is just yet!) and away she went.

I'm aiming to be able to drive her back up to Surrey now, as opposed to trailering her, which will be a lot easier. Bit more fiddling tomorrow...

A short clip - nothing excited for you lot, just a running engine, buta milestone for us!!

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r254/caterhamnut/Van/?action=view&current=VanEngine.flv

Cheers all,
angus

 

[TexasAirCooler]

Congratutations angus,
It shouldn't be long now till your riding around her. :wink:

 

[Tofufi]

Congratulations

It's always nice when they run like that first time. Loving the "woo" at the end of the video :lol:

 

[Speedman]

At last you're seeing sense, leave that roller skate in the garage and play with a proper motor :wink:

It'll make a perfect support truck on track days 8)

 

[angus]

:lol:

 

[VWAIRCOOLED]

Well done dude,good luck with the rest of it.

 

[jenna_uk22]

wooo well done!! that makes my accomplishment of the day look feeble... After a lot of aching shoulders I managed to get the new oil strainer in :lol:

 

[Justin & Muttley]

Well doen Angus - some great news to start the new year with... 8)

 

[Araon]

:lol:

dont sound too bad so is she home yet and did you manage to con the old dear out of her garage?

 

[angus]

Hi mate - fitted your fire extinguisher first (very temporarily for now) and then took a 1/4 mile trip - 'just to see' - all seems well, so the idea of trailoring up to Surrey has now been thrown out of the window - hope to get her registered again and drive her up here...was great to drive her again though, even if it was for 2 minutes - everything worked

Also gave her a thorough jet wash to get rid of the algae and slime! Makes quite a difference - be great to get a re-spray sometime in the future, back to the original colour....pics to follow!

 

[angus]

ok - a few more pics.

Green fuel can has been replaced by one from an outboard motor! I want to remove and check the main van tank - it is currently drained and probably full of rubbish - also need to change all the lines into/out of it, hence the temporary solutions for now (had envisaged this being purely to move the van on and off a trailor before bringing it up to Surrey and under cover, where I can work on it daily)

I fitted the fire extinguisher, but only for this afternoon - obviously it is not fitted 'as to guidelines' just yet - it will be done properly obviously. I've also now got a proper hatch to block up my self-made 'hole' in the boot floor (though not the surround)

Note van in new position!! It has been stationary around the corner on the drive for about 6 years, so its a big deal!

I think its called 'patina' (sp?!)

Look - what once was green is now white (ish)

The part blue/part white colour scheme is just where I was seeing what the van might look like all-blue (as opposed to the white-over-blue that is has been since I got her)

 

[Speedman]

Looking good, from a very bias POV I'd stick with two tone with the white going from the swage line up 8)

 

[Araon]

nice one Angus....

Id go to the swage as well but thats a personal preference...

good luck driving her back.....

 

[dancingbay]

nice one,
in that colour i'd keep her 2 tone, but that's just me

 

[angus]

I know what you mean about keeping the split to the swage - it won't be that light blue though, but the 'original' colour which is, we think, Neptune Blue - you can see traces of it below the blue (and white) - I may well still keep the swage split, even with the older colour, simply because that is what 'my' van has always been - agree that solid colour in that particular blue (aerosol sprayed halfords 'Lada' blue as it happens!) is too much...

 

[Justin & Muttley]

I know what you mean about keeping the split to the swage - it won't be that light blue though, but the 'original' colour which is, we think, Neptune Blue - you can see traces of it below the blue (and white) - I may well still keep the swage split, even with the older colour, simply because that is what 'my' van has always been - agree that solid colour in that particular blue (aerosol sprayed halfords 'Lada' blue as it happens!) is too much...

Neptune Blue? Like this?...

 

[dancingbay]

golly, that's looks great all one colour

 

[angus]

- yep, that looks exactly the colour under the paint (if you see what I mean!)
Umm - time for a bit of photoshop.
Thanks for the pic.

 

[Guest]

you cant beat a good OG looking bus lowered IMHO, i think your making the right choices, glad shes back on the road 8)