Spring Valley Bus meets Corvair

[K@rlos]

Ok so these arrived today. Can finally loose the adaptors on the rear and give the rear brakes some overdue love

Not cheap but beautifully made aren’t they

 

[creationblue]

Not cheap but beautifully made aren’t they

Yea, they do look great. Thanks for the heads-up
One thing I didn't consider, I assume I now won't get the rear centre caps on?

 

[creationblue]

Very nice. Are you keeping same wheels or on the hunt for some new wheels.

As you know I have been on the look out for something else but tbh I still love these wheels and I think they suit the early's lines real well. Sooo they will be staying! Also they've been on for around 10 years now so I can't change them

 

[creationblue]

Bit of an update. CJ Motors supplied the late bay stub axles and mocked up the CSP drums, the axles are 30mm shorter than the early ones and with some machining to the diameter and length of the nose of the drum the wheel caps will fit perfectly.
Note, bearings for late and early stub axles are the same so didn’t need changing.

Whilst there I got a leaky cylinder and the drive shaft boots of course are shot! Standard really!

Failed with the Red9 bevel box due to it requiring considerably more work than it should but we have a plan and will get that fitted and working in the coming weeks.

Thanks to Nick & Teddy for the work so far

 

[andrewblackwell]

I'm glad you are doing this right now so i can learn whats involved.
I have the same CSP drums on standby, but it bothered me that flat4 fuchs caps won't fit or have to use some deep ones if i just fitted these drums directly.

So have i understood correctly; apart from machining my CSP drums snout down, the only other parts i require are the late bay stub axles?

All other 68-70 stuff can be used as is?

Andrew

 

[ozziedog]

Hey Justin ,, I just had a great idea bud !!!

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,it’s fab

 

[ozziedog]

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,, we could be on to a winner here mate

 

[creationblue]

I'm glad you are doing this right now so i can learn whats involved.
I have the same CSP drums on standby, but it bothered me that flat4 fuchs caps won't fit or have to use some deep ones if i just fitted these drums directly.

So have i understood correctly; apart from machining my CSP drums snout down, the only other parts i require are the late bay stub axles?

All other 68-70 stuff can be used as is?

Andrew

Hi Andrew. Yes this is correct, I’ve got ‘73 stub axles and they fit with the early inner & outer bearings, these axles are 30mm shorter than the early ones. Should be fitted shortly so will report back, changing a leaky cylinder and some perished drive shaft boots whilst I’m at it

 

[creationblue]

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,, we could be on to a winner here mate

Na, it’ll never catch on! Who’s daft enough to try that!?!?

 

[andrewblackwell]

Thanks Justin,

Appreciate that & any pointers learned during the swap, it would get us one step closer to getting our choice of wheels/tyres finally on & looking the way i want it to.

 

[creationblue]

Thanks Justin,

Appreciate that & any pointers learned during the swap, it would get us one step closer to getting our choice of wheels/tyres finally on & looking the way i want it to.

I've never touched the rear drums at home because I haven't had the tools to do it, that coupled with the faf of getting the wheels actually off of a lowered van..... CJ Motors are carrying out this work for me and they said it was a straight forward swap when they mocked it up so you shouldn't encounter any difficulties.

 

[creationblue]

So managed to get hold of Red9 Design last week, they answered a Facebook message and gave me the correct email address that hasn’t been updated on their website since the Dutch took over the company. Anyway I managed to buy the correct coupling for the new bevel box, if only they’d have supplied them as a pair…. Anyway the UJ shaft was also found to be worn so I ordered a new one of these too, they turned up Monday and I fitted them last night

Was a real pita to fit on the drive on your back, and just to piss me off further the thread circled was just long enough to pinch the brake peddle and lock the brakes on when I’d packed everything away! Had to jack it up, take the belly pan off and there was just enough room to get the angle grinder in and cut it down. In the dark

On the upside the steering is direct and like new with zero movement in the steering wheel before the wheels decide to turn

Noticed the NS front wheel had some movement in it again, tightened the locking nut up just a bit again, this is the 2nd time since fitting a new bearing a few months ago. Not sure if it’s the nut coming loose so will keep an eye on it

 

[creationblue]

So had a trip down to St Ives last weekend, the rest of the country suffered with storms and rain but down there was surprisingly nice

The bus ran great, and the steering! Wow! Now that there is zero play in the system it’s like driving a new bus! Really enhanced the experience and made the 4hrs in the saddle most enjoyable

 

[fallingoffalot]

Did you get the steering box rebuilt, or have you gone for another solution?

 

[andrewblackwell]

And is the bus now running those CSP 5x130 drums with latebay shafts? All went into the OG bearings as planned, no hiccups?

 

[creationblue]

Did you get the steering box rebuilt, or have you gone for another solution?

I’ve got a Red9 front end but the old style bevel box was worn as were the UJs on the rod that links the box to the rack. They sell uprated replacements so fitted both and the results are perfect. Hopefully they’ll last longer than the previous parts did

 

[creationblue]

And is the bus now running those CSP 5x130 drums with latebay shafts? All went into the OG bearings as planned, no hiccups?

Due to Nick @ CJ Motors being hospitalised recently with a hand infection (hopefully now on the mend) the drums are yet to be fitted. The mock up was perfect so there won’t be any unforeseen issues, the reason they weren’t fitted last time is that I had a leaky cylinder and the rubber gaters were split so thought it right to replace everything together. Will let you know when it’s complete but will be a few months yet

 

[creationblue]

seeing as the sun was shining I took the van to Swindon on Saturday for a meet up with friends to walk the dog, nice 80 mile round trip, was running late on the way and had to blast along the M4 at a steady 70 which I don’t normally do but it does run fantastically well, plenty of torque for overtaking and a combined with the precise Red9 steering it feels much more modern to drive.

On the way back I took the scenic route but tbh the state of the roads makes it difficult to enjoy the ride these days, potholes combined with roads sinking towards the edges, constantly looking ahead, it won’t be long before something gets seriously damaged, either wheels, suspension or actual engine hitting something. At least the motorways are generally in decent condition.
Parked back in the garage and put a clean piece of card under the engine and I have indeed got a slight seep of oil. Probably the RMS again, not difficult to change, engine out tho, might just put up with it for now.

On the plus side, headlights worked fine whist battery charged, not driven the van in the dark for years lol

Remy relegated to passenger

 

[Gabs]

That’s a good cruising speed Creationblue it’s a smile on a face when you get out and about in the bus. Completely agree with our roads nowadays due to being low and like you said potholes everywhere nowadays.

 

[creationblue]

So It looks like the crank seal is leaking again on the Corvair motor, looking back I changed it in 2020, fairly easy job to replace but it is an engine out job, clutch and flywheel needs to be removed along with the alloy housing that holds the seal and the oil pan, so quite a few seals required....... Luckily there is a kit available and I noticed that I bought a spare seal kit last time I ordered from Clark's Corvair in the USA so at least it won't cost me anything in parts this time! Whilst the motor is out I will fit a new gearbox seal and change the plugs, oil and filter and take the carbs off and clean inspect.
The leak is only a slight weep but really liked having a dry motor tbh