Winnie - Our 1970 Bay

[Ben72Bay]

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I decided on this windscreen aerial and this powered splitter as I wanted to retain FM if at all possible. I forgot to even try the FM on our last trip as DAB worked well.

Only downside with the aerial is you have to scrape some paint off the pillar to attach the grounding foil, but the foil covers everything once installed

Thanks for the info. Wasn’t sure this style antenna would work

 

[matty74]

It’s Winnie’s MOT time again next week, blimey that comes round quick.

2 Advisories from last year:-

Slight leak on steering box output, which I sorted straight after by fitting the spare box I’d previously refurbed.

Front brake lines and tbf they were in need of replacing, but after I’d replaced the rounded front bleed screws and replaced brake fluid after MOT, I knew the hard lines could wait until winter.














It was nice to see some nice original lotus white under the chassis grommet when doing the front and that the master cylinder was in good nick once all the Shultz was removed.

Refilled the fluid and left my bleeder pressurised over night to check for leaks. No leaks next day so bled through and took for test drive, All good.

Also had a good wire brush underneath (while still filthy) and treated chassis, chassis bed and front beam with 3 in 1 rust converter and undersealed the front arches and front inner valance.

Just need to use put some of the 3 in 1 on the back section of chassis now the van’s in the garage back end out.

Next step, get some sites booked for later in March

 

[matty74]

Early start for Winnie’s MOT tomorrow down at Wilson’s Garage in Rhuddlan. Great place, real old school VW Mechanics.



Did an oil change, so thought I’d check the sender as I was seeing too great a difference between gauge and 123 dizzy temp value.



Looks as though I was right, 100 deg C at sender is reading 120 deg C at gauge. Might stick a 20ohm resistor in-line to bring it closer. At least actual is lower than display



Fingers crossed for tomorrow

 

[matty74]

Winnie passed … after I’d been home and adjusted the rear shoes .

That’s why it’s good to get it on the rollers I guess.

No other advisories, happy days

 

[mike202]

good news!

always a good idea to adjust the brakes before the MOT.

 

[matty74]

I know Mike, genuine schoolboy error, and after spending all that time on the front end too .

I had a serious word with myself and as a punishment have been rolling around under the van this afternoon fitting a new accelerator cable

 

[matty74]

Quite enjoyed rolling around doing the accelerator cable so did a bit more today replacing the reverse and rear fog lights with the ones I’ve had sat in the shelf now for a while.

 

[matty74]

Fitted a Lares 209 Steering Coupler today that I got as part of a group buy over on LB



Old v New



OEM has a fair bit of flex



Lares 209 has a lot less flex



Managed to do it all from underneath, went for a test drive and noticed a significant improvement. Horn still works as well which is a bonus

 

[ozziedog]

Fitted a Lares 209 Steering Coupler today that I got as part of a group buy over on LB

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Looks very good, I should’ve got in that too. Was that the one that Ian Bell organised.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,just spotted my original looking a bit crinkly

 

[matty74]

Yes, I jumped on that group buy that he organised

 

[matty74]

Took Winnie for a spin down the road to Rhos on Sea today as it was such a nice day. They’ve done a load of work on the beach and promenade recently and really looks brilliant plus the free parking is back too.













Had a great afternoon, new steering coupler is brilliant, what a transformation

Off to Welshpool on Monday, the season is well and truly underway

 

[matty74]

Last day down Llangadfan Mid Wales. Had a couple of days out to Welshpool along the A458 which is a great road. Can’t believe the difference the new steering coupler has made, van feels totally planted now and is great through the twistys. Tweaked the 123 curve before leaving as I noticed there was a bit too much advance when in the Welsh 20 zones in 3rd. Also noticed that there’s no need to to all in by 3000 or 3500, so have moved that to 3800 and oil temp has benefitted from this significantly





We’ve had 4 seasons in 1 day today, not that that has bothered Frankie in anyway

 

[Ben72Bay]

your bus does look very lovely indeed!
and these look to be a decent product as well:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog....8l+h4,1370326,steering,steering+coupler,7418

 

[matty74]

your bus does look very lovely indeed!
and these look to be a decent product as well:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog....8l+h4,1370326,steering,steering+coupler,7418

The steering coupler is night and day compared to the previous one. I redid my
steering box this time last year but always felt as though the first bit of movement in the wheel was the initial flexing of the old coupler, compounded by the pictures above. The Lares 209 construction is so robust, that initial flex has now gone.

Highly recommended

 

[Ben72Bay]

The steering coupler is night and day compared to the previous one. I redid my
steering box this time last year but always felt as though the first bit of movement in the wheel was the initial flexing of the old coupler, compounded by the pictures above. The Lares 209 construction is so robust, that initial flex has now gone.

Highly recommended

I think you’re right.
It looks really solid construction.
A worthwhile upgrade for not a lot of money

 

[ozziedog]

Just put a second hand one in mine and I really can’t believe or understand the difference. Mines out of one I broke years ago. I think that Laires one is pretty good or as good as it can possibly get.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,every day,,,,,school day

 

[Ben72Bay]

Just put a second hand one in mine and I really can’t believe or understand the difference. Mines out of one I broke years ago. I think that Laires one is pretty good or as good as it can possibly get.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,every day,,,,,school day

Presume there isn’t a more local stockist that in the USA?

 

[ozziedog]

Presume there isn’t a more local stockist that in the USA?

Yes there’s quite a few but not stocking that particular one. There also seems to be a few iffy ones about. I was lucky having that second hand one that I’d miraculously kept but also thinking I’d never get to use it.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,could always start your own group buy.

 

[Ben72Bay]

Yes there’s quite a few but not stocking that particular one. There also seems to be a few iffy ones about. I was lucky having that second hand one that I’d miraculously kept but also thinking I’d never get to use it.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,could always start your own group buy.

I did think about that!
I’ll send them a message to see if/ how that might work out

 

[ozziedog]

Or,,,,, Get hold of Ian Bell in Scotland, over on the Latebay, as hes the one that did the group buy. Youll need ten or more for it to be effective. Theres at least three on here that could do with one that i know of, four if you include yourself. And theres a few that missed the deal on the Latebay too..

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,,,,, dont think youd struggle to get a dozen or more.