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-   -   VW Bus project (https://www.scoobynet.com/wales-26/924690-vw-bus-project.html)

redwards 11 February 2012 05:13 PM

VW Bus project
 
Not scooby related but I thought I'd post on here for some of you to enjoy.

I bought the van last summer as a present for the wife. The plan was to buy a van with sound body work and sort out the interior / mechanicals. Here's some pics of when she was first bought.

https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=18315
https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=18314
https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=18313

Nothing changed for a few months due to a baby turning up soon :Whatever_
Now the boy has arrived I can get on with the camper ready for the summer. Took the engine out on the weekend, it took a little longer than I expected, but it's out now along with the box.
https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19510
https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19511

Got the engine on the stand
https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19512

Took the exhaust off first, as it was sticking out from the stand. Had a bit of a shock when I removed the pipes, hopefully she'll breath a little easier once I'm done!
https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19513

Next job is to strip and clean the engine, then sort out the gear linkage bushes. Paint the engine bay, and refit.

Popped down the garage this evening. An hour and half later, the engine went from this:

https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19548

To this!
https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19557

The underside was a bit oily.
https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19549

The pushrod tube seals were knackered, so that's why it was leaking oil.
https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19550
https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19551

Found metal in the cylinder, so need to find out where that has come from.
https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19552

Plenty of crud on the top of the pistons, and these are new Mahle parts!
https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19553

All in all I'm glad I made the decision to strip the engine as it is in dire need of some TLC. Jobs for the morning are splitting the block and checking over the gearbox linkage.

Split the block this morning, it would have gone a little smoother if I had undone all the nuts :roll:

https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19559

Everything looked ok on the inside apart from the camshaft gear, so a new one of those is on the shopping list.

https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19560
https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19561

All I have to do now is order parts and start alot of cleaning! I will post some before and after pics, but it'll be a fortnight before the rebuild starts.

The Trooper 1815 11 February 2012 06:26 PM

Tis' the season to be chucking spanners. Good show Rich. Not sticking a 2.0 NA Sport engine in there?

I take it the body work will get it soon?

redwards 11 February 2012 06:36 PM

I'm sticking with the 1.6 for now, but there may be a future project involving a turbo. :norty:

I bought one that was fairly straight bodywise, so there won't be much to do there. I need to sort out the poptop roof and paint the top half white.

Jimbob 11 February 2012 07:33 PM

Looking good mate.
This is my mates 1954 prototype hes rebuilding.
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t...027800x450.jpg

The Subaru engines are developed from the Van engine.

This is my Bro`s Beetle based beach buggy, with my Impreza not long after I bought it and was near the end of getting it ready for MOT.
The 1303 engine was bored out to 1800/2000 from 1600cc (can`t remember which), and was set up by a local guy who used to race them in the 1960`s.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t...319800x600.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t...318800x600.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t...839800x600.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t...755800x600.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t...330600x800.jpg

So I`ve have had some fun on these old flat fours.

ozzreid1964 12 February 2012 01:20 PM

looks like a good base to start from body wise rich :thumb:

redwards 12 February 2012 07:36 PM

The previous owner did all the hard work, body work wise. Although the are are some bubbles in the paint but this may be his dodgy welding.

https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19574
https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19575
https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19576

muttley1927 14 February 2012 01:49 PM

Top project to do there mate,i still enjoy watching re-runs of campervan crises on tv.
Are you planning more of a user friendly RV or a wolf in sheeps clothing sport bus?
I've never seen so much coke build up on an exhaust,cleaning it up will probably double the hp.lol . Good luck and keep us informed.

redwards 14 February 2012 10:19 PM

It's for the wife so it'll stay as a gentle 1600 for a few years, then perhaps I'll look at power. Been reading a thread about a guy who fitted a 07 wrx engine in one, had it mapped by Bob Rawle and produced 330 on the rollers. It took a lot work just to setup the cooling, brakes, etc so I'm not sure yet.

Part of the build up in the exhaust was gasket sealant which had squeezed in pipe work when the previous owner fitted the exhaust.

Jimbob 14 February 2012 10:54 PM


Originally Posted by redwards (Post 10488299)
It's for the wife so it'll stay as a gentle 1600 for a few years, then perhaps I'll look at power. Been reading a thread about a guy who fitted a 07 wrx engine in one, had it mapped by Bob Rawle and produced 330 on the rollers. It took a lot work just to setup the cooling, brakes, etc so I'm not sure yet.

Part of the build up in the exhaust was gasket sealant which had squeezed in pipe work when the previous owner fitted the exhaust.

The Porsche flat 6 air cooled engines fit and don`t have to worry so much at the cooling, and they would make a good engine for the van/bus as they have loads of torque.

Jimbob 14 February 2012 10:59 PM

http://youtu.be/1tXf58t_mII

Jimbob 14 February 2012 11:03 PM

http://youtu.be/BJ2frLTnPDs

redwards 25 February 2012 06:45 PM

Not too much news, been cleaning bits today, before stopping to watch Wales win the rugby.

Block and Pistons came up ok
https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19694

https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19695

Then the bad news began, the top of this piston is damaged, not sure if it was dropped or the result of valve contact.

https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19696

One of the heads has a crack from the sparkplug hole all the way to under the vavle seat, so I need to see if this can be repaired.
https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19697

To top it all, the other head looks like it has been damaged from valve contact.
https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19698

Looking at the cylinders, they are bore washed so will need honing. Now I need to decided wether to repair or buy new. The way it's going, it'll be cheaper to buy a head kit or a long block for £700 ish from TES.

Rally fan 555 25 February 2012 08:04 PM

Oooh some hidden problems, hope you can get it sorted without shelling out too much cash :)

The Trooper 1815 25 February 2012 10:20 PM

Get the flat 4 with a bit of forced induction in there :D.

redwards 26 February 2012 07:28 PM

It's looking like an option! At the moment it will cost £400 for new cylinders, pistons and heads.

Cannon Fodder 26 February 2012 07:40 PM

Porsche 2.7 flat six, plenty have be done with the minimum of trouble - barring the gearbox of course.

Go on, you know you want to. :)

Rally fan 555 26 February 2012 08:39 PM

Now's the time to do it ;)

The Trooper 1815 27 February 2012 08:17 AM


Originally Posted by redwards (Post 10507180)
It's looking like an option! At the moment it will cost £400 for new cylinders, pistons and heads.

UK Turbo engine.

redwards 27 March 2012 09:51 AM

Quick update for you all.

Been delayed a bit due to me chipping a bone in my foot:freak3:
I cleaned up the crankcase and gearbox, refreshed them with a quick dusting of paint.

https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19965

https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=19966

Had problems assembling the short block, due to the bearings not fitting in the dowels. Cost me £40, but lesson learnt. :facepalm:

Currently having trouble finding new 10mm studs for a sensible price, so it looks like I may have to reuse the old ones.

R1CH D 27 March 2012 10:47 AM

Rich I got my bottom end sat in the out house looking for home.;D

redwards 17 April 2012 10:30 PM

Progress!!
 
Well, after a while I have finally made some progress.

When we had the heat wave the other week I decided to sand down and basecoat the engine bay

https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=20129
https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=20130
https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=20131

Tonight I finally had a couple of hours to progress the engine. Forget to take pics at the start, got the cylinders and head fitted loosely on the push rod tubes.

https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=20132

Torqued it all down and fitted rockers and rocker covers.

https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=20133
https://www.scoobynet.com/picture.ph...ictureid=20134

The other side will be built tomorrow night and I can then start putting all the ancillaries on.

Jimbob 17 April 2012 10:46 PM

Looking good Rich.

Love the simplicity of the old air cooled flat 4.

Rally fan 555 17 April 2012 10:47 PM

Fine work there Rich - Nice one ;)

duckdo 17 April 2012 10:57 PM

Loking good there rich keep up the good work

redwards 18 April 2012 06:52 AM

Thanks for the comments guys. Damn thing has been pi$$ing me off for so long it's nice to get some positive work down.

Originally Posted by Jimbob (Post 10583212)
Looking good Rich.

Love the simplicity of the old air cooled flat 4.



They go together great, the problems start when you have to figure out what the last 20 odd owners have done!

The Trooper 1815 18 April 2012 06:07 PM

How did you clean the box and what paint did you use Rich?

redwards 18 April 2012 10:12 PM


Originally Posted by The Trooper 1815 (Post 10584171)
How did you clean the box and what paint did you use Rich?

You'll be sorry you asked!:lol1:

Initial wash with neat truck wash stuff I was given. Sprayed it with Jizer scrubbed it with a brush and hosed it off, more Jizer and a power wash. Sand blast with Alu oxide. Gasket scraper to get all the tetroseal overspray off it. Jizer and a scrub then a hose down. More truck wash stuff and a hose down.

I then painted it with black VHT paint, but it came out a matt smokey black (which made it look dirty) and I was hoping for a gloss finish. So I used the Silver VHT paint left over from the block.

redwards 18 April 2012 10:15 PM

Fitted the opposite side cylinders and head tonight, and also the oil pump, but left the camera down the garage, so no pics yet.

bigredrob 18 April 2012 10:26 PM

looks good , carry on the good work,:thumb:anyone thought about a 4WD impreza based beach buggy?

The Trooper 1815 18 April 2012 11:38 PM


Originally Posted by redwards (Post 10584654)
You'll be sorry you asked!:lol1:

Initial wash with neat truck wash stuff I was given. Sprayed it with Jizer scrubbed it with a brush and hosed it off, more Jizer and a power wash. Sand blast with Alu oxide. Gasket scraper to get all the tetroseal overspray off it. Jizer and a scrub then a hose down. More truck wash stuff and a hose down.

I then painted it with black VHT paint, but it came out a matt smokey black (which made it look dirty) and I was hoping for a gloss finish. So I used the Silver VHT paint left over from the block.

Easy peasy then :eek:.


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