RetroVans's "Fugly Braziliamba" Project

[hitlers revenge]

[Warwick-Lowlight]

Seems you got some ash on your dial there HR

[hitlers revenge]

Damn! who's been smoking in my bus???

[retrovan]

Hey! Dave that's one smart dash..

Did it come with the van, or have you also "accumulated" it from other parts.

That clock looks like the real Bay clock, and worth more then the whole bus on e-bay...

My speedo is of the old type, with the mileage counter in the bottom half. the date on the inside is 1976, same as the bus.

Very good form there old chap, well played....

Herman

[hitlers revenge]

the dash came just like that with the van, when I got it.

[retrovan]

So been doing some work again on the "Fugly"

Found that the lights would work very intermittently, due to dirt, bad contacts, rust and broken plastic.

Went looking for fittings locally, but just got smiles and "you must be joking"

So now I am in restore mode.

Have got tail cluster lenses, and have repaired the base fitting, have also , as always, "foiled" the inside of the lamp holders, to ensure good lights,and to make sure no body rides into the back of me, because they did not see the lights.
The lamp holder steel plate will have to be re-plated to ensure good contact, so here is the "before" ...



so here are the reworked bases for my tail lights.





As can be seen, I also did the front indicator bases, BUT still need lenses for these as the old ones are real BAD.

Also started stripping the rear end, got the drums off, and started cleaning up the reduction boxes for seal replacements.

Will be doing the drums and brake shoes this week, and getting all the seals.

So far all the bearings are fine, and as they are original FAG German bearings, I will leave them in.

Here are the "Before" photos of the back drums...





so till The time I can place the after Photo's on this thread...

Herman

[MarshallGTi]

how do u make sure the foil stays put in the lights? is it ordinary kitchen foil?

[Warwick-Lowlight]

You plak the foil in and then you have a "Retro-Van"

[Warwick-Lowlight]

Looking at those back ends closely seems we need to ask Santa for some good workshop stands

[retrovan]

how do u make sure the foil stays put in the lights? is it ordinary kitchen foil?

No, sorry, should have explained how I cheated, I use One side glued Aluminium Duct Tape.
This will keep it stuck for ever, and makes the old car lights as bright as modern cars. The 59 Beetle snow Flake lights are as bright as any Merc tail light.

You plak the foil in and then you have a "Retro-Van"

Think that should read "RestuckVan" ....

Looking at those back ends closely seems we need to ask Santa for some good workshop stands

That's what happens when you buy stands sight-un-seen from a man named Butcher, that advertises that he is the Block-man that meats his stands.

But fear not, I wood not do that again, and I stand by that, head on a block.



Herman

[retrovan]

Got some more toys today,

All the rubbers seals for the slave cylinders, for all the wheels. With a spare set for the box.

New bleed valves

One new slave for the back wheel where the Bleed valve broke off. Now I know you going to say, "why not fix the old slave" well I will, but just to make sure that good old Murphy does not stick his head out and I trash the slave, then sit without one, I would rather have one spare.

All the seals for the Reduction boxes. With a spare set for the box.

All the seals for the drums to axles. With a spare set for the box.

As well as an Stainless Steel type 4 exhaust so now we need the engine......



So now we have the job card sorted for this weekend.

Herman

[Priscilla]

Hi Herman,

I bought two new tail lights from Volkspares in Pretoria for R420 each. Front indicaters are on order. http://www.volkspares.co.za

[retrovan]

Hi Herman,

I bought two new tail lights from Volkspares in Pretoria for R420 each. Front indicaters are on order. http://www.volkspares.co.za

Thanks, did get a quote from them.

Awaiting the quote from http://www.vwantigo.net As they are normally much cheaper, and as I need other genuine parts.

Will let you know, but thanks again for the information.

Herman

[retrovan]

Spent the weekend fitting new seals to the reduction boxes,

Also installed new Slave cylinder seals for the brakes, front and back.

Fitted on new slave cylinder for the back right that had the bleed nipple broken off, so now I will fix the old one and fit new seals, fill with brake fluid, and put in to spares bin.

Also installed the foiled and repaired back light clusters, as well as the front Indicators.

Installed the new brake linings, and cleaned up drums, fitted new seals on the shafts at the back and then I found an over sight on my part.

When testing the bearings, I did not look at the left wheel outer as the right one was still perfect.

On inspection prior to fitting the drum, I found an point of collapse in the outer race, dam, now I will be holding back fitting the front drums till I got me two sets of front wheel bearings.

Oh Well!! some thing to do this week then...

Herman

[jolas]

Nice weekend progress !