1972 Commer PB

I would say it's designed to fit as you have it in the pic. The 'top' of the T looks like it's made to fit there and if it was positioned further forward the runner, and so the seat. seat would be tilted forward,
The Auto-Sleeper version has thin wooden wedges, with the thick end to the front, under the runner to give the seat base a slight rake backwards.
 
Goodies :)

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Hopefully will be back up and running tonight.
 
It has now taken a week to get nowhere. And I am fed up. After a crap day at work I still can't install the fuel lines :mad:

I found the correct connector (1/4" bsp to 6mm hose) and I loctited and screwed this in the pump. Managed to fit the hose onto the carb (which seems to be an 8mm fitting?) and then I mounted the fuel pump and the bloody connector fouls the oil filter!!!! So I have to buy an elbow which will mean no parts for the weekend.

Fed up.

I was going to make it original but now I am just thinking sod it and may go buy a facet pump and fittings tomorrow and blank the bloody mechanical pump off.
 
Bummer:( Probably why the original fuel line was plastic to bend round the oil filter. Don't be disheartened though it will soon be fixed and you will be on your way:) But if you do fit a lekky pump be sure to fit an inertia cut out in the live feed - just to be safe.
 
There will be an electric fuel pump at dome point but for now I am stripping the van back to basics. One of the next jobs is to remove the mass of gauges that don't work under the dash.

Today's work:

Another fuel pump purchased, this time with an offset on the inlet to avoid the oil filter..

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Then the fuel lines assembled to the pump before fitting to avoid working in a tight space..

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Fitted in place but fuel lines not in final position as the water pump was getting removed next.

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Water pump is now removed and will be reassembled tomorrow with the new pump. A few things to purchase ready and also some degrease for scrubbing the engine and engine bay.
 
Nice installation, didn't realise you could get an offset inlet type - what's it off?
 
Hillman, commer, sunbeam etc. Looks to be a period replacement for the commer pb original. £28 with free postage off eBay and gives me the other as a spare if needed.

Big problem I have now is the perished bolts I am removing from the water pump and thermostat assemblies....and also the broken bolt that holds the thermostat housing on. Leaves me a 8mm stub of broken bolt out of the crankcase.

I am going to reassemble everything but buy replacement bolts for everything and replace them as soon as received
 
They can be right swines to get out. Try welding a nut onto the stub of stud that's left, the heat generated usually gets then moving - I did it with a snapped exhaust stud.
 
Thanks for the advice! !!
Was going to try the remover drills that screw in anti clockwise and hope it unscrews it
 
If the welded on nut doesn't work maybe have a go with the drill but I'm confident it will. The stud that snapped on me was almost flush with the head but I built up a load of pigeon poo on the end of it with the mig and bashed an old socket onto it - it came out with very little resistance. Did the same thing on Bonnie's door hinges crews, no way would the shift with an impact driver but the pigeon poo and socket trick worked again:D
If there is enough left sticking out to get a nut on though it will have the same effect.
 
My neighbour came round to help with the broken bolt. We protected the alternator from heat and then heated up the case around the bolt, bit of wd40 and some mole grips and it came out easily in the end.

Next problem was the thermostat housing cover which cracked when reassembling.

So I bought some araldite 2 part epoxy and glued the cracked piece back on, then using fibreglass resin I reinforced the inner face, beefed up the external surfaces around the crack and also filled in all the pit holes to try and prolong it's life.

For reassembly I sent the bolts in several times with wd40 and cleaning each time until they were free enough to tighten all the way by hand and then I fitted the cover using loctite quick gasket (comes in a tube like silicon sealant) and then cautiously nipped the bolts up until the gasket spread and I had removed all movement out of the cover.

Just waiting for the loctite to cure before firing it up for testing.

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Hi Andrew, MOT was weekend before last and it flew through with no advisories :)
Has been off the road since while I attempt to make it more reliable and address all the little jobs I have put off for a long time.

Regarding the repair above, it failed :-( luckily Mr Maltas has been able to assist! Thanks Martin.
 
Photo has a lot more relevance to me than everyone else, but after a load of stress caused with a broken thermostat housing I now have a water type cooling system and everything else back in place (including a new spade plug on the thermostat lead that was frayed)



Onto the next job.................
 
Brilliant:)
They can be trying at times. Bonnie has spat her dummy out and wont run without choke - she was absolutely fine for our trip to Angelsey, but start her up to make way for the Mini and she throws a hissy fit:rolleyes:
 
Oil change done - ran the engine for quite a while with engine flush added and then refilled (used some halfords classic oil in a retro tin) and a new oil filter.

Had a look at the seat mounts and I feel I have them in the correct place so will drill some holes in wheel arch for mounting and bolt them on with some suitable large washers for spreading the load.

Coolant was completely flushed also with a hose until clear. Will drain again tomorrow now I am happy it is leak free and refill with appropriate antifreeze / coolant.

Then tackle the nest of electrics...
 
A few photos of how I have bolted in the cab seat and positions. Extra hole drilled at the rear to keep the seat secure when driving.
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And a photo of the van in the local valley after a quick road test.
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Looks really good, you need a lie down after all that, luckily you have a nice bed to do it on - feet out of the window;)
 
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