My New Baby!!!

Like this :)
http://66.129.69.181/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3862&whichpage=8

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"You,re only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off"
 
Talk about bad luck....hands up evryone who has had the roll pin on their accelerator pedal fall out? Couldn't bodge a repair, so had to call the.AA. who bodged it with a split pin!
 
Happened to me on the way to Scotland 3 years ago, can't remember what I shoved in it :I

http://www.commervanspares.co.uk/

http://www.yorkshireclassiccampers.co.uk/
 
Gaaaaaaagghhhhh!! Certainly getting to know the engine well. Starter appears to have packed up, it just clicks! It'spre-engaged type.12v to starter solenoid on the big cable and 7v on the red-white wire. Removed it, and starter motor works fine. The two threaded poles that the cable bolts to are loose on the pre-engaged solenoid. Sticking a volt meter across these show a circuit when wiggled, which is why it worked sporadically. We are 3 miles from the classic parts place in kenton, Devon. Fingers crossed he has something in stock!
 
New starter fitted.....now she starts from cold....nasty vapour lock whilst hot, and refuses to start. Off to exeter for 3m of fuel hose in the morning, then on to south hams for our first night in the camper....woohoo.
 
Result with the starter[^]
Try running the fuel line that goes from the pump to the carb in front of the radiator, that way it stays a bit cooler.

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Summer's here.....
Told you
 
BACK HOME!!!!!!!
A bit of a long trip for our first trip in a commer. Nottingham, Dawlish, Dartmouth, South Hams, a cracking campsite with views of the sea just outside Marlborough called Krageen, The Cornwall, Newquay, Padstow, Rock etc etc, Then on to Abergavenny to meet up with the rest of the guys on here, then finally back to Nottingham via the scenic route.
The bad bits: Over heating on the way down there, New starter, 3m of fuel pipe for re-routing, Missing throttle pin, 1 dead coil and a dead rotor arm....oh and the alternator mounting bolts went missing!!!! Limped into Newquay, met up with car minded friends at the Riviera Run, and spent a morning on her, turned the plate underneath upside-down which now directs cold air to the engine, which has made a heck of a difference...in fact on leaving newquay I could only get the temp up if the electric fan was turned all the way off.
My brakes were really tested on the run through Brechin with the rest of the commer people.
After some umming, ahhing and chin scratching it transpires that we have a non overdrive rapier engine fitted, good news, I can get a haynes manual and get her running sweet now!!!

he good bits...we love her, and after 2 weeks in her can start thinking about improvements:

I have seen a Willwood Tandem master cylinder that looks a good fit, this will give me some peace of mind, as I find dingle line systems a bit scary lol.

Get the engine tuned up

Have a look at fitting a couple of SU's, I am sure I have a couple of HIF38's, and the manifold looks like it may fit.

Make, fudge a new twin downpipe, the current one hangs really low.

Sort a new exhaust, Panky though we had a metal water tank slung underneath till he realised it was the back box...it's fri**ing huge!!!

These will all be running repairs as we want to be using her as much as we can over summer.
Long term plans are to tidy the paintwork and body work up.

I mentioned to a couple of guys at Abergavenny that an old school mechanic that I know has had commers in the past and has fitted sherpa front running gear, enabling disc brakes to be fitted up front, I will try and catch him and pick his brains.
 
All the sherpas i have seen have a prehistoric beam front axle with i think leaf springs and king pins can be a bitch and the steering linkages would be a mare to link up as the steering box on the sherpa makes up part of the front chassis leg, good to see you at wales and glad you had a good long trip.:)

Dont try and lead me astray....i know the way myself!!
 
Finally got tounf to fixing the accelerator...the mini roll pins I had are two big so made my own pin...tried this and there was still play in the loud pedal.....so made another that was too big, heated the throttle pedal to a nice glowing red and then quickly assembled....I have 50% more pedal travel now!!!! Also had a fiddle with the carbs and got the tickover down to a more respectable 750rpm. I have also started sourcing parts that will hopefully improve the running, firstly 2 HIF38 SU carbs, I prefer these to the other (HS) SU's that have the separate float bowl thingy, I got the 1.5 inches as the 1.75's might be a bit too big. Amazingly these appear to fit the fanimold, and should just clear the top of the engine lid.
On a separate note, there was a bit of surface rust on the drivers cab floor, this has been rubbed back and hammerited.
If the rain stops, I will pop out and have a look to see how much modding the spare RC40 will need to fit.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fletcher-3inch-side-exit-stainless-steel-exhaust-mini-/400208990939?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item5d2e5092db
The reason I have a spare RC40 is that I have fitted one of the "linked" exhausts to the mini....hmmmm come to think of it......would a 3inch exhaust be too much for a commer lol
 
Right! The Su's won't quite fit the holes for the fixing studs. These are currently 8mm too far apart. Remedy, elongate the holes 4mm either side lol! Waiting for the next mini show for some cheap carbs. Went for a drive at the weekend and the fixed throttle has given us another 10mph.....which is nice.
 
Just fitted an acu-spark to the dizzy, and the bus is running much better. Speed limits, here we come.

I have also just bought a hillman hunter Haynes manual, so I can get the timing and stuff set properly. Valve heights not so easy, as there are 3 different cams all fitted to the aluminium head, yep, all with different valve clearances.

Still trying to source the SU carbs, but I have obtained an exhaust down pipe with flange, so can start thinking about making that up, so it doesn't foul the handbrake cabel.
 
There is roon for manouver with the handbrake cable, mine was a bit too close to the twin downpipe for comfort so I did a little mod

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Summer's here.....
Told you
 
Fiddle sticks....or words to that effect! Noticed the clutch biting point was really low, and pedal really light. Got home and I have a wet clutch slave cylinder. Filled the empty master cylinder and tried to bleed single handed, with the aid of a breeze block....no dice! My pedal pumper is away tonight! Wi
ll see if that works until payday, then speak to Mr M!
Just little niggles in a van that after years of inactivity, is a bit shocked by the action she is seeing!
 
Is it definitely the slave and not the pipework? Just a thought before you order parts.

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Spare a Commer Guv?
If I told you I was a pathological liar, would you believe me?
 
Blown away by the service by Mr M! Called him Thursday night to order a slave cylinder....woke just before 8 this morning by the postman with the parts. It's fitted, just waiting for my pedal pumped to get up, then hopefully. Hit Scarborough for lunch time. Many thanks Martin!
 
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