Progress

Well the weather beat me a hasty retreat today...i managed to replace the rear copper brake pipes and the rubber flexi hose.Got the T piece cleaned up after soaking it in some metal cleaner.
Removed the copper pipe which connects from the rear to the 4 way piece in the engine compartment and the front copper brake pipes.
Then the heavens opened as i was under the van wrestling with the brake master cylinder...after 10 mins of having rainwater running down onto me i gave in and gave up!..[V]
The cracked thermostat housing cap shows signs of having had a hairline fracture for some time, judging by the staining.Im just glad it did crack the other day and not on the motorway :)
Ive gotten myself a good replacement from Martin!, cheers!!:D
 
If your like me and have a gravel driveway as your workshop floor, then you can understand my joy in finally getting the brake master cylinder off today!.I cannot understand why it had to be lathered in several gallons of grease that in time has grown to become the sh**tiest job i have done in a long time!.
So ive managed to clean the master cylinder up and replace the rubber seals today, as well i have removed and cleaned up the pulley wheel, timing chain cover, rocker cover in readyness for paint.
Mum was out so the kitchen sink was adapted to become my 'parts washer', and her brass pot scrubber made easy work of removing all that crap!.
The pot scrubber has now gone 'missing' to avoid any argument..[}:)], though it may reappear when required again!;)
I now have boxes with bits in allover the front of the van, and yes i can remember where they go..hopefully.
The thermostat cap housing Martin supplied me has cleaned up really well, thanks matey!..:D
My mums partner keeps cracking jokes about the 'ice cream' van and when will he be able to buy a 99 with a flake!..if he continues i may crack his head with the air filter housing and tell him where he can stuff his 99 with flake!![}:)].The man drives a Rover 416 auto P registration, say no more eh!..

Oh well...more news soon!:D
 
hi paul really enjoyed reading this,glad you are making good progress [8D] they remind me more of a fish and chip van that use to come round our way evey week...but less of that,you have a very nice spacious van,and it's great reading your progress,i can wait for work to start on mine.mine will be done mostly on the drive too :D your poor mum :D [}:)] :D
 
I know how you feel, I used to have a white PB camper and there was always some wag (before they were wives and girl friends) on the on the supermarket car park come up and ask for burger and chips. [:(!]
 
Ive spent most of the day on her today, the cylinder head is off.It didnt take much persuasion to turn the bolts, that might account for low compression readings a while back.Everything seems to be loose and in need of tightening down..So much for 'care and attention' in the past eh!.
I thought modern fuel was meant to keep the internals clean..with the head off i can see 4 piston tops looking blacker than an old man from deepest Jamaica!..
By the time i have done with the engine i aint gonna want to run it cos it will look so well.All the tinware etc are prepped for paint, the blocks been degreased and made ready for some paint as well.What i thought to be a quick easy 'fix up and go' has grown into something else!.
I went to an autojumble yesterday and got myself some new heater hosing and some piping to replace the one that connects the fluid tank to the master cylinder.
My mums sink turned itself into a great parts washer again!, it s amazing how it does that when she's not there![}:)]
Id better order some rear brake cylinders this week, then i can finish the braking system off..

bye for now:D
 
Picture061.jpg


Looking a lot better now it has had a scrub and polish!..

Picture062.jpg


The front end lets her down really...it looks crap and it is..[V].where the two sections meet above the air intake for the heater, it leaks badly when it rains and so too down the sides where the front panel meets the door frame.Otherwise she's great...a case of 'ugly face with a fit body'..[^].
Maybe if i drink 12 pints of lager i might fancy her!![}:)]

You can see that nice gravel floor i have the joy of working on!..[V]

:D
 
Wow you've done a crackin job of cleaning the engine up, looks great. Is it definitely rot that is letting the water in through the air vent because there is a drain that can get blocked and cause a flood. Just behind the grille is a short soft rubber pipe with a bulbous end (calm down, calm down) the pipe ends in a tight slit (stop sniggering fordy) and can get clogged with crap causing the ducting to fill with water and overflow into the cab. Let this be a lesson in personal hygiene to all, don't let the slit in your bulbous end get full of crap. [:0]
 
haHA!...yES THAT(oops caps!:I),'bulbous' pipe is currently not where it should be, i remember yanking at it when i first got her back home and dislodged it..[V].
 
I remember the last owner saying the triangular heater mounting plate was rotten, so the water may not even get to your bulbous end!
 
It is rusty, but the heater assembly can be mounted on the inside of the front panel easily, the flap still operates to allow fresh air into the cab as well.All is not at a loss thankfully...[^]
 
You showed us yours so I'll show you mine. Notice the lump out of the piston. The engine was actually running OK, I only took the head off to fix a water leak. Wasn't the head gasket though it turned out to be the core plug down the back of the engine [V]
HarveyEngine.jpg
 
I found the mice in the chassis when I did the spring hangers. Seriously, complete with about half a pound of peanuts they'd nicked off of the bird table :)
 
Got the cylinder head back on this afternoon!:D, wont be long before she's running again.Spent some time stripping back the paint on the radiator as well, the brass top/ bottom sections really look well.Ill try and add some piccys tommorow.Ive painted some of the tinwear today,and have more to do tommorow.I just hope the predicted 'foot of snow' dont happen!!.
Got myself another carburettor as well, ill strip that down and rebuild it when the kit arrives.

Got another box of goodies from speedys as well today..new hoses, temp sensor and new gaskets for the thermostat housing and water pump.

Seems im spending all my spare time on her...cant wait to take her out!!:D:D
 
All your spare cash as well by the sound of it. Forgot to mention before but from looking at the picture of the engine the bores look fine. I guess all your worries about low compression have gone :D:D
 
Takes yer cash, yanks yer bulbous pipe off [:0], buggers off to Speedies to spend the reddies and never phones. Typical. [}:)];)
 
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