Project No.2 - Highwayman

Super Vista goes to where 100 would be and beyond but I've clearly fitted the wrong toothed speedo drive that or my sat nav is 40 mph out
 
I like a challenge but rebuilding an engine upside-down sounds interesting!

Jim have you still got that engine cover? I found a rather scary looking home made one under all the porn and 8 tracks after I cleared it out....!

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That magazine takes me back to the 80's and when you'd find them in the woods, I hate to say it but she looks familiar!

Engine cover now has a price - the Beethoven Overture and magazines - that'll be a night in to remember o_O
 
While on the subject (of engine woes) what would you regard as poor oil pressure?

Charlie when up to temp and ticking along will sit right down at 30psi rising when 'accelerating' or pushing up a hill.

Tom
 
The manual states 41/45 psi hot but doesn't say at what RPM so I think an old engine ticking over at 30 isn't bad. When was the oil and filter last changed?
The oil pressure warning light sender is set around 15 psi I think.
 
Panky said:
The manual states 41/45 psi hot but doesn't say at what RPM so I think an old engine ticking over at 30 isn't bad. When was the oil and filter last changed?
The oil pressure warning light sender is set around 15 psi I think.
Click to expand...

I did an oil change just the other day. In-fact this is what made me think as it seems lower since the oil change but this might be me over thinking things. What with the whole dipstick fiasco it turned out he was very low on oil after all!

But i'm a way off 15psi anyhow!

Tom
 
SO........ on with the highwayman. Charlie (autohome) is nearing completion. Interior refit is almost there. Just got some bits and bobs to do before final oil and the like. The Campercar is rather sorry for itself. had to take out of my second workshop along with my Mk1 golf project as I couldn't justify the expense of 2 workshops. It now means the campercar is sitting in the yard with no roof, no floor, no doors etc. Under a tarp but with this weather it's bloomin hopeless :( Rather depressing but I'm gonna try and get it water tight over the summer.

So my better half and her sister are taking on the Highwayman to start a mobile bar business. It the cold light of day it seemed a sensible way forward as it means I can crack on with it as they are effectively commissioning me to restore it - also it'll earn it's keep. I'm keen to keep it original or at least able to be put back to original should a future owner want to. So all interior has been removed carefully and stored (what was left of it!). And the only major work will be to fit a lilting window on the side.

So so far this week I have stripped the brakes - freed up the cylinders and ordered the repair bits I need to get it stopping again.

Engine seems pretty happy, started it regularly since park up. Going give it a good service. Needs fuel line sorting.

Now I've had a proper poke around - structurally it looks good. Chassis and outriggers appear to be very tidy. Going to have some gutter work and new lower valance. But hoping the MOT wont be too demanding.

Watch this space!
 
That's brilliant, great to see a van working for it's living. Make mine a cold beer please:)
 
So it's in the workshop, another trailer journey for it!

Drums back off as there is something up with the brakes, even after a full strip and rebuild of the cylinders/drums and few new pipes. Thinking it has to be in the master cylinder as nothing else left so stripped that and awaiting new seals.

I started on the 'damp corner' inside, which turned, as always into this...

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A pile of 2x1 and a day later and it's looking great if I do say so myself :) pics to follow.

Tomorrow thanks to the amazing Martin Maltas I will be fitting the new front valance.

Then refit the panels that are hanging off and onto the respray.

Tom
 
Yuck that looks a mess, well done for tackling it so enthusiastically:)
The flexy hoses can collapse inside - happened to me on Bonnie. In my case they acted as a non-return valve and held the brakes on but I suppose they could also restrict the flow into the cylinders.
 
That's what's happening - the brakes come on - sharply, but then stick on... they feel heavy and sluggish. To be honest there was a little gunk in the master cylinder.

I need some sleep, looong day :x

Tom
 
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It is an amazing design - the extension on the back of the highwayman. Where it overshoots the back of the chassis/pan. I can only assume they never intended the vans to last all that long as water ingress and trapping has such potential. And once those timbers get a water source they just suck it up :(
 
And all that insulation to soak up the water and keep it there.
Wont do any harm to re-new the seals but it does sound like a flexy hose thing:(
 
My flexi hoses collapsed, so I replaced them both. It was down as a advisory on the mot before, absolutely fine on the latest mot.
 
Leaps and bounds have been made! been 2 months of pretty much solid work on her. Taking shape at last, MOT on monday :eek:

I'll get some pics up when my computer and internet connection play ball.

I am just doing the final bits, like rewire the loom and rebuild the engine :D. Yes the engine saga continues...

So I have lots of white smoke from exhaust - radiator is gushing out water from start up. Looses the lot in 2 mins flat! Compression is good - about 160ish across all cylinders - none obviously low.

Have I missed summit?? I thought compression would be an obvious indicator with the horrific and rapid loss of fluid.

Do I plod on and change the head gasket this weekend?

Tom
 
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