Turned out I was using indirect image links from the hosting website. 1986 2.5 litre Diesel engine.
Parked down by the marina in Brighton (not for too long as I don't like the idea of all that salty sea air and rain). Should be on the drive in my back garden by next week. Might even erect some sort of rain cover, I'd really like to get under there with some underseal etc. if and when the sun actually comes out.
Plan is to pretty much gut the inside as its in pretty bad nick. sort out any rust and other problems. insulate as much as possible, and then finish with thin ply. Re-use what we can and keep a similar layout but update the electronics, as its a pretty basic 12 volt system in there, and I want at least one or two 240 volt connections.
Current obvious problems;Fuel & temp gauge not working. Not sure if this is the thermostat for the temp gauge (no idea about how fuel gauges work), or Ralph mentioned it could be the voltage regulator (if I remember correctly - he did give me a spare dashboard to troubleshoot - cheers Ralph!). cigarette lighter doesn't seem to work either. How big is the tank on one of these?
It does have a switch that turns on an air conditioner in the back though!! Few random switches that don't seem to do anything as well
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Windscreen wipers blow the fuse when I try and activate the squirters (and sometimes just when I just turn on the wipers). Could be a short somewhere, but I had a look at the bed above the bulkhead where the wiper motor was and it was absolutely full of top trump cards, fluff and feathers, and the wires were visible, so I'm guessing the culprit might be that!
There is an oil leak somewhere as its dripped a little bit onto the paving - could just need a new fuel filter (Ralph suggested this to me?)
Plenty of cosmetic welding and making good to be done. No idea how to weld but my boss has one and has offered to teach me . . . what could go wrong
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I was thinking of taking up the original ply flooring and maybe even insulating inbetween the frame underneath - or is this a bad idea given its proximity to the underside of the vehicle?
The doors and windows rattle like no-ones business, and doors are as stiff as anything. I think the sliding gears could do with a good grease and some work on the rubber seals of the windows. Trying to work out a way to increase the thermal resistance of the windows that don't open, maybe with one of those DIY secondary glazing kits . . . there are a lorra windows!
Security wise its currently got exterior padlocks on all doors (and interior locks on the back doors and passenger side) but I'd like something a bit more secure than that, can't really think what though. Could probably get a deadlock on the back but not sure about what to do with the sliding side doors . . .
Need to soundproof the interior cab as its pretty bloody loud!
Gonna whack some solar panels on top at some point.
Would like to sort out the rust on the wheels at some point as well (and elsewhere).
Bonnet is starting to deteriorate (especially between the hinge and the bonnet). Picked up a replacement one from Ralph but sadly didn't fit as I think the Dormobile ones are slightly different.
Changing gears can be hard work and it feels like the selector might be on the way out (would that be the problem?) as it can be a real struggle to get it into first and second.
Currently all I need now is a headlight 'clip' (garages words) for the nearside headlamp and it should get the MOT. Hopefully Muttley is going to help me out with that.
Brakes feel quite 'spongey'. They do the job but I haven't tried an emergency stop in it yet and I tend to keep a hefty stopping distance to compensate. Whats the culprit there?
Good NewsGot a new exhaust fitted - great place in Hastings who were much keener than my MOT garage in Brighton sorted it out in a jiffy, fitted a side exhaust from a MK3 I believe and it sounds so much better. Would have preferred a back one but cost dictated the shorter one.
They also did the structural welding needed for the MOT for £100 cheaper than the other place quoted me! Emissions were a fail on the (pre) MOT but I'm hoping a new exhaust, fuel filter and running some cleaner through it will sort that out. They said that the engine was in pretty good nick considering the age. Drove it to Essex and back with no real problems apart from the exhaust (and it really struggled up a certain stretch, couldn't get any revs, but stopped on the hard shoulder and it seemed to sort itself out after a little rest). No problems getting it to hastings and back.
Any transit heads / self builders in East Sussex or surrounding area who can offer some advice? I have many other skills but am pretty new to classic vehicles and cars in general. Stick me in front of a PC and i'll have it flying but still got a lot to learn about mechanics.
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Mars - I might pick your brains about it once the MOT is sorted and I get down to the nitty gritty, if that's cool?
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Sorry for the ramble! This went a bit off topic so let me know if its best to move it to another section on the forum?
Harry