i bought the Bus in 2004 and one of the first things I did was to remove the rear seats and fit a cargo shield and load anchor points and fit a tow bar. the reason to register it as a "Truck" in Sweden to reduce the road tax from about £900 about £300 a year.
So that is how it was for quite a few years.
then one day I decide it is time to start doing stuff to it. so i ordered some H&R -40 springs and a 27mm spanner.
Well the morning that i decided to fit the springs i came out to the van and jumped in and heard a tinkle.
some low life had been after something.
you can see the screwdriver mark.
they also tried the side door glass.
they also really wanted to get in through the tailgate.
which as you can see was in a poor state.
so what to do?
well lets get the springs fitted and the front lowered.
I had also at some time fitted a side exit exhaust. and it is parked up against the wall as there is no rear glass.
what to do? on Monday down to the steel stockists and get the welder out.
and then away for a week of mountain biking.
a few weeks later
A replacement was found. newer version so new struts were needed.
then came a whole pile of mech stuff that was needed. new ball joints (4) new track arm on the rack. new discs pads drums and shoes. Oh also the head gasket went so head off and skimmed. but it went again so out it all comes and a replacement from the scrap yard was found. new water pump and belts and clutch were done as a matter of course.
then came the sounds. I do a lot of miles in one go in the bus, last trip was 1200KM in one go towing a race car. the kit involved 3 amps 3 pairs of speakers and a sub. lots of sound deadening and sound absorption fibre and lots of MDF.
this was back in 2009 and was not finished but both front sill sections were replaced.
rear speakers. the black boxes are removable/rotatable.
door speakers fitted to the 'velle door pockets.
dash speakers with cut out standard trim.
2 of the amps (rear speakers and Sub).
Oh that tailgate.
taken as it passes its MOT this year after 2 years in the garage and part way through some paint "work".
the reason for the sudden MOT was the job was gone but I had work in Germany. time to relocate.
anyway she was running like a bag of spanners so after getting here to Germany I booked her in for some work.
one rear wheel bearing, check the timing, do an oil change. but i was also concerned about the condition of the sump as i remembered that there was some "filler" on it and i had an oil leak. so while the van was up in the air i had a look and the "filler" was wet... new sump was ordered. also the poor running was worked out to two things. One the glow plug fuse had gone. (Yet the dash light still worked as normal) and two the plugs were shot. so they were done as well.
Runs sweet now.
before the window incident I had self tinted the windows but they had faded to almost clear. so they were ripped out. I have just had them redone as it helps hide the different glass colours.
The interior upper trim has also gone back in. just need to sort out the space between the MDF and the trim. I also found out that my Ikea leather sofa fits nicely on the wheel arch covers.
Other work that needs to be done. front cross-member needs changing as it is very rusted. should be a nice weekend job. will be changing the lights at the same time.
Paint..... well it aint ever going to be a pretty Bus is it. so i am thinking something with a roller. maybe something with a sand blaster! and i am sure there will be a sticker attack somewhere.
Then i will have to see about getting it registered as a German bus again. It was imported to Sweden from Germany in '97.
shame that the rear seats had to be left in Sweden but no space for them.
updates will be following.
So that is how it was for quite a few years.
Image uploading. Refresh page to view
then one day I decide it is time to start doing stuff to it. so i ordered some H&R -40 springs and a 27mm spanner.
Well the morning that i decided to fit the springs i came out to the van and jumped in and heard a tinkle.
Image uploading. Refresh page to view
some low life had been after something.
Image uploading. Refresh page to view
you can see the screwdriver mark.
Image uploading. Refresh page to view
they also tried the side door glass.
they also really wanted to get in through the tailgate.
Image uploading. Refresh page to view
which as you can see was in a poor state.
so what to do?
well lets get the springs fitted and the front lowered.
Image uploading. Refresh page to view
I had also at some time fitted a side exit exhaust. and it is parked up against the wall as there is no rear glass.
what to do? on Monday down to the steel stockists and get the welder out.
Image uploading. Refresh page to view
and then away for a week of mountain biking.
a few weeks later
Image uploading. Refresh page to view
A replacement was found. newer version so new struts were needed.
then came a whole pile of mech stuff that was needed. new ball joints (4) new track arm on the rack. new discs pads drums and shoes. Oh also the head gasket went so head off and skimmed. but it went again so out it all comes and a replacement from the scrap yard was found. new water pump and belts and clutch were done as a matter of course.
then came the sounds. I do a lot of miles in one go in the bus, last trip was 1200KM in one go towing a race car. the kit involved 3 amps 3 pairs of speakers and a sub. lots of sound deadening and sound absorption fibre and lots of MDF.
this was back in 2009 and was not finished but both front sill sections were replaced.
rear speakers. the black boxes are removable/rotatable.
Image uploading. Refresh page to view
door speakers fitted to the 'velle door pockets.
dash speakers with cut out standard trim.
2 of the amps (rear speakers and Sub).
Oh that tailgate.
taken as it passes its MOT this year after 2 years in the garage and part way through some paint "work".
the reason for the sudden MOT was the job was gone but I had work in Germany. time to relocate.
anyway she was running like a bag of spanners so after getting here to Germany I booked her in for some work.
one rear wheel bearing, check the timing, do an oil change. but i was also concerned about the condition of the sump as i remembered that there was some "filler" on it and i had an oil leak. so while the van was up in the air i had a look and the "filler" was wet... new sump was ordered. also the poor running was worked out to two things. One the glow plug fuse had gone. (Yet the dash light still worked as normal) and two the plugs were shot. so they were done as well.
Runs sweet now.
before the window incident I had self tinted the windows but they had faded to almost clear. so they were ripped out. I have just had them redone as it helps hide the different glass colours.
The interior upper trim has also gone back in. just need to sort out the space between the MDF and the trim. I also found out that my Ikea leather sofa fits nicely on the wheel arch covers.
Other work that needs to be done. front cross-member needs changing as it is very rusted. should be a nice weekend job. will be changing the lights at the same time.
Paint..... well it aint ever going to be a pretty Bus is it. so i am thinking something with a roller. maybe something with a sand blaster! and i am sure there will be a sticker attack somewhere.
Then i will have to see about getting it registered as a German bus again. It was imported to Sweden from Germany in '97.
shame that the rear seats had to be left in Sweden but no space for them.
updates will be following.