Cunning Bus

[Incursus]

[Andy]

Looking brilliant dude! Have you got a mock up of what you want it to look like. Take it the dropped spindles means its going to be on the deck?

[Cunning Plan]

Cheers guys

Quoting: Andy

you got a mock u

Yah something like this hopefully:



It won't be AS low as that though, not slammed, just nicely low.

The dropped spindles basically allows the suspension to remain 'stock' up until the wheel, where that is positioned higer than stock - it means that the suspension has full travel but the bus is lower down. This is opposed to the other main method of lowering which is adjusters on the beam which basically just moves the torsion leaves around to give less travel in the suspension and the wheels are lower as a result - but it drives like a shopping trolley - every bump is a mountain

[Andy]

Great mock up, like they way you've put realism in, as though you're going to the tip or a carboot sale with the stuff on your roof.

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Andy

as though you're going to the tip or a carboot sale with the stuff on your roof.

I can't see the pic, but knowing "vanners" - that's just funny.

[Cunning Plan]

Yah, I have some nice valveoline jerry-cans out in the garden gathering their patina ready to go up on the rack when it is done

Oh, and a nice chunky bit of rope..

[Roadkill]

What about an old kiddies trike ?

And a weathered chest ?

Come on CP - a few cans and a rope ain't gonna cut it.

[Cunning Plan]

Some real parts have arrived  :mrgreen:  



Thanks Transporterhaus! Excited to get it all together - it looks great  8)

So, this suspension will be a combination of two lowering kits. Specification should be something like this:

T-Haus Dropped Spindles -3.5"
Stock beam
Stock leaves
(R9) Spax adjustable Coil-overs
(R9) Bump-stops

Interesting to see how it handles!  :shock:  

I have to wait for the needle bearings to arrive first though before I can start installing it all.

When I finished un-packing everything and realised I had to wait for parts, I decided to clean up the rear hatch window (as you would), so I can start playing with some stickers  :mrgreen:



Current progress 'over-view' picture..



I think I will start restoring the doors whilst I am waiting too. Do all the locks, mechanisms and perhaps rubber.

[Andy]

Quoting: Cunning Plan

Do all the locks, mechanisms and perhaps rubber

From my recent experience, its a good idea to get the door seals sealing when the door shuts. Just a lil tip there

Wish I had the room, time and MONIES to do a project like this. Looks pretty swell and should be a nice van/bus/nazi transportation for masses, once finished.

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: Andy

MONIES to do a project like this.

I have very little money - which is why it has taken this long to do a realitivly small amount It is all saving the change, then spending, then saving change again - that's all

[Cunning Plan]

Bus has been put back by the shortage of needle bearings in the UK -  :shock:

Ordered from two different suppliers now, both have them on back-order  :?  I have been wire-wheeling the inside-front clip, ready for paint whilst I am waiting.

[Cunning Plan]

M-Code decoded:

http://www.vw-mplate.com/mcode.php?lang=EN&id=5837\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">

[Cunning Plan]

Finally got the illusive needle bearings through the post today (cheers C&C). Means I can go to the agricultural engineers on the way home from work tomorrow where they can pop the old ones out and tap the new ones in for a drink.

Saves me buying a slide-hammer - these guys are used to playing with combine-harvesters, so the beam on a bus should be no problem for them.

Whilst I am waiting, I am still stripping out, wire-wheeling and cleaning up the inside-front panel. I also took out most of the manky old wiring loom. I have just left enough to attach to a new loom and pull it through the chassis channels using the old loom.

[Cunning Plan]

Did a few hours today.



Here is the beam with the new needle-bearings installed.



New grease-nipples all round (don't think they will get used that much, but whilst I was at it I thought I may as well replace what I can).



Greased up the chassis (that's why it looks wet) and slid the new beam on. It took a couple of goes up and down to get it just right, but went on OK. I found it hard to use the jack and hold the weight of the beam at the same time so my girlfriend kindly did the jacking part whilst I positioned it.

You can see the difference with the old beam next to it that I was using as extra security incase the bus fell off its axle stands as we were banging about with the beam.

So, some paint has scratched because of the jack / hammering etc - but I was expecting that to be honest - I just knew it wouldn't go on and look all painted and fresh still, especially as I greased everything, there was grease stuck to everything    Plan is to touch up the damaged areas when the bus is on the chassis rollers. So the next step is to install the T-Haus kit  :mrgreen:

[art b]

 well done mrgreen

[art b]

i had a quick scan through your post
and a few things struck me ,






It took a couple of goes up and down to get it just right


especially as I greased everything,

my girlfriend kindly did the jacking part


as we were banging about with the beam.


there was grease stuck to everything

[Andy]

[Cunning Plan]

Yah that was my 'Carry-on bussing' post

[Cunning Plan]

Leaves are in and lined up!



Modified bump-stop in one side.



It wouldn't fit right at first as it was too long, so I cut off 10mm. I will do the same for the other side.



First part of the T-Haus kit going on - the torsion arms  :mrgreen:

[Cunning Plan]

I put the first side spindles on today!



Tip for anyone else with the T-Haus kit - if you can't get the spindle on using the method described by T-Haus (bottom first), do the top one first hand tight, then lift up the spindle yourself with someone else jacking the lower one up, then they should just fit together. I found doing the bottom first quite hard and the jack kept slipping.  :msn4:

Once you have the bottom one on hand-tight too, you will notice you can't get your socket / torque wrench onto the nut as the bottom of the top torsion arm will be in the way. To solve this just fully tighten the top nut up which pulls the torsion arm up just enough to get your socket onto the bottom one  8)





Positioned the coil-overs. I just ordered the fixings from Volksbolts as I didn't want to use the manky old ones with all this other new kit going on.

Note: That isn't rust on the beam, it is copper grease as those two bolts were a little tough to go in due to paint on the threads.

[Cunning Plan]

I temporally fitted the drum back on for now. I cleaned up some bolts in vinegar - you can see before and after.  8)



Picked up some 15" Splitty rims from a '62 bus at the weekend (cheers Wayne!). Thought I would see what they look like on..

[Roadkill]

Fierce !

:mrgreen:

[Incursus]

Gonna be so

[Andy]

I can't remember if I've asked before but is the biege going to be the finished colour?

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: Andy

I can't remember if I've asked before but is the biege going to be the finished colour?

I can't remember either

Yes, for now it will stay matt-beige, but I plan to play with the colour when it is on the road.

Choices are, a darker matt brown / beige:






Or a gloss Savanah Beige: