... And so it begins.

[Fathermarc]

Cam,
from the underside of the wheel tub to where the step in begins is 28mm and to the end of the shut off piece is exactly 385mm.
Let me know if you want a template making up.

There you goes big noes.

[Cam Biscuit]

Thanks mate much appreciated!

[Fathermarc]

The past few weeks have been a little hectic. We move home and work has been a little chaotic. So the kombi was put on the back burner. Today was the first day back on the spannera. Thought I'd fit twin carburetors to the wifes bugster. Swapping the empi kit off the kombi and replace it with the cb performance kit which came the webbers I ordered. Didn't take long and the larger filters look much better in the kombi engine bay. Fired her up and dial ed them in.
I Was surprised to hear a tap. Then a tap tap. What the hell was that. Switch ed the engine off straitht away. My first thought was had I accidentally knocked a washer into the engine. I stripped the carburetors off the engine again and then the manifolds. Taped a magnet to a length of filler wire and pocked it blindly into the engine. Nothing.
I rebuild the carbs back onto the engine and fired it up again. This time it was ratta tatta tatta and it seemed to be coming from no. 4 cylinder. I flipped rhe valve covers off and reset the clearances on all four cylinders and fired the engine up again
Still slapping away. I'M starting to think that it may be a valve seat but as I m new to all this to tell you the real trueth I can only guess.
It was a horrible day and what should have been a nice way to break myself into the resto was the sinking realisation that this resto was becoming more of a complete rebuild. It was fine to have a running kombi to work on but now it feels like the rug has been pulled from under my feet.
So if any of you guys have any advise then I could really do with some right now.
M

[Fathermarc]

131201 - Resto

Just a quick update. The past few weeks have been distracting and time under the Kombi took a back seat. I think the last thread I dropped a washer in the intake manifold and into the the heads. That ended with me cursing and swearing. I talked to Wayne Penrose who happens to be a top fella. He convinced me to take out the motor and open her up. If you could have seen my face when I found it. It was as though i found a shiny gold nugget stuck up in the head. Gave me time to inspect the inside and everything's brand new.

But now the engines out I thought I'd take a closer look around in there. It's all alright but up inside the vent chambers was a layer of surface rust that need a damn good seeing to. Difficult spot to get too but it' can't stay there. So I researched and looked around and eventually plummed for a small but pretty good sandblaster. It plugs straight into the compressor nothing to it, just pored in some fine abrasive and set the feed rate and pressure. Done. It took me a bout 3 hours to get the engine bay looking brand new. Amazing.... Dusty but amazing.

I think I'll prime her and give her a blast of Dove Blue.

Now the engine is out it's got me thinking about fitting the IRS.

That's for another post. Notice the rear quarters slowly coming back iinto shape.

[Fathermarc]

131207 - Resto

This weekend I managed to get some Kombi time. The wife has gone away to visit her folks for Christmas and i have a list of jobs to do as long as my arm,
Saturday morning I rocked out of bed and armed witha bacon butty ans a few cups of coffee I set to work.

First up was to finish of the sand blasting of the engine bay which came up great. Even right up inside the air ducts. I then gave it a coat of rust beater in case I missed some little specks and to seal it all off. I'll prime it when I've finished panel beating the rear quarter.

Sunday I rolled the kombi out back as not to disturb the neighbours with angle grinding. It seems to piss people of less when I work around the back. I had to weld up the rear of the engine lid hinge carrier as in the past someone had cut holes in her to slip in new hinges. Then chop of the seriously corroded weather strip (top section) I cut a new one out of a late bay tail gate which has been a good donor part so far. Tacked it all in and tidied up with the grinder. I welded up the holes in both rear quarters where aftermarket lights had been fitted. Then re welded the section I tacked in a few months back. The weld was OK for a first attempt but I could see pin pricks of daylight in my welds. Finally I cut out the small corrosion in the Off Side rear quarter and patched it up with a patch I made from a long side section which I didn't like.

Gave it all a coat of primer and pushed her back under cover.

Note: I think my confidence is improving with welding and personally I think its starting to show.

Phots:

[Fathermarc]

Photos cont.

[Cam Biscuit]

Great progress mate

[63 left hooker]

Great work!!

It's terrible what one must do when the wife goes away

[Fathermarc]

Cheers fellas: It's satisfying to see little triumphs along the way.

I've been contemplating this for some time and having the engine out was really the icing on the cake. I did a lot of research and although it's a deviation from the original plan I decided to take the option to upgrade the engine and it arrived today from (N)WA. I saw this advert on Gumtree for a bay window. The guy was offing his project and although the advert said he wouldn't be willing to sell off the parts individually I thought I'd give him a call. There was a mention of a 2Lt engine with a new top end rebuild and Dellorto 40 Carbies that caught my attention and the price for the Kombi was set at the low end of reasonable. we had a good chat and i managed to get the engine and all the tin ware Dellorto's etc.... All a very reasonable price.

Anyway it turned up and you know when someone had really started with good intentions but never quite finished it off well here it was. The guy was building a nice motor here and just got side tracked. The story goes that he was restoring his bay for a works vehicle (plummer I think) and wife got preggers last year and he never got to finishing it. Then she goes and gets preggers again and he just will not ever get to finishing it. So he went out and bought a T5. Enough said! Loss...Gain.

Well here's a few snaps an the new born.

Now we are gonna start seeing changes around here... STAY TUNED!

[63 left hooker]

Have recently experienced the whole 'Loss - Gain" concept.

Beginning of this year someone in Vic had a problem with a twin turbo Subaru half cut (bent conrod) = his loss

Having to selling his 67 notch to fund the repair = my gain!!!

Feel bad (but not too bad)

[Fathermarc]

131223 - Resto

I'm so glad it's the holiday season. Eleven days of uninterrupted Kombi time. I can finally get a good run at the welding which is starting to become a mountainous mole hill. It just has to be completed otherwise I'm in fear of being stuck in this purgatory for eternity.

So here's a few snaps of the long side that I am tackling first.

Tomorrow we'll look at the A-pillars and then the dog leg.

[Fathermarc]

131224_Resto

Today the weather was a lot kinder. Cloudy sky and just a little breeze which is a good thing when welding with an Argon shield. I started work on the A-Pillar cutting away the rot and fitting the inner section below the hinge. I welded just one face and cut it too long. this is so I can make adjustments after the dog leg has been installed. Once in I had had a dry fit of the Off Side Dog Leg. It wasn't a perfect fit and will need a few minor adjustments. But before I get carried away i need to check all my welds and grind off all the welds in the wheel arches. Once these areas have been blocked off with the long side and dog leg it's going to be difficult to get to those spaces again. Once happy with everything I made a the final cut for the Long side and dry fit this too. Checked everything fitted correctly before removing it once more to give everything a coat of Cold Gal and then a coat of cheap black Enamel for added protection. Looks ready for shutting off tomorrow with the skin panels.

Tomorrow is Christmas Day.... Merry Christmas to all at DSK

I got a text from a friend today of a Beige and white Splitty which he'd spotted in Byron Bay. I'll try and attach it. Holla if you know who's it is.

[Fathermarc]

131225_Resto

Merry Christmas everybody on DSK.

I've just popped a bottle of Hoegaarden and put my dinner on. I've been playing with my Christmas present today. Due to the rain I was working in the car port. All the neighbours are away and the ones that are around are far too happy to worry about a little noise now and then.

It was a good day. I managed to get all the pre finished off and got the long side on and the inner Dawg leg... Dawg.

Photos attached...
Enjoy while I have a drink and some dinner.

Much love to yah all!

[paul willans]

Looking good mate

[Fathermarc]

Cheers Paul.

131226_Resto

This morning was a little rain again and the skies didn't look to promising so I decided to stay under cover of the car port. which means I can't grind (thinking of the neighbors) That doesn't bother me as I needed to shut off the dog leg and with the whole day ahead of me I had the luxury of taking my time. I talk you through the snaps.