Flash
Lauren and I bought a 1974 VW campervan in April 2005. The bus, originally assembled in South African and shipped to the UK in 1986 and nicknamed 'Flash', is fitted with an 1800cc engine. Flash retains its original Westphalia Contiental interior, though the rear bench has been recovered with black pleather. At some time after it was brought to the UK it was also fitted with a dormobile hinged roof. The bus has also been changed in colour: originally blue, then green and red when we bought it.
We used Flash mostly for surfing trips
in the summer of 2005, with multiple visits to North Devon coast and Cornwall. We also took it on a trip to the Breacon Beacons in Wales. It was soon clear that the engine was in dire need of an overhaul (low compressions, blocked idle jets, burning oil) and that the body work needed tidying up.
Over the winter of 2005/06 with a lot patience from Lauren, Flash was extensively restored by Bob and myself: the red paint was stripped off and essential welding done around the bus, in particular on the nearside rear wheel arch, around the sliding door and by the nearside tailight. Flash was resprayed using nitrocellulose-based paint in Mars Red and Alpine White. New rubbers were fitted to all the windows. The top end of the engine was also rebuilt, with new pots and pistons, gaskets, shelves, clutch and clutch plate and so on. Petronix electronic ignition was fitted, new HT leads, fuel filter, Empi air filters. The engine was also carefully cleaned and repainted as was all the tinware. The lot was checked over by Henley Beetles and passed its MOT in early June.
All this is described, with photos, in a posting on the JK Forum.
The interior will be restored over the coming winter, in particular: cleaning and respray of the front cab, fitting modern stereo and speakers, tidying electric wiring, installing leisure battery and 240V mains hook up, protecting wheel arches, new coat of paint on the wheels, recovering door panels with red vinyle (basket weave), fitting eyelids and 70s spot lights!
We used Flash mostly for surfing trips
in the summer of 2005, with multiple visits to North Devon coast and Cornwall. We also took it on a trip to the Breacon Beacons in Wales. It was soon clear that the engine was in dire need of an overhaul (low compressions, blocked idle jets, burning oil) and that the body work needed tidying up.Over the winter of 2005/06 with a lot patience from Lauren, Flash was extensively restored by Bob and myself: the red paint was stripped off and essential welding done around the bus, in particular on the nearside rear wheel arch, around the sliding door and by the nearside tailight. Flash was resprayed using nitrocellulose-based paint in Mars Red and Alpine White. New rubbers were fitted to all the windows. The top end of the engine was also rebuilt, with new pots and pistons, gaskets, shelves, clutch and clutch plate and so on. Petronix electronic ignition was fitted, new HT leads, fuel filter, Empi air filters. The engine was also carefully cleaned and repainted as was all the tinware. The lot was checked over by Henley Beetles and passed its MOT in early June.
All this is described, with photos, in a posting on the JK Forum.
The interior will be restored over the coming winter, in particular: cleaning and respray of the front cab, fitting modern stereo and speakers, tidying electric wiring, installing leisure battery and 240V mains hook up, protecting wheel arches, new coat of paint on the wheels, recovering door panels with red vinyle (basket weave), fitting eyelids and 70s spot lights!
posted by Papa Jauss at
13:30
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