Our most popular event with around 100 club vehicles, our own club field, the marquee, the BBQ, Lorna James singing, kids looking after each other and the occasional glass of wine.
To get on the club field, you need to be an active member and book through http://www.busfest.org selecting the correct club and using the discount code.
Another club event happening shortly, we have about 20 vehicles going to Embsay for the Bolton Abbey and Embsay Steam Railway display this coming bank holiday weekend.
Steam trains running through the day, a chance to show off your pride and joy and tell everyone about it. Meet club members and then relax with them after 5pm. There’s a pub within a few hundred yards as well! What’s not to like?
Another cracking week in Cheddar at Petruth Paddocks. Cheddar Gorge, Cheddar Caves, communal BBQ and of course much conversing in a field!
A washer in a box
By Peter Riton-Hayward
At the Golden Valley Vintage and Steam event in Herefordshire in June, club member Peter showed us his cool gadget. This is the Karcher OC3 Outdoor portable cleaner, a 5 bar pressurised cleaner. We all love spending time in the countryside with our vehicles but trailing mud into them is always a pain. The Karcher is a simple and lightweight solution for cleaning whilst away and sports a 4 litre water tank and a 5 bar pressure that is more than enough to rinse off your bike, dog, wellies, boots or even yourself. When you have finished, the spray gun and hose store away as well, keeping everything neat and tidy. The battery charges using a standard USB connector, takes 3 hours for a full charge that runs for 15 minutes. The hose is a little over 9 feet long and the whole unit costs in at around £150 brand new with used items a lot less on popular auction platforms.
Spend since last report: £5,402. Total hours labour since last report: 44.5
The combination of not knowing how to do the next piece and the cold kept me out of the garage on Eric from early December to the first week of May. Petruth Paddocks and a chat with “Ask Malcolm” (the magazine article is “Ask the Mechanic” but I spend a lot of time with the Chairman asking him how stuff works) galvanized me into action.
Gearbox
First, the easy job. Having mostly cleaned the outside of the gearbox last year, I did a final clean, then anti rust paint mainly as a habit. On top of that was primer and my preferred top coat of John Deere black paint. I also took the opportunity to take out the ends of the driveshaft section and clean behind, changed the gearbox oil and degrease the inside of the bell housing. As a word of warning – do not empty the oil from the gearbox until you can verify that the filler plug can be removed! With the gearbox on the bench, I also removed the nose under guidance from the restoration manual and changed the gasket there that had perished and cleaned the “hockey stick” that operates the gears.
As part of the pedal work, I also cleaned the gear lever that was in the box with the pedals before adding a new gear lever knob. Eric came with an oddball gear lever extension that was about 18 inches longer than standard and a huge gear lever that looked like a golf club. That has been replaced with the gear knob from my old MGB GT that I sold 25 years ago and the knob has been in my toolbox ever since. The gear pattern is the same!
Next up were the pedals. With the underside all painted, I was able to install the steering box, drag link (steering box to beam pole), handbrake arm, brake pedal and clutch pedal. All were carefully cleaned back to bare metal then anti-rust paint, primed and top coated in black again.
The steering box was leaking on reinstallation but this was caused by the bung on the filler hole having a perished O-ring.
Then I turned my attention to the brakes. The master cylinder pictured was past its best and was replaced. The previous brake set up was not servo assisted, so I bit the bullet and purchased the master cylinder for servo brakes, along with the servo itself, vacuum pipe and other associated bits.
Again, I called on Malcolm’s knowledge and experience to help me to take the first step. Eric’s beam is an original German beam and the servo is a new Brazilian one meaning that the holes did not line up. An annoyance due to the extra time taken to make new holes in the servo mounting bracket on the beam, and the additional extra time to prime and paint the bracket that I painted last year!
The air pipe was then run from the servo down towards the engine bay ready to attach to the inlet manifold to generate the vacuum.
The rear drum brakes were replaced with the exception of the outer drum itself which was stripped and painted in high temperature Kawasaki green paint last year. The anti-squeal springs were a pain as you need to compress the spring a huge amount to get the top piece to connect to the pin. A neighbour gave me the trick of cable tying the spring closed in a vice with a cable tie at each side tied tightly. Then it does not ping across the workshop forty-five times as you try to connect it all.
That was it, brakes complete. Until again I played my “Ask Malcolm” card – the Bay window has a clever little device behind the front wheels as a brake balancer. In the event of kicking the brake pedal really hard, the balancer has a ball bearing inside (pictured) that runs up the hill and blocks off the brake fluid to the rear brakes, working almost like an ABS to stop the rear from locking up. I had not dismantled it but Malcolm as ever was right. Splitting the balancer, I found that the insides were gunged up and the ball was not moving. A full clean out and reassemble and that is now back in. I cannot add brake fluid to the system yet as Eric is still on his side, so I have no way of knowing if the system leaks yet!
The big news however is that on the run home from the Golden Valley Vintage event in Herefordshire, we stopped in at Stateside Tuning at Moreton in Marsh and picked up Eric’s engine from James. In summary, James has built me a 1776cc performance engine with a type 3 case and dynamically balanced crank, extra deep sump and external oil filter. He also supplied an air housing / doghouse suitable for a VW “The Thing” (Jeep like open vehicle) / Type 181 and a Type 4 oil cooler, as you get 20% more cooling. With the increase from 2.5 litres of oil to 4.5 litres and the increase in air cooling ability plus a properly built engine, I will hopefully be running nice and cool. It looks cracking. Next jobs are to change the seal on the gearbox input shaft and get the gearbox mounted. Then get Eric on his wheels and fit the new nose panel. That should make him look a lot happier. In the meantime, having spent June either working on Eric or away in Poppy, I plan to spend July and August either working on Eric or away in Poppy. Across June, July and August we are due to be away in Poppy for 38 nights! Hopefully in amongst all of that fun I can make some good progress on Eric before we all head to Busfest. See you in a field somewhere.
This issue, we have Wilma, Matt Sharrock’s multi year restoration that he purchased in Vancouver.
In his own words:
I bought the van whilst serving in the RAF in Vancouver, Canada. I ran it all over the Rocky mountains for two years before shipping her home at the end of my tour. She limped through her first UK MOT but needed lots of structural work before she could next pass the test.
The bottom foot all round was replaced, along with all of the running gear, fuel system, suspension, brakes and so on. This was a glass out restoration with new rubber all round as well. It took me 4 years of hard work but I received great help, advice and support from Just Kampers who are a few miles from me, especially Shaun and I have a full works and parts list of the restoration. In June 2022, we went to Classics on the Crick at Naphill near High Wycombe and won gold – most fun! Love the Wilma love that we are getting!
Classic risotto either vegetarian or not, all in one pan
Ingredients – serves 4
500 grams butternut squash or 500 grams of chicken breast – cubed
1 large white onion chopped
1 red pepper sliced
1 cup of sliced mushrooms
1 stock cube vegetarian or chicken
500 grams risotto rice
150ml white or red wine
1 tsp Herbes de Provence or other mixed herbs
Some olive oil
Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and fry the onions, mushrooms and pepper on a medium heat until soft then add the squash or chicken and fry for about 5 to 8 minutes until nicely coloured or softened. Add the herbs. Add the wine and simmer for a further few minutes. Now add the risotto rice, stock cube and water. Leave it simmering with the lid on, until all of the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is nicely tender.
Now that you have a delicious dinner, you can enjoy it with another glass of that wine!
The next edition of the club magazine has been finished by our Editors and looks fantastic. It should be arriving through your door soon! If you are enjoying the club magazine and have a story about a trip, an upgrade, a restoration or just a tip, send a contribution to our Editor at editor@vwt2oc.co.uk.
A variation to the Mechanic this time as so many people at club events ask Malcolm and/or Nick about solar. If you want to be off-grid / not using expensive hook up on a site or when that is simply not an option, you can keep your leisure battery topped up with a solar panel.
To help members, Nick got in touch with Just Kampers (owned by one of the club founders Mark Reynolds) to ask about their Solar Charging Screen, to see what it does and how it works. Josh from the JK Team got back to us straight away and told us the following.
He says:
“I’m a big fan of the JK Solar Charging Screen, after getting involved with bringing it into the range and having put it through its paces at VW shows and photoshoots for Just Kampers. For anyone who hasn’t seen one, the charging screen is a solar panel array which folds out from tote bag size to give you twelve solar panels for capturing that elusive sunlight to turn it into electricity. There’s a power outlet hidden away on the back of the screen, which has three USB outlets for charging up phones, as well as a DC outlet you can use to charge up your main vehicle battery or leisure battery.
The kit also comes with six really strong suction clamps, which you can use to mount it to the inside or outside of your vehicle’s windscreen. We designed it to fit the inside of a VW T6’s windscreen, but it’ll go onto any vehicle, and it’s just as useful when you just spread it out over the ground or hook it onto your windbreak.
We took one on a JK photoshoot last summer to keep our phones topped up, and it worked really efficiently. It’s definitely something I’ll take next time I’m camping, to keep our tablet charged up (and therefore my kids quiet while we drive!), and to ward off a flat battery. I usually work on the theory that you’ve got spares and tools and stuff for a breakdown, you’re somehow less likely to actually have one!
If you’ve got some epic adventures or road trips planned for your camper, a JK Solar Charging Screen is definitely worth taking a look at, especially if you’ve got a fridge, interior lights, laptop, camera, etc. on board.
If you do take one on a cool adventure, we’d love to see some photos!
You can read up on the technical specs and other information (like what a monocrystalline solar panel is) at justkampers.com/jk-solar-screen/ or scanning the QR code here.”
Last time, Thomas covered the replacement of the brakes and the chance to use Libertine at the 2012 Olympic Games. He continues:
Before my departure from my family at home, I had a little more work to do on the bus to make it Olympics ready. My previous conversion of two sets of Volvo rear and front seats were changed. Volvo seats remained in the front, but the rear had to accommodate a bed again (I had regretted removing it a few years before) and a kitchen box made in haste. This would be a long box behind the bulkheads of the passenger and drivers seats. Handles, so that it could be removed if necessary, sliding doors, food compartment and cooker on top. This was successful for the time of the Games, but I came to miss the ability to walk from the back into the front without the need to get out of the van. Still, it would do for now.
Pre-Games attendance started with me camping in my Bus in the Portland Olympic village itself, and the restricted car parks there. Accommodation was offered far from site, but I had all I needed in my bus. The site had shower and clothes washing facilities to help my stay be more comfortable. That and a little SPAR shop selling food and wine. My shifts alternated between day and night with my Army colleagues. Working hours were long and I was on-call 24/7. My bus became my sanctuary, a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the long days and nights. Kick off my boots, put the kettle on and some music. Peace and quiet….until my radio squawks my call sign “attendance urgently required…”
Before the Games began, I had an idea to camp in my bus at the heart of the Olympics on Portland. Why not? I’ll never get the chance to do this again. This I did, near the collections of flag poles with flags of all Nations. The local Naval Commander who was in charge was not happy, but reassured that it was for one night only and then I would be gone before the public ever came near.
As I settled down for the night in my bus by the Flag poles. I became aware of Police vans parking really close to me. Very close. Peeking through the curtains they were the Police dog vans. Yes, complete with dogs within them. The vans parked front, back and sides to me. What’s more, the dogs snarled every time I looked at them. Well, they aren’t pets are they. Although such animals don’t normally snarl except when at ‘work’, no one told them they were off duty. They also howled. I’m sure they don’t normally, but they were not happy with me at all. The next morning, I was asked by the Commander and a Senior Police Officer (both grinning from ear to ear) if I had a restful night. I cannot print my reply. Even so, I thought it was very funny and I took it all in good humour.
The weeks went by, and I moved around the old Naval base at Portland. Alternating my location every few days to change the view from my van, and to meet other working groups there. The van became a familiar sight to other ‘work’ groups there. From Police divers, marines, bomb disposal and G4 Security. We got to know each other well. I gave some Marine divers coffee and bacon sandwiches after an early long dive in cold waters. They were very grateful, but expressed surprise that an Officer no less, had greeted them with such a welcome sight as they came ashore. It’s simply a case of looking after the Troops. I don’t care who they belong to. In turn, they invited me to their accommodation for a social gathering with food. Amazing really, as Marines by nature tend to keep to themselves and I was an outsider. The van helped. It was a talking point. They seemed impressed that an Officer preferred to rough it in a van and not hide away in a fancy hotel. For some reason they all thought Officers did and were surprised when I revealed that this was far from the truth. Still, all was good humoured. My van was also used for early morning breakfast with the Police divers in their fully equipped van with changing area and kitchen. Likewise, I returned the favour. Cooking a full breakfast on my vans little two ring burner and grill.
The time had come for me to live aboard a ship for a while. This was moored at the old Naval dock side. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Mounts Bay. Parking my bus as near as allowed (I had my Golden ticket but I was still subject to Harbour control and common sense) and boarded the Ship with a few of my colleagues to find our cabins. The Officers Galley (Kitchen and dining area to you land lubbers) had copies of VW magazines about. Turned out that the crew were VW enthusiasts. Ship life can be noisy. I was on night duties ashore, but your sleep is disturbed by ships constant noise, fire drills and a contingent of Marines using the gym which was next to my Cabin.
I was very glad when the time came for me to leave the RFA Mounts Bay for the quiet sanctuary of my bus. Not to say that I did not enjoy the time there. The Ships Company were friendly and helpful and it was a wonderful experience which I shall never forget.
A Warship was coming into berth, and my colleagues and I were asked if we would like to stay on board. Another great opportunity, but I thought that particular ship was ‘too flighty’ in my opinion and may take off for other duties at a moment’s notice. My colleagues took the offer. I stayed in my van. One day they returned to the dockside to get some sleep after a long shift. It had sailed on other duties without them. “want a coffee in my van while you all sort some other accommodation?” As I went on duty I left my colleagues my spare keys. The van was now somewhere to rest and sort themselves out.
There was one incident I can recall. I was on Duty in my van but up into Weymouth itself. To get from Portland to Weymouth Town you cross a narrow causeway. The road goes down the middle of it. There were heavy winds blowing. As I was halfway returning to Portland there was a loud BANG!! The pop-top roof had half deployed ! The wind was so strong that the two internal clips had snapped, raising the roof but on one side only. This acted as a sail, catching the wind and making control of the van almost impossible. Making an emergency landing I parked and struggled to get it down. Supports slightly bent but in one piece. Roped down, I made my way to the Control room where I was to be on duty. During The Games, Portland to Weymouth was monitored by hundreds of CCTV cameras. I asked the monitoring crew if they had seen my near disaster on screen. Better still, had they recorded it. But no, they had been distracted by something else. I was disappointed that my brave actions and control of my van had only been seen by me and a few terrified road users.
After a few months my time at The Olympic and Paralympic Games came to an end. A Mobilisation can either be a miserable experience or an interesting one. I decided to make it the latter. Regrettably, I am unable to tell other stories of my time there in my bus. The Official Secrets Act is for Life, not duration of Service!
By now, Libertine’s engine seemed to be a little sluggish. Was the exhaust slightly smoking? Was it making noises I have not heard before? On return home, it was time for a holiday with my family (It may have been the Olympics but it was not a holiday for either myself or my family I can assure you). A treat awaited the van. Parts were being gathered for an engine strip down and rebuild. Libertine deserved it after a few months of hard work.
(Editor: Thanks to Thomas for some greats stories of van life. Time to share reminiscences and restorations from other members, next issue is the turn of Matt Sharrock and Wilma)