Dragging on.....

Having taken him off the road again to solve the oil burning/coolant loss issues I have, with the help of a mechanic, put this

 

shiny reconditioned engine

 

 

into this

 

 

 

Big gaping hole!

 

 

What a nightmare that was!  Anyway....all was going well, engine turning over nicely until bottom crankshaft pulley was added then it didn't move at all (insert lots of interesting expletives!).

 

So having now tried the engine buliders suggestion of putting a shim on, trying 2 different sprockets and discovering there is only one pulley the mechanic is thinking the van may have to go, with the engine, to the engine builders for them to see if they can sort the problem!!  I am clearly meant to have so many issues that I will either love him or hate him by the end of this process!

 

One more option to try....is it the wrong oil pump??  I shall update with the news soon, fingers crossed!!

 

 

A little bit of girlish stuff (makes a nice change!)

So I need to do some catching up, firstly all the good stuff today....

I have purchased some eatery equipment

Dinky cute little salt & pepper courtesy of John Lewis....

 Bowls & plates also from aforementioned store, it seems a colour theme is forming!

Then a 'quick' visit to Ikea got these cups (for obvious wine & beer drinking!) & teeny tiny chopping board.......I say 'quick' visit as I think that's an almost impossible thing to achieve, as Ikea has so many distractions.......is it me or is it also impossible to visit and not spend any money???

I then had a disastrous attempt at blanket dyeing which clearly didn't turn out anything like the colour on the boxes!  Presumably they are a polycotton mix........

So.....that's all the exciting girly stuff for now, back to the boring stuff next time!

More problems afoot!

So.....here I go again (to steal a few words from whitesnake feels like I'm on my own!)......

So having fixed the many leaks, including having the fuel pump semi overhauled, the van with no name is now burning oil! Feels like I've been a little ripped off right now :(

However, I have made the decision he is mine now, therefore I shall be spending the necessary pennies to get him up together.  I believe someone needs to take him in hand & get him sorted once & for all!  I'm also under no illusion about how much he will need spending on him.

Decisions, decisions though.....do I go with a recon engine or overhaul the one he has (which by the way isn't the original anyway)...it's a dilemma.  My friendly mechanic will do whatever I want, but I'm thinking maybe go for an engine & just start from scratch?

On a lighter note I have purchased some items for him & shall post pics soon :)

Off the road again!!

Soooo.....after a very brief 12 days on the road we are car park bound! Bit of a nightmare....but a story behind it as usual. Whilst he was off the road (the first time!) We took the spare wheel off to check it was ok & fitted, fine so far. Then found it very difficult to get it back on. Whilst at work one day I asked the very lovely mechanics if they could help me get it back to its rightful place, which they kindly did. We happened to notice a water leak (yeah right eh? Not another!). Easily fixed by tightening up the screw on the jubilee clip. Upon starting him up another leak became apparent (maybe sieve or leaky would be an appropriate name?). On investigating it was found to be coming from the housing going into the head, we looked at each other & both used a few choice words! Anyway temporary repair to get him home & another physical to the poor mechanic helping me get him sorted! Watch this space.......

In other news...look what arrived! Something nice to do for a change, curtain track yay!

Back on The Road!

So after not realising that I hadn't actually posted my last one I look like I've been very busy today!

My baby is back on the road! Woohoo! Having said that, before we all get too excited, he now has a leak from the fuel pump.  So after having a little jaunt down to Poole this morning to see the sunroof man (yes, that too is leaking!), I popped to see a fuel pump company who have tentatively suggested it might hopefully be a straight forward job which can be done in situ....Obviously this depends what he finds when he starts taking the pump apart! 

I am thinking positively though especially after having to do a lot more to the engine than originally planned plus the drive shaft centre bearing, which wasn't cheap, I am feeling a corner has hopefully been turned and things will be simple and straight forward.

I have someone checking the electrics and putting in a leisure battery over the next couple of weeks.  I have also ordered the curtain track, hools, tape etc. and have decided to use material which came from my Grandad's flat when we cleared it several years ago. 

 

So the material is a shiny nylon type fabric, bit odd but it looks great in the van.  It's almost like it was meant to be...I've kept this fabric as I knew I would find a use for it one day, Grandad would be proud and I think it's nice that there is a little memory of him going into the van.  Can't wait to do something nice for him instead of the constant stuff which needs doing....still haven't got a name, definately male...maybe he should be called Wally after Grandad?  Although I'm still considering jeffie, due to his reg no!

The beginning!

So Here it is...my second attempt at blogging!  This time I've decided to write about my adventures with my campervan.  Having not owned one before I've discovered and learnt a huge amount already in my first couple of months!

So before Christmas he needed to have 2 new tyres and a new battery....my first interesting adventure when he decided not to start one morning in the freezing cold when I was supposed to be at work at 6am!  Oops!  Since then I have discovered he has been very neglected by his previous owners.

He is currently residing on my parent's driveway awaiting spare parts and some time to sort out the following....

Oil filter housing seals

Various other oil leaks

New radiator (ordered from fleabay for half the price!)

All belts

Water pump

And I'm sure that won't be the end of it!

 

 

Looking very sad in the snow!

 

I have decided to take each issue one step at a time and try not to stress too much....It doesn't really get you anywhere does it??