A bus named Grace

[stew 89]

Look what Oom Rui Got me





Now should i put them on my self or do I take the risk of some one else doing it?

Thanks Rui

[stew 89]

OK... so it has been donkeys years since i last posted... A lot has been going on since Fri Sep 14, 2012 8:46 am (my last post). lets see in a nut shell... New job, new house, new Baby Boy!!!! and new parts.

So for the last 2 years I have been saving up and getting parts as I have cash. I finally have all that I need to rebuild my motor, or so I thought. a quick check list: new valves, cam, followers, gasket set, all bearings, barrels and pistons. Reconditioned: heads, con rods.

After digging through a lot of scrap motors I managed to find a matching set of heads. one from my original motor and the other in a junk motor a bought. I took the plunge and re-coned the heads. My oe head had a blow through hole in one of the Exhaust ports and the (scrap) head had some issues with dropped valve seats. after many hours working in the engineers (he let me do the work and didn't charge me for the use of the equipment. we managed to weld up the hole and sort all the other bits out. so yesterday I start replacing some missing studs and seating the valves. then I see it...





A nice big crack from seat to port stud so here are my options.

#1 try weld the crack (cheapest but not to shore if I am willing to risk all my new parts and time and money on a head that is clearly very fatigued)

#2 try find a good second hand replacement locally and fork out to have that refurbished and risk spending money on a head that could tern up more gremlins.

#3 buy brand new heads from the UK or USA (Not the cheapest... not OE parts but peace of mind that the parts are new...)


so here are the questions... I'm leaning to option 3, and after chatting to my Bank manager (read wife) she is keen for that as well. does any one know of brands to stay away from or can recommend a good brand that I can look into?

Heaps of thanks in advance

Regards
Stuart

[Tony Z]

If you have your head set on new heads, then dont change your mind. You will be happy with new heads and old heads will leave doubt in your mind

As far as I know, the heads to go for are AMC heads.
Even the Marine uses them for his cores

[stew 89]

cool Tony Z Shot for the input !!

Any one else care to chime in?

[Cyndi Kritzinger]

CAN'T GIVE ANY ADVICE ON THE HEADS BUT CONGRATS ON THE NEW SON.
WE'LL GET TOGETHER SOON.
WAS HOPING YOUR BUS WOULD BE READY FOR THE "BOMBING" ON MCDONALD RD ON THE 4TH MAY. TRYING TO GET A PARK-OFF HAPPENING.

GOOD LUCK.

MARK

[stew 89]

Mark!!!! Thanks for the congrats my man

I met a mate of yours the other day. he owns a red and white panel splitty. Cant recall his name. I went through your trip report... Man you guys had a real adventure...

[jolas]

I'll leave the mechanical stuff for the experts - but - congrats on your new laaitjie

[Cyndi Kritzinger]

THAT'LL BE CLINT.
MY OTHER MATE ,'RICHIE', JUST SOLD HIS SPLITTY TO HELP FINANCE THE GROWING FAMILY. BE CAREFUL!!!!!

[stew 89]

SOOOOOO i have news... very good news my new heads arrived from the UK yesterday!!!! i do have picks but i cant get them off my phone. Now as soon as i can get a gap the rebuild can begin!!!!! HAZA!

Regards
Stew

[stew 89]

Sooo here are the picks of my cool new toys











so shinny

[Tony Z]

nice!!!
UPS... eish, that must have hurt

[stew 89]

no that was just to my brothers house in london got it all here plus customs for around R2k.

[Tony Z]

nice!!! I like your style

[stew 89]

So here is the skinny on the old girl. She lives!!!! over the December gap armed with every manual and video and technical thing on rebuilding air cooleds I set to work. all told I took me about 3 weeks of 8 hour days. "Why so long?" the more seasoned builder would ask. Well I triple and double and quadruple checked everything I did. I have never built a motor before I have stripped few but never put anything back together. so with my nerves on edge and me some what doubting my ability, I thought to my self how hard could it be, its just like very expensive Lego... and I set to work cleaning stripping pain and making sure every thing was up to scratch. I did take photos but not very detailed ones as my mined was on the task at hand. and finally on the Saturday she purred into life. what did I learn? will for one take the time to do it right. and also to trust my own ability a little more.

I will up load pics as soon as I can.

so far I have done a few little trips around town and and drove her to work yesterday and she is sounding sweet. on the M4 beach road I back from work yesterday I could not get the smile off my face.

So here is to many more miles. at lease 250000 before I need to open her up again.

I just would like to thank every one that offered advice and support and resources to make this old girl hit the black stuff again. and thanks to the aircooled community on large for just being good people. Love and peace to you all.

Bron, Ben and my self will see you at KKK

[calooker]

Congrats dude, the way I see it, the best mechanic for your car is you, the first build is the hardest.