Retrovans 75 Fleetline panelvan - Project

[jolas]

You are teasing the guys lekker

Time to Assemble and driving it

ja, come come now man, send better pics old chap

[retrovan]

So here you go, the bus has returned from Vdubtech, Pierre got his metal guys to do their magic, and replaced rust with metal sheeting.

Thanks pierre, job well done, and now here she is, ..



On her way home...



And now back home....









Have al lot of work to do on the split beetle, so this project may be delayed, but knowing me, will be doing both together....

Till then

Herman

[Bugger]

Pick up day

Thanks for Using Us Herman
As you Said from the Beginning you don't want a show bus but Something You want to use and done at a Decent Price
Think we have done what you wanted From the Really Badly rust bucket it was


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[retrovan]

........Thanks for Using Us Herman
As you Said from the Beginning you don't want a show bus ......

Been my philosophy from the start, as who am I going to Bull Sh!t its a new bus, its 42 years old, and proud of it, yes its fixed where rusted, yes its repainted, yes it has replacement parts, yes its a reliable bus to have fun in, NO it will never be new ever again.

So its an honest bus, that will have her original character, same as the Fugly had. with her own personality, I can not wait to get her on the road.

So yes, you guys got it on the button, she is as wanted, at the correct price, timing was a bit out, but what the hell, she is cute....

Now its up to me to do the work to get her to my standards, Yes I know this will take time, but as always, I will get her running and driving, and then repair and work on her as a running project.

Do not want to get bogged down, and never finish her, that would be a crime as she has been on the back burner for many, many years.......

Shame.....

Thanks for looking

Herman

[retrovan]

...ja, come come now man, send better pics old chap

Here you go Paul, not as fast as you but getting there

........Thanks for Using Us Herman .......

Once again thank you Pierre, as with the Beetle, you guys did a magic job on the metal work,

The amount of rust on both cars would have filled a swimming pool.

And you guys got it back to good steel.

nice work and I can recommend you to any body.

So now that the hard work is over, I can get them up and running myself.

Thank you

Herman

[jolas]

Thanks man, looking good

[Eagle]

Just looking in to see that nobody rest for to long!!! It looks awesome Herman!! Still awaiting my spares!

[retrovan]

OK, so as said, Not allowed to rest,

so the "Old Toppie" has pulled off another 1st.......

Fitted the Late Bay Beam with disk brakes and brake booster to the Fleetline.

For the concerned few, NO.. I did not cut the body, the old beam can go right back.

In fact using the 4 Fleetline mounting bolts and fixing holes to secure the Late Bay Beam in place, fits like a glove.

So when the Ball Joint Boots get here, I can fit the disks, and wheels and steering arms.

So till then,

Thanks for looking

herman

[retrovan]

So after Rebuilding the Bay beam before fitting it into the Fleetline,

I drilled & tapped 6mm holes into the ball joints,, and fitted grease nipples.

All the ball joints were fine, but the Boots had gone, so after only finding two in my local suppliers store, and two from Tony Z, thanks kind Sir.

we ready for the hub assemblies to go in.

Got new pistons for the brake calipers, and new rubber kit for the master cylinder.

Waiting to find the rattle clips and pins, as Mine are shot.

Have replaced the back wheel bearings, serviced the reduction boxes, and fitted new brakes shoes, new slave cylinders and drums.

So the back end is done, and just need to refill the oil in the gearbox and RB's.

Have already fitted my back wheels. they just make it under the skirt.

My steering box's feels OK, but need to test it with all the rods and shafts fitted to be sure.

Herman

[Bugger]

Do not over fill Rgbs
250 mm is enough


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[retrovan]

Do not over fill Rgbs
250 mm is enough

Will do thanks Pierre

Herman

[retrovan]

So as most would know me by now, when someone said that fitting a Bay Beam into a split of Fleetline is near impossible as there are so many issues.

Well I went ahead anyway.

My only criteria is that what ever I do to "Modernise" the splitty, I will not hack it, so all have to bolt on.

All fitted well, and when done, thought that maybe, I should have documented it all with photo's, so others can see.

Anyway, did not think of it so all we have now, is proof of the beam in the Fleetline.

Disk brakes not fitted yet, to make photo more clear.

By the way, the brown you see is not rust but redoxide over the rust converter, that will be painted black when all under side items are fitted.













As can be seen, the body was not touched, the beam is fully home with 4 bolts in the original Body bolting holes.

You can see the original bay Beam bottom holes on the bottom edge, as they are un-used.

So now I need to fit the steering rods, disks and calipers.

Then we will get into moving the brake MC to the booster that will be fitted to the beam, as you will see its location.

Till then

Thanks for looking

Herman

[sean]

Hi Herman. You do realize your ride height is going to be incorrect now with that bay window beam? There is a substantial difference in ride height between the two bay and split beams.....

[retrovan]

Hi Herman. You do realize your ride height is going to be incorrect now with that bay window beam? There is a substantial difference in ride height between the two bay and split beams.....

Yes I do....

Well aware

Could be OK for the "final solution", but have to fit it 1st to see where it will sit, before doing a lowering trick.

Should my calculator be correct, and the mental formuli not be contaminated, it should pretty much be in the right place.

But thanks for your input.

Herman

[retrovan]

Have fitted the disks and the calipers, now just waiting for my 5x112 by 5x205 wheel adapters to be made.

Will then fit the wheel planed for the bus and see if she is sitting right.

The next thing to do is the wiring harness, will be making it myself as the old one is no more.

Not much of a issue as it has minimal wires.

Herman