'busavan by rustandoil

5 minute(s) of a 58 minute read

I mounted the radiator to see what needed to be done to connect the coolant pipes, i couldn't figure how the stuff i got from Z-Cars was supposed to work so my fix was a trip to Silicon hoses (luckily only half an hour away) to purchase four 45 degree bends and some alloy joiners.

After a lot of careful measuring and cutting i am very pleased with the result wont be quite so tidy when its got hose clips on





I mounted the servo so i could get the brake pipes sorted out, also the clutch reservoir on a alloy bracket, i have chosen to use copper nickel from front to rear, probably not my best decision as i don't really find it too easy to work with and has caused a few headaches



Because of the decision to use copper nickel pipes i found it was going to be very difficult to get them in the tunnel particularly where they have to exit around the frame at the rear, so i have decided to run them along the underside of the floor, not what i really wanted but if secured with some nice clamps i am sure they will be fine.
I have designed the pipe clamps and had my toolmaker (thanks Bri) make up one to see how its going to work, seems ok just need a gap in the paid w ork so we can make stuff for the van
All well and good but i am worried that i may have a clash of mounting points with my seat mounting so i have now ordered seats which will be fixed in place the i can see where i can fix the pipes.

The rigid pipes terminate at the rear on this alloy bracket with braided hose to each rear brake and the clutch, the fuel pipes which will also be copper nickel front to rear will also terminate to flexible at this bracket, i will post more pictures as this idea develops.





If you have read the beginning of the thread you might remember that i bought the van as a unfinished project it came with both fibreglass and the original steel doors, the fibreglass doors do seem to fit quite well, but i don't have a clue about how to open up the frame to accept the window seal / runner nor any idea how to bond in something to support the bottom of the windows, so i decided to have a look at the steel doors, the drivers door seems to be in reasonable condition and a check with the spring balance suggests that there would not be a massive weight saving using the fibreglass doors especially after the removal of the steel door pocket, anyway the drivers door fits very will the passenger not so good but has a rotted out section and flexes about quite badly, i have read good things about the mini door company i will have a chat to them about repair and re-skin in alloy









That's it for now, and indeed brings things pretty much up to date