Friday 24 June 2011
Monday 20 June 2011
Wax Oil and Wipers
Over a glass of borrowed whiskey, in front of an open fire in a borrowed house, we are formulating a detailed and complex plan of the final stages of Molly's ressurection. THE FINAL STAGES.
Everything on the van, theoretically, seemed straight forward. But as is the way with Molly, nothing transpires as so. For example, after everything we have seen and done, the windscreen wiper motor should be easy to change out. But Bedford had decided to mount the motor in a rather awkward place, with rather awkward bolts. After several hours and several knuckles split, Olly placed the final piece of Molly's electrical jigsaw. Windscreen wipers work. But they do insist on parking in the middle of the windscreen.
Whilst Olly chapped his knuckles beneath the bonnet, I finally got to paint something - sort of. I have been counting down the days to MOT, and with it not being booked and 'easy jobs' taking two days, I am quite consistently disappointed. I can't wait to paint a fresh coat of white inside and out. But for now I had to make do with black. Wax Oil black, smeared onto the chassis with a paintbrush. I was pretty proud of myself for putting in a proper bit of hard work, but I had apparently wasted much of the wax on myself. I have just found out it's a bugger to get off. I may have black elbows all summer.
Everything on the van, theoretically, seemed straight forward. But as is the way with Molly, nothing transpires as so. For example, after everything we have seen and done, the windscreen wiper motor should be easy to change out. But Bedford had decided to mount the motor in a rather awkward place, with rather awkward bolts. After several hours and several knuckles split, Olly placed the final piece of Molly's electrical jigsaw. Windscreen wipers work. But they do insist on parking in the middle of the windscreen.
Emerging ill tempered after three hours spent with this spanner
Whilst Olly chapped his knuckles beneath the bonnet, I finally got to paint something - sort of. I have been counting down the days to MOT, and with it not being booked and 'easy jobs' taking two days, I am quite consistently disappointed. I can't wait to paint a fresh coat of white inside and out. But for now I had to make do with black. Wax Oil black, smeared onto the chassis with a paintbrush. I was pretty proud of myself for putting in a proper bit of hard work, but I had apparently wasted much of the wax on myself. I have just found out it's a bugger to get off. I may have black elbows all summer.
Freshly wax oiled and rust free (?!)
Friday 10 June 2011
We have a drivers seat!
The front bench is finally upholstered - with a new 2" foam pad on top of the (painful) spring seat and extra supporting brackets on the back.
And Alice thought it was great!
Tuesday 7 June 2011
... and then there was light! (Amongst other things)
One of the major issues that we had not tackled thus far was the lighting system. The previous MOT certificates that came with the van had suggest an on going lighting issue so we were well prepared to have to completely rewire. A job that neither of us have the patience or will to tackle.
The indicators worked but nothing else did. The light switch was suspected to be at fault so was removed while I sourced another; Not so simple. I emailed countless people and scoured the internet trying to find a switch to no avail. Until at the end of the third week of searching I struck gold. Adrian Bailey had a NOS item; Brilliant. "That'll be £130" Said he.
"No chance." Said I.
So that was that. I had to swap out the original for a universal pull/ push switch that I picked up for £15. Adrian's price was fair considering the rarity of the item but it was also way and above what I would consider paying.
Anyway, I rang my mate Mike who works on stairlift installation. He's a dab hand with all things electrical and has one of those minds that can fathom the theoretical rather than the tactile. He gave me a list of bits and bobs to fetch including some relays, fuse block, fuses, wire, switches as well as the stuff I already had like headlamp units, bulbs etc. And so, on an overcast Sunday he arrived and got to work.
It was only about two hours later when he poked his head out the door and asked me to watched as he tried the lights. Sides, dip and mains all good and stop and tail lights good at the rear. Add those to front and rear indicators and we have a full house. Job done. We also have a five fuse system now so that should stop any nasty loom melting accidents.
While Mike had been busying himself with the electrics I fitted the new (reconditioned) horn I had sourced. It's bloody loud considering.
Another friend of ours, Damo, made us up a new tail pipe in his lunch break. I decided to have it exit on the nearside. I have heard of a few people doing this and it doesn't seem to be a problem for the MOT. I sent him the measurements and he sent me the tail pipe the following day. Here it is with part of the old one and below is a photo of what it looks like on the van.
The indicators worked but nothing else did. The light switch was suspected to be at fault so was removed while I sourced another; Not so simple. I emailed countless people and scoured the internet trying to find a switch to no avail. Until at the end of the third week of searching I struck gold. Adrian Bailey had a NOS item; Brilliant. "That'll be £130" Said he.
"No chance." Said I.
So that was that. I had to swap out the original for a universal pull/ push switch that I picked up for £15. Adrian's price was fair considering the rarity of the item but it was also way and above what I would consider paying.
Anyway, I rang my mate Mike who works on stairlift installation. He's a dab hand with all things electrical and has one of those minds that can fathom the theoretical rather than the tactile. He gave me a list of bits and bobs to fetch including some relays, fuse block, fuses, wire, switches as well as the stuff I already had like headlamp units, bulbs etc. And so, on an overcast Sunday he arrived and got to work.
It was only about two hours later when he poked his head out the door and asked me to watched as he tried the lights. Sides, dip and mains all good and stop and tail lights good at the rear. Add those to front and rear indicators and we have a full house. Job done. We also have a five fuse system now so that should stop any nasty loom melting accidents.
While Mike had been busying himself with the electrics I fitted the new (reconditioned) horn I had sourced. It's bloody loud considering.
Another friend of ours, Damo, made us up a new tail pipe in his lunch break. I decided to have it exit on the nearside. I have heard of a few people doing this and it doesn't seem to be a problem for the MOT. I sent him the measurements and he sent me the tail pipe the following day. Here it is with part of the old one and below is a photo of what it looks like on the van.
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