IAC in Sequim, WA
Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:15 pm
To help you all, Sequim is pronounced Skwim (like swim, with a not-so-silent K)
A little background first. I bought Lucy the Bus back in 2006, drove it a few times, had a break down (ran out of gas) and parked it. The only time it's moved since then was around the yard to be able to mow the grass.
For a few days leading up to the visit, I had one eye on weather forecasts. I don't always trust them, but I only had a 10' x 10' canopy to keep the rain off – so I looked for a little hope. As the day got closer, the weather looked worse and worse. It rained the day before, and most of the night. Woke up to dark grey clouds, hanging low, ready to drop more precipitation. For me, I don't like to work in the rain, but the cool temperatures are what I prefer. I knew from my IAC forum study that Colin did not share my favorite weather.
I kept an eye on the lane leading to the house for the BobD, and somehow he snuck under my watchful gaze. Needed to time it right so I could get the boiling water in my French Press coffee maker in time to get the going right. We made our greetings and I got a jolt of excitement of the idea that my bus was going to be in better shape than it was the day before. To start the day we talked about the work ahead, and what to expect. He asked about my experience (very very little), tools in my possession (not much) and what I hoped to get out of my bus (daily driver). OK, good start.
Then he went and filled my brain up with facts and figures and quizzed me along the way. Math was my least favorite subject in school, and has always been a huge problem for me, so he must have thought I had some sort of strange facial tick when I was turning those vastly underpowered gears in my brain, trying to find the answers. I'd have better luck trying to eat runny Jell-o with chop sticks wearing hockey gloves while riding the tea cups at Disneyland than trying to do math in my head. But he pressed on, diagraming the plan on the legal pad. (You can be sure those pages don't leave my possession.)
After a round of theory, we headed outside to get to work.
Valve adjustment was first on the to do. Discovered that I have hydraulic lifters, but with some solid hardware. That had me scratching my head, but after a few other discoveries, it started to make sense. Got through the valves, and then went on to do a little timing scale repair, set the timing and then adjust the carbs. Funny thing, both carbs are right handed ones. Didn't notice it before, but there's a sticker on the left carb that says 'Right', and sure enough, the adjustment screws are on the wall side. Wasn't too hard to adjust them, just interesting. Somewhere in there we (or I under Colin's direction) set the points and checked the dwell. My memory being what it is, I can't remember the order we did things.
We went back inside to go over more numbers and facts, concerning how to re-route the fuel pump wiring to the voltage regulator, and away from the coil. A project I will get to on my own down the road (proverbially, of course). Then we turned our attention to brakes, and he gave me the run down on what we'll be doing. We went over the plan and headed out into the improved weather. It never really cleared up while he was here, but the grey got lighter and a little warmer.
Took the wheels off to inspect the brakes. There's some surface rust under there, but it's not bad. The pads on the front were changed not long before I bought the bus, and the hardware seems to be in really good shape, so no changes in the front. We got to the back and spent some time trying to get the hubs off. That took quite a little while. During that time Colin was trying to get the parking brake to work. During the back and forth of tugging on the cable, I managed to rip a big gash in my left pinky, and managed to bleed in the drum, and then my deck, and the kitchen. Because I didn't get a lot of sleep the night before, was really only running on coffee at the time, I felt pretty faint and needed a sit down. Took a few breaths and went back out.
We spent quite a bit of time on all the projects, and the day was getting late. Adjusted the brakes, put the wheels back on and got her ready for a test drive to the gas station to top up and put some much need air in the tires.
Along the way I was forced to remember something I should have brought up earlier. Some previous owner had messed up the #3 plug, and put a helicoil on it. And not very well, might add. Well, about 3/4 of the way to the gas station it blew out (but not before we remarked on how well the engine sounded, and I was super excited about the progress made). So the plug blew out, we pulled over and Colin did some forensics. After it cooled enough he tried to get the crappy helicoil back on, but to no avail. So we limped on to the gas station on 3 cylinders, got air and then made the trek back home. Along the way Colin spelled out two scenarios to take care of the head. Do a timesert or have it machined. I figure the head's already been MacGyvered already, so I plan to take care of it for real, when I can. We got home and wrapped up the visit.
At one point during the day, Colin told me that I have some work ahead of me, but that my bus is in great shape, and it needs to be driven. He repeated that statement a few times. It needs to be driven. That made the day.
We talked a bit about what I have ahead of me (which I've decided is pulling the engine and rebuilding it). And there was talk of next year. And I look forward to that when it comes.
Along with the engine rebuild, I need to take care of rust, and some other mechanical items. I'll do my best over the next year to get it all done, so that by the time Colin's next visit comes around, it will be the wrap up to get her back on the road as a daily driver, and best of all, my camping vehicle.
Thanks for learning me Colin.
Jonathan
A little background first. I bought Lucy the Bus back in 2006, drove it a few times, had a break down (ran out of gas) and parked it. The only time it's moved since then was around the yard to be able to mow the grass.
For a few days leading up to the visit, I had one eye on weather forecasts. I don't always trust them, but I only had a 10' x 10' canopy to keep the rain off – so I looked for a little hope. As the day got closer, the weather looked worse and worse. It rained the day before, and most of the night. Woke up to dark grey clouds, hanging low, ready to drop more precipitation. For me, I don't like to work in the rain, but the cool temperatures are what I prefer. I knew from my IAC forum study that Colin did not share my favorite weather.
I kept an eye on the lane leading to the house for the BobD, and somehow he snuck under my watchful gaze. Needed to time it right so I could get the boiling water in my French Press coffee maker in time to get the going right. We made our greetings and I got a jolt of excitement of the idea that my bus was going to be in better shape than it was the day before. To start the day we talked about the work ahead, and what to expect. He asked about my experience (very very little), tools in my possession (not much) and what I hoped to get out of my bus (daily driver). OK, good start.
Then he went and filled my brain up with facts and figures and quizzed me along the way. Math was my least favorite subject in school, and has always been a huge problem for me, so he must have thought I had some sort of strange facial tick when I was turning those vastly underpowered gears in my brain, trying to find the answers. I'd have better luck trying to eat runny Jell-o with chop sticks wearing hockey gloves while riding the tea cups at Disneyland than trying to do math in my head. But he pressed on, diagraming the plan on the legal pad. (You can be sure those pages don't leave my possession.)
After a round of theory, we headed outside to get to work.
Valve adjustment was first on the to do. Discovered that I have hydraulic lifters, but with some solid hardware. That had me scratching my head, but after a few other discoveries, it started to make sense. Got through the valves, and then went on to do a little timing scale repair, set the timing and then adjust the carbs. Funny thing, both carbs are right handed ones. Didn't notice it before, but there's a sticker on the left carb that says 'Right', and sure enough, the adjustment screws are on the wall side. Wasn't too hard to adjust them, just interesting. Somewhere in there we (or I under Colin's direction) set the points and checked the dwell. My memory being what it is, I can't remember the order we did things.
We went back inside to go over more numbers and facts, concerning how to re-route the fuel pump wiring to the voltage regulator, and away from the coil. A project I will get to on my own down the road (proverbially, of course). Then we turned our attention to brakes, and he gave me the run down on what we'll be doing. We went over the plan and headed out into the improved weather. It never really cleared up while he was here, but the grey got lighter and a little warmer.
Took the wheels off to inspect the brakes. There's some surface rust under there, but it's not bad. The pads on the front were changed not long before I bought the bus, and the hardware seems to be in really good shape, so no changes in the front. We got to the back and spent some time trying to get the hubs off. That took quite a little while. During that time Colin was trying to get the parking brake to work. During the back and forth of tugging on the cable, I managed to rip a big gash in my left pinky, and managed to bleed in the drum, and then my deck, and the kitchen. Because I didn't get a lot of sleep the night before, was really only running on coffee at the time, I felt pretty faint and needed a sit down. Took a few breaths and went back out.
We spent quite a bit of time on all the projects, and the day was getting late. Adjusted the brakes, put the wheels back on and got her ready for a test drive to the gas station to top up and put some much need air in the tires.
Along the way I was forced to remember something I should have brought up earlier. Some previous owner had messed up the #3 plug, and put a helicoil on it. And not very well, might add. Well, about 3/4 of the way to the gas station it blew out (but not before we remarked on how well the engine sounded, and I was super excited about the progress made). So the plug blew out, we pulled over and Colin did some forensics. After it cooled enough he tried to get the crappy helicoil back on, but to no avail. So we limped on to the gas station on 3 cylinders, got air and then made the trek back home. Along the way Colin spelled out two scenarios to take care of the head. Do a timesert or have it machined. I figure the head's already been MacGyvered already, so I plan to take care of it for real, when I can. We got home and wrapped up the visit.
At one point during the day, Colin told me that I have some work ahead of me, but that my bus is in great shape, and it needs to be driven. He repeated that statement a few times. It needs to be driven. That made the day.
We talked a bit about what I have ahead of me (which I've decided is pulling the engine and rebuilding it). And there was talk of next year. And I look forward to that when it comes.
Along with the engine rebuild, I need to take care of rust, and some other mechanical items. I'll do my best over the next year to get it all done, so that by the time Colin's next visit comes around, it will be the wrap up to get her back on the road as a daily driver, and best of all, my camping vehicle.
Thanks for learning me Colin.
Jonathan