tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1653101779563912722024-03-13T07:26:28.433-07:00Gr8tfulEd and Belle - 1973 VW CamperGr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-9956943781865942132012-08-14T08:26:00.003-07:002012-08-14T08:26:58.334-07:00Phase II progress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-64009483419393186142012-07-09T09:27:00.002-07:002012-07-09T10:13:01.703-07:00Phase 1 completeI'm making and executive decision and calling "Phase 1" complete. Essentially, Phase 1 is exterior and major mechanical. Phase 2 will be interior and cosmetic touches.<br />
So, this Spring and early Summer, I've:<br />
Replaced the exhaust system<br />
Repaired the battery compartment and adjacent rust damaged area (mostly wheel well)<br />
Pulled the dents from behind the spare tire and reinforced the whole area with 1/8" aluminum from a roadsign I found. Much, much stronger now<br />
Sanded the pop-top and repainted.<br />
Repaired cargo area, reinforced with aluminum, and painted<br />
Sanded whole bus fixing small spots of rust as I went (actually very few, quite happy about that) and repainted.<br />
Sanded bumpers and repainted (using a color scheme suggested by PdxPaulie)<br />
Repaired window seal.<br />
Adjusted Steering box (wow! It actually turns when you turn the steering wheel!) <br />
Next, Phase 2: Interior!<br />
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<br />Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-37187257222874184462012-07-02T12:37:00.000-07:002012-07-02T12:37:39.018-07:00Finally, some updated pictures.<br />
The process is going like this:<br />
Start with the top (sand, repair, repaint). Status: Done<br />
Fix cargo bin (I like to sit in it at shows, so it need to be reinforced). Status: Done<br />
Start at the front of the bus and work to the back (sand, repair, repaint): Status: Front Done!<br />
Also I repaired and significantly reinforced the area around where the spare wheel is mounted. The sheet metal is just really not strong enough to handle the tire, and tends to dent or compress when exposed to any pressure. So I found a big 1/8th inch aluminum road sign on the side of the road, and cut it to fit across the front where the tire goes. I riveted it in place, filled any gaps behind it with expanding foam, then sealed it with Lab-Metal (a liquid metal that dries into solid aluminum). The area is now <i>significantly</i> stronger and will not rust.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sanded and reinforced</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Primed</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st coat</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished! Thanks to Paul for the bumper trim idea. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-22259988445892418882012-06-22T16:46:00.000-07:002012-06-22T16:46:09.350-07:00Making some progress now...<br />
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<br />Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-39183318400363950602012-06-13T09:51:00.001-07:002012-06-13T09:51:46.453-07:00Welll....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, having finally (knock on wood, throw salt over the shoulder, sacrifice a goat) fixed the f*$%king exhaust leak (don't ask), I decided to systematically start the cleaning/body work from the top down. I began by cleaning and sanding the pop-top, working my way forward. When I got to the cargo bin, I noticed it was really, really dirty and in need of repair. Figuring that the easiest way to clean it would be to remove it, I tried turning the bolts holding it on: and they immediately broke. When I got the bin off, this is what I found. I guess I'm not really surprised by 39 years of crap caught under there (and a little bit of rust), but can someone tell me where the shoe laces came from I found amongst the leaves?Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-55337386783068785592012-05-14T13:53:00.002-07:002012-05-14T13:53:35.855-07:00No new photos yet, but certainly time for an update:<br />
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After the last run (Furthur last year), I pretty much parked the old girl until I could actually do some work. I knew it was time when I was backfiring like a mother. My exhaust system, specifically the pipes coming from the heater boxes to the muffler, were swiss cheese. I repaired them insitu (at the September Furthur shows in Eugene) with speaker wire and the lid of a chewing tobacco can, and it nearly worked. But there really is no substitute for replacement parts, so I broke down and bought a new Empi system and finished the install this weekend.<br />
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But while I was under there.... :-)Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-22994829636426390322011-09-19T14:23:00.000-07:002011-09-19T14:23:31.796-07:00Bound to Cover Just A Little More Ground- ReduxI'm seeing a trend here. Once a year updates: Every time Furthur comes around!<br />
At any rate, worked on Belle all weekend installing a new couch (pics soon I hope). Basically it's a leather sectional salvaged from my living room. Very comfy, and still sleepable. I also repaired the screen in the pop-top driver side with military insect netting, and used velcro for the attachments in case I want to really open it up.<br />
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As the couch install necessitated some sort of back support for the upper half of the couch, I built 2 cupboards (in progress: they need doors) in the back to hold the back of the couch up. These also function as speaker stands for the rear speakers. I decided to pull the Fender Twin Reverb speakers out, and instead am using smaller JBL studio monitors. They sound great and balance better with the front speakers. Lastly, I pulled the stereo from the MG and installed it in the bus, as it plays CDs and the one in the bus I bought back in '94 does not.<br />
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Other than clean-up, I think she's mostly ready to go!Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-1668782450813864312010-09-13T10:49:00.000-07:002010-09-13T11:17:13.984-07:00Bound to cover just a little more ground<span style="font-size:100%;">Wow. It's been a while. Belle is doing real well. I spent some time last weekend getting her ready for our next run: Furthur in Eugene! Should be a good run. I'm heading out to Wheeler, Oregon to pick up Mike, then back to PDX to pick up Trinidad, then down to Eugene for the shows, then back to Wheeler and finally back to Lake Oswego. I figure around 600 miles or so round trip.<br /><br />In preparation, I naturally gave her a tune-up and TLC:<br /><br />1. Changed the intermediate fuel filter. This was interesting (if not a little worrisome). When I did the major work last year, I installed a Carter electric fuel pump with the big external filter. Figuring that filter was more expensive than the little plastic jobbies we all use and can get for a buck and change, I installed one of the plastic jobbies between the fuel tank the and the main pump filter, because when I emptied the tank and replaced the sender unit last year, I noticed some rust. When I looked at that intermediate filter this time, OMG. It was orange with rust. Amazing I was even getting any fuel at all. Much better now. I haven't checked the primary filter, but the carb internals are still clean as a whistle, so I figure I'm good.<br /><br />2. Checked the valves. Not bad. Number 1 intake was a tad tighter than I like, so adjusted, and number 4 exhaust was a tad loose. Adjusted.<br /><br />3. Timing hasn't changed since I installed the Pertonix system. God bless electronic ignition.<br /><br />4. Oil change. Okay, this is where my true knuckle-headedness comes in. I bought the usual gasket sets, and like everytime I've done so over the last 16 years, noticed that the oil screen gaskets came in a pair. When I commented on this, the nice fella behind the counter said, "Yep, one for each side of the screen." Doohhhh! I don't know what I've been doing for 16 years. I think sometimes I'd put it on one side, and sometimes the other. THIS time, I pulled the screen and removed 5 (!!) old gaskets from the screen and the bottom of the motor where it goes. (Note to self... stop doing tune-up/oil changes while drinking beer). Anyway, so I put ONE filter on each side of the oil screen this time, and guess what! No leaks. :-)<br /><br />5. The usual filter and plug changes, and general engine compartment cleaning. Not bad really.<br /><br />6. More as test than anything, I sanded down to the metal some of the more egregious painting/putty errors on the body, and repainted the whole bus (by brush no less) with my usual Gloss Hunter Green Rustoleum. She looks mighty shiny now!<br /><br />7. Repaired 2 of the 3 problem areas in the top fiberglass.<br /><br />8. General inside cleaning. Next year I think I'm going to completely redo the interior, going for more of a "living room" look on the inside.<br /><br />9. Topped off brake fluid.<br /><br />10. Fixed small leak in exhaust headers. On going problem. The simple fact is the whole exhaust system needs to be replaced, so I started shopping around. She'll make it for now, and I'll change the whole critter next year.<br /><br />Pictures soon. "Keep 'em flying!"<br /></span>Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-35157888796850103772010-01-29T02:42:00.001-08:002010-01-29T02:45:03.407-08:00Gettin' Ready to Head WestHmmm. Found an odd exhaust leak (more later on that), and managed to "fix" enough to do my annual solo beach run (me, my guitars, my amps, and beer... ahhhhh). It's an early celebration of my turning 42 and my bus turning 37. WOW!Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-78408429971997619822009-08-05T10:32:00.000-07:002009-08-05T10:36:25.767-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOm-RCZtKFfeq-EYOWQlmHG5jBqfnTVAIDPThG3fS8vRRmExy6f60ihLzNWmjjnfAQ-AAJUBr-HnL_ikWvK3RsGRyz7vciPUsKUW0USzxpDexh_mWgFeKWfi6OIay4XEjng2v5RIpckX4/s1600-h/Belle+at+the+Beach.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOm-RCZtKFfeq-EYOWQlmHG5jBqfnTVAIDPThG3fS8vRRmExy6f60ihLzNWmjjnfAQ-AAJUBr-HnL_ikWvK3RsGRyz7vciPUsKUW0USzxpDexh_mWgFeKWfi6OIay4XEjng2v5RIpckX4/s400/Belle+at+the+Beach.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366534410034841106" border="0" /></a>Belle at the beach (Garibaldi). Successful run. Tune up before hand went very, very well and she's torquing out really well. 62 mph at 3500 rpm. Took all the hills at 50 or better. At's My Girl!<br />Oh, and new license plates on the way: 73VDUB.Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-42254197765718619302009-07-27T11:24:00.001-07:002009-07-27T11:25:14.299-07:00Ahh. Update time.<br />As the summer moves on, I'm gearing Belle up for a run to the coast next weekend. Currently having some brake work done at Les Schwab. I've done it before, but frankly, it's the one thing I really want done right. So....Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-23439198851030925942009-05-19T08:27:00.000-07:002009-05-19T10:15:50.346-07:00Singing, "Thank you, for a real good time!"<span style="font-size:100%;">Wow! What a run. We did it! 2,000 miles in one week!<br />The Gorge run was a hoot. A little bit of everything: hot weather, nice people, silly people, good food, great music, pretty scenes, and the quest for the clean Honey Bucket. The show it self was quite good. I personally feel the set list wasn't quite as strong as the Shorline show, but still some real gems in there.<br />The photos below help document the trip:<br /><br />Unlike like Shoreline, where there were only a handful of air-cooleds out, this run had a plethora. We caught up some nice rigs on the first hill. Talk about small world, the orange double-cab lives just down the street from me and Paul!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbHvZ8e6y2O4U46aq0S8f8Y9IDnK_TiIw_FYs_T6DJy4bow0WLGwRkKHHjq-HW2pGXKyb_NBVjod35TYuTFwBhyS4Cdr0Z5xyj1OnmO_Qffn2GO2cSjtgSDYIZ_YHvYrGb9WRpVX3XXk/s1600-h/P5150006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbHvZ8e6y2O4U46aq0S8f8Y9IDnK_TiIw_FYs_T6DJy4bow0WLGwRkKHHjq-HW2pGXKyb_NBVjod35TYuTFwBhyS4Cdr0Z5xyj1OnmO_Qffn2GO2cSjtgSDYIZ_YHvYrGb9WRpVX3XXk/s400/P5150006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337559228179454290" border="0" /></a><br />Once we found a spot, we hoisted the colors. You wouldn't believe how many people thanked us for the landmark. It helped them find their way back to their own sites.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zhofn6-lT2Tel0y-2SEiJq18-c5veaOq0odeHkHGXSS0fZCcnuu7BDvxl9Zt2R_wE7RSv1_Ua2ibXGK-DtW4pFJXeBStpkk8KhGGni0R5rlFvnyBEByPXbsjTfJofrBKiF0NDkKwsTQ/s1600-h/P5150016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zhofn6-lT2Tel0y-2SEiJq18-c5veaOq0odeHkHGXSS0fZCcnuu7BDvxl9Zt2R_wE7RSv1_Ua2ibXGK-DtW4pFJXeBStpkk8KhGGni0R5rlFvnyBEByPXbsjTfJofrBKiF0NDkKwsTQ/s400/P5150016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337559222093702530" border="0" /></a>Dona strumming the kind tunes on her new axe:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HQEd0IcIXLXhyphenhyphenhA7OzjVhclm_043V-gjJf34a87DrlPUQbmFVAz1aLfWRXQihYsnwfssqcmeCVuljX45KAybhURFmsR2kzHTomYbL_QHCZ94F9CpgsB8vK9ZbOomdN06fHqw2e_KCyk/s1600-h/P5160022.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HQEd0IcIXLXhyphenhyphenhA7OzjVhclm_043V-gjJf34a87DrlPUQbmFVAz1aLfWRXQihYsnwfssqcmeCVuljX45KAybhURFmsR2kzHTomYbL_QHCZ94F9CpgsB8vK9ZbOomdN06fHqw2e_KCyk/s400/P5160022.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337559216251884146" border="0" /></a><br />Heading into the show...somewhere....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVRaffI2mJ5OkNchnlLu8JGFMGTkMP6hffRhD-fBH5NYmaHrjgt6gKUCBDn7L9Jo2A_AzlM7wvgR5gNCTlDkzJCr7nK5KCCyXtFpZYGcq-9zi-aJUcl5_YfcNuephDNBfiLiJAdtdY-o/s1600-h/P5160029.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVRaffI2mJ5OkNchnlLu8JGFMGTkMP6hffRhD-fBH5NYmaHrjgt6gKUCBDn7L9Jo2A_AzlM7wvgR5gNCTlDkzJCr7nK5KCCyXtFpZYGcq-9zi-aJUcl5_YfcNuephDNBfiLiJAdtdY-o/s400/P5160029.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337559213530112418" border="0" /></a>The Allman brothers simply kicked butt. The Doobies were good too, but one could argue the Allmans stole the show. Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks ripping it up at the same time? Unreal.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisj-m6x-ozyeCGCu12MdIcpg4A4uUCfVnI_6YJZl21jJWUh4_M_6-n7CKjkG7s_Hv5BVAf0h_iJATqEnnuFXtnvnUJOVsChE-gmpOLGxIp2fqAAYcRoRmHEOpoEplMBrg2idvGZgxUR5w/s1600-h/P5160049.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisj-m6x-ozyeCGCu12MdIcpg4A4uUCfVnI_6YJZl21jJWUh4_M_6-n7CKjkG7s_Hv5BVAf0h_iJATqEnnuFXtnvnUJOVsChE-gmpOLGxIp2fqAAYcRoRmHEOpoEplMBrg2idvGZgxUR5w/s400/P5160049.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337559213025472594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnMJ-3Np36Z19sFaDpRSCGR9oU9A9fU7YBNUPwlFqLeKQBdwp1C_tqtT4LZjsAaXpocdqyitUflmS2aSbjsYQV_KjV6nnoisQfgqRBorXoG4xh8iK7TFrSWYiSKBHV-agA2FvoU9PFq8/s1600-h/P5160060.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnMJ-3Np36Z19sFaDpRSCGR9oU9A9fU7YBNUPwlFqLeKQBdwp1C_tqtT4LZjsAaXpocdqyitUflmS2aSbjsYQV_KjV6nnoisQfgqRBorXoG4xh8iK7TFrSWYiSKBHV-agA2FvoU9PFq8/s400/P5160060.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337558888974436482" border="0" /></a>The Crew for the second run: Dona, Paul, Mike, Me, unwashed masses in the background.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIoUPYwYXoWI7L8NZu5PUBp-MN5P9hsMKzHfH8VRyeR5i1hrytgmwIBk23fGERdW2CAuhoBkuMtiThEtF1OoF3vSZ715z4K4lpEpSFn8MDQicrkx4CHuLFHorBObrHJPZIL8WZAWW2VA/s1600-h/P5160068.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIoUPYwYXoWI7L8NZu5PUBp-MN5P9hsMKzHfH8VRyeR5i1hrytgmwIBk23fGERdW2CAuhoBkuMtiThEtF1OoF3vSZ715z4K4lpEpSFn8MDQicrkx4CHuLFHorBObrHJPZIL8WZAWW2VA/s400/P5160068.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337558888158432530" border="0" /></a>Sure is predy out here. :-)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLg1jLLosab_k5h-O1KzNohUo8FWWbO7Ch39isRlz-mTRd_VFXbUdMuR884NtnXkOWvqcKt5Z4mMpQWnm0VuK0l7DeOwh7ECIVvUh5JYhADbqXDqlyiuFEDogJaeVMfIrGg4tm7q8ZWA/s1600-h/P5160085.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLg1jLLosab_k5h-O1KzNohUo8FWWbO7Ch39isRlz-mTRd_VFXbUdMuR884NtnXkOWvqcKt5Z4mMpQWnm0VuK0l7DeOwh7ECIVvUh5JYhADbqXDqlyiuFEDogJaeVMfIrGg4tm7q8ZWA/s400/P5160085.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337558881381848354" border="0" /></a>The Core 4 with that Warren guy again. Can't imagine what his fingertips feel like.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2w7bc0ICern8EuFrhQ_cAzwKN3u5P-6-Hity4IUSi5O4YdxobMVeWDOqfimOXQQIPZsxO4E0J61_DrmirbNfjuQtwR9Va9ZOsXKPJUp73Ws698d-K-r4bdGBHHQw8U7auzPfyjIZhWU/s1600-h/P5160094.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2w7bc0ICern8EuFrhQ_cAzwKN3u5P-6-Hity4IUSi5O4YdxobMVeWDOqfimOXQQIPZsxO4E0J61_DrmirbNfjuQtwR9Va9ZOsXKPJUp73Ws698d-K-r4bdGBHHQw8U7auzPfyjIZhWU/s400/P5160094.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337558880476539458" border="0" /></a>Phil with his new bass. He was simply outstanding. Keep the bass Phil!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxNVddAZYEXZet9k9osDYEDbEPRXYJ8gKfXlmo6OUQWxcJIwH-cApKeGyoUbBYqA6XucN8BBWclFVVcileeLvCgHdcWwZn5CbM3vIsV-7Hw-fQxARTCLDBuuCtBUtOzTqHEzgzi64fb0/s1600-h/P5160102.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxNVddAZYEXZet9k9osDYEDbEPRXYJ8gKfXlmo6OUQWxcJIwH-cApKeGyoUbBYqA6XucN8BBWclFVVcileeLvCgHdcWwZn5CbM3vIsV-7Hw-fQxARTCLDBuuCtBUtOzTqHEzgzi64fb0/s400/P5160102.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337558877512169986" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBc2du_w24YzEKGSOVw2uQhSIHQ3So7_FWyUjW2x3fv_3Lwsh8kH9IwCLTWg0ZPu-8o8Az_y7V1Q1khdkinMVxo76MoInrKg9u1OjQXFzasbAsRPXFM6ejUfKsmNce-g9pHKKYPm7o3Zw/s1600-h/P5160106.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBc2du_w24YzEKGSOVw2uQhSIHQ3So7_FWyUjW2x3fv_3Lwsh8kH9IwCLTWg0ZPu-8o8Az_y7V1Q1khdkinMVxo76MoInrKg9u1OjQXFzasbAsRPXFM6ejUfKsmNce-g9pHKKYPm7o3Zw/s400/P5160106.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337558066403019506" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRrVeyhm0e-Htrfe7fpZd2t-PPOv1FQHT-NNQeIhRPiqLr2EO4TMGda8QXLZXRs_dhspt6zk8oLBtFwloN7JrG7Vs0NKB11NxOpm3uSc7JhMiStmXX4ZhPVtheMq8DHRpRJql3E-bVnk/s1600-h/P5160110.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRrVeyhm0e-Htrfe7fpZd2t-PPOv1FQHT-NNQeIhRPiqLr2EO4TMGda8QXLZXRs_dhspt6zk8oLBtFwloN7JrG7Vs0NKB11NxOpm3uSc7JhMiStmXX4ZhPVtheMq8DHRpRJql3E-bVnk/s400/P5160110.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337558068867148034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji057uzd5_6-irf3sC3pkqcPUi-lEVA7v2bccCCYPyvu9xvHeLuRLZ5na3ps1ZiWTBr-9pKsVNmKPyGDfZOJUtq8gnYOhBuNuXzHzjWv_a_ODZ36-CwwsCih8fWZL2twysH4fqGcnzdqA/s1600-h/P5160126.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji057uzd5_6-irf3sC3pkqcPUi-lEVA7v2bccCCYPyvu9xvHeLuRLZ5na3ps1ZiWTBr-9pKsVNmKPyGDfZOJUtq8gnYOhBuNuXzHzjWv_a_ODZ36-CwwsCih8fWZL2twysH4fqGcnzdqA/s400/P5160126.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337558060612757698" border="0" /></a><br />Ready for the home run.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKq2Dn_r2r32y8m86lCxV3AHv-RWvA_f8g3Fr25YbTCJNhdKn0UrYsqPLWGg3a1PujdzsIzJ2phvOVWc1IqdH9De1S8SzZKhX1242eirr-FR_UBTL8-4wRFVUbtTt2S5-WvTcSfWVDXk/s1600-h/P5170143.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKq2Dn_r2r32y8m86lCxV3AHv-RWvA_f8g3Fr25YbTCJNhdKn0UrYsqPLWGg3a1PujdzsIzJ2phvOVWc1IqdH9De1S8SzZKhX1242eirr-FR_UBTL8-4wRFVUbtTt2S5-WvTcSfWVDXk/s400/P5170143.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337558051955945490" border="0" /></a><br />Well, it wouldn't have been an air-cooled trip without one break-down. This nice splitty stopped to help, but by then we had a handle on it. Thanks to Paul's superior diagnostic skills, we narrowed the problem down to the coil/distributor. My fault really. I knew oil was blowing past the o-ring on the distributor, but didn't carry that to the logical next step of "fix it moron before you ruin your distributor"- so it overheated. Fortunately, I had a spare with me, and after a reasonable delay, we were back at it without a mishap.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOairdSobCvDhwXH7WZkcHONdgzrWbD1k55j0v1GYrh69m04Ef2pHxHFqX3tIdO3PDtxYkJ3Pbau0I3_J8LYmOsQnZeGKkRUjyN52taUqclkH-h00AkTorj4NL8YoNN6V_oITTslARgbI/s1600-h/P5170145.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOairdSobCvDhwXH7WZkcHONdgzrWbD1k55j0v1GYrh69m04Ef2pHxHFqX3tIdO3PDtxYkJ3Pbau0I3_J8LYmOsQnZeGKkRUjyN52taUqclkH-h00AkTorj4NL8YoNN6V_oITTslARgbI/s400/P5170145.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337557488596826642" border="0" /></a>Stopped by Stonehenge, you know, because it looks like Stonehenge.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtG1HYLRmd3Yx0IIeJjF4hrJTTus1kFZhXTiqr8nhKQkNyqLOrlzfBcG9iz_ToMdN3tS20RjYz_VI600j-xvuSSY0nlExx_hfmmJWOcGAMcOz6NvUaqNCaYJ2L6c9arJizDK9i6CYR3U/s1600-h/P5170155.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtG1HYLRmd3Yx0IIeJjF4hrJTTus1kFZhXTiqr8nhKQkNyqLOrlzfBcG9iz_ToMdN3tS20RjYz_VI600j-xvuSSY0nlExx_hfmmJWOcGAMcOz6NvUaqNCaYJ2L6c9arJizDK9i6CYR3U/s400/P5170155.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337557360786075794" border="0" /></a>Ahhh Belle. Well done old girl!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvh9z4PGGbZUrjYIVwOFQL6TCqqOnR9Et6GsxfcdQsMw8oie2bb9fpFswjVsZ14jpsRIMQvodIzkfjt75-9Mmu3y4ntLPUH85YaU5w0b5WEsD_bX7TWnk2p_OWcqJkMS5z7xNtKVyvWlo/s1600-h/P5170157.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvh9z4PGGbZUrjYIVwOFQL6TCqqOnR9Et6GsxfcdQsMw8oie2bb9fpFswjVsZ14jpsRIMQvodIzkfjt75-9Mmu3y4ntLPUH85YaU5w0b5WEsD_bX7TWnk2p_OWcqJkMS5z7xNtKVyvWlo/s400/P5170157.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337557259575232530" border="0" /></a></span>Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-29370948399081740572009-05-13T08:08:00.000-07:002009-05-15T06:31:12.909-07:00Roll Away The Dew......Wow! One of the best shows in a long, long time.<br />Not sure where to begin, so I'll just toss some stuff out.<br />Phenomenal run with no significant mishaps. California roads (for want of a better term) managed to rattle my tail-pipe off!<br />Couple of facts of figures:<br />Total miles covered: 1,385.6<br />Fuel used: 72.9 gallons (running about 19 mpg overall. The mountains trimmed the average down. On open freeway I was getting 24 mpg!)<br />Avg speed: 45 mph<br /><br />Didn't see many aircooled VW's out there. Maybe a half-dozen or so. People were wandering by taking pictures of Belle. Mike thinks she's the back-drop in about 20 pictures of so.<br /><br />I'll let the pictures explain the rest:<br /><br />Need to lose some weight-<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3nXU89jJAiDqyfCmQbih0mWQJRUACdn7TWKZKJjeF-vpOkvgP1DUhZThQgR6A014xNLFP9fOK8FdjBMV0w6RTg5DKQydaKCvG05t05hOvFq_b9mcr3ylSGMtcauyo5iL-HbJKNV0OGY/s1600-h/Time-To-Go-On-A-Diet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3nXU89jJAiDqyfCmQbih0mWQJRUACdn7TWKZKJjeF-vpOkvgP1DUhZThQgR6A014xNLFP9fOK8FdjBMV0w6RTg5DKQydaKCvG05t05hOvFq_b9mcr3ylSGMtcauyo5iL-HbJKNV0OGY/s400/Time-To-Go-On-A-Diet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335327853411213730" border="0" /></a><br />Mike's ready to go!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNuIv74KB5TLE-0XPcTcHQWxcwqlXMI2UY0np94n0G3I_mRwSyEdJ8dQdakfXw2IuUPAx9kiW5dYBXjX2wEhOWbb37eWGZiBS8kS2c8TBfI9rcVZfxJBXHeySkHQ1YC-IXRMYMGPOnQM/s1600-h/Ready-Pose.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNuIv74KB5TLE-0XPcTcHQWxcwqlXMI2UY0np94n0G3I_mRwSyEdJ8dQdakfXw2IuUPAx9kiW5dYBXjX2wEhOWbb37eWGZiBS8kS2c8TBfI9rcVZfxJBXHeySkHQ1YC-IXRMYMGPOnQM/s400/Ready-Pose.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335329674027864290" border="0" /></a><br />I always obey the local laws:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRgsN4-hKxxrvujl9n0wEBAy83JvhGGlAaicaLmuuH5lK1PZ-nvvgVR6FILTmdbiDIV7pUYaXTyw0pHtHrHxTt-6Qvb6b5fPrCgPXV8JrsPSNAhTuCA6tzGf3-bTN10FkLhsSIf51IQU/s1600-h/Following-Directions.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 306px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRgsN4-hKxxrvujl9n0wEBAy83JvhGGlAaicaLmuuH5lK1PZ-nvvgVR6FILTmdbiDIV7pUYaXTyw0pHtHrHxTt-6Qvb6b5fPrCgPXV8JrsPSNAhTuCA6tzGf3-bTN10FkLhsSIf51IQU/s400/Following-Directions.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335329993584491826" border="0" /></a><br />The crew on the Shoreline Run:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqSA4OlhMzizEDp1YS-M6iS8gGRvc5t8hlJ6xwM2gARFWqdq1aNw8B8GtxfCwVtCSAfO9zmfgdakLBOXosQaywGaNjzT_ZoyYT2CniRxtb1GiWaH4LvJladjSz79UvCnzDD6z-E697lk/s1600-h/The-First-Mission-Crew.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqSA4OlhMzizEDp1YS-M6iS8gGRvc5t8hlJ6xwM2gARFWqdq1aNw8B8GtxfCwVtCSAfO9zmfgdakLBOXosQaywGaNjzT_ZoyYT2CniRxtb1GiWaH4LvJladjSz79UvCnzDD6z-E697lk/s400/The-First-Mission-Crew.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335330292027295410" border="0" /></a><br />All Flags Flying..<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3oha0KoM_8DQrOCQnNFSEcdTJHS1I5jACAenTUjQsSMJVYZOOkedhnpXZIJeV1u871W3ek5DcEEwRSofyAH0gJLBiF32jtUmres6Ne9GOyJP8wNCVSe37_w2y74s51MQ0pX1oHJVZbc/s1600-h/Flags-Flying.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3oha0KoM_8DQrOCQnNFSEcdTJHS1I5jACAenTUjQsSMJVYZOOkedhnpXZIJeV1u871W3ek5DcEEwRSofyAH0gJLBiF32jtUmres6Ne9GOyJP8wNCVSe37_w2y74s51MQ0pX1oHJVZbc/s400/Flags-Flying.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335330567902854962" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBQ9JoaeVaC0VO3rr560B6p4AX7aMkiFJuRiQkvQ30wSySJT6vRFQyEKK6D7R8M4onvAJe70nxyKrrvz7RYS-7PJ-7A312m6d_Sa1qeJuFWxqf0q1a6B3yAbv_ciw8wgGfscHDNyE2IA/s1600-h/Getting-Comfortable.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBQ9JoaeVaC0VO3rr560B6p4AX7aMkiFJuRiQkvQ30wSySJT6vRFQyEKK6D7R8M4onvAJe70nxyKrrvz7RYS-7PJ-7A312m6d_Sa1qeJuFWxqf0q1a6B3yAbv_ciw8wgGfscHDNyE2IA/s400/Getting-Comfortable.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335331122670109746" border="0" /></a><br />Always nice to see Further!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLN2gL2qQtdn-sWjOAETKJGzncsgm8zVlf7IVQO76kceEuuEiGiAWkbrHevoQ0pCHg9NLggJD0uCuLQ6ERwDUUngCRg-wbWCaO-sLTqMx5IKCeT32PQW3SGPhHB2Hq3n9PHZ9MYyvPIU/s1600-h/Furthur.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLN2gL2qQtdn-sWjOAETKJGzncsgm8zVlf7IVQO76kceEuuEiGiAWkbrHevoQ0pCHg9NLggJD0uCuLQ6ERwDUUngCRg-wbWCaO-sLTqMx5IKCeT32PQW3SGPhHB2Hq3n9PHZ9MYyvPIU/s400/Furthur.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335331453728681074" border="0" /></a><br />This must be the place!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbARE4G7f3msIteSbPH8vgZfszDAEdeBSnM2GisxWesNcgTyPP2bJS-kt-s51aJFiIsY1ckdedimdUkHsArfzi3GkCROa-uBWZuqQ0KSg0UZnS1yZeVoo5DIe2cUCPeXgMTGAcnik4Sg/s1600-h/This-Must-Be-The-Place.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbARE4G7f3msIteSbPH8vgZfszDAEdeBSnM2GisxWesNcgTyPP2bJS-kt-s51aJFiIsY1ckdedimdUkHsArfzi3GkCROa-uBWZuqQ0KSg0UZnS1yZeVoo5DIe2cUCPeXgMTGAcnik4Sg/s400/This-Must-Be-The-Place.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335331792708492498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwXQW-Tep23bUpiXVPREcqVykFYAfJzAsXyRMqDp3IbLqbM2UWeFohyY-AZbYgYogD5xSnl0a9HdPRPePopTJEIhgfGNvBt5H4NCWa_5_Tc-Um4vuLMIrQsugIwCtikCmH6qtL2KD1Ys/s1600-h/The-Boys-at-Work.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwXQW-Tep23bUpiXVPREcqVykFYAfJzAsXyRMqDp3IbLqbM2UWeFohyY-AZbYgYogD5xSnl0a9HdPRPePopTJEIhgfGNvBt5H4NCWa_5_Tc-Um4vuLMIrQsugIwCtikCmH6qtL2KD1Ys/s400/The-Boys-at-Work.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335332123718676050" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhUykJkQbfRxAYYxD7B8VEuKBLnpbYMSQhvnRH-MP4II4VWCpJULiC1sBmNa_gxLKwoT0jZ31wchlFWHpBvzocz13aKaBki-yI4P_Pbzh_YvTvoclJ2iY6I9zH_5Bb4kDWmCf7TgSbq8/s1600-h/Oh-Yeah.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhUykJkQbfRxAYYxD7B8VEuKBLnpbYMSQhvnRH-MP4II4VWCpJULiC1sBmNa_gxLKwoT0jZ31wchlFWHpBvzocz13aKaBki-yI4P_Pbzh_YvTvoclJ2iY6I9zH_5Bb4kDWmCf7TgSbq8/s400/Oh-Yeah.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335332380872904514" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnjeOrSoZxlu0img2D3LKmNu_IuTAMKXIwGXJ-icgvtV4bNeQQsndVciJDlLgeG0IvalwT70riLKZJSSgauRi3lJb-OSYl9QFBtBYamGKbMMwNCogYY5whCuiAtiQLwvcTv-vTGc10CA/s1600-h/Mecca.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnjeOrSoZxlu0img2D3LKmNu_IuTAMKXIwGXJ-icgvtV4bNeQQsndVciJDlLgeG0IvalwT70riLKZJSSgauRi3lJb-OSYl9QFBtBYamGKbMMwNCogYY5whCuiAtiQLwvcTv-vTGc10CA/s400/Mecca.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335332681915294434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1oJQwZDw7-utyJwGXPaJYwUtDQNmoBRfKyajsKUd5_Xt5iOiSKjt_RceBndlG18ToAmPFq5Zhdg4DqCt0VDlilFShgVBglOGfqe8GfId5TIaQ6HCONCOnbOPsb2peyEiTVbPPev1EPg/s1600-h/Shasta-Coming-Up.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1oJQwZDw7-utyJwGXPaJYwUtDQNmoBRfKyajsKUd5_Xt5iOiSKjt_RceBndlG18ToAmPFq5Zhdg4DqCt0VDlilFShgVBglOGfqe8GfId5TIaQ6HCONCOnbOPsb2peyEiTVbPPev1EPg/s400/Shasta-Coming-Up.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335332985696862386" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPyYnlv5ZpFXSaG4TfjnB3X21iV0gF9ASpzmbiyMTsIiFUd72SjAF7t6QoFi2zaho7R7IM6uwvlCIFKZtQZcputrw5eDYjpwRQ_3cT9x9yZm1YJi3nVSe0uHHt7X-9ROnDgj1ByQNU5jc/s1600-h/Perdy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPyYnlv5ZpFXSaG4TfjnB3X21iV0gF9ASpzmbiyMTsIiFUd72SjAF7t6QoFi2zaho7R7IM6uwvlCIFKZtQZcputrw5eDYjpwRQ_3cT9x9yZm1YJi3nVSe0uHHt7X-9ROnDgj1ByQNU5jc/s400/Perdy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335333296584311378" border="0" /></a>My favorite view of California...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaqxCvo3qf4pO9g-l7yiUlGs47hg8lruNVZxS-GZjWEsk7Vd7y4nVyblAHJ_iZenUKC2jpJ0h1WQVQwBTFVdk-wYCXQgtrH1FHA3weRCzrU2OsRU7TPLlP7Ork9BREt2OwMnAQa6jnig/s1600-h/Cali-Like-I-like-her.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaqxCvo3qf4pO9g-l7yiUlGs47hg8lruNVZxS-GZjWEsk7Vd7y4nVyblAHJ_iZenUKC2jpJ0h1WQVQwBTFVdk-wYCXQgtrH1FHA3weRCzrU2OsRU7TPLlP7Ork9BREt2OwMnAQa6jnig/s400/Cali-Like-I-like-her.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335333591087508450" border="0" /></a><br />Ahh, home. Notice the Cali souvenirs on the windshield. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9qMv1keNGCxNgtWvrubADPm647JoGdycRjdJ-skuQTETTJF0AAyr2AygEC43Xy_JIA_2t-cSjKBJ1JnIWpqTTTR5do6gshMLvceYMe94-uzjcOg1u6K18SxBpLK30uZM8V74xdMyx3M/s1600-h/Oregon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9qMv1keNGCxNgtWvrubADPm647JoGdycRjdJ-skuQTETTJF0AAyr2AygEC43Xy_JIA_2t-cSjKBJ1JnIWpqTTTR5do6gshMLvceYMe94-uzjcOg1u6K18SxBpLK30uZM8V74xdMyx3M/s400/Oregon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335334037779862946" border="0" /></a>Next... The Gorge!Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-45726701208654298992009-05-07T23:31:00.000-07:002009-05-07T23:46:30.736-07:00GDTRFBSouthbound...<br />Updates to follow after the Shoreline show.<br />Don't know what I did, but I'm getting almost 7 mpg more than I was before all this work. Probably less weight from all the rust I scrapped off and parts I tossed.<br /><br />BTW: Celebrated 15 years with Belle yesterday!<br /><br />In the spirit of traveling. one of my favorites:<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">"</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Times,Times New Roman;font-size:130%;" >Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,<br />And sorry I could not travel both<br />And be one traveler, long I stood<br />And looked down one as far as I could<br />To where it bent in the undergrowth.<br /><br />Then took the other, as just as fair,<br />And having perhaps the better claim,<br />Because it was grassy and wanted wear;<br />Though as for that the passing there<br />Had worn them really about the same.<br /><br />And both that morning equally lay<br />In leaves no step had trodden black.<br />Oh, I kept the first for another day!<br />Yet knowing how way leads on to way,<br />I doubted if I should ever come back.<br /><br />I shall be telling this with a sigh<br />Somewhere ages and ages hence:<br />Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--<br />I took the one less traveled by,<br />And that has made all the difference."<br />-Robert Frost </span>Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-31269977486800580922009-04-27T09:21:00.000-07:002009-04-27T09:33:02.474-07:00No really, we're almost there!Heading south in less than two weeks. And she'll be ready! (Fingers crossed; Knock on Wood; 3 Hail Mary's; Salt over the shoulder).<br /><br />Mechanical work is done. Exhaust leak fixed. Oil leak fixed. Vacuum leak fixed. Interior almost reinstalled (just some woodwork left). Gas gauge fixed (!). Gas pedal fixed. Brakes fixed ($$$). Here are some pictures showing some of the work:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglixa6He45V9Tlcaa8NrRGt3AVHh82CTVXjF0r0F4M5AReE2P81lrxxq-jVjiV8mUmdlnPtOxBkOH_7RY97JFxd5gzJIoar_lOqu0uBSspmCSQJ30SZVaNuic3M5zUqGnIhaJ2aXtpWvs/s1600-h/P4040023.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglixa6He45V9Tlcaa8NrRGt3AVHh82CTVXjF0r0F4M5AReE2P81lrxxq-jVjiV8mUmdlnPtOxBkOH_7RY97JFxd5gzJIoar_lOqu0uBSspmCSQJ30SZVaNuic3M5zUqGnIhaJ2aXtpWvs/s400/P4040023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329408296347234754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5laCvnpFnVa7oqGJkS7Bak1e5X_oZeAaCp37zDvqeHA3Jh3vgUwBPQmP5f3h7HLCbzM1OBMO6yl4Y1CDCggkx9_JQvWpPEQ9PHiDWUlrTv5UDbahSwBJCALfb7SQLeZFHno-dplik4kg/s1600-h/P4180044.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5laCvnpFnVa7oqGJkS7Bak1e5X_oZeAaCp37zDvqeHA3Jh3vgUwBPQmP5f3h7HLCbzM1OBMO6yl4Y1CDCggkx9_JQvWpPEQ9PHiDWUlrTv5UDbahSwBJCALfb7SQLeZFHno-dplik4kg/s400/P4180044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329408407667429842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuW6pvYyjrkEhn5Mkgt_aWYvmpuVEJrh4qWiFPgjaqKBgMAQ980yCSTanVAt6v266PRPZFBmZafCjT_VDNLlPEHWxAsFWTddTazLvNUbOL3uRdJxytIlgkUMr4m9kQNQbub23N_k-COQ/s1600-h/P4040028.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuW6pvYyjrkEhn5Mkgt_aWYvmpuVEJrh4qWiFPgjaqKBgMAQ980yCSTanVAt6v266PRPZFBmZafCjT_VDNLlPEHWxAsFWTddTazLvNUbOL3uRdJxytIlgkUMr4m9kQNQbub23N_k-COQ/s400/P4040028.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329408621117639122" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyOeK90KpjTZujQqCzKPAVH_sC8TrJ0AqBE5xU7LFUqMp9i3FWB1Xb8X43Iu-KvYQKKZGOTQdVh3SJVu_o2fxI6VQNIF90883fzWx9Dm-qpLEfY3IFkO-Gao6SAYeiKTB6BsWYvpfVcQ/s1600-h/P4050030.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyOeK90KpjTZujQqCzKPAVH_sC8TrJ0AqBE5xU7LFUqMp9i3FWB1Xb8X43Iu-KvYQKKZGOTQdVh3SJVu_o2fxI6VQNIF90883fzWx9Dm-qpLEfY3IFkO-Gao6SAYeiKTB6BsWYvpfVcQ/s400/P4050030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329410024969926850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCPBNNn_lqYFhZctIwdyk1pJobE75fWvjBfL0iZPJIMruQ-JTIr6QfG0JLdovgk_IisDtIpsVSUSLwXPvbZdt6iyi5Q2iMacvqOPD1cgmfgQlS4MwRzbixIsH6jseMV7ZWB3zRdYgzj0/s1600-h/P4200045.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCPBNNn_lqYFhZctIwdyk1pJobE75fWvjBfL0iZPJIMruQ-JTIr6QfG0JLdovgk_IisDtIpsVSUSLwXPvbZdt6iyi5Q2iMacvqOPD1cgmfgQlS4MwRzbixIsH6jseMV7ZWB3zRdYgzj0/s400/P4200045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329408785922786194" border="0" /></a>Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-1292384179692127492009-04-09T09:57:00.000-07:002009-04-09T10:05:39.666-07:00The end in sight!The final push is nearing. I received notice today that the Shoreline tickets are arriving UPS tomorrow!<br /><br />Over the weekend, I repainted Belle (pictures as soon as I get the bumpers finished). Note to self: NEVER use hammerite again! (Major pain to remove). I also resealed the entire bus (mostly) and ordered (drum roll please) a fuel tank sender unit! No more guessing when I'm running out of gas and having to haul an extra 5 gallons in the cargo bin!<br /><br />Upcoming: Fix accelerator pedal (seeings how it came off in my hand over the weekend. I suppose I could put a friend over the internal engine hatch and have him adjust the throttle by hand as we drive down the road, but that seems tedious); remove old propane system (frankly, it looks a little scary); install recushioned and covered bench seat/bed; install new carpet; bleed the brakes; repack the wheel bearings; a few other cosmetic touches and...done! (I think. It's hard to test how she drives without an accelerator pedal. But she idles real nice). :-)Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-4780261050489771242009-03-30T14:32:00.000-07:002009-03-30T14:41:30.242-07:00Are we there yet?Changed all four shocks (destroying 5 lug nuts in the process); sanded and painted the wheel rims; fixed torn boots; re-greased a CVC joint; removed remains of old heater system and plugged the holes; and fixed the front passenger side floor pan (it was starting to look like something from the Flintstones with your feet hanging out and peddling really fast). And with that, other than some minor tweaks and bleeding the brakes, the hardcore mechanical work is done! Now it's on to the painting, carpeting, and interior tweaks. Yeah!Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-72410853341645545512009-03-23T08:42:00.000-07:002009-03-23T08:56:03.350-07:00Whoop! Whoop!Rather a busy weekend! Got the Mike on the sander doing fine work in prep for painting the inside. And...drum roll please... I fixed the oil leak! Had to remove the fan housing (which was a real pain with studs being rusted) to get to the oil cooler (who designed this thing?), but as soon as we pulled the cooler, it was obvious where the leak was coming from. It probably would have been a 2 hour job, but with all the oil that had leaked out and been blown around and sucked through the fan housing (the bottom of which looked like an oil sump), I spent the rest of Saturday cleaning (again!). Sunday I put it all back together and fired her up! No leak! It was really kind of weird. I kept looking underneath to see if the steady "drip, drip, drip" was there. Nope. It seemed really strange to have Belle idling away and not leaving a stain!<br />Agenda:<br />This week: continued work on the interior. Recover the bench seat. I think I'm going to rearrange the layout to keep some of this new found room I found when you have an empty bus. Maybe put in a dance floor.<br />Next weekend: Replace torn CVC boot. Replace torn Ball Joint boot. Remove old heater system. Install new shocks front and back.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKgv5f_7RTGvNE2ovKIbXgNugMV7x18LAWI5z4hvDTySph_G1RDtODNm9FmgsE3q6dELPZB8b7IsTJQgWHkmkdc9Hpo4F9df7RbrFQGhTmW-dXM8I4_f4fmC3sbcVECg-iWA7qoXtXqM/s1600-h/Good+Union+Work.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKgv5f_7RTGvNE2ovKIbXgNugMV7x18LAWI5z4hvDTySph_G1RDtODNm9FmgsE3q6dELPZB8b7IsTJQgWHkmkdc9Hpo4F9df7RbrFQGhTmW-dXM8I4_f4fmC3sbcVECg-iWA7qoXtXqM/s400/Good+Union+Work.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316410035949699650" border="0" /></a><br />Nothing like good union work!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGR80O5csPXGG3Q6hf5kIA6FEckpJN4dT42tf9oO1dmznULoX4uvRFfBVMtMpvoZz3rCNU9hoGTpM9lDbGTW5xzdw3c1waA2ElMckiWWVm40pGh3EYqis4RPKULe54pRPW2RgPb47muw/s1600-h/Seat+before.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXGR80O5csPXGG3Q6hf5kIA6FEckpJN4dT42tf9oO1dmznULoX4uvRFfBVMtMpvoZz3rCNU9hoGTpM9lDbGTW5xzdw3c1waA2ElMckiWWVm40pGh3EYqis4RPKULe54pRPW2RgPb47muw/s400/Seat+before.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316409906021419218" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOIqvpRNvRvRW-VAtopJEZZkpNQmkVstRy5MRQdBswwp5gvWmDrahGwg6ZEEs1rrmORhbvYEl1eDcnbTRPq47W47uwtZcE1ZcFr9BuH6ewGjGdneWt9ounGAALXfTFJvxr_GUIwDJ0mA/s1600-h/Seat+after.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNOIqvpRNvRvRW-VAtopJEZZkpNQmkVstRy5MRQdBswwp5gvWmDrahGwg6ZEEs1rrmORhbvYEl1eDcnbTRPq47W47uwtZcE1ZcFr9BuH6ewGjGdneWt9ounGAALXfTFJvxr_GUIwDJ0mA/s400/Seat+after.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316409979261396802" border="0" /></a><br />Seat Repair. Before, then recushioned and covered.Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-47372158011864107942009-03-17T07:46:00.000-07:002009-03-17T08:47:33.530-07:00<div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3KXvaT2Qtf7lJ0R626O6wt9SSsdnlfRLgMuYfltwqHapNeViVIjKnUqZBk3WZQELduwY-L49YrDdb_DROwSZunIWED5mTAI6CJHoHfr3lzEtgrWrlJ4x4bquA78qf4-3jdMe3UlvXFI/s1600-h/Hmm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3KXvaT2Qtf7lJ0R626O6wt9SSsdnlfRLgMuYfltwqHapNeViVIjKnUqZBk3WZQELduwY-L49YrDdb_DROwSZunIWED5mTAI6CJHoHfr3lzEtgrWrlJ4x4bquA78qf4-3jdMe3UlvXFI/s400/Hmm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314172459705561234" border="0" /></a>This could be a problem. But with a little Lab metal and new paint? Good a<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvC4qnOQoh1sJMStciBO6ngdFJr5tjIhgO-gEPWs9DTztPXSOO1U2FSPLmkcjNp67xyqyuMJMkxdZ_haokdL0a7Mn8zn3B4ztQ43A2ESfRMfHOKR9Cm7h72xJgxvhv-_yAQawTF-yr6fc/s1600-h/Painted.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvC4qnOQoh1sJMStciBO6ngdFJr5tjIhgO-gEPWs9DTztPXSOO1U2FSPLmkcjNp67xyqyuMJMkxdZ_haokdL0a7Mn8zn3B4ztQ43A2ESfRMfHOKR9Cm7h72xJgxvhv-_yAQawTF-yr6fc/s400/Painted.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314173279443818450" border="0" /></a>s<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikC0oE8HG6TshafH0dLhqXZ3eI0ATHFrfNrJyj3Ds7qTeKlAQeRmlNd2JG1SBNdCd_54uIGtMS54B1IsqyOpJmu3qNen02sIJ_VMB-O0TcT0oDgnuagi3BOsaP0joLQL0jkqCsMGKAHNE/s1600-h/Repaired.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikC0oE8HG6TshafH0dLhqXZ3eI0ATHFrfNrJyj3Ds7qTeKlAQeRmlNd2JG1SBNdCd_54uIGtMS54B1IsqyOpJmu3qNen02sIJ_VMB-O0TcT0oDgnuagi3BOsaP0joLQL0jkqCsMGKAHNE/s400/Repaired.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314173369402881602" border="0" /></a> new!</div>Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-17667426506538013302009-03-16T13:18:00.000-07:002009-03-17T08:48:30.339-07:00Well, how about that...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTX9lzYjTYu-kgOQpULw7cQSaUejH4gXlYyP0471rCxzIv5-NKL5uq4e9LdlTqWvkSkiH2bqs6LdQw7ffvnXhUVh1pvjk7rQDWOBKLUmoqh5mzw4VE_Mw4q3E5aIxm1HoImo50rx0KIs/s1600-h/In+The+Rain.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTX9lzYjTYu-kgOQpULw7cQSaUejH4gXlYyP0471rCxzIv5-NKL5uq4e9LdlTqWvkSkiH2bqs6LdQw7ffvnXhUVh1pvjk7rQDWOBKLUmoqh5mzw4VE_Mw4q3E5aIxm1HoImo50rx0KIs/s400/In+The+Rain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314173666283732482" border="0" /></a><br />Busy weekend, but got most of the engine work done. In fact, I thought I was all done, until I discovered where my oil leak is: it appears to be a bad seal on the oil cooler. Good<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvL12-hdIWuLifHzISsD_GvHz0wW9xifZAbRVdvTWoW6mhU2VGJkB8dfEi313AhrkpuwbOvEegOd3IvbtIjklDdf5Cnu4GhjwkJlobKzezqwG2NWYvTjVPWTKGLWcjuDOwVEah_yAbsA/s1600-h/empty.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvL12-hdIWuLifHzISsD_GvHz0wW9xifZAbRVdvTWoW6mhU2VGJkB8dfEi313AhrkpuwbOvEegOd3IvbtIjklDdf5Cnu4GhjwkJlobKzezqwG2NWYvTjVPWTKGLWcjuDOwVEah_yAbsA/s400/empty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314173851326125314" border="0" /></a> news is it is a straightforward fix, just a matter of taking half the engine apart, changing the seals, and putting it back together. :-)<br />Oil leak aside, it is now fair to say that Belle has never run this good. I fixed an exhaust leak that, until last weekend, I didn't even know I had. I had no idea my motor could be this quiet! Also installed a battery my father purchased for his boat, but never used. Big deep cycle bugger with tons of cranking amps. Now all I have to do is LOOK at the ignition and she starts right up.<br />I've also started working weekdays on the interior (saving the long, tool intensive projects for the weekends). Currently, I have Belle completely emptied out down to the bare metal. This week I'll be finishing up repainting the interior (going with a nice Sage Green), and refinishing the seats. Next week will hopefully be the new carpet and the modified sink and refinished stove.<br />Is it May yet?Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-85269959977617592492009-03-08T19:35:00.000-07:002009-03-08T19:47:17.993-07:00She's....Alive!Ah, the sweet, sweet sound of "putt, putt, putt, putt, putt...."<br />After playing amateur forester on Saturday with Mike (we knocked down some of the trees in the front yard), it was back to work on Belle this Sunday. I got and installed another Pertronix ignition (and wired it right this time!), as well as a Flamethrower coil (Postive on the top, Negative on the bottom the way it's suppose to be). Some minor tweaks on the valves, and voila! Set the timing, adjusted the idle, and she's there! Engine work... done! (Well, mostly. There's always something.) I also repaired the tin cuts done previously to access the top of the fuel tank, adjusted the alternator belt, cleaned up some of the wiring in the engine compartment, and painted the exhaust pipes to prevent any more rusting. There are still a couple of wires coming into the engine compartment that aren't hooked up to anything, and I haven't the foggest idea what they're for. So I'm going to have to follow them back and see what they are connected to.<br /><br />Lastly, the (or I should say, an) oil leak is still there, although it doesn't seem to be nearly as bad as it was before. So I'll probably have to do the pushrod seals on the right side too. I may just have to live with it for a while. Like they say, it's not that the Volkswagen leaks oil, it's marking its territory.Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-22472597086300709882009-03-02T10:02:00.000-08:002009-03-03T12:16:24.860-08:00Lets see... That wire goes...Hmmm!?!Well, that was interesting.<br />With Mike's help I was able to get the gas lines and new fuel pump installed. I assembled the carb and installed that. Made sure the wire spring holding the push-rod tubes in place was set properly (it wasn't), Installed a new oil cleaner screen gasket and put fresh oil in (thanks Mike). Cleaned the oil breather (which I now call the sludge collector). Installed new coil: and there begins the problems! The new coil was a Bosch blue-coil. The old coil was a Standard. On the Standard, the Positive is on the top, and the Negative is on the bottom (the way I like it). On the Bosch, the Negative is on the top (lame) and the Positive is on the bottom (really lame). So installed my distributor with my fancy new electronic igition system instead of points. I looked on the coil to find the Pos and Neg, and then proceeded to wire everything backwards. Keeping the fire-extinguisher handy, I proceeded to turn the bus on....and, being wired backwards...completely fried my electronic ignition. Grrrrr.<br />I've ordered a new Pertronix unit and will try again when it arrives. In the mean time, I may see if she fire's up using points just to see if the oil leak was fixed. It appears, presently, that it is fixed. After several attempts at starting her, no oil leaked out. But I won't know for sure until she's actually idling.<br />Oh, and it was raining this weekend and I'm fighting a cold. Grrrr.<br />Ah well, if it was easy, it wouldn't be a Volkswagen.Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-8770572022668525782009-02-23T07:33:00.000-08:002009-02-23T07:40:57.954-08:00Making progress<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUjDpq8EkkXV5FEe44_wQKnlyiEhhYShTPmiE_ayMkAnhAgmdt1iBn8FLde5t8TM1Fu_HpueKNQ41xQXQsxIfJEOxzxLRAOEkrlO4_SuLW07l0bi_C1rkc7ldsIJOQBWs-UU3iWIx0cU/s1600-h/Workin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUjDpq8EkkXV5FEe44_wQKnlyiEhhYShTPmiE_ayMkAnhAgmdt1iBn8FLde5t8TM1Fu_HpueKNQ41xQXQsxIfJEOxzxLRAOEkrlO4_SuLW07l0bi_C1rkc7ldsIJOQBWs-UU3iWIx0cU/s320/Workin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306016629046967266" border="0" /></a>As you can see, I had help this weekend. Mike provided moral support and tried to work out his on-again-off-again bad VW karma. I think we made progress on that!<br />I changed out the pushrod seals on the right side and reinstalled the modified heat exchanger. I also pulled all the fuel-lines and began replacing those. Removed firewall to inspect the fuel tank and assorted hoses attached to that (replaced one). Next we will be installing the new fuel pump, distributor and carb and firing her up. If the oil leak was fixed with the pushrod seal change, then we're good. If not, then I'll do the other side. I'm hoping to have most of the engine work done by the end of next weekend so we can start on the mechanical stuff (CVs, Shocks, Brakes, etc).Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-79678076282922876352009-02-13T20:53:00.000-08:002009-02-13T21:07:50.666-08:00And We're Off...So it begins, and immediately plans change. I had hoped to pull the distributor today (Friday) to install the Pertronix electric ignition this evening and install on Saturday. Instead, I pulled the distributor (interestingly, a Volkswagen branded Bosch), the carb (Weber), the coil (POS as it turns out) and all the wires and started CLEANING. After 15 years of oil leaks and dirt, well... you can imagine. So, tomorrow, clean the whole dang engine compartment and everything in it. The idea behind an air cooled engine is the air actually has to GET TO the engine.<br /><br />Sunday, install and put it all back together. Daylight permitting, I'll work on the push rod seals too.<br /><br />Oh, and for what it's worth, I finally found out what the heck I have. Although a legit camper, it's not a "Westy" Westphalia. It's a Riviera. These were shipped from Germany and sent to Riviera Motors in Beaverton, then converted to campers in Vancouver, WA., because campers were selling like hot-cakes, and they did not have enough to keep up. So they sent Kombi's to Vancouver to have them converted.<br /><br />Peace.Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-165310177956391272.post-21752338836962614302009-02-08T20:43:00.000-08:002009-02-08T20:59:33.203-08:00Day 1 - The work begins<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_XElS8CntyQxcm0oBRDFJ4KtGWRNvPJHXZk3iJQbt_f_sUH7BGUXvCt6nlomstBupWnNdj3pTeY1rsDFt18e9gUxUuDVhMXVrrHsverYV8FS9s8ML5WuV4QlisF5FsIgHs9fSfv4ao0/s1600-h/Day+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_XElS8CntyQxcm0oBRDFJ4KtGWRNvPJHXZk3iJQbt_f_sUH7BGUXvCt6nlomstBupWnNdj3pTeY1rsDFt18e9gUxUuDVhMXVrrHsverYV8FS9s8ML5WuV4QlisF5FsIgHs9fSfv4ao0/s400/Day+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300654272662324322" border="0" /></a><br />Well, I spent most of the weekend getting ready to start. Finding tools, gathering supplies, ordering parts... etc. However, I did manage to remove the rear bumper, drain the gas tank and the oil. Decided to switch over to an electronic ignition, so ordered that too. My goal by the end of next weekend is to have the "new" carb installed, the cleaned and updated distributor installed, clean all the engine compartment internals, especially the electrical connections, and get started (maybe) on the push rod seals. Aim high, right?<br />Also, I gave Belle the once over and found some real positives: only 1 cvc boot needs to be replaced; the hoses off the carb are in fine shape; I haven't inspected forward of the rear half of the bus yet, but so far have only found 1 spot of new rust and it's very small; the exhaust system, despite appearances, is also in suprisingly good shape.Gr8tfulEdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07424948670557229770noreply@blogger.com0