RESTORE AUTOHOMES KOMET

[jeffj]

This is the start of a restoration of a Autohomes Komet. 1988 Model



The vehicle was purchased locally from a couple who had owned it since 2001. The van was used until 3/4 years ago when it was taken of the road for repair works. Couple then did not have the time to complete works so decided to sell. Van came with interior stripped out and new repair panels ready for fitting.

Welding/Panels needed to drivers rear arch, sill and lower panel, pass side front arch. Sure other things will show themselves as work is progressed. Generally van looks solid and should be an easy restoration.

Cleared inside of van to get access to upper units and bed for roof removal. Was hoping to be able to clear these which would then allow us to get cheese wire between hitop roof and van roof to cut sealant.


Interior lifted out.


Zig Unit

Not had a lot of success today as roof removal a bit more complicated than expected?
Anyone out there taken one of these roofs off before?

[Plasticman]

[meggles]

You have pm.

[jeffj]

After checking out 1664`s threads and info he has passed on for roof removal decided it is to much work. Not viable to remove roof to get van in garage for what would be two weekends welding.

Going to get a quote for the welding from Richie at Dub Werks which is local to me.

Breaks my heart to spend money on welding. But just cannot do it on my drive because I would upset all my neighbours visitors.

Will carry on at the moment with brake overhaul and get engine up and running.

[1664]

Why not see if you can just weld the van at Richies for a 'ground rent' arrangement? Or somewhere else?

[jeffj]

Richie has given me a quote and estimates three days work. He reckons could solid van and does not see any extra work at present. Not viable to rent space of him to weld van as our working hours would clash and his place is full of vans?

Calling to see him tomorrow to arrange date. Will spend this weekend on brakes and check over engine.

[LittleMissSunshine]

Jeff - can you ask if he does interiors for me please?!! Does he also service engines too?

Thanks x

[jeffj]

Helen

Website for Dub-Werks

http://www.dub-werks.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not sure about interiors but hes does servicing. Will ask him.

[1664]

Jeff - can you ask if he does interiors for me please?

What do you need doing to it?

[LittleMissSunshine]

Nothing but the furnishings show their age so one day want to have seats and bed recovered and the cab carpet and walls. Not really in a position to get it done for a while, I've just always been curious if they do it

[jeffj]

Started today by looking at brakes.

Removed pass front wheel and found caliper heavily corroded. Removed caliper and carrier and derusted. Extended caliper piston a few times and cleaned behind seal. Compressed back in position. Discs rusty but cleaned up well with wire brush on grinder. Cleaned pads and refitted.


Drivers side on removal of wheel. Calipers again heavily corroded and bleed nipple already sheared. Cleaned up and extended piston but could not compress back into position. Pads had also cracked due to rust forming between pad material and steel backing plate. Will get new pads for both sides and fit spare caliper Mark has.


Picture of drivers side disc after cleaning.


Pass rear brake after wheel removed. Its Marks hand you can see at the other side of the van, he was having a laydown. Rear shockers are rusted so will replace these.


Pass rear brake after drum removed. Seals knackered and seeping fliud when you pull seal back. Drivers side the same on removal. Will order new piston cylinders and shoes.

While I was doing the front brakes Mark was checking over engine. Wiring, fluid levels, hoses, plugs etc.
Fitted charged battery and spun over. Nearly fired. Went and got fresh petrol and fitted a funnel and pipe to petrol pump to feed fresh petrol into carb. It then fired up. Was very tapperty, but has not run for a couple of years. Turned of engine.
Put balance of fresh petrol in tank and reconnected fuel line. Refired engine and ran on tickover whilst bleeding rad. Engine a bit lumpy when at revs.
Couple of problems which need to solve. No ignition light so not charging battery. Engine lumpy need to set timing. Somes hoses and vacum advance pipes need replacing.

[LittleMissSunshine]

Great day - sorry I didn't make it over

[jeffj]

Sorted front brakes today. Cleaned up and painted caliper & carrier.

Caliper carrier fitted


Pads fitted


Caliper fitted


Repeated installation on passenger side


Stripped down both back brakes for cleaning and fitting of new discs. Will need two new lengths of brake pipe making up plus need to buy set of retaining springs and plates as both rotten. Going away to Pickering for the weekend so need to pack. Will clean down back plates for painting on Sunday when I get back home.

[jeffj]

Cleaned down existing brake back plate on passenger side and painted. Ordered new back plate for drivers side as was rotted through.

Back plate painted and new cylinder fitted.

Ordered brake shoe fitting kit to replace corroded springs/pins etc. This came with the short retaining pins so had to buy extra long pins. When it came to fitting the retaining pins the retaining plates supplied in the kit had a smaller diameter hole/slot for the smaller pins. Had to open these up with a needle file as longer pin also larger diameter.
This was a bit of a fiddle as it is difficult to hold the pin and file at same time. First two went okay but got to confident and ended up slipping with needle file and put it through the end of my thumb. OUCH.


Brakes shoes fitted.


Brake drum back on and complete.

Loaned torque wrench from work to remove and refit hub nut so could fit new back plate to drivers side. Handbrake cable was seized into old back plate so also fitted new hand brake cable to this side.

Drivers side complete.

New rear shockers also fitted to both sides as both looked past best. Bled brakes all round. Handbrake still requires some further adjustment.

Now that it stops next job is getting the engine running.

[jeffj]

As we finished the brakes yesterday we decided to sort engine today.

We had it running a couple of weeks ago and it was a bit lumpy.

Replaced a couple of dodgy looking water hoses and all the vacuum/petrol pipes in engine bay.

Fitted recharged battery and topped up with gallon of petrol and fired up. Engine fired up but would not run on tickover. Once choke came off it also starting spitting and coughing.

Mark changed the spark plugs, plug leads, rotor arm and cleaned up coil connections. Fired up and it ran smooth and straight away settled on tickover. Left running for 1/2 hour then give it a drive up the lane. Drives okay and power picks up although brakes still need further bleeding as spongy.

Ignition light not coming on so we took alternator of my van to try. This was okay so we think diode on alternator knackered. Mark has a new diode to fit.

Mark decided to tidy up wiring in engine bay as couple of dodgy cable connections. Will let him tell the rest of that story as I moved onto bodywork.