Cosworth 2.9litre in my Crewwy

[toomanytoys]

bugger........ low coolant flow for some reason then...

[dickspanner]

Yup, still having problems with the coolant, think I have a slight air leak into the system, mechanic said he presurised the system but found no leak.

I am going to try and install the jag aux water pump over the weekend and re bleed the system to see if it resolves the issue. Did drive it last night to the garage to stick some fuel in as it is now fully road legal.

Went to my lock up last night for a couple of hours to work out a few things, as when I measured the rear bed and timbers etc it looks like I have not subtracted the side wall widths and the load bed may end up 5mm too wide and hence may have to trim the timber and alli plate down little.

One task I was trying to get sorted out was the rear seat. I have a tripple rear seat out of a caravelle, which I think would look good especially if I get it recovered to match the front seats. When working it out the seat was 1675 and I had approximately 1620 so was pretty miffed after many configerations and in out hokey cokey planning I decided to open the rear of the seat up to review the steel structure. When I opened it up there is a bottom rail and major rair 1/3 from the top. Basically after working it out I decided to cut 60mm out of the bottom rail (30mm each side) and reweld the bottom rail together, the back board was trimmed and the upolstry was refitted, and being honest it looks pretty good and the three seat now fits nice and snuf on the back wall. I just have to work out how to do the base now as I want it still to be able to be lifted up to use the storage space under.

She still has a lot of nasty habbits when running, but can not give it a long run untill I have sorted this cooling out yet.

The list of things to do s still quite big, but have to get it sorted if I want to go to France next friday in it.

Dickspanner

[Chilla]

Went to my lock up last night for a couple of hours to work out a few things, as when I measured the rear bed and timbers etc it looks like I have not subtracted the side wall widths and the load bed may end up 5mm too wide and hence may have to trim the timber and alli plate down little.

better than being too narrow tho.

Interested in what you did with the caravelle seat as thinking of doing the same in my doka and wondered about the width. Do you think the original covers would fit when you've narrowed it?
cheers

[dickspanner]

Chilla,

The seat fits fine and with a slight nip and tuck of the carpet covering on the rear the rest of the seat is fine. It does not even look like any modifications have been carried out.

Basically I peeled open the seat, removed the hardboard backing from the seat and cut 30mm out of each side right against the end of the main bottom steel member. The main vertical member was bent inwards to meet the new end of steel and welded together, this bend was formed at the main horizontal member which is approximatley 2/3 up the seat where the headrests locate. This bend was formed with a lump hammer and a bit of spanking.

I will post some pictures later as I have not downloaded from the camera yet as other things have been on my mind.

The rear seat is fixed to the main body by two angles on the top and two flats on the bottom. I have not worked out how to do the bottom part of the seat yet as I still want to be able to access the storage unerneath.

Dickspanner

[dickspanner]

Well the jag aux water pump is now plumbed in, just no juice to it at the moment. Brought it home tomight and I am going to go to work in it tomorrow.

I can confirm that the electric fan kicked in tonight as I was trying to bburp the system. So fingers crossed a bit of a run tomorrow will help the air get trapped in all the right places for another burp tomorrow. It drives like a trooper, and blimey has it got some get up and go. Just got to try and not let the second port open too often on the carbs as it picks up like there is a turbo fitted

Now down to 4 days before she goes to France so may have a brive out in it one night this week and put a few miles on it. Got to get speedo connecte first though

Will keep you posted and publish some finished piccies tomorrow night.

Dickspanner.

[JamesT25]

Sorry to hijack your post andy but thought i'd let you know the crewie you sold me was also taxed MOT'd and insured on Thursday last week and on friday morning at 5am set off down to bugjam and covered 400 faultless miles return journey!!, not very frugal or speedy but managed 82 on the M6 toll hope you get your gremlins sorted cos this being the first time i've ever driven one they are quite fun to drive!!!

[dickspanner]

Not hyjacking my thread at all pal, really chuffed you got desert storm on the road, although I should imagine you have given it your own name by now. Looking forward to you popping down so I can check out the work you have done.

Green Meanie is on the road and running quite sweet except for the stalling, hoping she is just learning to run again. Bit frustration knowing that when the second throtle body opens it is time to change gear or time to change gears.

Hopefully she will make it thee and back to France without a problem, but planning a quick run to blackpool to take a few piccies there as it is part of a bet. Wlecome to come along fella and bring yours for final photo shoot of the two together.

Dickspanner

[dickspanner]

Well I did not go to the South of France in the crewcab afterall as I had only driven it for 60 miles and did not want to risk something happening and not being able to get help in France due to the modifications on it. I had two plasterers with me and was paying them a lot of money to plaster the house and did not want them sat around for a while if you get where I am coming from.

However, after a lot of soul searching the crewcab is now being sold regrettably, I have made this decision while in France due to how much money I spent over there and the debts I now have, I have not been to my lock up yet to look at it as if I do I will most definatly change my mind.

So to end the story of the crewcab build it is now up for sale and ready for someone to finish off the last snag jobs and have all the fun with it. It is featured in the vehicles for sale. I do not have to say much about it if you have followed this thread you will know everything about it.

First with the money gets the prize.

Dickspanner

[toomanytoys]

[dickspanner]

I will feel very sad if it goes, that is one of the main reasons I have not been to my lock up to see it as I will probably change my mind about selling it. If someone turns up with the cash and I show it to them then it will be a big wrench to let it go as it has taken so long to build and sort out.

It is very tempting to go to the north meeting tomorrow night but it is on my ramp at present with the mini underneath so it would be a pain to get it out for the meet. But who knows, lets see how I feel later tonight and see if I am tempted to go and get it out. I would just have to promise myself not to get into it again and decide to keep it.

Dickspanner

[dickspanner]

The offer for its purchase is still open on the vehicle for sale option.

I have not done any more work on it and it is just sat gathering dust in my lock up. If I drive it again I will fall for it again and keep it no doubt.

The sale buy the way also gets everything T25 I have as well which is plenty including a DK gearbox, Diesel engine conversion, twin headlight grill, and boxes or spares.

Grab a nice motor while I still want to sell it.

Dickspanner

[dickspanner]

Had a think about this one long and hard since last post. Don't really want to get rid of crewcab as it is a minter, so an alternative is to take out the cossy motor and all associated parts and replace it with a sensible turbo diesel out of a golf or something. Want something that returns maximum mpg for the 2000 mile return trips I do. Just done it in my vectra and it returned around 39 to the gallon which is nice.

Any suggestions on a turbo diesel engine that gives really good MPG and is a really easy install but it must have really good torque to pull a trailer and stuff fully loaded etc, may even want to pull a mini digger with it.

Dickspanner

[toomanytoys]

Prob looking at an AAZ for the "simpler route".... slap on an intercoler and a couple of tweaks.. But this is an all new thread now....

[dickspanner]

Thought pattern has changed a little due to the dreaded CT in France, there is just no way on earth I would get a cossy powered crewwy through the CT, but a simple installed Diesel turbo would probably not even raise an eyebrow. The crewcab is mint and want to keep the body work.

What are AAZ engines installed in then as I am a newby to the whole VW scene in relation to what engine fits what etc.

If there is someone who is interested in this engine conversion for their VW every thing would be included so they could do the swap with ease and the only mods they would need would be to drill holes for mountings for engine cradle, exhausts and various bits and bobs in engine bay. Everything else is done for them. I would say someone with spanners experiance could install the whole conversion in around 3 days. I would even consider installing it for them for a chunk of money, they would bring a VW powered vehicle into my lock up then drive a cosworth powered one out. If they brought a Turbo Diesel model in the a px figure could also be discussed. LOL.

Dickspanner

[toomanytoys]

Your going to get into a whole bucket of other stuff with french registration now.... Mmm... was it a TD before fitting the cozzy..??

You cant register an AAZ engine in France as it was never fitted from the factory.. you may just get away with a petrol to JX (factory td) engine swap as they were available with them originally... but from what I know even thats a risk...

Lets speak off line..
Si