Club 80-90 Forums

Hi All

I'm trying to help a mate out who has quite a nice auto sleeper conversion T25, the van is a 89-90 2.1 injection with auto box.

Problem 1.

A friendly type garage took it in to fix an exhaust blow where the offside front pipe bolts to the cylinder head, they broke both the heads of the bolts and advised him it would cost a ridiculous figure to fix and come and pick it up.
There is about 1/2" of bolt sticking out on both so you can get mole grips on the remaining bit, but they don't want to move.
Any ideas on removing the remainder of the bolts would be greatly appreciated
The exhaust is still on the vehicle and appears ok ish, it was just blowing from the joint in question.

Problem 2.

On closer inspection and removing the cover beneath that particular side, it's obvious that the oil is coming out round the push rod tube things as well as other places.
I checked the oil and water and there was no oil on the dipstick and the expansion tank was empty, I didn't find any creamy type deposits but was told the water was a little oily on last check and my mate assumed/blamed his wife for using an "empty" oil can to top the water up?

Suggestions here please.

They love the bus and want to keep on using it, I can see that the exhaust will want replacing sometime [sooner than later] but fear all the bolts into the cylinder heads will do the same thing.
Last year they spent a fortune having the autobox replaced, it is a nice tidy camper used predominately by the wife and children so they do want reliability.

They are paying me to try and sort this out, I want to give them the best advice and not take their money if their just wasting it.

Cheers
Brian.

P.S. I'm not a garage just a mate that's not got a lot of work on so offered to have a look for them.

fear not as to the exhaust bolts take a look here
http://www.club80-90.co.uk/wiki/index.p ... tuds/bolts

not a nice job but sounds like the mechanic that did it doesn't like working on anything over five years old. as for the oil leak just keep an aye on the level and see how much you loose over say 100 miles leaking a bit of oil is to be expected its a case of how much. The only way you'll know about the CH studs is to remove and find out. Assume they will be corroded though unless you have it on good authority that the coolant is up to spec/concentration and has always been that way. If not you are possibly down the recon/replacement engine route. Is it worth it for a few spots of oil? I'd say repair the exhaust and leave the rest alone, but start saving for recon.

Hi and thanks for the reply.

Anti freeze? the expansion tanks empty and he said last time they topped it up the water felt oily, I very much doubt the anti freeze has been kept at the right concentration or even done.
I'm afraid my friend and his wife rely on garages and servicing as and when the vehicle needed it as their not into mechanics of any description.

They told me that the exhaust system [complete] had been done 4000 miles ago, the tubes/manifolds haven't been changed and the new box has repair paste in the end

We have oil constantly dripping from the push rod tube? nearest to where the exhaust was blowing at the manifold, coolant disappearing, exhaust studs broken in the heads.
I don't know enough to tell him the motors had it , but I did hint it might be cheaper in the long run to fit a recon block.
We checked into the cost of this and can get a 2.1 fitted [from magazine] £1549.00 another company near to us who will only fit new VW engines have come back with a quote nearer £2500.00 plus we've got the price of the new exhaust system [£300-£400] on top of that.

Is it cheaper to have the engine changed and not have to worry or pay labour and parts to a garage to try and solve all the problems and hope they do a good job.

The campers only done 120,000 miles and cost them £1500 for a new autobox last year.

Again any advice comments welcome as this is getting a little to techincal for me

Thanks again.

hi Brian,

are your friends in Chatham too?

We have got three T25s now, and wouldn't mind knowing some local enthusiasts. 1 x a/c and 2 x 2.1. Bus, van and camper. We are definitely not mechanics, but do have a few tools, and sometimes looking at another one helps!! Have seen a beige one floating around...is it theirs??

If they are interested, drop me a PM

Fingers crossed for the van!

Did i spot your bus in the garage opposite toys r us the other day?

My friends are from Ashford so not really local, their camper is a hi top off white thing with the auto sleeper burgany strips running round it.

They do visit so you might have seen them around.

Also was you at volksworld? as I was the whole weekend and did see a scooby doo bus there.

See Ya.

Brian.

yes to the garage opposite toys r us - wheel changeover.
No to volksworld!!

Get them to wave if they see us around - scoobs is pretty distinctive!

Haven't seen you in your splitty, though....Would have noticed it - how's it going?

I was in my splitty when I saw you I have a bright red firebus with a big blue light on it and you missed it.

I've just sold it though not collected till next week, looking for something a little different

There was another mystery machine at volksworld do you know of others?

Thought I'd chip in and say that I'm just down the road from you guys. I'm in the process of swapping a 2.1 engine for a new VEGE re-con unit at the moment, I have an engine crane, plenty of tools etc. etc. if it helps at all, but only limited experience with these vans so far (learning something new every day though ).

Mike.

Mike B,
thrilled to hear from you, will drop you a PM with contact details. Always nice to know of someone local to speak to in a crisis. And with 3, there's always sommat going on!!!


Brian, just coz the van was i the garage doesn't mean I was....actually in Asda's doing family shop!!!! What exactly is sommat a bit different.... don't you copy my bus - as far as I know there is only one in Medway, although I spotted one on the motorway in the midlands, and a non-t25 version in Barry, Wales

regards
Emma

Hi Brian

If you need work to be done or if you need a quote, I have a friend of a friend in Welling, London, who is a mechanic. He only does Veedubs and built his own race bug from scratch. He is looking for a challenge and what you described, is right down his alley. You could always call him, explain your problem and see what he would do or maybe obtain a quote; would give you an idea how and how much. no obligation.

Let me know if you need contact details.

Mike, I have a brown Hi-top (not beige) and live between Borstal and Aylesford. Really would like to see yours. Got time to play?
(Likeminded people in the Medway, sweet!)

And if anybody of you needs a German translation, let me know.

SlowWest

Do you know any "pooh" hot welding shops ? a new stud could be welded to the old broken one , using a stud welder , just an idea .

Best way to remove broken studs is to Weld a 'T' shaped bar on to the bit remaining and unscrew it, the heat from the welding frees off the threads.
Good luck
Chad

jk do a complete exhaust kit for £250.00

as above heat is best thing to remove studs

plus there is a 2.1 for sale in the for sale section