21 Oct 2015

Van problems continue.

The folks that changed the engine routed the AC Clutch wires across the fan belt and so that tore up the wires. 150.00 for another company to fix that.  Then the transmission failed due to lack of fluid but we had the engine swap folks power flush it a few miles before. We just managed to limp into the transmission shop.

Now 1300.00 and a re conditioned tranny and the brakes are weird. The peddle does not return like is should.  Off to "Just Brakes"  Change the brake fluid and bleed and adjust the brakes and you  should be ok they said.  $130.00 and no change~!  Now they say maybe the brake booster???  They don't know and they just do brakes omg~!  Lot of stupid going around.

The engine and tranny seem ok now. Need to have the Tranny checked when 500 miles rolls around. We don't drive it that much so might take a while.  Weather is getting nice for camping now though if we stay in AAA towing range~!

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We have some favorite spots to stop and shoot the sunset.

The old engine is waiting in the garage for Charles Roggeveen

Click to see the Old Engine coming home

The Engine is in and running and we are taking the van on Shakedown runs each evening. Still some bugs to work out and one is ants in the engine compartment~! Seems it was parked over an ant colony while they were working on it so we have a nest to deal with. Spray seems the best at the moment and most have now passed on. AC cost 150.00 to evacuate and recharge and lasted two days so think there is a leak and will have to pay more money to fix :-(

Pat and I take it out most evenings after work to shoot sunsets.

 

Ace enjoys the outings with us.

 

 

 

This is the engine from the Camper Van that seized. I will take it home to play with and try to find out what happened and maybe rebuild it as a project. The doner engine is almost ready to install now and maybe we will be mobile this week?  Some shakedown driving of course to be sure all is ok after the major surgery~!

We miss the van and our nomad life on the road. 

As the Mercury is now uncomfortable on my back for more than 45 minutes, we looked at some SUV's and found this nice 2006 Rinkon (Use Asian accent)  Nice comfortable seats and nice vehicle for 9000 dollars but found they have mechanical problems and think best to spend money on the van instead and drive it more.  Pat needs to learn to drive the van but the turning radius is something that most women don't understand. Click the arrow to see the video.

 

 

 

 

Charles Roggeven can you see the heads just shampooed?  Waddaya tink? Will dey werk?

 

The Heads are refurbished and back at the shop for install on the engine. We will take the intake manifold and carburetor off the camper and use it on the donor engine. Will try to determine why the engine failed on our trip. Suspect it had something to do with the last repair job at Ice Cold Air.

Will check on the van tomorrow to see how the work is progressing.

Bought a Used Engine Stand today

 90 dollars on Craigslist

The Donor Engine will need some work. Will have the heads done and a new timing chain and got a gasket kit today too.

 Dirty Beast to clean up.  What colour to paint?

Both Vans at the Shop Now.

Had to tow the Camper there of course.

The Donor with Engine Ready to Pull.

I will drive up and check progress today. Hope to get a pressure washer and clean up the camper engine bay and the new engine... maybe some paint too.