Jonathan
Henson
Split Screen Bus
Year: 1965
Engine size:
1641cc
Purchase date: May 2007
With summer on the way it's time to start thinking about where the next road trip will take us. Last year, when we did our Euro roadtrip, we set out with nothing but a map and a book of campsites. Don't get me wrong, that is difinitely the way to travel - rolling up at a random campsite, getting the map out to plan the next leg of the journey - it all seem very proper and how it should be. This year, however, I thought it would be fun to set out with only a GPS (OK, maybe with a map as backup), type in a random destination and see where it gets us. Time to get 21st century all over this thing.
When picking a sat nav it was important to choose one that would fulfil all our needs - lots of points of interest, good directions, up-to-date maps - and so after much searching I discovered Navigon. They have this new Truck Navigation software that adds profile information for, among others, camper vans, lorries and motorhomes so you can put all the specs of your vehicle in and it will work out the best route for you. It also has information about 24 hour petrol stations, refreshment stops, height restrictions etc. all of which could be very handy when bumbling around the place, lost. Click here for more information.
All that's left is to decide where to head for. And keep our fingers crossed we get a decent summer this year...
With all the techincal issues out of the way for the time being it was time to get back to the look of the thing. I've always liked the look of BRM wheels but as an original set weren't ever really an option I started looking elsewhere. That's when I found Wolfrace had started a line in classic reproduction wheels, BRM style being in there. Better still they had some with a wide five stud pattern so they would fit straight onto my original hubs.Click here to see their full range.
When picking a sat nav it was important to choose one that would fulfil all our needs - lots of points of interest, good directions, up-to-date maps - and so after much searching I discovered Navigon. They have this new Truck Navigation software that adds profile information for, among others, camper vans, lorries and motorhomes so you can put all the specs of your vehicle in and it will work out the best route for you. It also has information about 24 hour petrol stations, refreshment stops, height restrictions etc. all of which could be very handy when bumbling around the place, lost. Click here for more information.
All that's left is to decide where to head for. And keep our fingers crossed we get a decent summer this year...
With all the techincal issues out of the way for the time being it was time to get back to the look of the thing. I've always liked the look of BRM wheels but as an original set weren't ever really an option I started looking elsewhere. That's when I found Wolfrace had started a line in classic reproduction wheels, BRM style being in there. Better still they had some with a wide five stud pattern so they would fit straight onto my original hubs.Click here to see their full range.
April
So I've fixed the
engine problem, simply by taking it out and replacing the dodgy parts.
Not something to be taken lightly, especially if, like me, you've never
done anything like it before. I'm not going to say it was easy but it
certainly wasn't as difficult as I was expecting, just very time
consuming. It was a very long weekend.For the sake of nostalgia and (possibly) informative purposes I recorded the whole thing and you can watch it below. Speeded up slightly it shows how you can easily take out an engine, replace the heads, put it back in and experience all seasons in just under ten minutes. There'll be a full write up soon.
February
Using my Bus as a daily driver is
great, but being as stock as it is, some things start to niggle. The
first was the engine. When I bought it it was fitted with what turned
out to be a 1200 Beetle engine running at not what you'd call full
power. Topping out at 32mph and stuggling up the slightest of inclines
made for not fun driving so in went a 1641 lump and all was better.
Well, eventually everything was better, but that's a story for another
day.
The latest big job is having an IRS fitted with all the gubbins that go along with it. Currently in the garage, it should give me 15-20mph on my top speed and increase fuel efficiency due to the removal of reduction boxes. It should also make it feel more rooted to the road and less terrifying to drive over 50mph. In fact, getting over 50 without making the engine bleed will be nice... I am going a little lower (maybe an inch or two) to make it sit nicer, but slamming I am not as I want to continue using it every day without shattering my spine.
UPDATE
It's back from the garage all IRS'd up and it has been transformed - driving it is a totally new experience and it looks much better. Oh, and you know how I said all is well with the engine? Well, it has decided to start eating itself giving me some nice popping through one of the carbs and the sounds of an old typewriter from it's guts. Turns out the vavle guides on one side have disintegrated. Bugger.
