Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT My new garage in Wales

[Prospecter]

Well hope he isn't THAT bad! Anyway, my wife developed Frontal Temporal Dementia over a few years. Started with some strange behavior such as complaining that her brother from about 1000 miles away was putting "things" in her head and taking her jewelry. So maybe he needs a visit with a neurologist assuming your health system will allow that.

Good advice.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Well hope he isn't THAT bad! Anyway, my wife developed Frontal Temporal Dementia over a few years. Started with some strange behavior such as complaining that her brother from about 1000 miles away was putting "things" in her head and taking her jewelry. So maybe he needs a visit with a neurologist assuming your health system will allow that.

Sorry to hear about your wife.
My father in law had a massive stroke back in the late 80s which changed his personality virtually overnight. He's just slowly been getting worse ever since. Not really something you'd notice if you saw him daily though.
He's got a bit of a temper now, which he seems to direct to my missus. Every little problem (most of them are his creation) are her fault. He bought a new ipad a few days back and asked my wife to swap all his passwords and contacts across from his old one. Its now running slow (like the old one) and his first comment is its obviously her thats done something to it. Not the 92 open tabs, a dozen of those with running videos.
If you tell him something he'll forget it within a couple of hours. Write him a note and he throws it out straight away as 'theres nothing wrong with his memory'. 'Its the best its ever been'.

The NHS are notoriously slow at the moment for getting anything done. Every specialist needs a referal from your doctor, but getting a doctors appointment can take weeks, and then the waiting lists for specialists can be months and months long. Going private is an overly expensive proposition.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Had a walk round Colby woodland gardens this afternoon with the doggos.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Making the most of the nice weather before the rain thats set to come on saturday.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Used the bug to go shopping this afternoon.

Rocker cover gasket on the drivers side decided to let go and empty a fair bit of oil out.
I think the new cork gaskets are a little thinner than the OEM ones which may have been the cause. The rocker covers are all pock marked with rust and are OEM ones with the VW logo so might be the originals from 1970.

Only one small drip from the front corner on the passengers side.

Holly enjoying a biscuit our postie gave her.

Sun dog.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Hopefully going to see about this VW T4 autosleeper clubman GL thats for sale locally. Its a 1994 with just 57k miles on the clock. 2.5L 5 cylinder petrol with auto box, so its gonna be a bit thirsty. I think i read 23mpg average was mentioned in a road test.

When we first thought about selling the last motorhome last year i was looking for one of these.
Front lounge that converts into either 2 singles or a large double bed, storage above cab and bathroom and kitchen at the rear.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Down through the woods this morning.

 

[Prospecter]

Used the bug to go shopping this afternoon.

Very cool to see your Bug parked amidst today's cars. Although 1970 doesn't seem long ago to me. A friend bought one as his second car, after he decided his GTO burned too much fuel. Can't really blame yours for marking its territory amidst those lesser vehicles.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

1970 is over a 1/2 a century ago. I'm still trying to get my head around the mid 80's being 40 years ago.

I think my bug must have left a trail the whole way back as the oil didn't even register on the bottom of the dipstick.

Missed out on the T4 as it was sold last night.

 

[Prospecter]

Sorry about the T4. It looked like a nice one.
Yeah. Time has a way of moving on.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Missus had a doctors appointment this afternoon so we went for a walk in the woods afterwards. The girls weren't happy waitingin the caravelle for her to come back out.


I think i was missed when i went up to the garage for 5 whole minutes. Opened the door to this.

Play fight then a cuddle.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Sorry about the T4. It looked like a nice one.
Yeah. Time has a way of moving on.

The T4 seemed a bit too good to be true.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Its absolutely pouring down at the moment and the father inlaw is out mowing the lawn again. This is cut number 12 i think in the past couple of days.

 

[Prospecter]

As with teenagers, don't fight the battles that do not matter. (Sounds like you are already on that path.)

 

[sawduststeve]

Its absolutely pouring down at the moment and the father inlaw is out mowing the lawn again. This is cut number 12 i think in the past couple of days.

Is he cutting your lawn or his. If it’s his , meh
If it’s yours result. He can come and do mine anytime he wants.

Steve

 

[f121]

Hopefully going to see about this VW T4 autosleeper clubman GL thats for sale locally. Its a 1994 with just 57k miles on the clock. 2.5L 5 cylinder petrol with auto box, so its gonna be a bit thirsty. I think i read 23mpg average was mentioned in a road test.

When we first thought about selling the last motorhome last year i was looking for one of these.
Front lounge that converts into either 2 singles or a large double bed, storage above cab and bathroom and kitchen at the rear.

Be amazed if you’d have got it in the 20s I had that engine in a regular shape manual t4, can’t remember exactly how bad it was on fuel, but it was BAD.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Is he cutting your lawn or his. If it’s his , meh
If it’s yours result. He can come and do mine anytime he wants.

Steve

I'll send him over.

Be amazed if you’d have got it in the 20s I had that engine in a regular shape manual t4, can’t remember exactly how bad it was on fuel, but it was BAD.

Yeah, i've heard 15mpg round town was not unknown.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Backs of the scalescenes under arch workshops finished. I'll fit the coping and parapet walls once it's installed (and the track is ballasted).

Sky was a bit dark when i took the dogs for a walk. 5 minutes later and it was sunny again. The thunder, lightening and torrential rain just didn't materialise.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Lots of geese at the reservoir this morning.

Still no sign of any logging going on, though theres ******** down so you don't sink ankle deep in the mud anymore.

 

[0150carmac]

Hi mate I have just started reading your thread I actually mind your first thread with your small concrete garage, liking your new garage more space to work on your fleet and looking forward to seeing the progress on your build I really need to kick start my thread but it has been a few years since I updated it but will need to do it got plenty to do keep up the good work

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Hi mate I have just started reading your thread I actually mind your first thread with your small concrete garage, liking your new garage more space to work on your fleet and looking forward to seeing the progress on your build I really need to kick start my thread but it has been a few years since I updated it but will need to do it got plenty to do keep up the good work

Cheers.
This one is just a little bigger than my previous garage.
Still can't believe i managed a full body off restoration and respray on my bug in it.

Just wish this one had a higher garage door and ceiling so i could get my caravelle in like my last one.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Thought I'd have a quick look to see how the scalescenes workshop arches fit the space. These are the backs, the fronts will have roller shutter or barn doors.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Got the fronts of the scalescenes workshops under arches printed and mounted.




Wouldn't be complete without a VW restorer.

Part restored VW T3 (or vanagon in the US).


Bit of a rainbow.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

28 years in my possession today.

Rainbow at Llys-y-fran this morning.

 

[captain14]

Happy anniversary. Lots of adventures and memories there.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Added some Autovolks waterslide decals to the side of an Oxford diecast 1:76 VW T3 panel van. Can't have a VW restored without a works van.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Bit grey but still dry. 5 minutes later and it poured down and i got soaked to the skin.


Scalesences workshops under the arches need a concrete or tarmac forecourt laying now.


That VW T4 autosleeper clubman came back on the market again as the buyer paid a deposit then ghosted him. Went to have a look this afternoon, luckily between rain showers. Needs a bit of inner cab step under the drivers door as theres a couple of holes, a bit of plywood floor is soft under the shower tray (where its leaked) and a few rusty bits round the windscreen. The screen is cracked and delaminating so will need removing anyway.
Still not 100% sure whether to go for it or not.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

This is the only bit thats really got me a bit scared. Theres a black drip tray thing running from B pillar to B pillar all the way round the cab with a couple of drain holes at the top corners of the windscreen. I can't find any info online about how (or even if its removable) as any mud or leaves that fall into it that are too big to get out the drain holes will just sit and rot the metal above the windsceen. It looks like theres a bit of surface rust in the drain hole already.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

I've just bought an automatic 1994 VW T4 autosleeper clubman GL for £5k.

 

[sawduststeve]

I've just bought an automatic 1994 VW T4 autosleeper clubman GL for £5k.

Yay,
Let the fun begin.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Its now sat on the drive.

 

[captain14]

We do have a couple of auto body members here who might be able to provide some insight on how to locate and clean the drain holes.

@NYBODYMAN
@mrbill55

I think there are others but can’t remember without see some of their posts.

 

[Ford52PU]

looks very nice inside! Congratulations and happy travels!

 

[Prospecter]

Looks very nice, inside and out. Good layout for travel, and for camping. I like it! Hopefully your knowledge of VWs will transfer.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

We do have a couple of auto body members here who might be able to provide some insight on how to locate and clean the drain holes.

@NYBODYMAN
@mrbill55

I think there are others but can’t remember without see some of their posts.

According to Auto-sleeper the black plastic bit is bonded into place when the fibreglass cabover was fitted to its not removable.
The drains are just slots in the black channel here:

They correspond with the roof channels on the panel van roof.

looks very nice inside! Congratulations and happy travels!

Its very dated, well it is 30 years old, so will need a bit of modernising. Doing something to the cupboard doors will probably make the biggest difference.
I think just painting the beading round the doors and replacing the sticky back plastic inserts with something else and fitting new catches and knobs will make a huge difference.

Upgrade to LED lights and new sockets and switches too.
I found this van for sale thats had the whole interior redone so i might steal a few ideas from it.
https://www.quirkycampers.com/uk/for-sale/coco-beautiful-boho-beach-hut-on-wheels/

Looks very nice, inside and out. Good layout for travel, and for camping. I like it! Hopefully your knowledge of VWs will transfer.

Its pretty tidy overall. Definately on par with some that were twice the price.
Theres a few bits of trim (the one for the flue on the water heater mostly) that haven't survived too well so will need replacing. Flue cover is obsolete so need to find a good seconhand one somewhere.
I'm quite tempted to raise it a little (maybe an inch or so) and fit some A/T tyres on it. Definately gonna upgrade it from solid discs and drums to vented fronts and discs at the rear as its 2.8 tons in weight fully loaded.
Maybe get rid of the lower side stripe decals and go for a forest or mountain scene thats so loved with vanlifers to make it a bit more distinctive.

Need to have a proper look at the clocks. Its in P but the display shows D and doesn't change. Hopefully an easy fix.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Forecast rain all day today so thankfully managed to get the dogs out beforehand.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Holly looking a bit guilty for digging up the cover.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

Bumpers could do with being brought back to black, though the bit on the lower cab doors is just painted on. I might raptor the bumpers black or bedliner it.


Autovolks have a decent amount of VWs outside now.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

This is the only rust hole i've found so far. Inner cab step/sill under the drivers door.

This is the repair panel thats available for around £20.

Been digging through the paperwork that came with it. I have every MOT from 3 year old onwards, fully stamped service book until 2012 and a load of receipts.
In past 4 years its had a new llambda probe and cat, new rear springs, discs, pads, and shoes, balljoints, timing belt, idler pulley and starter motor plus the usual service parts.

According to the T4 auto guys the display fault is caused by the switch under the shifter so its not telling the dash what gear its in.
Its been suggested i should replace the stock transmission cooler with an external one as they like to leak and when fail will fill the gearbox with coolant. £££ to fix if it does that. The offending part. No receipt for a new one in the paperwork so maybe the original 30 year old part?