1954 BD Standard

[bigbulli]

Dad has been busy during his trips back to Bristol repairing the front beam hangers...

Dad made a gig to set the correct position of the hangers



Then made plates for the sides, see addition strenthener for the weld.





All in and ready..





I drove up this weekend to help fit the CE IRS legs, lots of cutting...









One for Si



Test fit...



Jig, all nice and square





Test fit gearbox...nice





Bit of paint...



Now thinking of ditching the solid front mount and going for a mid mount. Once I lowered the front beam it will be time to move the bus down here for more welding before paint ....it's gotta be low to get in the garage

[52panelvan]

Really Nice work on those beam hangers.

Your a brave man cutting that gearbox mount out but it looks like a good bit of kit you are installing in there to replace it.

Keep the shots coming - i dont think i have seen an irs done before in pics.
Where does all the kit come from?

[Pucka]

Good work mate!

The kit is a Creative IRS, nice install

[nick]

One for Si



love the inspection lamp rich... fantastic to see some progress done on the barndoor...i didnt know you were going down the hot rod route with it ...

[bigbulli]

Thanks for the comments chaps, I really wasn't sure about cutting off the chassis legs, but its done now, I want to keep the bus and keep it in the garage and this is the only way I found the receipt when I'd bought them it was dated 2003, either the 1st or second CE irs chassis legs made for a bd, hence they needed a small amount of moding.The creative kit is well built. One spring plate has been an absolute so-in-so to get off, we ended up cutting off 5-10mm at a time from where it joined the torsion bar and eventually came off, (see: 4 years!!!) so now I just need to measure the degrees and fit the '68 spring plates (thanks shawn for the advice), hmmm 3" or 6" drop Then I will fit the adjusters to the front beam. Hopefully Dad will get some more welding done to the bus before he sells up and it comes down here, cos then it's up to me to finish the metal work

hey nick one for you the strip lamp in the roof above the bulkhead, oh yeah

[bigbulli]

Just found this pic on http://www.vwgarden.co.uk of my BD in Sweden..

[bigbulli]

adjusters fitted to front beam...pics to follow...

Considering this mod....

[nick]

[/quote]


how the %^$£ did you get round the back of that?????

[bigbulli]

Not me nick, Ian at South West VW's did it to fix someones bus!

[bigbulli]

Fitted adjusters to the BD Beam















And NOS Centre pin

Old one coming out



Old pin (bushes worn, pin seems good)



New bushes going in (another one for you Si )



All back together with no up and down / side to side movement So much easier when out of the bus!!!



Back in the bus and lower

[23A]

..great work, mate!

[nick]

any reports for us rich???

[WILL]

1st dibs when it's done

[Rusting Hulk]

Your such a pansy wearing rubber gloves ($2 trick) and letting that retired bloke do all the hard work for you, at least it will be done properly Say hello to your Dad for me

[bigbulli]

Your such a pansy wearing rubber gloves ($2 trick) and letting that retired bloke do all the hard work for you, at least it will be done properly Say hello to your Dad for me

Si That retired bloke is doing just fine thanks, he's gone from flat out busy with work to doing nought and taken to it very well indeed. He's not doing any work on the BD he's far too busy going on holiday every other month or two. He does drive up to Bristol now and then to check it's still sat in the garage....but I have free storage until the house sells

I may have found some free parking for the truck (though I have a prospective buyer), plan is to get the BD down here and then I will weld it up! I have found a painter Everything takes time and we run at half speed down here on a good day!

Is yours in paint yet....