So, Xmas has come and gone and into the New Year we go with hopefully our van coming to life. We have got a bit bored of calling her the Van or the camper or the bus. We have thought long and hard and come up with the name Millie. Rather appropriate we thought. A gentle old lady, a bit smoky in places, one who shuffles about a bit and one who needs a lot of help to get going. But very nice for all that.
So there we were in the dark, seems to be a recurring theme this, in the rain with Millie's bonnet up. Steve G had enrolled Spanky his mate to help us work on her. We turned the engine over and round she went but no start. I thought it would be a good idea to put some diesel in so 10 litres later she was ready. We also gave her a new filter so she could drink clean diesel, if that's not a oxymoron. But still no start. Spanky started looking for the fuel pump and we found something under the carpet which could be it. There was no power to it. Indeed, little or no power to most things, apart from the reversing lights being on and the windscreen wipers dragging across the glass, due to 90% of the fuses being busted. Lots of wires located but they all seemed to disappear into the dashboard but didn't come out. We did find an Ethernet cable though !
The next visit to Millie Steve was armed with loads of fuses, Spanky brought a tool kit specific for Millie and we were all getting wet again and in the dark of course. I felt as I leant over the fuse box pretending to know what Spanky was doing with his test lead thingy that someone had attached a small water pipe to the inside of my collar which was slowly dribbling down my back and into my bum crack. This feeling was to remain with me for the rest of the evening while I looked on in marvellous mystery at the work the two guys were doing. Discovered the pump wasn't the pump after all. So eventually we found the the pump and the pipes full of air. We tried to remove the air by removing some pipes until fuel came out before reconnecting. But still no start. Found a solenoid thingy that stops the engine which seemed to work OK. Got the timing sorted out with much grunting and groaning so all apparently lined up as it said in the manual. The wrong manual, so I ordered the correct one on Amazon that night.
Before the next visit to Millie we had lots of discussions about the interior. What colour carpets? What colour worktops? What colour upholstery? What layout should the kitchen be? Where were we going to sleep? After trawling through lots of websites, bookmarking hundreds as we went, we decided that we should put a high top on her so we could sleep upstairs, just like a real house. We could get one fitted in Bradford! We spoke to the boss and we could park in his yard overnight, hook up to the electric while the glue set! Excellent. Found out we could have one fitted about 5 miles away so this looks like a better option. We discussed the type of bed we would fit in the roof and I found out that a hammock type bed seemed a good option but it could only take 80kgs! As I approach 95kgs on my own, I just happened to say to my better half "we clearly have a weight problem here". "WE HAVE A WEIGHT PROBLEM" came the retort. This went down like a barrel of frogs in your knickers and I haven't eaten since!
We decided after this we needed more advice so we found the T4/ T5 forum who have been very friendly and helpful. When I introduced what we were doing to the Forum boss he suggested we could go to his house and help him with lots of DIY in exchange for a large charity donation. What a great idea! Slight problem in that he lives on the edge of Loch Morar in Scotland! It could be a nice place to visit when Millie runs. We also went to Rock Salmon, 5 miles away and had a great chat with Chris the owner. He was very helpful with the roof which he will source for us but also suggested a better system than my hammock idea! Phew! I was off the hook and I've started eating again. We also saw lots of great kitchen ideas, colours and even a camper with a kitchen at the back, which is just what we had decided on for our layout. Lucy also spotted a long wheel base Mercedes thing that was being fitted out and boldly proclaimed, "we're doing one of these next!"
We've also bought a DVD on camper conversions, bought one book and two magazines, been given a camper cookbook, a camp-site book and a metal container with blank recipes spaces for Xmas. We have also decided to join some DUB fests and already selected a few to visit. Perhaps a small UK tour before the Windy? We are becoming nerds.
Back on the van, we had a look at her in the daylight for a change. I did some rummaging around, fitted a bulb primer to help get rid of the air while Lucy did some cleaning and tidying and we planned some more ideas for the inside. We were actually nearly agreed on everything!
That night Mike joined us and looked at a lot of the wiring. Being an electrician he tutted quite a bit and found some more stray wires. We rechecked the timing, and a few other things. Steve G decided enough was enough and he sprayed some brake cleaner fluid into the air intake. Wow! She coughed and spluttered and fired up, with a horrendous knocking noise. They all assured me this was OK. I was unconvinced. We did it again and she ran for a couple of minutes. We had to be careful that she did not overheat as there is no water in her. The radiator is in the back of the van along with the pipes! But she ran! Then we noticed diesel being chucked out of the pump. Bugger. This was then removed.
The next day I took this be tested at Chelston Electrics. A guy who works with Spanky made the contact and we managed to get a reduced fee for the work and a free test. So £236 worse off I returned the pump to Millie, were the guys proceeded to reassemble her in the dark, but no rain this time. A new timing belt kit was fitted, Millie was re-timed again and we were ready to try again. Diesel bulb primed the pump. I was given the honour of firing her up. Turned the key. No start. Turned again. No start. Steve G was having non of it again so out came the brake fluid cleaner into the air intake. I turned the key again. And. And AND! SHE FIRED UP!!! WHEY HEY. Fuel was pulled into the pump, I took my foot off the pedal, pushed in the choke and she ticked over very nicely, apart from a knocking sound, and smoke belching out of a glo plug. Nothing to worry about! Millie lives!
Steve G did say when she goes he was going to run around the garden naked! We are still waiting!
