2.8L Chevy Adventurewagen

fastmc25 · Post by **fastmc25** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 4:01 pm

Thanks to some friends i got the windows installed today...

........ The damn windshield about cause me an anxiety attack though

....I hate doing glass................ especially when the windshield cost so damn much to ship............But it's in as well as all the other glass in the bus.....

The door glass was a small challenge but i finished them last week........

Now i'm back on the interior and the top.....

Today i stripped the fiberglass top of all it's windows and vent hoods...........Man these things are very flimsy.

.... I think i'm gonna fiberglass some reinforcements into the top to stiffen it up.......

This project has taken longer than i planned but it's slowly getting there...........I get discouraged sometimes when certain parts don't work like i like and i simmer on it awhile before i get back started................I always bog myself down thinking 4 steps ahead rather than concentrating on the task at hand.............

So..... I guess i'm back.......

fastmc25 · Post by **fastmc25** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 7:35 pm

I have been working on the interior....... I installed most of the carpet and interior panels up front....... I hope this weekend to trial fit the "Z" bed and cabinets......

I also have stripped the camper top getting it ready for the redo....I am going to reinforce the roof section somewhat as to help cut down on flex and sound......... I'll be installing insulation and bracing for the headliner to mount to.....I hope to have it ready to install in a couple of weeks......Then it gets the White Rhino Liner sprayed on it for the finish......

I'll get some pics up soon....

Peace,

superwrench73 · Post by **superwrench73** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 7:47 pm

Awesome bus! I really like how you modified the rear guards. Maybe I'll catch up with your progress now that summer's over.

fastmc25 · Post by **fastmc25** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:48 am

superwrench73 wrote:Awesome bus! I really like how you modified the rear guards. Maybe I'll catch up with your progress now that summer's over.

Well Get busy,

I wanted to do the front beam relocation but opted for raised spindles instead.......I wish i could of gone with the 930 CV's and may still need to.........My angles are still good and not stressing the joints so i'll have to do some wear checks when get it on the road........

Your camper looks good....It's gonna be fun that's for sure....

Here's a current pic of mine....

... I was fitting the roof and taking some measurements for the inside cabinets............When finished the roof will be sprayed with white Rhino Liner bedliner..........That should protect it and look good...................I can't wait.........It just won't fit in my shop when finished......

metropoj · Post by **metropoj** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 10:17 am

Will it still fit in the garage with the roof on ?

petew · Post by **petew** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 10:51 pm

that's a big ol roof you got there.

fastmc25 · Post by **fastmc25** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 4:48 am

metropoj wrote:Will it still fit in the garage with the roof on ?

Nope, My door is 8' and the roof turns in a 8' 10" with the bus lifted....

By the time i install the TV antenna i'll lose another 10".......

but....... It'll be cool.............

That's why im doing all my inside work before i put the roof on permanent.......Then "Clyde" stays outside.....

fastmc25 · Post by **fastmc25** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 4:50 am

petew wrote:that's a big ol roof you got there.

It's not the size of the roof that matters.................... But how you use it.....

fastmc25 · Post by **fastmc25** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 3:31 pm

I got something done today.......

Well i think i have come up with a fix for the bad negative camber i was suffering on the bus.....

.......... I fabbed some Gusset type brackets to add strength to the adapter plates i used for raising the rear......... They were flexing and slightly bending....... The gusset is welded on to the plate and lt bolts onto the suspension so it's still removeable...... Not pretty but functional......

.......... Next time they are out i'll make them pretty......

.

I also worked on the front bumper, brushgard and lights..................... all welded and ready for finish work.......... Clyde already looks mean........LOL

Alrighty Then !!!!!! Show me some snow !!!!!!

I WISH.........

....Not here in Louisiana....

WestyPop · Post by **WestyPop** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 9:55 am

A work of art, Paul. Clyde looks fantastic!

J.R.
68 Westy
(+ others)

fastmc25 · Post by **fastmc25** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 4:09 pm

Hey WestyPop,

Thanks, I still have a ways to go before he's on the road but i'm getting there....

BTW...... Checkout Hot Vw's Dec 2007 issue....... My Formula Vee bug is on page 98 and 99.......... I'm stoked.....

I told the editor i was building Clyde............. So maybe next year they'll see him at one of the events........ Who knows....

fastmc25 · Post by **fastmc25** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 8:59 pm

What terrible weather for a holiday weekend........ I didn't get motivated until today.........

What a slug....

I had planned on spraying the roof and installing it this weekend.........but mother nature wouldn't let me....... The rhino Liner doesn't like to be shot in 40 degree rainy weather........

Oh well, today i lengthened the rear brace on the sliding door by 3". This will help the door be fully open without the rear tires hitting the inside of the door...........I'll post pics tomorrow...

I also installed the first side cabinet/closet......also installed more door rubber..... It's starting to look like a camper a bit now..........

I readjusted the valves on the engine and it made a small difference in how it runs........ I still have a vibration that is rpm related........ I guess 1st i'll have to pull the engine and check the balance on the flywheel.......that's all i can guess short of tearing it down completely and getting the whole assembly balanced......

......Like i should of to start with.......I always have balanced everything i build and thought i'd give it a shot like the chevy guys do.....put it together....

Otherwise this engine runs great......70 lbs oil pressure and stays on 180 degree water temp..

..... nothing like a big engine with a lightweight flywheel........ revs very quickly...... and sound even better.... i can't wait for the first trip......

fastmc25 · Post by **fastmc25** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 7:14 am

yesterday i finally sprayed the roof..................... I used Raptor Bedliner spray................. went on very easy and did it in 30 minutes...... A bit messy but hey, It looks cool and has several bennies to boot........... like sound deadening quality, radiant heat reflection, very durable......etc......

I hope to install the roof today if the rain doesn't wash me away......

fastmc25 · Post by **fastmc25** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 7:11 pm

Clyde finally has his top on permanently.....

.........All 50 Screws....

........... I insulated the hard to get places before installing the top........ I also installed the side windows temporarily to keep rain out.................. They still need some work to be finished.....

Next i will work on the upper cabinet and start some wiring.....

fastmc25 · Post by **fastmc25** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 5:26 pm

I finally pulled the engine out and found my vibration problem i was having........The adapter flywheel was way off balance......

I had only run the bus in the shop and made a couple drives around the block so far because i had a bad harmonic vibration at 1500 rpms ........I wasn't going to put it on the road until i resolved this problem...........The flywheel kit i ordered from Kennedy was for an 85 2.8 S-10 motor......... which is externally balanced......... The engine i finally put together was an internally balanced engine........86-up...........

Heck..... I didn't know there was 2 different 2.8's on in the S-10......

..... The truck i pulled my engine from was a 1985 GMC Sonoma..... I had already ordered the flywheel kit for it and had it for 6 months before i built the engine........ when i had the machine work done they told me it was an '87 S-10 motor...... someone did the Ole switcheroo.....

....This 2.8 is better though with the bigger mains it'll be stronger.....

Man i drove myself crazy trying to find the problem short of yanking the engine out and a tear down...... I really didn't want todo that............

Well, the machine shop balanced it......they said it was about 14 oz.s off..........Like i was slinging a tennis shoe in a drier .......

I hope to put the engine back in this week and do a test drive.......I also am changing the Kennedy Stage 1 clutch out for a Stage 2......... I have been thinking the bus is pretty heavy and i will be towing occasionally with it........so why overpower the Stage 1 and save it for one of my bugs............We'll see how the pedal feels .......