Yeah Its Dubs Again

In the ongoing saga that is my 1972 VW Bay Window we are still trying to remove the rear hub carrier to change the wheel bearings. Three out of four bolts gave in with a minor struggle, the last one resolutely holding out.

So I brought in the tag team:-

The results of a two hour battle included setting welding gloves on fire and fixing a shagged air tool, the offending bolt head has been mostly removed. Just need a gentle caress with my Powerfile and a few twats with my biggest hammer and we should be back in business.

In order to add a bit of disorder, here are a few shots of my garage:-

Looking out towards my Bay on the drive, Velocette and Ariels in the foreground

Looking on from the main door. Surfboards and motorbikes.

1938 Ariel, which works, and below the surfboard (ideal for a beginner, well battered but for sale if anyone wants it), is a 1928 Ariel and a 1953 Ariel, both projects. Sneaking into the picture bottom right is the tank and frame of a 1920 Ariel project.

 Still hibernating - my 1913 Ariel TT model.

1930 Ariel and 1954 Velocette MAC - both in good order (no, really..).

Where the...erm...magic happens...arf arf.

Fun With Dubs - Shagged Rear Hub Bearings

Imagine my amusement as I struggled to find out why the handbrake cables wouldn't adjust up only to find that both rear wheel bearing are sloppy. Laugh? I nearly shat.

So, the major problem, at first anyway, is to get the 46mm nut off the stub axle. Two tommy bars bit the dust before I enlisted the services of an air impact gun. even that couldn't shift them though so I sent for the cavalry - Plus Gas and a hot air gun. That sorted them out - resistance is futile.

The drive shaft, brake drum and internals came off easily, and the hub was no trouble

The brake backing plate has seen better days so I will replace it. I have a new slave cylinder to fit too. Of course the nut on the end of the brake line was solid so that section of brake line needs replacing too. Oh good.

I got as far as loosening the hub carrier bolts - I got three loose but one isn't having it. I have left them soaking in penetrating fluid and will see how it goes next time. Now to order some (more) bits....

Nostalgia - It Ain't What It Used To Be...

Took a look at the Vintage Nostalgia Show near Warminster on Saturday. It was a nice day, the sun shone and there was cake. A pretty good show all in all. Some pics:-

Let there be cake. And there was cake:-

Let there be Volkswagens. And there was Volkswagens:-

Let there be hotrods. And there was hotrods:-

Let there be random classic cars, scooters and water pistols. And....yeah, you guessed it...

There was even Tiger Moths:-

All in all a good day out. Reckon I might do the weekend next year if the van is fixed up by then (which it will be...).

In Van News, I have two shagged sets of rear hub bearings. To get at them I need to remove the 46mm nut on the end of the stub axles, something which VW clearly employed blue arsed Baboons to flog up back in Wolfsburg. The results of the preliminary investigation:-

Also went skating in Tetbury. A nice mellow bowl, and the sun was shining so I went by Velocette:-

The bowl:-