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Apr 28, 2013 12:07:44 GMT
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So the camper was finally home and as good as I could have hoped for. Basic specs of the van are 318 V8 'Small Block' Engine which is roughly 5.2 litres. I think about 150hp A727 3 Speed automatic Limited Slip Rear Differential (though don't think I'll try any drifting ;D) Power Steering Power Drum Brakes all round Factory air conditioning. The original 16.5" rims have already, fortunately been replaced with white 16" 8 spoke wheels. This is good news as 1, I like the look of them. 2, Even in the states the 16.5" tyres are not common and very expensive. The spare is the original rim and could do with a new tyre if anybody has any ideas. First thing to do was a bit of de-blinging 2 sets of spot lamps. Head light grills Head light eyebrows Neon number plate surrounds Side rubbing strips American flag stickers! Cab steps. Additional arrow indicator lights. Most of the chrome for the above appeared to of the Chinese rusty variety, so was no great loss. So spot the difference. From this  To this  The undersized door mirrors have been replaced with later Dodge ones. I converted the lights to UK spec. For the headlights a standard 7" light from a classic mini fitted easily in. The side light feed being removed from the front indicator. At the rear the twin filament bulbs were retained but the indicator function relocated into the reverse light position with an orange bulb. It already had additional high power reverse lights fitted, which I have kept, but put them under relay control instead of scotch locked onto overloaded original wiring.  Body condition is very good the worst rust being of the light surface variety. Some formed under the American flag stickers here,  The underneath is amazing though.  Clean chassis, mucky engine! So driving impressions. At first the width terrified me. It was at least 10" wider than the VW. It is something you soon get used to and being LHD means you can easily keep in tight to roadside. The performance is not too bad. The gearbox is very low geared and is in top normally by about 15mph! This limits cruising speed for me to about 55-60mph. I've never had more than 75mph out of it, more due to mechanical sympathy and the thought of that big engine whizzing round so quick. The upside is that the 50-70 pick time is very impressive and it just will not be slowed down by any hills.  OK to the question on most peoples lips. MPG seems a consistant 15 to the gallon. Worst is 13 best is 17. Compares well to the low 20's out the 2 litre VW I feel. |
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Last Edit: Apr 29, 2013 9:24:06 GMT by mbheather
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Apr 28, 2013 14:03:22 GMT
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That sounds like pretty good mileage to me. Looks super clean underneath, good find.
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Apr 28, 2013 14:06:46 GMT
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I just LOVE this thing! Congrats on the find!
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Sept 6, 2013 21:24:09 GMT
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Its update time, been doing a few jobs at my usual snails pace. First thing was 4 new tyres. Was running on 4x4 tyres but now has 4 van rated tyres in a size that better matches the original 16.5" rim fitment. The wheels were also treated 4 new stainless steel centre caps. The old Chinese chrome ones were rusting merrily. Have to thank my mum and her large suitcase for bringing them back from the 'states for me! New decals were then fitted. The original Xplorer emblem had been replaced with 80's style ones as a result of I guess some panel and respray work. One front wing looks to have been replaced. However an original albeit damaged emblem came with the paperwork, so had it copied onto vinyl type stickers. What it came with,  The original and sticker copies,  As stuck on,  Next jobs involved some cleaning and updating. Old onboard battery charger, water pump, 110v consumer unit removed,  They have been replaced with modern equivalents and wiring upgraded for 240v use. Also a new water heater fitted as the old one leaked, I kept the old outside vent cover in place to keep the looks. Possibly slightly naughty on a gas appliance, but as a gas engineer I will take my chances! I am satisfied with the integrity of the new installation. The original fridge, although working perfectly has been replaced with a retro gas item. The original being 12V would only run for about 12 hours before flattening the leisure battery, and being compressor driven was slightly noisey. I had to drill a hole for the fridge flue in the vehicle side but had an old style Electroux flue vent to fit which looks completely in keeping. The onboard water tank under the rear bed was removed and the area underneath cleaned and repainted, only minor surface rust found.  The original water tank was refitted as it is surprising clean and mold free! All water pipework replaced replaced though and a locking water filler cap fitted. I then took the inner front door panels off to marvel at 42 years of crud in the bottom.  These were cleaned out. Again only light surface found. Lashings of waxoil was then applied. The rear wheel tubs have also been undersealed as a preventative measure as the paint was very thin under there, with no factory protective coating in evidence. So its getting there slowly. All camping bits work and its done a couple of festivals, including Electric Picnic in Southern Ireland. I'm pleased to say it didn't miss a beat! Here it is starting up for the trip back home. |
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dave80
Part of things
Posts: 408
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Sept 6, 2013 22:05:41 GMT
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camping has never been cooler!that is ace!
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sierra 1.6 ghia
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wodge
Part of things
Posts: 458 
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Lovely! That is all.
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Granadaman72
Part of things
I likes Granada's, Cortina's, Sierra's, Viva's, Marina's....................
Posts: 483
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Sept 10, 2013 14:45:55 GMT
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Great stuff, sounds lovely too.
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Sept 14, 2013 18:52:06 GMT
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That's awesome I've got an xplorer to a 440 a bit of a rolling project lol  Cheers Andy |
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Jan 19, 2014 14:03:56 GMT
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OMG Andy, how long is that thing. Wouldn't fancy a parallel park in that!
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Feb 23, 2014 20:21:21 GMT
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Awesome! I love both these vans. I've just bought this van and fly out to LA on Thursday to roadtrip it to Galveston and then import it! Travel blog here fergusmciver.blogspot.co.uk |
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trivstom
Part of things
1990 Eunos V-Special rotbox, proud owner
Posts: 10
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Feb 24, 2014 13:51:27 GMT
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This is awesome! Great find! $3000 seems like a bargain to me! Maybe some black and white reg plates would be a nice update? Since it's pre-'73 it is legal  |
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Awesome! I love both these vans. I've just bought this van and fly out to LA on Thursday to roadtrip it to Galveston and then import it! Travel blog here fergusmciver.blogspot.co.ukLooks like fun. Bring spares, even this time of year across NM and AZ is beginning to get warm. CA inspection basically consists of checking the engine's emissions are within spec.. everything else is "well, it made it here, didn't it?" I miss Galveston. It's a bit run-down lately, the storm hit them hard and they didn't really bounce back. --Phil /hijack |
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Apr 19, 2015 19:36:51 GMT
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Mini update. The instrument back lights haven't worked in a while, as they kept blowing the fuse. Finally got round to removing the instrument cluster to check wiring. My multimeter indicated a short somewhere which I traced to after the multiplug at the bottom of the steering column. I had visions of it being in the indicator stalk housing, as the gear selector also lights up with dash lights. I bought a puller and removed steering wheel only to find everything ok. Turned out wire was pinched hallway up column where it bolts to dash bottom. With that sorted I had to purchase a new old stock headlight switch from the States for $50 as the dimmer facility on the old had burnt out with the short. Also bought some new bulb holders for the instrument bulbs as the old ones has gone a bit brittle. The result is very pleasing (to me), even the gear selector display has a slight blue filter on it and all dimable from the light switch  Also fitted some electronic flasher relays to the indicator and hazard lights, which give a much more steady flash than the old thermal units. Next job is to take the gutter trims off and reseal the gutter joints as I get a bit of leakage in the rain  |
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Last Edit: Apr 19, 2015 19:46:16 GMT by mbheather
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Yearly update! Last years MOT noted an advise on a perished fuel filler pipe. After 45 years, indeed it was!  A job I had previously mentioned doing was resealing behind the gutter trims. The shiny bits here.  The van has a one piece fibregass roof and rear extension. To fix to the existing van structure the 1971 method was to use about 20million (now rusty) screws, screwed in just above the original van gutter. As can be seen it had collected some crud over the years.  The gutters were fully cleaned out and all screws removed. Only minor surface rust was found, so was treated and painted. A bead of proper caravan sealant was applied along and under the joint and screws replaced with stainless steel. Finally trim was replaced and I forgot to take picures. With that sorted it was off to Glastonbury festival with caravan in tow due to having to accommodate extra bodies.  Van performed well, but like everyone else had to be towed onto the camper fields by a tractor after queueing or 5 hours, conditions were somewhat claggy.  Overall circumstances on that occasion did not make for healthy mpg figures, (towing, queues, and plenty of wheel spinning trying exit the festival). It was a record low of 8mpg  One minor mechanical failure on the trip home was the viscous fan coupling locked up. This made the van sound like a massive hoover and the drag was such that the fan belt squealed and anything much over 45mph. Apologies if you were therefore stuck behind me at any point. New viscous coupling has arrived, so that is this weekends job.  |
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Sept 29, 2019 14:54:52 GMT
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Just to put this thread to bed, this was sold late last year to a guy literally just down the road. He had expressed an interest in it when I first got it. He is an American car guy and wanted something to use overnight for shows. He made me an offer I couldn't refuse! He has since sent me a couple of pics of it repainted as the paint was very thin. I'd have kept it original myself, but does have a certain appeal in its new colours. As it now looks.  At the time I also had SD1 V8 but thought 2 V8's a bit much. Selling the Dodge left me with the one. However a SD1 with a particular spec I had been after came up so that was bought (late model 2000 Auto). The SD1 V8 was sold (to phil2600s on here) and I also bought an extremely rusty 1303 beetle. 2 Rovers  A very sad beetle, but has a factory sunroof (I have a bit of a sunroof 'thing'!)  And because its nearly retro the 'daily' Octavia 1.8T 4x4 (quite a rare model)  |
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Dec 13, 2020 21:23:18 GMT
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Well the lure of another Xplorer was just too much. Assuming it doesn't fall off the back of the trailer, it's on it's way, from Kansas to Houston to be sent to the UK! Later model, bigger engine, special order interior.  |
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Dec 18, 2020 23:24:49 GMT
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Just received some pictures from the shippers. Currently tucked up in a warehouse in Houston, waiting for a big boat to blighty   |
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retrotoe
Posted a lot
anything rusty
Posts: 1,361
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OMG Andy, how long is that thing. Wouldn't fancy a parallel park in that! going around roundabouts would scare me |
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I like that, of course I would.
New colours on your old one Appeal as well.
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