LAndy
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I forgot to show you all some of the interior shots. I've included a few below. Though it currently looks like this... strikey there are a few shots of it been unloaded in this video: and here's another one: photos.app.goo.gl/Rqi3tbERwVwb6kTo6
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Last Edit: Jan 17, 2020 2:59:51 GMT by LAndy
Previous retros: 92 AX GTi 92 Scirocco Scala 94 80 sport 87 Golf Cab GTi Current retro: 1965 Clark Cortez YouTube Website Instagram
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jpsmit
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was not expecting a standard transmission - even better!
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kabman
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When you get round to painting it, please tell me you're going to do this.... ![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Apollo-era_Astronaut_Van.jpg/1024px-Apollo-era_Astronaut_Van.jpg)
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LAndy
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Jan 17, 2020 19:48:44 GMT
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was not expecting a standard transmission - even better! Yea most of them actually came as 4speed manuals from Clark. There was (I think) a 3-speed auto too. The only negative with the manual is that it is a custom trans-axle box that was ONLY fitted in the Cortez. Basically Clark designed it specifically for this application and no other. It also uses Universal-joints rather than CV joints. For whatever reason no one has seemed to have managed a conversation to use a different box which limits the Cortez to just a few engines. (I'll be honest, I don't know much about the transmission itself) I'd love to figure out a swap and put a Cummin's diesel in there with a 6speed manual or decent auto-box. When you get round to painting it, please tell me you're going to do this.... ![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Apollo-era_Astronaut_Van.jpg/1024px-Apollo-era_Astronaut_Van.jpg) I honestly can't wait to go and see that. Though I'm actually more excited to see people's faces as the come out of the museum and realize there's there same type of vehicle parked outside! The colour scheme keeps changing from original, to green/cream, to blue/white to whatever we feel on the day! lol
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Previous retros: 92 AX GTi 92 Scirocco Scala 94 80 sport 87 Golf Cab GTi Current retro: 1965 Clark Cortez YouTube Website Instagram
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LAndy
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During the lighting issue we also realised that our alternator was dead, therefore... A new one fitted and we were good as new... Or not, before and during the starter motor saga we'd flattened the battery a few times, you could tell it was pretty weak. it was charged a few times but would always inveitably die. While messing continually with the lights, turning them on and off over the course of a good few days without running the engine flattend it again, due to the faulty alternator. So we fitted a new battery. $120 paid and Walmarts biggest battery was now sat in our Cortez! The starting of the engine was so much better and we now had bright lights!
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Previous retros: 92 AX GTi 92 Scirocco Scala 94 80 sport 87 Golf Cab GTi Current retro: 1965 Clark Cortez YouTube Website Instagram
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LAndy
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Jan 21, 2020 12:34:33 GMT
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Had a great weekend working on the Cortez, managed to regrease alot of the suspension and steering bushes and installed two new anti-roll bar bushes. I'd say we've got rid of 80% of the squeeks and we're sure the last of them are coming from the drop link bushes and the upper ball joint as the boot has split and there's no grease inside! Another thing I love about working on this thing, after days of messing with the electronics we'd managed to get all the exterior lights working. However on Sunday the front clearance lights both stopped working. I fixed them by thumping one and wiggling the wire of the other! Easy! (We're going to completely rewire the bus in the future so I'm not worried about this right now. It's simply a bad earth. As always guys please go check out our YouTube channel! It would really help us out if you could subscribe and help us grow! www.youtube.com/channel/UCze3_Vna_VOUh_q-kJZvaMQ?view_as=subscriberAndy
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Previous retros: 92 AX GTi 92 Scirocco Scala 94 80 sport 87 Golf Cab GTi Current retro: 1965 Clark Cortez YouTube Website Instagram
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Jan 21, 2020 12:46:53 GMT
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As always guys please go check out our YouTube channel! It would really help us out if you could subscribe and help us grow! Andy Think I have, but don't forget us guys with a, what's the word, unstable, that's it, connection speed. Video is fine but photos are easy to see.
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Last Edit: Jan 21, 2020 12:47:45 GMT by georgeb
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Jan 22, 2020 11:47:57 GMT
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future mrs greavesy is really excitable ! an infectious level of enthusiasm !
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LAndy
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Jan 22, 2020 17:42:06 GMT
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As always guys please go check out our YouTube channel! It would really help us out if you could subscribe and help us grow! Andy Think I have, but don't forget us guys with a, what's the word, unstable, that's it, connection speed. Video is fine but photos are easy to see. George, I understand. I will be doing another update soon (As I'm catching this up to where we currently are). Happy to post as many pictures as possible until people get bored! ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) future mrs greavesy is really excitable ! an infectious level of enthusiasm ! Ha ha! Darren she'll love that! I've never known anyone get quite as excited about working on cars as she does, I love it! Her dad loves cars and she grew up loving them too. Unfortunately, her dad doesn't have the knowledge or confidence to try maintenance on his own so all this is new to her. Before we met she'd never even taken a wheel off a car before but now she understands drum brakes (and adjusts them like an absolute boss!), has changed a starter motor and an alternator, helped with wiring, changed suspension parts and is starting to understand how it all works together. Our next challenge is to both learn about carbs more. I understand the basic's but I've never really messed with one - The Cortez idles super high and it's running rich (and burning oil but that's another issue). If you want a great mixture of enthusiasm, humor and a small amount of terror we've just released a new video this morning (for us in Virginia) and it's our first time driving it on the road... I've got to admit I was more terrified than she was but then again I was driving! Andy
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Previous retros: 92 AX GTi 92 Scirocco Scala 94 80 sport 87 Golf Cab GTi Current retro: 1965 Clark Cortez YouTube Website Instagram
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Jan 22, 2020 22:17:38 GMT
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That's super awesome!!
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LAndy
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Jan 23, 2020 17:22:17 GMT
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Thanks mate, appreciate it!
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Previous retros: 92 AX GTi 92 Scirocco Scala 94 80 sport 87 Golf Cab GTi Current retro: 1965 Clark Cortez YouTube Website Instagram
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jpsmit
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I've never known anyone get quite as excited about working on cars as she does, I love it! ........ now she understands drum brakes (and adjusts them like an absolute boss!), has changed a starter motor and an alternator, helped with wiring, changed suspension parts and is starting to understand how it all works together. I am loving everything about this thread including a fiancee who loves working on cars (that may be the real unicorn of this thread!) Please though ask her not to wear her engagement ring while working on the RV - especially near starter terminals alternator terminals and wiring. You will be frustrated if the stone falls out and you have to replace it. She is going to be much much less excited if she looses a finger or even if she touches something live. I cringe every time I see the video.
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As much as it sucks to run the originality, if you do decide to swap the drivetrain out, try to keep as bread and butter as you can- that way when it breaks and you're on the road in the middle of nowhere there's a fighting chance of finding replacements and people who understand them. That's a must for long distance travel. I hadn't even heard, let alone seen one of these before now!
Good job talking it on though, that's a proper bit of history.
Phil
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Paul Y
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Jan 24, 2020 11:02:03 GMT
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Just going to leave this here as a reminder to LS the world.... P. ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png)
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LAndy
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Jan 24, 2020 18:39:14 GMT
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I've never known anyone get quite as excited about working on cars as she does, I love it! ........ now she understands drum brakes (and adjusts them like an absolute boss!), has changed a starter motor and an alternator, helped with wiring, changed suspension parts and is starting to understand how it all works together. I am loving everything about this thread including a fiancee who loves working on cars (that may be the real unicorn of this thread!) Please though ask her not to wear her engagement ring while working on the RV - especially near starter terminals alternator terminals and wiring. You will be frustrated if the stone falls out and you have to replace it. She is going to be much much less excited if she looses a finger or even if she touches something live. I cringe every time I see the video. I've asked her, her cousin has asked her, her mum's asked her. It's an on-going thing. Sometimes she does take it off but more often than not it stay one. I'll show her your comment. I'm hoping she'll realize it's not just us all being paranoid! As always thanks for your post jpsmit, really appreciate it! As much as it sucks to run the originality, if you do decide to swap the drivetrain out, try to keep as bread and butter as you can- that way when it breaks and you're on the road in the middle of nowhere there's a fighting chance of finding replacements and people who understand them. That's a must for long distance travel. I hadn't even heard, let alone seen one of these before now! Good job talking it on though, that's a proper bit of history. Phil Hi Phil! We'd have never wanted to stay in it long term as it was and it was in dire need of a good clean out but saying that we were both kinda torn on doing it. We're keeping the front as it is and are currently debating on keeping one of the rear seats basically so we don't have to sit on the bed all the time. I couldn't agree more about keeping it simple. The gearbox is my biggest worry about the Cortez. Clark made it specifically for the Cortez and it was never fitted to anything else which makes it extremely rare and difficult to come by. In a perfect world I'd pull the V8 and the 4speed manual and fit a Turbo diesel and a 6 or 7 speed auto box to be honest. Another thing that worries me is the fact that these things have been about for over 50 years and no one has ever seemed to find an alternative gearbox setup to go in it. Just going to leave this here as a reminder to LS the world.... P. ![:D](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/grin.png) YES! This thing is awesome! However I bet it's terrifying to drive! lol
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Last Edit: Jan 24, 2020 18:40:20 GMT by LAndy
Previous retros: 92 AX GTi 92 Scirocco Scala 94 80 sport 87 Golf Cab GTi Current retro: 1965 Clark Cortez YouTube Website Instagram
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I did a quick Google for Diesel to Th425 ( the Toronado FWD automatic )swaps.
There seems to be some info out there for it.
And the Toro driveline was used in the later Cortez', right?
I believe the Duramax Diesel has the regular SBC bellhouse pattern, and you can get a adapter to go from BOP to SBC pattern ( basically just a piece of sheet steel ) The Caddy Eldo had the tallest final drive at 2.73:1.
With the tall wheels on the Cortez that may get you to the right RPM for the speed you'll do. Aftermarket final drives are available now, apparently, but only the other way. And also different ratio sprockets for the internal chain, that maybe could be used backwards.
And also, a aftermarket LSD ( which could be really nice, depending on how much feedback there is in the steering from the U-joint driveshafts.
Probably as close to a bolt in setup as you can get.
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Jan 25, 2020 23:18:26 GMT
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As much as I can agree with the TD swap for economy and torque, if the Interwebs is to be believed, there's not a huge amount of options for the US. You either have big truck diesels (Duramax, powerstroke or cummins) or small VW engines, which would be miserable.
I'd suggest an LS4.. FWD, V8 with enough power to get you moving, but not too big to make fitting a pain.
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jpsmit
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As much as I can agree with the TD swap for economy and torque, if the Interwebs is to be believed, there's not a huge amount of options for the US. You either have big truck diesels (Duramax, powerstroke or cummins) or small VW engines, which would be miserable. I'd suggest an LS4.. FWD, V8 with enough power to get you moving, but not too big to make fitting a pain. Don't forget the whole range of Hino/ Isuzu/ etc etc delivery vehicles - and or sprinter vans
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LAndy
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I did a quick Google for Diesel to Th425 ( the Toronado FWD automatic )swaps. There seems to be some info out there for it. And the Toro driveline was used in the later Cortez', right? I believe the Duramax Diesel has the regular SBC bellhouse pattern, and you can get a adapter to go from BOP to SBC pattern ( basically just a piece of sheet steel ) The Caddy Eldo had the tallest final drive at 2.73:1. With the tall wheels on the Cortez that may get you to the right RPM for the speed you'll do. Aftermarket final drives are available now, apparently, but only the other way. And also different ratio sprockets for the internal chain, that maybe could be used backwards. And also, a aftermarket LSD ( which could be really nice, depending on how much feedback there is in the steering from the U-joint driveshafts. Probably as close to a bolt in setup as you can get. Hi metalshapes thanks for the information and suggestions. I'll be honest and tell you I am not sure what was fitted to the later Cortez's. I believe the current 4speed manual has a differential in it though not an LSD - Might be a dumb question but differentials aren't usually in FWD boxes, or are they? Honestly never really messed with transmissions so I'm a bit clueless! As much as I can agree with the TD swap for economy and torque, if the Interwebs is to be believed, there's not a huge amount of options for the US. You either have big truck diesels (Duramax, powerstroke or cummins) or small VW engines, which would be miserable. I'd suggest an LS4.. FWD, V8 with enough power to get you moving, but not too big to make fitting a pain. Thanks for the input sciclone, the only VAG option I thought could work with be either: a) an S4 4.2 v8 with the manual transmission with no rear prop connection - Not sure if that's even possible or b) use the 4.2 v8 with a v6 FWD box and an upgraded clutch These are literally thoughts off the top of my head and have no idea currently if they would even work! The option of an LS4 is something I'd not really heard of but now I think it is at the top of the list for further research! I will look into this! Thank you so much! I feel the next issue with would be the change in drive shafts - for reliability I'd love to get rid of the U-joints! As much as I can agree with the TD swap for economy and torque, if the Interwebs is to be believed, there's not a huge amount of options for the US. You either have big truck diesels (Duramax, powerstroke or cummins) or small VW engines, which would be miserable. I'd suggest an LS4.. FWD, V8 with enough power to get you moving, but not too big to make fitting a pain. Don't forget the whole range of Hino/ Isuzu/ etc etc delivery vehicles - and or sprinter vans jpsmit a modern Merc diesel engine would be ideal. Something else to look in to! Also, L loved your comment about the unicorn status! Because of that she will remove her engagement ring from now on! (Thanks mate, appreciate it!) Thanks guys! I honestly think the biggest issue would be drive shafts but I'm sure there's a solution out there! Andy
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Last Edit: Jan 28, 2020 3:20:27 GMT by LAndy
Previous retros: 92 AX GTi 92 Scirocco Scala 94 80 sport 87 Golf Cab GTi Current retro: 1965 Clark Cortez YouTube Website Instagram
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LAndy
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I wanted to give you all an update on some more of the work we've been doing to our Cortez! Starting with... L fixing the roof! ... I use the term 'fixing' lightly. She duct taped a vent shut but look how proud she was! Me and her cousin on the otherhand... not so much! By the way, our roof isn't in that bad condition and for the most part is solid. We've also changed the oil... I'd say it was due. As you already know we worked on the brakes. Growing up with my dad working on cars it was always my job to press the brake pedal as my dad shouted "UP!"..."DOWN!"..."UP!" repeatedly until he was done bleeding the brakes. This time however is was my turn to be hollering from under neither 9ton of RV!... Again, I think this fluid was ready for a change! Also, here's L enjoying her time pressing the pedal! And here's me been my usual gormy self. And finally (for now) we've also fitted new wiper blades, a new washer bottle, pump, hoses and jets as the originals we're terrible and brittle. The kit from Vibrant is excellent if anyone is on the lookout! The bottles a bit small but not too bad! don't worry we got the aim down! ha ha! Thanks for reading! Andy
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Last Edit: Jan 28, 2020 3:22:22 GMT by LAndy
Previous retros: 92 AX GTi 92 Scirocco Scala 94 80 sport 87 Golf Cab GTi Current retro: 1965 Clark Cortez YouTube Website Instagram
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