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Hi all I have purchased a "classic" LDV camper van as a summer project, Its done 54000 miles and has been litlle used for the last 6 years, mainly spending its time parked under a tree, I went down to Cambridge yesterday to pick it up and drive it home which was a bit of and adventure. I turned up to find the battery dead, the power steering u/s and a lack of power assisted brakes even though it "passed" an mot 10 days ago. I set to and checked all the fluids, the power steering fluid looked like mud, deep brown with a muddy texture, the coolant looking like liquid rust and the engine oil ust a lump on the bottom of the stick, so all a little sub optimal. I topped the oil up and had a quick look for leaks but could not fin any, had a quick check over of belts etc and connected up my starter pack, jumped into the cab, turned the key and she fired straight up but my god, what a noise. Its a 1.9 peugeot diesel which is supposed to be more refined than the previous perkins engine. I let it warm up and then ran it around the block, I could barely get her up to 25 mph and every time I put her into 4th gear she just stalled. The brake pedal felt like pressing a brick, no movement to speak of and not much braking. After the test drive I was in two minds to walk away but I like a challenge and couldn't face the long train journey home. So I paid for it and took a chance on getting home. Off I went, through cambridge and onto the a14. Progress was slow around 30mph to start with but she steadily got quicker. After about 15 miles I had her into top gear, there are only 4, and upto 40 mph. Its a long time since I have driven one of these and its definitely an experience, like going back in time. She has leaf springs all round, a steering box, small wheels with narrow tires and really does take you back to driving in the 60's.  |
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May 28, 2023 10:18:17 GMT
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May 28, 2023 11:39:14 GMT
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Love it. We had one of these with a pick up body on it at work, 20 odd years ago. I remember it being nice to drive, I think it had a DI transit banana engine, but could be wrong.
Could you turbo it? There must be loads of cheap turbo xud Peugeots about still?
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Last Edit: May 28, 2023 17:05:25 GMT by generallee
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May 28, 2023 15:37:27 GMT
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Hi all spent a couple of hours on the ldv today. I decided to focus on the under bonnet electrics. Two thing immediately became obvious, number one is that it has a composite bonnet which was quite rare 24 years ago and the second was that mini and mickey mouse have been in residence. I set to investigating the charging fault, the connection where the trigger for the split charge was heavily corroded so I cut it out and remade it. What's odd is that the van was still charging ? I then traced the wires coming out of the split charge relay and identified and checked the three feeds out, one to the leisure battery, one from the the fridge and the last one to the zig unit and they all checked out ok. I fired up the van and the relay was energizing but not sending any power to out which was odd so I removed the relay for a closer look. Once I had it open the fault was clear, the link wire on the moving contact was burnt out. A few mins with the soldering iron and the wire was replaced. I popped it all back together and tided up the wiring before starting her up. Success, I now have charging, fridge and zig supply. Next job is to remove the sound proofing on the bonnet and remove the mouse house as it stinks. That's it for today as i'm off fishing. Tomorrow I should get an hour to look into the lack a servo assistance to the brakes. cheers - mike         |
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May 28, 2023 15:45:51 GMT
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Excellent work there,
Electrics, the dark art,
Excuse the stupid question, what's a "zig unit" ??
Nigel
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BMW E39 525i Sport
BMW E46 320d Sport Touring (now sold on.)
BMW E30 325 Touring (now sold on.)
BMW E30 320 Cabriolet (Project car - currently for sale.)
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May 28, 2023 17:19:57 GMT
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Well, I didn't go fishing as it was forecast to rain but didn't.
I removed the under bonnet sound proofing and chucked it in the bin as it was a mouse condo and then disinfected and cleaned under the bonnet which has removed the god awful stench.
I have checked over the vacuum pump and associated pipework and it all seems in order, with the engine running I get a fair vacuum at the servo pipe so its not that thats causing the rock hard pedal.
I cleaned out the under bonnet drains and also removed more mouse house from the inner wings, thank god this vehicle is fitted with the older type wiring as the mice don't seem to eat it like more modern stuff.
I have added a cup of bleach to the washer bottle as its thick in black slime, you cant see through the bottle at all and the washers barely work.
Anyways its beer o'clock.
Cheers - mike
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May 28, 2023 18:30:38 GMT
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hi there
a zig unit is a combined 12v/240 power and charging management unit
cheers - mike
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Hi all
I have booked a campsite near kirton lindsey for sat night so the pressure is on to get the ldv liveable.
At the minute there's no running water, no gas system - it had a gas bottle size that's redundant, the toilet is full and last used/emptied in 2017 so not looking forwards to that
On the good side, the seats/bed are ok and the fridge is working on 12v so somewhere to sleep and somewhere to keep the beer and bacon cool!.
I'm pretty busy today but hope to get all the previous owners pot, pans and assorted rubbish removed and get a jug of hot water and biological detergent into the loo.
Cheers - mike
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Hi all
I have booked a campsite near kirton lindsey for sat night so the pressure is on to get the ldv liveable.
At the minute there's no running water, no gas system - it had a gas bottle size that's redundant, the toilet is full and last used/emptied in 2017 so not looking forwards to that
On the good side, the seats/bed are ok and the fridge is working on 12v so somewhere to sleep and somewhere to keep the beer and bacon cool!.
I'm pretty busy today but hope to get all the previous owners pot, pans and assorted rubbish removed and get a jug of hot water and biological detergent into the loo.
Cheers - mike
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May 29, 2023 13:44:54 GMT
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I always liked the simplicity of LDV Pilot vans. I'm sure that you will ultimately have excellent service from it. Just hope that you didn't have to pay too much for it in the first place?
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May 29, 2023 17:54:24 GMT
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hi there
yes, I did pay to much for it but camper prices have gone mad over the last few years. Although there are lots of faults and issues to deal with it should still be a usable comfortable vehicle for a fraction of what a vw would cost.
cheers - mike
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May 29, 2023 18:06:31 GMT
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Hi all,
I had a transit part camper conversion to finish this morning so not two much time available to spend on the LDV.
I removed the end of the unit that boxes in the toilet so that I could remove it for cleaning. I suspected that the loo was full but turns out it was practically empty which was a welcome surprise.
Most of the screws holding the unit together had corroded to the point that they weren't holding any thing so I replaced them all when I rebuilt the unit.
I removed the gas bottle and pipe from the gas locker to check on why there's no gas getting to anything. The hose was dated 1991, they should be replaced every 6 years, and kinked to the point that no gas could get through so I replaced the hose with new and dug out a gas bottle with some gas in it. I now have working hod/grill and oven and after a bit of messing about have a fridge that works on gas. So that's a result.
I have order an air and oil filter for it which are due tomorrow so I may be able to get a service done tomorrow afternoon before my grandson arrives.
Cheers - mike
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misteralz
Posted a lot
I may drive a Volkswagen, but I'm scene tax exempt!
Posts: 2,495
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May 30, 2023 15:20:38 GMT
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Not going to deny that I really dislike these, but I can't help but think it'd be great backdated!
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May 30, 2023 15:54:54 GMT
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Hi all
had a fair few hours on the ldv today,
I went through the mains hook up system and please I did, the live and neutral were reversed on one of the hook up cables which could have been nasty. I bought a new cable instead of sorting the old one out as it was well passed it sell by date.
Managed to get all the 240v stuff working including the very eighties light with shaver socket and the fridge.
I have also started the service, changed the air filter and adjusted the belts. The one for the vacuum pump appears to be slipping. I picked up a couple of spare belts as well so popped these in the storage locker under the drivers seat.
I have an issue with the cold start device as it seems to be on all the time. Its designed to increase the tick over and adjust the injection timing when the engine is cold but is engaged all the time. This used to be a common issue on puegeot / citron diesels. The lever seizes in the pump. I have flooded it with wd40 and will see if I can move it in the morning.
Got quite a bit of the paintwork cleaned and cut back as well so she's looking less shabby.
Cheers - mike
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May 30, 2023 16:11:05 GMT
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Hi all
had a fair few hours on the ldv today,
I went through the mains hook up system and please I did, the live and neutral were reversed on one of the hook up cables which could have been nasty. I bought a new cable instead of sorting the old one out as it was well passed it sell by date.
Managed to get all the 240v stuff working including the very eighties light with shaver socket and the fridge.
I have also started the service, changed the air filter and adjusted the belts. The one for the vacuum pump appears to be slipping. I picked up a couple of spare belts as well so popped these in the storage locker under the drivers seat.
I have an issue with the cold start device as it seems to be on all the time. Its designed to increase the tick over and adjust the injection timing when the engine is cold but is engaged all the time. This used to be a common issue on puegeot / citron diesels. The lever seizes in the pump. I have flooded it with wd40 and will see if I can move it in the morning.
Got quite a bit of the paintwork cleaned and cut back as well so she's looking less shabby.
Cheers - mike
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May 30, 2023 17:57:52 GMT
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I don’t live in Blighty so didn’t know the history of LDV Group until I looked it up: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LDV_GroupWhat a sad yet quintessentially British story. I saw this van and thought “Sherpa” … it also reminds me of buying 99 ice creams. It looks very solid and well-preserved. Best, John |
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May 31, 2023 17:35:57 GMT
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I don’t live in Blighty so didn’t know the history of LDV Group until I looked it up: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LDV_GroupWhat a sad yet quintessentially British story. I saw this van and thought “Sherpa” … it also reminds me of buying 99 ice creams. It looks very solid and well-preserved. Best, John hi there lots were used as ice cream vans and burger vans but the biggest user by far was the post office who used thousands of them mainly due to them being narrow with a good turning circle. cheers - mike |
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May 31, 2023 17:45:42 GMT
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Hi all Got a couple of hours on the ldv today, started to work on the water system. The micro switch in the tap had died so instead of replacing the switch they had run some bell wire to a dorbell switch at the end of the kitchen unit. Very ingenious probably cost more than doing it properly. A new switch cost £6.49 delivered and can be fitted in 15 mins without removing the tap. I did it the hard way as the tap was very grubby and covered in black mould. I removed the tap, popped the knob off and pulled out the old switch before popping the parts in some bleach / sterilising fluid. Once it was cleaned and dried I popped the new switch in and put the tap back together. Just waiting for a new pump and water container to arrive now. Next job was to remove the old waste pipe as it was pretty well block up. Not much point in cleaning this so I will replace it. It currently set up to exit below the rear bumper onto the ground which was acceptable 24 years ago but I will now route it into a waste container. That's all now until Saturday as I'm taking the grand kids out tomorrow. Cheers - mike      |
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hi all I have managed to get a few more hours on this over the last week. Most on the paintwork has been cut back and is looking better. I still have the high top roof to do which i'm not looking forwards to. I have finished replacing most of the water system with new water containers, new pump and wiring and new pipe work so now I can be confident that I can have a cuppa and not get poisoned. I spent a few hours removing the propex heater as It did not work and blew the fuse every time I powered it up. Getting it out was a real struggle as all the screws were rusted away and very hard to get to. Once it was out I pulled it apart to see what had failed. The motor for the blower was seized solid, I managed to free it off but decided to replace the heater just to be sure it would be safe. The new heater is in position and working for now, I just need to fit the control unit and run the cable. I have also been working my way around the draws and doors freeing off the hinges and refitting the trim. Most of the hinges have been semi seized which has caused them to bend and distort so I have had to remove them and straiten them out. The edging trim on most has comm loose so I have removed it and refitted with some hot glue. Hopefully this will hold up ok. I have finished the service and freed off and lubricated the cold start lever so she now runs much better. Cheers - mike        |
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hi all, had a no show by a customer today so got a sneaky day on the LDV. I have finished fitting the new propex heater. Its a 2kw model against the old one which was 1.6kw so a bit of any upgrade. Routing the cable for the thermostat was a pain and getting into the cupboard to fasten it down was challenging for someone with arthitis. She's all fitted now and working well. Got a few more bits sorted inside, the top curtains were minging and some of the hooks were missing so pooped them off and gave them a hand wash. I need to do the rest as they now look grubby against the cleaned ones. Spent most of the afternoon cleaning the roof, the front graphics were an absolute pain to remove, my toffee wheel just smeared them about so had to cut/scrape them off and the wet flat the glue and marks back with 400 grade wet and dry, it will need a going over with some g3 to restore the shine on the gel coat. I went over the rest of the roof with elbow grease and a washing up scourer and then gave it a good rinse. That's it for today as i'm done in. Cheers - mike     |
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