Walter the Dormobile

Please post your photos and descriptions of your Carawagon, Dormobile or Camper here.
Gromit
Posts: 69
Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2015 10:26 am
Location: Victoria, Australia

Re: Walter the Dormobile

Post by Gromit » Tue Mar 31, 2015 11:37 am

Replaced the coolant & hoses a while ago and last weekend decided to pull out the pedal boxes to overhaul the brake & clutch master cylinders.

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The steering column needs to come out next as most of the oil has escaped.

The nut on the back of the brake master was fun to undo. Eventually found a 7/8" Whitworth spanner that fitted perfectly, with a length of water pipe and some heat it finally gave up.
Annealed the washer, cleaned the master cylinder & re-sealed it, clutch master was much easier.

Pedal boxes stripped & waiting to be painted.

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Next will be the clutch slave cylinder overhaul & replace the flexible pipe. When it's mobile again I'll replace the brake hoses.


Colin
1956 Series I 86" hardtop
1960 Series II LWB ute (sold)
1965 Series IIa Dormobile
1970 Series IIa GS
1976 Series III SWB with Isuzu 2.4
1981 Series III FFR
1995 Defender Tanami
Gromit
Posts: 69
Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2015 10:26 am
Location: Victoria, Australia

Re: Walter the Dormobile

Post by Gromit » Sun Apr 12, 2015 9:51 am

Steering box now has a new O-ring seal and side cover gasket, hopefully the oil stays inside now.

Pedal boxes & steering box/column painted and ready to re-install.

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I'm putting together a list of parts I have to order from the UK, Land Rover parts prices here are about 3 times the UK price so even with freight there is a saving. I picked up some propshaft gaiters locally for the equivalent of about 6.35 GBP, Paddocks have them for 2.29 GBP (less actually because I'm wouldn't be paying VAT).


Colin
1956 Series I 86" hardtop
1960 Series II LWB ute (sold)
1965 Series IIa Dormobile
1970 Series IIa GS
1976 Series III SWB with Isuzu 2.4
1981 Series III FFR
1995 Defender Tanami
Gromit
Posts: 69
Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2015 10:26 am
Location: Victoria, Australia

Re: Walter the Dormobile

Post by Gromit » Thu Feb 11, 2016 8:21 am

Doesn't time fly.....

I've been working on other projects and only recently got back to the Dormobile.
Slowly stripping down each axle to replace brake parts, check wheel bearings etc.

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The springs had been fitted with polybushes but the crush tubes weren't greased. The tubes had rusted & swollen and had to be cut out. Replaced with conventional bushes.
Brake flexi's are cracked and most of the rigid pipes are rusty so lots of extra work to do.


Some new parts turned up over the last few days.

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About to start on the seats.
Seems to be hessian over the springs, then cotton wadding on the top faces and a thin foam layer before the covers are fitted.
The drivers seat is badly damaged and I'm struggling to get the cotton wadding (might be re-usable on the other seats), ended up with synthetic instead.
Need to re-paint the frames, any advice welcome. I was thinking of getting them blasted but abrasive in all the joints would be a problem. Maybe sand down, netralise any rust & spray paint in white ?


Colin
1956 Series I 86" hardtop
1960 Series II LWB ute (sold)
1965 Series IIa Dormobile
1970 Series IIa GS
1976 Series III SWB with Isuzu 2.4
1981 Series III FFR
1995 Defender Tanami
Dormy
Posts: 226
Joined: Tue Feb 21, 2012 11:45 pm
Info: Sleeping on the job.....Zzzzzz
Location: Norfolk

Re: Walter the Dormobile

Post by Dormy » Thu Feb 11, 2016 10:01 am

Progress is always some now sdome later. Getting on with it is satisfying.

From where did you get the 'Dormobile' wing badges and vinyl repair kit ?

Ian
Gromit
Posts: 69
Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2015 10:26 am
Location: Victoria, Australia

Re: Walter the Dormobile

Post by Gromit » Thu Feb 11, 2016 11:03 am

Ian,
Ordered the badge & repair kit from Dormobile UK along with the sink moulding and a few other bits.

Had to sell one of my children to afford this and the Exmoor covers !


Colin
1956 Series I 86" hardtop
1960 Series II LWB ute (sold)
1965 Series IIa Dormobile
1970 Series IIa GS
1976 Series III SWB with Isuzu 2.4
1981 Series III FFR
1995 Defender Tanami
AlexB
Posts: 466
Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:01 am

Re: Walter the Dormobile

Post by AlexB » Thu Feb 11, 2016 7:14 pm

Wing badges now available again (Old style)

And the rectangular badges that were riveted to the windscreen wiper motor cover
Dormy
Posts: 226
Joined: Tue Feb 21, 2012 11:45 pm
Info: Sleeping on the job.....Zzzzzz
Location: Norfolk

Re: Walter the Dormobile

Post by Dormy » Thu Feb 11, 2016 10:51 pm

Thanks, will have to place an order.

Ian
Gromit
Posts: 69
Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2015 10:26 am
Location: Victoria, Australia

Re: Walter the Dormobile

Post by Gromit » Tue May 03, 2016 10:02 pm

Work has been slow due to work/family commitments.

Offside front & rear brakes now overhauled, need to move it out of the garage, turn around and work on the other side.

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Had to cut through one of the rear spring bolts (someone in the past had assembled without any grease !)

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Managed to get the worst of the dent out of the wing but the aluminium has stretched so need to think about how to shrink it (I don't have an oxy set, any ideas welcome). 'Before' picture below.

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Colin
1956 Series I 86" hardtop
1960 Series II LWB ute (sold)
1965 Series IIa Dormobile
1970 Series IIa GS
1976 Series III SWB with Isuzu 2.4
1981 Series III FFR
1995 Defender Tanami
Gromit
Posts: 69
Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2015 10:26 am
Location: Victoria, Australia

Re: Walter the Dormobile

Post by Gromit » Sun Mar 26, 2017 11:16 am

I haven't done much on the Dormobile for a while.

I did pick up some Toyota rims & tyres. They arrive in Australia with 7.50 X 16 tyres on split rims but most people immediately replace the tyres & rims so they come up for sale regularly. Problem is the split rims are almost worthless as there are so many for sale......

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I had the wheel rims blasted & painted them today in 007 Limestone

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The wire frames in front I made to lift the wheels from where they are painted (outside) into the garage to finish drying.

Once the tyres are fitted I'll finish off making up brake pipes and then start on the upholstery.


Colin
1956 Series I 86" hardtop
1960 Series II LWB ute (sold)
1965 Series IIa Dormobile
1970 Series IIa GS
1976 Series III SWB with Isuzu 2.4
1981 Series III FFR
1995 Defender Tanami
AlexB
Posts: 466
Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:01 am

Re: Walter the Dormobile

Post by AlexB » Sun Mar 26, 2017 8:18 pm

Going back to the pin that sticks out of the side of the seat, the only function that I can ascertain that this has, is to scratch the door pillar when you flip the seat. IT is a pita !
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