Brakes episode 2

I read a great quote today. "Those who wish for the weekend are wishing their lives away". Found in the book "Drive Nacho Drive".

This vacation is the only thing I can think about lately. I'm so excited for the unknown, excited for the mountains, excited for the beach, excited to spend time with my wife, excited for the open, winding roads.

But there is a lot to do on the Westy first.

Once again, I got out of work early, so I headed to the Westy.

The project at hand was the front flex brake lines and a fluid flush. 

The flex lines went in smoothly. Until the small hard line on the left caliper snapped. I then had to run to the auto parts store again to buy a hard line and a flaring tool.

I had to make this little guy

Got the brakes flushed. One of the bleeder screws would not turn out. So there was still air in the lines. 

Then the next weekend I installed the gasket parts for the master cylinder and new bleeder screws. Bled the brakes and we have a nice solid brake pedal now. 

I got to go to a local junk yard in search of a vanagon. Luckily there was a blue 1983 transporter. It had been striped to almost nothing. But, I grabbed some nice parts and installed them all on Sunday. New tail lights fixed the lights not working. New grab handle that was missing on the passenger A pillar. New brake cap. And some new weather striping for the passenger door.

I installed the new slider door handle and greased up all the sliders and hinges.

I also restored a fog light I had laying around from one of my old jeeps.

I will mount it to the back as a rear flood light.

Brad

Fog Lights Install

I got off work early yesterday (like 11 am). Because I am a big supporter of avoiding homework,  I decided to go and work on the van.
With my tools and my dog and headed to my parent's, where the van is being stored right now.
I decided the fog lights were the project for today. So that is where I started. I ended up having to take the bumper off, the trim for the dash, and column trim. The wiring went smoothly: just follow the instructions. I found great places to run all the wires and mounted the switch in a blank whole in the dash. It looks factory this way. The mounting of the lights put up a small fight, but not too bad.
I also investigated some issues.
1). The sliding door outside handle. You had to rotate it way too far to engage. I took the door apart  and found the outside handle was broken on the inside. So, I ordered a new one.
2). The windshield sprayers did not spray, instead the fluid poured out of the grill. I did not have a tool to try and grab the hose, and the nozzles were broken. I ordered replacement nozzles as well.


I will hopefully finish the brakes this weekend. That way I can get it to my house(where all my tools are) so I can do small projects when I have time.
Brad

Before

After

 Brightness

The puppy wants to go camping

Brakes episode 1

Well, my dad and I got the pads all installed on Sunday. The rotors and bearings look like they have been replaced recently.  But, the pedal is still spongey. We ordered the rubber flex brake lines for the front. They were looking very old and cracked.

My dad just text me tonight and said there is brake fluid on the ground, so I guess it still has some issues. 

I stopped by the local Vw dealership this afternoon. They want $20-50 for a brake resavoiur cap, depending on what one I needed. That is insane, it's a $10 part for any non-German car. 

We are going to get it registered and plated this week, so we can be legal.

I also ordered a new canvas pop top. It has three windows instead of the one. I figured the more air flow, the better. 

Brad

The highway sets the traveler's stage.

My wife Chelsea and I are starting our travels. We are planing on traveling mostly in the US in the near future.

My parents, sister, and I did a lot of camping when we were younger. I went on to camp a lot in my teen years.  College, work, and life happened and we went camping less and less.

Then, my wife and I decided to take a month long road trip. It was a dream at first, we joked about it. But the more we talked about it the more we realized this crazy idea was not ludicrous but could be done.  We have never done anything like this before, but what was stoping us? My wife is a teacher and I am in school to be a teacher as well.  This clears up our whole summer. Rather then work my part time job in the summer, I would rather make some memories. We are only going to be in our mid 20's for so long, and without a family of our own yet. It seems like this crazy dream was meant to be.

We were planning this trip and looking at how to do it. Many ideas were tried: tent camp, build a teardrop trailer, put a topper on my dad's truck and sleep in that, but then I started thinking about VW campers. 

I have only seen 2 that I can remember, they are just not around here in Nebraska. 

There is something about them, something different. Something I just love.

I was showing my parents picture of them online. Next thing you know, we were on eBay. Then this

We now own a 1984 VW Vanagon Westfalia.

It's sitting in California, waiting for the shipping company to pick it up and get it to Nebraska.

If you don't know much about these vans, look up info on them. They are really interesting vehicles.

We have big plans for the van and for years of vacations.

We are excited to travel and see some interesting places and cultures. 

My wife will be doing the words (She is a much better writer) and I will be bringing the photos.  We both enjoy craft beer, so we hope do more than a few brewery tours along the way. This is an adventure. I plan on updating with a rough agenda soon. 

I invite you to comment and follow along as we try and see just a small part of the world. 

We are not going to wake up tomorrow younger.

Brad.