With only 3 weeks until we drive to France for our Summer holiday, it’s time to start getting everything ready for the trip. I’ve been busy this week doing various things to the van (must give it a name)…. After all it’s part of the family!

At the beginning of the week, and mainly due to our ‘Scottish summer’ I was able to do a couple of jobs on the outside that I wanted to do. The ‘B’ pillar stickers arrived from eBay – brownstickers. In the advert they said that they were textured vinyl and a perfect fit. textured vinyl ….. Yes, perfect fit… Eh.. No!

More than a small pain in the arse to fit but finally I achieved the look I wanted. 

Other major jobs completed this week…. Ahem!

Towbar ball cover…. Nice👍

And also this week I finished the bulk of the ‘Thermoliner’ the sliding doors and tailgate were a particular footer.

As I write this on Friday evening, I am awaiting getting my van back from Paul Kennedy (mechanic) who is as we speak no doubt, fitting the lowering springs. I ordered the H&R springs from ‘Chillijamvans’ in Cornwall yesterday. Amazing service and help. I spoke to them on the phone on Wednesday about axel weights etc….. Ordered them yesterday online http://www.chillijamvans.co.uk/ …. 

They arrived as promised between 16:31-17:31 this evening. Brilliant. 4 new lowered springs -40mm , 2 new drop links, & 2 new top mount suspension bearings. 

Tomorrow will see the arrival back of the new lowered t5 kombi. It’s gonna take a few weeks to settle down height wise due to the t32 stronger springs and the weight settings. I was told on the phone that it actually needs a good bit of weight in it to help….. If any of you know my wife, you’ll realise that she will have it packed to the roof as we drive to France in 3 weeks time. 

A special mention has to go to Esther for not giving me too much hassle over the amount of cash spent so far ….. Love you sweetheart😘

As I sit here writing this on Sunday evening…. Knackered from crawling about the back of the van all weekend, I can’t help but feeling proud of what myself and John have accomplished.

We stripped out the back, dumping the wooden shelves and bulkhead and started with the insulation/sound deadening. Last weekend when we visited Volksfling I bought some ‘Thermoliner’ and ‘Suedeliner’ from Harrison Trim Suppliers.

We took off the VW panels and started with the Thermoliner. This stuff is brilliant to work with, easy to cut and shape. It also has an adhesive backing which sticks directly to the bare metal surfaces. By the end of Sunday night we had completed the back end sides and roof. I’ve taken off the sliding door cards and made a start on these also, although these might prove a little more footery!

AND…. More importantly, I got my new regi plates on. I’m over the moon by the way it’s shaping up.

Couldnt have done it without the help of my son John, who is clearly much fitter and agile!

Oh and a special mention goes to ‘Fat Max’ …. The Stanley knife.. He even photo bombed one of our pictures😜

I finally got my van back from VW van centre Glasgow, complete with new engine and flywheel. Now the fun begins… This will be our first whole weekend with the van, time to get started…

What could possibly go wrong?

On my way home from Stockport I decided to fill up with fuel in Rivington service station. I had driven about 15 miles and the van was going like a bomb.

I filled up with fuel and treats ready for my 200 mile trek back to Scotland. As soon as I started the van the coolant warning light came on…. Hmm? I promptly phoned the dealer who assured me that all the levels were correct the day before. I topped it up and sat for a few minutes only to find a puddle underneath my new van. After what can only be describe as a polite call back to the dealer it was decided that I should get my breakdown service – Greenflag to come and have a look.

Graeme from Greenflag came to assist and spent loads of time trying to get to the bottom of my problem. He came up with some ingenious ideas on how to fix what he had found to be a hole in the coolant overflow tank. Sadly after much fiddling and stoating about in a Greenflag van Graeme had to call in the big boys ….. A transporter truck was dispatched to take me and my new purchase back home.

The next day after another call to the dealer I booked it into Airdrie Auto Solutions to have a new expansion tank fitted. Paid for by J&S vans I collected it and drove it home to show off to my family. On the way home did it not just drop its coolant again?

Many phone calls and emails later it was discovered that it would need a new head gasket. I wasn’t to happy with this solution, so spoke to J&S about having a new engine fitted. After their agreement it was taken to VW van centre Glasgow. The deal was, J&S pay for the new engine £3.500 and I’d pay the labour ….

Close to £1400…. Ouch!

My latest contact from VW was on Friday 27th May to tell me that it also needs a new flywheel …. £500. As I finish this off I’m about email J&S to extend their warranty to cover this also.

To say that I’m  excited to get it back on the road is an understatement …. Hopefully more news tomorrow or Tuesday.

Then the fun begins…..