Manflowers:blog

Canvass by Molly

2012-01-29T20:36:00.001Z

Molly has just done this painting, it's very good!

Bonjour Belle

2012-01-28T22:15:00.001Z

Belle is a patina early bay coming from southern France. She is lacking in the chassis department, Dave and Carly need some radical welding done, before they can carry on with the rest of the work themselves

Cracking rear panel Grommet

2012-01-28T20:49:00.001Z

There is a small crack in some filler in the rear panel of this bay...

Ok not too bad, we can address that.....

Oh dear, there appears to be an issue here??

Oh bugger

Nice mask, goggles, hat. Sorry Darren your going to go white mate! Best not forget to get that extractor on dude!

Omg what were they thinking???

Light weight early bay

2012-01-28T20:28:00.001Z

This early bay is Manflowers new baby, she has been a little sorry for her self lately, but sometime later on in the year we will give her a new chassis, bottom third, doors, suspension, brakes, etc etc etc. don't worry customers vans come first;)

Bay window Windscreen surround repair

2012-01-28T18:38:00.001Z

If you can see rust bubbles appearing from under your window seals it's not always bad, however if you've got water ingress you may just be looking at the tip of a rusty ice burg.

Quote of the week

2012-01-28T18:01:00.001Z

The only fish I've ever seen at the seaside was a catfish and a seal..... Bless him. X

The cat fish............

Seal......surely not a fish special boy

Dougal is here for the long haul

2012-01-27T20:17:00.001Z

This is Dougal. Pam and Ian have owned him for about fifteen months. His engine is shot, His interior is tired, paint dull, suspension sagging and is generally in need of some tlc. Smart interior, whitewall tyres bright orange paint and some airbrushed flowers will bring this baby to live another season. Not to mention an 8 ball gear knob.

Kombi-Koo

2012-01-27T19:52:00.001Z

Check out this retro bus, the windows are the coolest ever. Love it!

2012-01-27T18:57:00.001Z

Chassis refurb

2012-01-27T18:56:00.001Z

You have to manually remove the underseal before you can shot blast any Tin worm infected poop.

Chassis refurb continues

2012-01-27T18:41:00.001Z

This week the bus with no name has had new c pillar strengtheners, front wheel arch bulk heads, new rear inner rear wheel arch lips and inner and outer rear arches. All suspension is removed and receiving the treatment.

Trailer queen

2012-01-16T22:46:00.001Z

Betsie makes her final journey on the trailer to be converted into a tdi tubbed and slammed daily driver. About time too!!!!! With ravern hydraulics and 944 IRS in the back we will fit her with a bespoke steering rack set up to compliment her 5" narrowed red 9 beam. Rock and Roll. Strictly night time and weekends for this baby tho. Still not fully sold on the tdi tho, seamed like a good idea at the time.

Replacement of floor supports and cross members

2012-01-16T21:57:00.001Z

The body roller makes all of the welding a much more pleasant experience, no weld dropping down your neck and arms:)

With new out riggers and jacking points, the completion of the cargo floor will be coated with an etch primer to help combat future rust issues.

The heater tube has been extended by 50mm to allow for a custom rear y piece, to integrate the propex gas heating in the rear cab area. This will allow heat to be delivered to the front passenger area by either the heat exchangers or the propex.

Tony's bay comes alive

2012-01-06T22:03:00.001Z

So with engine built, new loom made we have lights camera action, how it's changed since we got it. Look out for Tony's bay at the shows this year it's a bit different for an early bay. TART:)

This is today...........

This was before..........

Chassis rebuild on late bay continues

2012-01-06T21:47:00.001Z

Replacing 3 top hat floor supports, the front centre section of floor to cab, etc, etc. All of the guide tubes for the cables are rotted out and are being replaced. The fuel tank is rotted out and the fuel tank floor. Not to mention the rear main chassis legs and adjoining rear beam, stay tuned for the on going chassis and floor repairs.

Merry christmas!!!!!!!

2011-12-25T09:40:00.001Z

So we are off until the new year, I've just eaten my traditional dripping on toast listening to ministry of sound, with my beautiful family what could be better. Happy Christmas to all you dubbers out there. X

Bless the samba.com

2011-12-23T00:15:00.001Z

If you need colour wiring diagrams for most years of bus go to the samba.com, most useful. X

Breakfast at Tiffany's

2011-12-21T10:40:00.001Z

2011-12-21T10:36:00.001Z

Hello

2011-11-11T20:35:00.001Z

Abused!!!!

2011-11-11T18:06:00.001Z

You spend months restoring them, they finally get them back and because your sticker is so big in the back window they bend it, whoops .

Stripping back Chassis to Basics

2011-11-10T22:32:00.002Z

We started to replace the inner sills and middle strengtheners, but then on removal of the cross members, found that the tophat floor supports (3 of them) were soft and borderline. So we have decided to remove them to make the chassis as solid as we can! What corrosion we don't cut out, will be shot blasted and treated. The body roller makes light work of what is a pain on the ramp!

Away surfing until 31st. Xx

2011-10-27T16:32:00.001+01:00

Looking forward to getting back to it. X

Twisted Fire Starter

2011-09-14T18:27:00.001+01:00

Here's how not to join your main starter to battery positive lead.

Poor contact under load could cause arcing which would lead to heat and potential fire under the fuel tank.

Now that's neater and safer surely? More horror story findings to follow.

Beautiful barn find betsie

2011-09-14T08:47:00.001+01:00

Mother nature has finished the paint job, now to get her running!

You can fit a beetle engine into a bus!

2011-09-13T19:48:00.001+01:00

This is how you do it if your a bit special!

See the roomy beach buggy no cooling tins on engine or body styling. Classy but not cool. No wonder it wouldn't get more than 20 miles before over heating.

Turn the beam around and weld it to the exhaust, omfg.....

Or you could spend a couple of hours and less than £20 and not get an nvq in butchery, with an adaptor plate.

Is he?

2011-09-10T20:32:00.001+01:00

2011-09-07T19:42:00.001+01:00

It's a roll over!!!!!

2011-09-05T20:47:00.001+01:00

Back in the day, 1989! Couldn't even grow a beard then lol.

2011-09-04T21:57:00.001+01:00

Autumn tides, bring it on

2011-09-04T21:16:00.001+01:00

2011-09-04T21:13:00.001+01:00

2011-09-04T21:07:00.001+01:00

2011-08-27T06:57:00.001+01:00

Delivered as promised!!!!...gone surfing

Ok we are cutting it fine I will admit it

2011-08-27T02:23:00.001+01:00

Pampered and home

2011-08-21T18:12:00.001+01:00

Welcome home mrs Manflowers. We missed you baby.

Leeloo cant wait for holidays

2011-08-19T22:46:00.001+01:00

Mickey on final stage of rebuild

2011-08-19T18:53:00.001+01:00

Ready for the wedding on Saturday, the bride won't be the only one looking beautiful;)

Mickey gets Mango

2011-08-15T18:25:00.001+01:00

Look this is Darren and Benjamin at work x

2011-08-04T17:17:00.001+01:00

We can now post direct from the workshop!

2011-08-04T17:13:00.001+01:00

Look, we've just finished this! Woop woop!

Testing our new blog app...

2011-08-04T17:00:00.001+01:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Cargo Door Bottom Replacement

2011-08-03T22:11:00.002+01:00

One down, one to go! Final door to be repaired tomorrow, woop woop!

Cargo Door Bottom Repair (When Two Become One)

2011-08-01T22:39:00.002+01:00

Today we have transplanted the bottom of an early high hinge cargo door with a damaged top on to Micky's damaged thin and unrepairable bottom end (nothing simple in this life, couldn't find another high hinge door that was worth fitting).

Repairing Cab and Cargo Doors

2011-07-28T22:53:00.001+01:00

Inside Painted

2011-07-25T22:14:00.001+01:00

Highbuild Primer

2011-07-20T21:35:00.002+01:00

Final Dent Removal and a Cute Little Nose Job For Mickey :)

2011-07-18T22:15:00.002+01:00

Removing Dents Shown up by First Coat of Primer, Ready for Highbuild

2011-07-11T18:52:00.002+01:00

Dent Removal

2011-07-11T18:46:00.001+01:00

Camper Jam!

2011-07-10T22:11:00.006+01:00

Great weekend guys, thanks to everyone who helped put together a very last minute plan B stand. :) see the rest of the photos hereeee!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/media/set/?set=a.269676971405.150610.269674601405

A Massive Sorry

2011-07-06T23:18:00.003+01:00

We are 3 weeks overdue with the deadline for Micky Mango, we are this far behind as we squeezed a budget resto which basically took our Westy from dormant and sorn, to welded, MOTd, lowered and painted, in 3 weeks, so that another customer wouldn't miss their prebooked month's tour of the highlands of Scotland. So being extra nice as usual, has bit us in the ass and peeed off other customers which we are truly sorry for. On top of all that, our stand will look crap at Camper Jam, as Micky should have been pride of place and finished, advertising Nigel and June's wedding car business with Micky. We will make it up to them, as we will push their wedding car service with Micky, at any given opportunity! =] thank you x

Mango Mafia Roof

2011-07-06T22:43:00.003+01:00

This roof has seen some action, once a roof's been dented, it stretches the metal and will not pop back. Beat it as necessary, but you wont get away without filling it. If it doesn't look right when you've filled it, a nice 3 bow roof rack comes in useful ;) which if they used in the first place, wouldn't be dented!

Micky Mango Taking Shape

2011-07-06T22:34:00.003+01:00

Micky Mango had lots of sound deadening stuck to his bulkhead (see previous pictures) and in the engine bay was 50 years worth of oil residue to clear out, before we could paint it. Removing old glue has proved to be a mission.

Betty On The Rebuild!

2011-05-30T20:28:00.002+01:00

Chris and Donna's Van at Manflowers

2011-05-17T22:11:00.003+01:00

Chris and Donna from the valleys have got their van in with Manflowers for some routine tweaks and fixes. Lovely van, deserves some pics on the blog!

On Safari

2011-05-04T23:47:00.001+01:00

Now fitted with polished stainless safaris, however as you can see from picture 1, some major repairs to the windscreen area was required first.

Right Hand Front Doorstep Replacement For Mango

2011-05-04T23:41:00.002+01:00

Just when you think you can just pop on the door step, you find the A pillar is like tissue paper. So a little TLC first then you are able to fit the doorstep. The thing is, you would never see this, but this is major structure and needs to be done. So if you didn't realise all the work that has gone into repairing the A and B pillar first.

B Pillar Fabrication

2011-05-04T23:34:00.002+01:00

Looks can be deceiving - I knew the B pillar had had some damage, however I didn't realise it was completely out of shape - the result of a heavy impact which has also damaged the cargo door frame. We have completely dismantled the B pillar and started again, remanufacturing the internal mounting for the lower hinge. Happy days, not!

Right Hand Front Doorstep Replacement

2011-04-15T21:56:00.002+01:00

We've removed the right hand front door step/wheelarch and found that the cargo door B-pillar needed some rework. We've pulled the pillar straight, however the metal is too thin and has been repaired previously, so now we are fabricating a new outer skin for the pillar and adjoining bulkhead.

New Dash and Front Panel

2011-04-01T22:00:00.002+01:00

After the removal of many spot welds and the discovery that the drivers side front has had an impact of some magnitude on the front A-pillar. Straightened up and looking as good as new. Oh yeah, that's 'cause it is! So begone gnarly big gap around the front grill. :)

Replacement of Front Doorsteps

2011-04-01T21:48:00.002+01:00

Before we could replace the doorsteps, we had to do a minor repair to the bulkhead on the n/s/f.

First of all, take your measurements and make marks front and rear, as reference points. Then drill out all spot welds, clean up with linisher and happy days.

On the o/s/f B-pillar, there are captive nuts, top and bottom, for the cargo doors. On Micky the lower captive plate which has to be able to move up and down, and in and out for adjustment, has long gone and was armed with two gnarly nuts and bolts, which came through the bulkhead behind the doorstep. We have fabricated a new captive plate, exposed the back of the B-pillar to insert it back to its original design. Once the plate's in place, we can seal up the B-pillar with a new plate.

Hoodride at Manflowers!

2011-03-30T22:49:00.002+01:00

Nicely Preserved Panels

2011-03-30T22:42:00.002+01:00

Yes okay the bus' roof might be toast, but for an English bay with original panels they are very good. :)

Fabrication and Dent Removal

2011-03-30T22:34:00.003+01:00

Micky Mango has a little tinworm to be irradiated and quite a few dents to be panel beat.

New Devon Roof Canvas Fitted

2011-03-30T22:23:00.003+01:00

If you're thinking of undergoing a Devon pop top refurb, make sure you've got a good few days spare. The seals aren't too bad to replace, but OMGGG the concertina plastic canvas is a total arse to get right. If you don't get it right, it won't fold square and you don't get a second chance, as you have to sandwich the canvas between alloy rails to hold it and then screw it to the fibreglass/wooden frame. We've put a few twists of our own on this with a polished alloy surround and the vinyl top. Happy days!

A Whole Can of Tinworms...

2011-03-25T21:07:00.002Z

Well this week we have uncovered a whole can of worms with the bus with no name. The carnage you can see on the photos is all the strengthening in the rear roof section and rear corners. The only way to remedy this is to find a donor rear roof section. Bad times.

Mango Mafia Uncovered

2011-03-25T20:58:00.003Z

Other than front door steps and a pair of sills, the Mango Mafia bus is as clean as they come. He's got many battle scars, which are being pulled and bashed in readiness of a coat of acid etch. Then off to the paint shop for a new coat of seagull grey and mango green.

Award for the Most Coats of Paint EVER

2011-03-21T22:11:00.002Z

Now you'd have thought that a bus with between 6 and 8 coats of paint, would be preserved more than your average pickled egg. However, this is not the case. The top picture is the inner dash panel, which has been repaired beyond recognition! The rear quarters have already been repaired bottom end, but are quite bad on the tailgate opening. If the bottoms hadn't already been repaired, I would cut out and repair the damage in the top, but seeing as it's already had extensive repairs we will replace the whole corner. Stay tuned for more rock n roll.

Pop Top Refurb

2011-03-21T22:02:00.002Z

The roof on Tony's bay was a bit tired looking and leaked, so we have removed the frame, straightened it all, reinforced it, added our own twist with the covering and the finish on the outer rim and refurbed the frame - painting it a nice metallic blue to match the body. We're also fitting a new plastic canvas.

Phil & Patsy's T4

2011-03-21T21:54:00.002Z

We've carried out the first part of a conversion from builders van to day van. Fitted a pair of side windows, removed the bulk head, sound deadened and insulated behind all the ply lining and then lining carpeted everything. Not to mention the sparkly floor which Patsy requested! Stage 1 complete, back later in the year for stage 2.

Modifications Continue to Betty

2011-03-16T21:57:00.003Z

Betty is now sporting a bespoke polished alloy knucklegrating style firewall (not white as shown, this is protective cover). These are now available from Manflowers, with or without louvers. The sides are removable for when driving, and clip in to hide the batteries for when you're at the show ground.

Underneath we have modified the tophat floor supports and added two of our own, which follow the bus front to rear. These have had nutserts fitted and then welded into place, these allow us to fit a newly fabricated stainless cradle to house the propex heating system under the floor. Thus not taking up any room inside of the cupboards or damaging or altering any of the westfalia interior. The bellypans are now removable, however we have had to modify them heavily. The centre pan has been lowered one inch, to accommodate the propex. I must add, this isn't the usual propex size, this badboy would heat a sixth birth RV (slight overkill).

Flash's Lowlight Finished

2011-03-15T21:52:00.002Z

We've now completed the front on Flash's Bay, however the colour is wrong. The bus was painted in the States about 15 years ago in a custom colour which we just could not match. We have used L90D and tinted it to the max, but it's just not right. Flash isn't too bothered, life's too short, so he is going to use it this season and then it's coming back to have a full respray. We've built it back up with its original bumpers, but now sporting a nice coat of powercoat. All that grief and you can't even see the bloody front panel behind everything, but hey, we know it's right. NEXT.

How Fiftysix Delux's Bus Came About

2011-03-08T20:37:00.002Z

Once upon a time there was a small company called Fiftysix Delux. He had a really nice oval beetle but wanted a budget bus for carting around his stock. So we found Mark a nice cheap bus. It needed some welding and some TLC. He gave us a picture that he'd created on Bus Selecta, so we did it. We have just rebuilt the underneath and now we feel it is time that we put it on our blog. The end. (Been working hard today, bloody knackered - lots of photos to upload: Betty, Tony's Bay, Flash's Lowlight, Mickey Mango, The Bus With No Name and The Smiley Fun Bus, we'll upload them as soon as we can), finished early today to eat pancakes, night night xxx

Servo Tweeks

2011-02-23T21:23:00.003Z

When you get a Red 9 Design twin wishbone front end it comes with a laser cut plate that you can weld in anywhere you like depending on the size of servo you're fitting. The L shaped plates need a small notch cutting out to allow for a large late bay servo. We found that fitting the lower plate underneath gave the best clearance on the steering linkage to miss the servo. Cheers for the info Mr R9D.

1641 With Engle High Lift Cam

2011-02-23T21:03:00.003Z

There are a number of measurements you have to check out when building an aircooled engine. You must measure the diameter of the crank on the main journals and the big ends, you must measure the outside diameter for the main bearings to sit in the casing and you must also measure the rear main journal for enfloat. This is a linebored casing from VW, the diameter of the crank has been taken out 0.05mm, they have also done the cam outside diameter, which is now causing a problem as the bearings are (or appear to be) no longer available. Heritage list the bearings and have arrived after being on backorder forever, now they have arrived, it's the internal diameter that is oversize, not the outer. So this casing might make somebody a nice BBQ!

Betty Fisher

2011-02-23T20:55:00.002Z

Sorry Darren, even the best of us have to do the mundane tasks sometimes Bud. We need a bitch! Apply with CV ;)

Betty Swollocks

2011-02-19T15:48:00.005Z

Two inch drop spring plates with new brakes etc, looking the dogs.

Tony's Bay Gets a Heart Transplant

2011-02-19T15:39:00.001Z

Tony's engine's coming together now, it's all looking good...

Flash's Front Panel

2011-02-19T15:26:00.002Z

Flash's new front end is ready for paint after some heavy hours put in over the past couple of weeks.

The Bus with no Name is the Bus with no Front

2011-02-19T15:18:00.002Z

Mango Mafia

2011-02-19T14:51:00.006Z

This already nice looking early split is already sporting a twin wishbone front end, we've held out for back ordered gear linkages so we can road test it and check it out, but they haven't arrived yet and we need to crack on, so the resto begins.

Chassis Repairs For Flash

2011-02-05T20:07:00.002Z

Before we can fit the front inner panel, we are repairing the ends of the chassis. You can't see any of this when the new panels are fitted. Shame really, well we know it's there and done properly.

Manflowers is Comin' Out!

2011-02-05T19:58:00.004Z

The last time anybody saw this poor old Betsy Beau Brown from Billericay was Vanfest 2008, closely followed by the Volksworld show report. Well, since then she's matured like a fine wine, or smelly cheese! This year you'll see her under her own steam: a 2.0L turbo on a five speed box, juice suspension and fat Brembos! (Cheers for the Brembos Tom, love you), three years late we hope it's worth it.

From Shell to Finished in Three Weeks... Surely Not?

2011-02-03T20:39:00.002Z

We picked up our new Karmann shell three weeks ago and this week Pete popped in with his new Ghia. We couldn't believe it was the same colour, watch out mate, when we've finished these vans for everyone and we start doing ours we might need some bits - don't leave it parked out back! ;)

Tony's Bay Underneath Refurb

2011-01-25T21:03:00.002Z

Tony's early Bay is now getting the love underneath. Genuine components that we're keeping, like the trailing arms and hubs are all blasted and painted. Reconed front calipers and new everything else.

Cabin Floor Reconstruction

2011-01-21T20:06:00.003Z

Today we have reconstructed the left hand front cab floor around the pedal area, a new panel had been welded in previously but was illfitting and the welds had not penetrated well. We shortened the original repair panel, removed some more of the original pitted holey floor and fabricated a new piece to go in between. We've included some pictures of the fabricated repair piece (you could weld in just a flat panel, but machining grooves into the panels adds strength and looks sexy).

New Brakes, Transmission and Engine

2011-01-20T23:31:00.002Z

Tony's early bay is now getting new brakes all round, pipes and flexes, gearbox, clutch and rebuilt engine.

Front Door Steps, Filler, Primer and Paint Left To Go! Woop! Woop!

2011-01-20T23:25:00.002Z

Nearly all of the welding and fabrication is complete now, just some tweaks to the front panel to dress the door gaps and the front door steps. Is now sporting a new Empi quiet pack and new heat exchangers.

Rear Arch Made Good!

2011-01-20T23:16:00.002Z

The bus has had an arch put on, over the top of the original which you can see at the sliding door gap, so we've cut it back and butted it in to look as it should.

'59 Split Gets Suspension, Steering and Brake Mod

2011-01-20T23:08:00.003Z

New twin wishbone kit fitted to Micky Mango the '59 split. This kit from Red 9 Design eliminates the front beam with torsion bars and playful steering box and replaces with coilover shocks and rack and pinion steering, converts the front drum brakes to late bay discs, with wide 5 adapters.

Fabrication and Welding on Voilet Begins

2011-01-20T22:43:00.003Z

We've started cutting out some of the pitted thin and holed areas of Violet, fabricated some of our own panels to bridge the gaps to fit some premolded bought panels.

Happy New Year, We're Back!

2011-01-03T21:12:00.002Z

Back after our christmas and new year break, hope you all had a great time. Sarah got me to decorate the bathroom when we'd got over the flu, so now we have a rat look bathroom with some bling! Business as usual from Tuesday 4th.

Begone Skeletor, Welcome Back Smiley Fun Bus!

2010-12-13T20:48:00.005Z

Both battery trays, rear corners and rear arches are complete and we have now finished the cargo area floor. Keep watching over the next couple of weeks for continuing progress.

Pressing on with the Rebuild

2010-12-13T20:38:00.002Z

Smiley Fun Bus Rebuild Continues

2010-12-09T21:45:00.003Z

Cargo Floor Chassis Complete!

2010-12-08T20:22:00.004Z

With four of the top hat floor supports replaced and the others repaired, we have now fitted front and rear centre cross members, four new jacking points and six outriggers. You do have to tweak the outriggers and the jacking points slightly, in order for them to fit correctly. A few bits and bobs to tidy up around the inner wheel arches and the bulk head, and the floor's ready to go in. Happy days!

Rear End Rebuild

2010-12-08T19:55:00.004Z

The rear of the Smiley Fun Bus was quite bad to say the least. The last six inches of the rear chassis legs were missing and about six inches on the rear vertical strengtheners, all this has to be cut out and renewed before the new battery trays, rear valance and rear corners can be put into place.

Left Hand Sill Replacement

2010-12-02T21:05:00.004Z

The inner sill, the middle strengthener and the outer sill are all rotten through to the core. So we have removed it all and replaced with new! Luckily all of these panels are available to buy, so we don't have to fabricate them, however most replacement panels need some tweaking of some sort.

Unsure about the gap next to the fridge, we think wine rack? Or should it be a slimline pull out cupboard?

2010-12-02T20:58:00.001Z