just starting scooby conersion to my 71 bus.advice please

fannythebus

hay all,im picking my ej20 engine up on saturday, and hoefully my bellhousing from rjes on sunday at bus types.after got the engine and bellhousing,can i start to get the engine in place to make my mounting bracket?
anyone made there own bracket?? if so have you got any advice and any pics please?

dave

richbaker78 · Teacher of Padawans Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 1298

yes - building your engine support bar is a good start - in fact probably the best way to start.
i made my own out of 2x1 inch box but any strogn box section should do. i would suggest first that you get the engine in position and all bolted up to your box with the RJES housing. Then position it and chock it on wood / bircks/ jacks anything you have to hand thats NOT going to move but is out of the way of your fabrication. Then its a matter of cutting and tacking together your support bar. some people make it in wood first - but I prefer to make it in steel.
A few pointers -
make sure you web the corners.
Think ahead to exhaust and coolant pipe routing - be sure not to obstruct anything.
you may find it easier to loose the original mounting points to the chassis (if its an early) and make your own - if you do make sure you locally strengthen the chassis.
Measure and remeasure to make sure things dont move - you want your engine square and straight. ill try and find some pictures of mine.

ElusiveStranger · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 9:28 pm Post subject:

Myself, Kev & Rich Baker have all made our own brackets. Photos are all on here.
You'll need some 3mm plate, 50 x 25mm box. It's much easier on an early bay as the chassis rails remain parallel.
You might want to knock one up out of wood first
_________________
The advice you receive on here is worth the paper it's written on.
Your experiences are worth shed loads to others, including the f'ups - live and learn.
Wouldn't YOU rather learn by someone else's mistakes? So would they.

'78 Bay, 2 litre 091 box, EJ20 NA & the ashtray's on the 'right' side.
I don't lean forward for hills any more Grin

Bugger, missed out on "Live fast, die young"

richbaker78 · Teacher of Padawans Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 1298

some pics of mine

and in situ...

i strengthened the chassis where the x member mounted

ElusiveStranger · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 10:40 pm Post subject:

Just found mine

There's also 3mm plates on the outside of the chassis, these aren't welded. The bar has 3 12mm bolts through each side
_________________
The advice you receive on here is worth the paper it's written on.
Your experiences are worth shed loads to others, including the f'ups - live and learn.
Wouldn't YOU rather learn by someone else's mistakes? So would they.

'78 Bay, 2 litre 091 box, EJ20 NA & the ashtray's on the 'right' side.
I don't lean forward for hills any more Grin

Bugger, missed out on "Live fast, die young"

evercold · Padawan Joined: 09 Apr 2007 Posts: 99 Location: dartford

heres mine a bit under engineered compared to the rest but held up for a year now. i got my engine in place then made a template out of wood.

fannythebus · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:36 pm Post subject:

these pics are a massive help. thanks guys. as ive not had my engine out before,not sure whats behind the fan housing,ive seen in pics a brace bar going over the top too?? am i right,or is this gona be on my bus anyways??
when i start making it, in the next few weeks,will get some pics posted.
whats the next step after this bar??as want to be 1 step ahead of myself,just so can have the parts ready.

cheers again guys,great help.

dave

richbaker78 · Teacher of Padawans Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 1298

no probs...thats what were here for!
a late 71 bus may just have the g-box support but i would say its unlikely. as these were 72 on additions. however theres always one!!!
whatever - it wont matter as RJEs housing bolts right up to it anyway. If you dont have one dont worry either - i made one for mine as you can see but its not really neccesary - just a bonus extra and more important for me as I have a turbo.

after the engines in I would start working through each system....theres no particular order...but easiest to work one at a time...eg cooling and heating, fuel, wiring, etc etc. i would start with the cooling and heating system as thats quite an involved job. check out the kooling section...and get searching for an xj40 rad Wink

fannythebus · Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:42 am Post subject:

oh i see,so i wont have to worry about that brace bar ive seen. wow you have a turbo,think its best you have have to stiffen the back end up more!

oh ive seen your pics in cooling,your is mounted under your bus,thats where mine is going. and a jag xj40 rad with fans is the best/ easiest to fit??

richbaker78 · Teacher of Padawans Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 1298

Dont worry about the brace / gearbox mount

belly mounted rads seem to be the way to go....Elusive and others has been running these succesfully - mines belly mounted but a little less conventional.

I was the lucky one who spent many hours (a whole day!) in the scrapyard measuring rads....the Jag XJ40 was the best in terms of size, thickness, depth, position of inlet and outlet, availability and price. so i would defo recommend this option. Look on ebay - they crop up for £25-40.

fannythebus · Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:49 pm Post subject:

ok,thats one thing not to worry about.

ok so a xj40 rad,to go underneath my bus, does it matter if it comes out af a auto or manual xj do you know??

dave

jp · Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:16 pm Post subject:

Auto or manual is fine

This one looks good

Worth throwing some water threw it when you get one to check for leaks or is that leeks ! that one is welsh so worth checking for both Grin

_________________
1971 Devon Bay with 1800 Ford Turbo Diesel Engine (wip)
1983 VW Golf GTI Campaign
1979 Mini 1275 GT
2013 Scirocco TDI GT