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Mechanical hazard…
Well, you will have to wait a bit for the next images of the beautiful nature here … The bad news is that the code “Low turbo boost” did not come from the actuator replaced a few days ago. Friday morning, the code came again followed by an ugly noise and a lot of white/blue smoke coming out of exhaust. Power boost to zero, I tried to drag to the workshop Chris… A two-hour dismantling later, I discovered that the turbo shaft was shared throughout, never seen taht before!
No other choice than to order a new turbo … Two hours thirty later, after reassembly, VivalaVida is again roadworthy. Insight into the cramped engine compartment which makes interventions sometimes difficult…
Only hope that I will be quiet now with the mechanics for a while…
VivaLaVida: interior
Here is a presentation of my “Wheel house”. 😀
The space where I usually live is in the middle. There is a large sofa transforming in bed for the night. Uper bed is in three elements which fold during the day to let space above the sofa.
Day config:
Night config:
Cabinets, sink and fridge take place on driver side. The two front seats can swivel to open a convenient space. A table can be installed in front of the front seats or the sofa. The sink contains a basin, a cutting board and a draining rack, nice to save space. 😉
Front passenger seat with table and fridge
Sofa with table
Sink closed and opened
The diesel stove is installed on the rear lateral door. It transforms as an outside kitchen and the cabinet door makes then a small outside table.
Closed
Ready to use
Outside kitchen
The back offers a lot of space to carry my stuff and my mountain bike. The bed plateform has hinges in front, so it can tilt up to easier access under where I carry cases and travel bags. At rear of floor, there is a large underfloor storage where I carry Tools, winch stuff, ski boots, etc.
Overview
Backpacks, heater air intake
Bracket for front bike Wheel is on the right door
Underfloor storage
I can also intall my outside shower, a real pleasure already tested this weekend… 😉
You know almost all on my interior but I answer any quastion you would like to ask. 😀
Introducing VivaLaVida!
Well, the day of the baptism arrived: it is time for me to introduce VivalaVida! Almost completed on Friday around 22:30, I have driven it this weekend on an offroad terrain during a photo shoot for an offroad magazine.
Here is my home for the next few years in principle! 😉
VivaLaVida takes the pose:
Presentation of tilting solar panels for a better performance in the high latitudes:
Some action shoots:
In next articles, I will show you details of the exterior, the interior presentation and the story of the very nice camping weekend !
Have a great week start everyone!
Recovery stuff…
… which will likely serve on some trails :
1) Hi Lift Jack with 48 inches capacity
2) the 12’000 lbs winch which I will be able to move form front (normal position) to rear if necessary.
The reassembly of the engine is still in progress, but it is not completely lost to achieve end tomorrow… 😉
Roof rack on work
While the replacement of the 4 injectors of right cylinders bench is in progress, the roof rack is ready to be welded. It will provide a framework on hinges allowing three solar panels to flip for a better performance in the countries at high latitudes and also a roller for easy loading of a canoe.
The front bumper came from powdrer coating late afternoon. I will show it soon. 😉
VivaLaVida puts her nose out!
The day has come to leave Robert’s workshop to get to Chris’s one. It’s the opportunity to make a couple of images of VivaLaVida under the sun …
Mechanical work will start tomorrow: the diagnosis is clear: bad third injector. Since there are 10 hours of work to replace it – must get the engine down to access it! – I will replace 4 injectors of the right cylinder row, just to put all the chances on my side to not have to start again in a couple of months. The roof rack will also be made soon, as modified front bumper and various other small jobs to finish …
Have a nice week-end! 😉
Custom front bumper
In parallel with finishes of interior, the front bumper “special VivalaVida” is under construction : aluminum bumper to save weight, winch attached to front hitch making possible to move it to rear hitch and thus to winch from the back if needed… Not bad, isn’t it? 😉
Kitchen is ready !
Small update during this finishing period where it seems not to advance, as there are so many not spectacular things to do… The kitchen is ready now !
Microwave installed :
Ditto for the diesel stove that I present below: 1) closed, 2) protection and door-table opened, 3) the stove. (Sorry for the picture quality but the iPhone’s camera is still not one..!)
You may have noticed it, the stove cabinet is installed on one of the side doors, so I have two kitchens, one inside and the other outside for good weather! 😀
With that, I’ll have all I need to cook like a chef..! 😉
The bed is almost ready!
Well, another week ends with a lot of work done!
The electrical system is complete with three house batteries in addition to the original two start batteries, enough to live a full week boondocking! The only things still missing are solar panels and controller as well as the microwave which will be installed after completing the insulation with expanding foame. But the light is there now! VivalaVida is alive! 😉
Plumbing is also complete except a connection for the filter at inlet of the pump, not yet received. And the rear part of the bed (fixed plateform) is also in place.
Next week, we should receive the aluminum profile that will allow us to install the stove and the upper bed.
And since it was my Birthday today, I had the luxury to enjoy a wallnut cake speciality of Grisons (Switzerland) 😀
Thanks to all who are following this blog! 😉
Interior begins to take place…
The work continues. All cabinets are almost finished and the doors are now installed. The electrical panel is in place and partially connected. The engin preheater also as indoor heater.
And yesterday afternoon, it was welding time to assemble the elements of extendible sofa bed. 🙂
D5 Creation