work
now browsing by tag
Long mechanical stop finally resolved…
It has been more than two years since I published anything here: VivaLaVida was at a standstill awaiting a solution to a mechanical issue hampering the hot start. It was only at the end of last year that I was able to organize myself to carry out this work.
1. Installation in the garage of my good friend Benji.
The problem arises from the high pressure hydraulic circuit that controls fuel injection. An o-ring seal deteriorates with vibration. This is a weakness of this engine as almost all present this problem between 200 and 300,000 miles. However, to replace it, the engine must be removed and that needs 40 hours according to the technical documentation.
2. Start of disassembly: you have to dismantle the entire front…
3. …because the engine is “buried” under the dashboard.
4. After 4 days of work, I can finally lift the engine with the crane.
5. And here is the guilty part.
6. I take advantage of the engine being out to install reinforced cylinder head studs, removing another potential engine weakness.
7. Reassembly of cylinder heads and timing.
8. After 6 days of work, the engine is ready to return to the vehicle.
9. You need a shoehorn to get it back in!
10. After 3 more days of work, it’s almost over.
These two weeks were followed, a few months later, by a frame treatment to stop the rust which was starting to redden the underside of VLV. Thus, it’s in great shape that VivaLaVida took to the road again last July to discover some places of the Italian Alps and the Spanish Pyrenees.
I will tell about that very soon. 😉
Preparations
I had announced a future destination for VivaLaVida in the last article, it is time to unveil it: VLV will soon take the ferry to the Faroe Islands and Iceland!
It has been a long time since I wanted to go back there but it wasn’t planned for this year. The explosion of mass tourism in Iceland led Icelanders to legislate to preserve the fragile nature of their island. Wild camping is already banned on the South coast since 2016 and it seems that it would be soon extended to the entire country. We decided to go there before the regulations would interfere too much with VLV’s preferred way of travel.
Some of you know that Iceland really nmany more or less deep fords, the meltwater of the glaciers having no choice but to flow on the volcanic soil without humus on most of the island. It has been a long time since I wanted to equip VLV with a cyclonic pre-filter and it was an opportunity to create a snorkel to increase the fording capacity, nothing being available for the Ford E350 base.
The project was important because the vehicle isn’t designed to receive such an equipment. I first had to modify the filter air box by blocking the original air intake located behind the headlight, replacing it with a lateral opening in the driver’s side engine bay wall. Then, I had to design a part located in the room between the fender and the wall, going from the front end to the base of the windshield. There, an opening in the fender allows a pipe of diameter 110 mm to follow the windshield pillar to the pre-filter. All the parts were made of polyethylene, a solid material that welds rather well.
After nearly four weeks of work finishing each evening between 11 and 12, VivaLaVida’s snorkel is now up and running! Here are some pictures to show the main stages of the project.
1. The modified airbox.
2. The flange joining the engine bay wall.
3. Opening in the wall.
4. Intermediate part in preparation.
5. Ready to install with fender opening and body staples.
6. The pipe coming out of the fender and rising above the windshield.
7. Final install on the fender.
8-10. The finished snorkel.
I also did other work on VLV: replacement of start and leisure batteries. For those, previously grouping 3 AGM batteries of 105 Ah each, I opted for two Lithium batteries of 90 Ah, equivalent to approx. 400 Ah AGM. It is a big investment but the reliability and the additional energy capacity associated with a much higher lifetime than lead batteries makes it possible to make profitable over a few years. I also had the heater checked to minimize the risk of breakdown and it turned out to be the time to do it; the burner was quite corroded. Finally, I had to quench all the air-vents from axles, transmission, etc. by raising them above the level of the doors in anticipation of deep fords, thus avoiding water to enter. And everything is not finished even if I start to see the end.
Departure to Denmark is set for August 15th and VivaLaVida should land in the Faroe Islands on the 19th. I will give you news around August 25th when I will pick up my family in Reykjavík for three weeks to discover together this wonderful Iceland…
So next to come soon! 😉
Mecanical work and…
Arrived in North Carolina, I quickly began preparations for the export of VLV: modifications and adaptations required for the future registration in Switzerland, maintenance and preventive work, especially to improve the engine cooling which is still difficult as the big 6-liter diesel is confined in the engine compartment…
1. Cleaning the moving parts of the variable geometry turbo.
2. Re-install of the turbo. Contortionist session ensured to achieve some bolts! 😀
3. Taking the front apart.
4. After removing radiators, intercoolers, fans etc, a part of the work is done to reach the front cover of the engine.
5. Here it is, the cover is removed after a day and a half of work! For the record, I will have to repeat it as a big oil leak appears at the restart. Guess why? Ford had delivered the wrong Semmering gasket! What a f..!
6. That damn little joint earn me the removal of all theadmission for replacement. A full more day of work…
7. plasma cutting in the winch holding plate to improve cooling.
8. Removing the front brake for installation of new calipers. In the end, I will go back with the same, the new calipers being too large for VLV’s wheels…
9. VLV in U-Joint Offroad workshop.
10. U-Joint Offroad fair in Asheville “Van Life Rally”.
VivaLaVida had a real success – I could have sold her several times!
After the fair, it’s camping time with U-Joint team.
11. Nice campsite!
12. Davidson River…
13. On my way to Baltimore where I will drop off VLC for its first transoceanic crossing, I drove in Washington DC.
14. Last night on US ground with the wooden wall that will isolate the interior of VLV and thawing the fridge before stopping it for a few weeks…
15. Last picture at the entrance of Baltimore harbor. Have a good journey VLV! See you in Antwerp in a few weeks. 😉
At the time you will read this update, VivaLaVida will be undertaken its Atlantic crossing…
To be followed soon for the “pick up” in Antwerp and the road to Switzerland. 😉