Van Go

Now that the road buzz in me bones has settled....

The eclipse... the conservation area was a perfect pick. Beautiful countryside, about a half dozen cars in total, people were respectful and friendly... and clear skies. What more could you ask for? I'll leave the waxing poetic for others better at writing this stuff. Suffice to say it was as good as the first time in '17. Once again, no pics. We just lived in the moment and left the photos for others to fuss over.

Van go. For starters, he just went on a two day 800 mile shakedown. There's good and not so good there. He got us to our destination and back home again. High marks in my book. He had the glitch with the #3 cylinder along the way. I friggin' hate roadside/parking lot repairs... you never bring the right tools along... we soldiered on and figured it out. I forgive 'im.
Front end needs some work. Yes it was all back country roads... and yes, the crosswinds/gusts were about as bad as I've ever driven in, but he's not right up front. Guess I'll start ordering fresh ball joints and such... go from there.
Cold, the engine lights as soon as you touch the key. Warmed up and fresh off the road... ten minutes at a gas stop... you need to spin it 5 or 10 seconds before it light off. I'm the first to admit that I know about nothing of automotive fuel injection systems. A Bendix Aviation fuel injection? I can fix and tune in my sleep. Fords?... not a clue. If it was an old fashioned, carbureted setup... hands down... feels like vapor lock.
Any clues out there to get me pointed in the right direction?


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When you’re done Jim, I hope to see you north of the Border! The Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Group annual rally is in June! 😉😉😉
Absolutely - please do come up here Jim!

Free acommodations at the Harrow Hilton!

Pete
 
Been a day or two... 🤪

Poor ol' Van Go been forlornly and patiently waiting... and waiting. Every Sunday I'll take him out for a 30 min drive 'cause... you know, mechanical things don't like jus' sittin'. Beyond that, nothin'.

Decided to tackle some of the trim and such. Maybe "trim" is a bit too fancy a word for what I did. I put a 2X4 on the table saw and turned it into 1/4" X 1-1/2" strips. Used an old fashioned plane and sandpaper to round off an edge and glued/nailed 'em into all the edges of the paneling.

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Also finished running the shelf forward on the starboard side... all the way up to the cubbyhole over the cockpit cab drivers compartment.

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Also started trimming around the cubbyhole.

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Down to the last tank I'll paint this year... maybe. Hopefully I'll get more regular sessions with Van Go now. Sumpin' else always pops up though... we'll see.
 
Been a day or two... 🤪

Poor ol' Van Go been forlornly and patiently waiting... and waiting. Every Sunday I'll take him out for a 30 min drive 'cause... you know, mechanical things don't like jus' sittin'. Beyond that, nothin'.

Decided to tackle some of the trim and such. Maybe "trim" is a bit too fancy a word for what I did. I put a 2X4 on the table saw and turned it into 1/4" X 1-1/2" strips. Used an old fashioned plane and sandpaper to round off an edge and glued/nailed 'em into all the edges of the paneling.

View attachment 337394

Also finished running the shelf forward on the starboard side... all the way up to the cubbyhole over the cockpit cab drivers compartment.

View attachment 337392

Also started trimming around the cubbyhole.

View attachment 337393

Down to the last tank I'll paint this year... maybe. Hopefully I'll get more regular sessions with Van Go now. Sumpin' else always pops up though... we'll see.
Damn, you are starting to sound like sailor or worse, a navy guy... 😀
 
Been a day or two... 🤪

Poor ol' Van Go been forlornly and patiently waiting... and waiting. Every Sunday I'll take him out for a 30 min drive 'cause... you know, mechanical things don't like jus' sittin'. Beyond that, nothin'.

Decided to tackle some of the trim and such. Maybe "trim" is a bit too fancy a word for what I did. I put a 2X4 on the table saw and turned it into 1/4" X 1-1/2" strips. Used an old fashioned plane and sandpaper to round off an edge and glued/nailed 'em into all the edges of the paneling.

View attachment 337394

Also finished running the shelf forward on the starboard side... all the way up to the cubbyhole over the cockpit cab drivers compartment.

View attachment 337392

Also started trimming around the cubbyhole.

View attachment 337393

Down to the last tank I'll paint this year... maybe. Hopefully I'll get more regular sessions with Van Go now. Sumpin' else always pops up though... we'll see.
What will use for "paint cooking" now?
 
Been a day or two... 🤪

Poor ol' Van Go been forlornly and patiently waiting... and waiting. Every Sunday I'll take him out for a 30 min drive 'cause... you know, mechanical things don't like jus' sittin'. Beyond that, nothin'.

Decided to tackle some of the trim and such. Maybe "trim" is a bit too fancy a word for what I did. I put a 2X4 on the table saw and turned it into 1/4" X 1-1/2" strips. Used an old fashioned plane and sandpaper to round off an edge and glued/nailed 'em into all the edges of the paneling.

View attachment 337394

Also finished running the shelf forward on the starboard side... all the way up to the cubbyhole over the cockpit cab drivers compartment.

View attachment 337392

Also started trimming around the cubbyhole.

View attachment 337393

Down to the last tank I'll paint this year... maybe. Hopefully I'll get more regular sessions with Van Go now. Sumpin' else always pops up though... we'll see.
Wow - very nice job Jim - but I would expect nothing less from a craftsman of your calibre.

Pete
 
Been a day or so... anyone else notice that as you age, this ol' blue marble jus' spins faster-n-faster? :cautious:

Anyway, Van Go's turn for a bit. The top of the drivers compartment needs sorting. First I added some sound deadening foam.

1757193036809.png


Tapped into the wiring and ran leads for two dome lights... his and hers adjustable LED's.

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Not at all happy with the brown button covers for the screws. I'll look for better. Now I need to make the center panel where the switches and such will go.

1757193379899.png


Picked up some stick on vinyl floor tile. Great reviews on Amazon... 100 bucks for under 20lbs of tile (gotta watch that weight). The "print" on the tile was all over the place. 56 tiles and I tried 112 different combinations... and still couldn't get good matches. Fuck it, for $100, what do you expect. Anyway... floor's done.

1757193656770.png


1757193678686.png
 
Been a day or so... anyone else notice that as you age, this ol' blue marble jus' spins faster-n-faster? :cautious:

Anyway, Van Go's turn for a bit. The top of the drivers compartment needs sorting. First I added some sound deadening foam.

View attachment 357305

Tapped into the wiring and ran leads for two dome lights... his and hers adjustable LED's.

View attachment 357306

View attachment 357307

Not at all happy with the brown button covers for the screws. I'll look for better. Now I need to make the center panel where the switches and such will go.

View attachment 357308

Picked up some stick on vinyl floor tile. Great reviews on Amazon... 100 bucks for under 20lbs of tile (gotta watch that weight). The "print" on the tile was all over the place. 56 tiles and I tried 112 different combinations... and still couldn't get good matches. Fuck it, for $100, what do you expect. Anyway... floor's done.

View attachment 357309

View attachment 357310

RE: Spinning faster and faster.....This!!

I swear, the more engrossed a guy gets in his projects (I have like 3 going at once depending on which part shows first for which bike), the faster time flies by.

Next thing you know, Summer is over and its like wait, Im not ready for it to be over yet... 😲

Anyway, Van project is looking great!
 
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