sherpa diy morning

[scooters]

Well

Lurking at home today so doing some upgrades to the sherpa.

 

First off is a new old stock 60s wipac scout yellow driving lamp mounted on the grill nose style. Need to wire it in. Has an ancient halogen bulb in it. Can't seem to get it working so we might replace the wiring for a normal 12v bulb. Suspect the earth.

 

Next I replaced the stereo with a newer Kenwood. This one with mp3 aux socket.

 

Next was a dash mounted fag lighter running off the leisure battery. Next I hard wired in a 300w power investor off the leisure battery again.

 

I then fixed a dodge earth to the flasher unit.

 

Then left the lights on so will need to jump start with the 240 later.

 

Big road trip coming up this weekend in the sherpa. Edinburgh to egham and back...should be fun.

[CreepingJesus]

Hardy soul, you - messing about with BL electrics in this lovely weather! How's yours for noise, while on the move? Any LDV I've driven (billions of the buggers with Parcelfarce) or owned, rendered the radio useless merely by starting the engine, never mind driving.

I really wanted one of those 'Made In Britain' stickers from The IT Crowd for mine. Just for the comedic value.

[Gompo]

Have you got a good battery on there?

 

I look forward to pics of the driving lamp.

 

Cheers, Greg.

[M'coli]

I'd try jumping it off of the leisure battery first, just to see if it will.

 

Scooters, what sort of speed does it comfortably cruise at?

[scooters]

You need to read my review from a couple of months ago.

 

However she cruises much better now and is happy around 55

[M'coli]

I did read it, it was a good read but I'd forgotten the facts and figures. 55 is going to make it a long journey!

[jaycey001]

I wish you all the luck!

 

Planing to take my sherpa out this weekend to skeggy, not a major run but enough to make you feel like "death warmed up" I have took the plunge tho and have it booked in to have an aftermarket electric fuel pump fited in place of the mechanical one, thay are known to go and for £100 gotta be worth it!! i will let you know if there is any improvment in drivability!

 

do you have an electronic ignition fitted? I would fully recomend one!

 

good luck

 

James

 

p.s i have given up on the radio... any speed above 40mph and you cant hear a thing!

[scooters]

much appreciated James

 

- let me know how it goes.

 

I haven't upgraded to electronic ignition yet - it is on the to do list but the bus is runnning so bloody well at the moment and is in daily use what with the MAF issue I have with the 240 (returning about 10mpg just now) I have put it on the wish list rather than the absolutely essential list.

 

My autosleeper has been insulated at some point and this makes soundproofing a bit more effective - the radio is fine albeit in a noisy environment. I have 2 serious speakers mounted at the rear of the steps by the doors which gives them good insulation and grounding - OK it's not a LS400 sound system but as tat goes it is more than adequate.

 

For the record - jump starting from a Leisure battery is not a good idea - it will start your vehicle but will trash the battery - leisure batteries look like car batteries but are designed to release their charge slowly rather than in a large wattage oomph like a car battery.

 

So jumping form the 240 or one of the battery packs will be necessary - the annoying thing is that it will take some time to recharge the battery as the leisure battery takes its share automatically - I may bite the bulet and replace the battery with a new one and recharge the other for a spare but we will see.

 

My trip down south this weekend is for a christening - there is no room at my mates house and due to the engerland rugby match in twickers at the weekend every new Zealander in the UK, especially those in edinburgh booked up the plane seats weeks ago!

 

I should have got intothis ages ago and offered to take a load of them down south - food, accomodation and beans on toast in the luxury of a sherpa van!

[warren t claim]

I did read it, it was a good read but I'd forgotten the facts and figures. 55 is going to make it a long journey!

 

55mph isn't so bad. You'd be surprised how much of the country I can cover in a day cruising at those speeds.

[scooters]

indeed - its about 400 miles from Edinburgh to west London - usually takes between 6 and 8 hours depending on the traffic - I'm driving down on a saturday pm - traffic is usually pretty grim so suspect it will take me around 7-8 hours to get there - if it takes any longer I will park up for the night

 

unless you are travellng late at night or on an empty motorway 55 mph isn't far away from average UK motorway speeds -

 

besides the Sherpa will do 70 but its a whole different affair at that speed!

[jaycey001]

Filled up with Shell optimax or somthing like that today (99oc) and what a differance i never go over 55 but it went straight to 60!! it has also stoped the over run prob, slightly more expensive but may be worth a try if your feeling flush, ive got the 2ltr "o" series so dont know if will have same effect in b series.

 

good luck on your trip.. let us know how it goes.

 

j

[scooters]

O series????

 

you flash bugger! very sophisticated!

 

I haven't tried out optimax in the beast yet - my one does have one of those in-line lead adding fuel improving devices - one that you fit for life - looks like it has been in there for a while and it works fine meaning unleaded isn't an issue

 

B series is primitive but safer in my gorilla mechanic's hands!

 

mate trying to get me to put in a tdi but to be honest there is no way thes suspension of the brakes could cope - I'm quite happy with the B

 

will let you know how it all goes

 

R