Thread: Walter the Dormobile

Passenger seat now re-installed.
There was a leak from the overdrive so the tool tray had to come out, noticed that I hadn't allowed enough room for the overdrive selector arm so had to modify the tray while it was out.
Hopefully drop the fuel tank next and fit the remaining seatbelts.

Colin

After moving a lot of parts that have accumulated round Walter I managed to drive him out of the garage & remove the under-seat auxiliary fuel tank.

Found that my old trolley jack wouldn't hold pressure, I think the young bloke used it and left an automatic gearbox sitting on it for days ! Something else to take apart & fix, fortunately I have a backup trolley jack.
Need to paint a few rust spots on the tank so it will go back in once painted. Also need to check out the main tank, the auxiliary tank doesn't have a sender but the changeover tap is within reach !

Seatbelt mounts fitted, just one rear mount to sort out. The strap from the inertia reel hangs loose on the two rear seats as the reel is mounted quite high and so is the mounting by the door. Will either have to live with them being loose or shorten them

Removed some brackets between the front dumb irons, I think the previous owner had a toolbox fitted there. I have a capstan winch that needs a drive shaft and repairs to the fairlead roller brackets to fit.
Also need to remove some brackets from the back but it means taking the cupboard out with the sink & stove. The 'Four Wheel Drive Station Wagon' badge has been removed so I need to find one of those from somewhere.....

Need to get onto replacing the last couple of brake lines then the nearside wing can be re-fitted, I'll probably just etch prime the repair for now.


Colin

Decided to paint the brackets where the auxiliary tank mounts to the chassis (tank has been painted), investigated & removed some wiring that wasn't being used.
Found a rust hole inside the front of the drivers side rear wheelarch. Problem is it's in the sideframe that comprises the lower A pillar, B pillar & lower C pillar which will be a pain to remove so I'll have to repair in situ for now. I have replacement S/H side frames but they need some minor repairs.
It looks like it would be possible to put a mudflap inside the wheelarch to keep a lot of the dirt & stones away from the chassis & sideframe. I just need to decide whether to use rubber or aluminium.

There had been a Smiths heater fitted in the past but it was removed before I purchased Walter.
Found one in my collection of parts, fingers crossed the core doesn't leak.

Decided to investigate the rear panel damage, removed the piece of aluminium someone had fitted then started on the lights so I could remove the remains of the corner capping.
Had a bit of a surprise when I removed the cover on the inside that protects the tail light wiring !! Not sure how that much dirt can build up, there is a lot of red dust & grit so Walter must have been on a few outback trips.
I intend to make a bracket to go on the inside then, using the existing holes in the bodywork, attach it to a hand winch and apply pressure as I try to get it back into shape.

As I've mentioned previously, every time I start one job I find at least two more that need doing.


Colin

We had family visitors today but I hoped to get to work on the Dormobile in the afternoon.
With the dry weather and a bit of wind I cleared leaves from the pool multiple times, fighting a losing battle.....

Then the rain came, a brief 'storm' that had the spouting overflowing so I knew when it stopped I had to get a ladder out & start clearing spouting.
I wandered down the back of the property and heard a cracking sound, looking up a large branch moved ! It was partly over the back shed where three Land Rovers are stored !!
Rushed inside, grabbed one of my boys and then got some Telstra rope.
Tied a weight to the end of the rope and Mitchell managed to throw it over the branch on the second attempt. I was hoping when I slackened the rope that it would slide down the opposite side of the branch but no, it hung up.
Carefully pulling on it (being careful in case it came loose and the weight became a projectile) we pulled and managed to guide the branch away from the shed.
It neatly blocked all three Land Rovers from getting out of the shed.

Cleared the spouting then made a start on clearing up the tree, only one Land Rover blocked in now.

Back to work tomorrow so work on Walter will slow down.


Colin

Lucky with that branch, Colin. I had one come down off a big messmate. Took out the back shed, but also took out my 1969 FIAT 124AC Coupé. Ruined.

Originally Posted by Tins

Lucky with that branch, Colin. I had one come down off a big messmate. Took out the back shed, but also took out my 1969 FIAT 124AC Coupé. Ruined.

Last year the top came out of the same tree, wrecked the chook run and took ages to clear up.
Luckily damage to sheds has been minor over the years (I typed that with my fingers crossed).

Sorry to hear the Fiat was ruined.


Colin

Re-fitted the auxiliary tank today and checked out the main tank.
Removed the main tank drain plug and nothing came out, fished around with my finger and no corrosion or debris so annealed a new copper washer and refitted the drain plug. No fuel leaks so I need to add some more fuel, check the gauge works and then try changing over to the main tank and see that everything works OK.

Cleaned the sedimenter bowl on the fuel pump and replaced the element in the fuel filter. Not sure the filter is standard, it's the same as the one fitted to my FFR.
Replaced the spark plugs, the ones removed were sooty but it's only getting started & moved in & out of the garage at the moment. Once the brakes are finished I can take it on a run.

Removed one of the rear seats ready for painting & re-upholstering. It also allowed me to add a seatbelt mount. Just one more to add when I remove the other rear seat.

Noticed that the seals under the rear side panels have disintegrated, you can post letters through the gap. Probably explains the mud behind the rear light panel. So even if I don't get round to painting the roof I need to lift it to remove the rear side panels & fit new seals.

Checked out the jerry can holders on the front bumper, Used a car jack to bend them back into shape, now need to come up with a way of securing the Jerry's in place.


Colin

I'm assuming you don't have the gas bottle cradle under the driver's seat Colin ?? I removed the cradle from mine and installed a custom built water tank in between the chassis rails. I also modified the seat box. Now under the driver's seat I have a storage box, a tool tray in the center and under the passenger seat houses the dual batteries.

I noticed your rubber seal had gone mine was the same but I replaced them when I took the roof off. Good luck repairing the rear corner, mine was slightly worse but a local guy (panel beater) fixed it and did a reasonably good job.

I've just spent a few days over xmas prepping and painting panels, not the easiest vehicle to prep I must say. I think the doortops were the most time consuming. Today I started prepping the last corner which is only slightly dented

The hole is where the shower assembly fits, removed to get access to the dent under the rear lights