Project Beach Hut :: '89 Talbot Express Pilote Motorhome

[vulgalour]

Too late to be of use now but the best way to free a balljoint is to use the two-hammer trick. Hit the side of the bit the ball joint goes into with two hammers on either side at the same time. The shock usually frees them off.

Thank you to everyone that told me that here and on other forums, it really does make a horrible job easy.

[delux]

Thanks reliantscimitar - I've heard of that valve. I could see the piston in the rear drum pushing out & retracting so I figured it was working ok. I'll slip under the van & take a look for something with rubber boots on the brake lines.

[reliantscimitar]

hi again

its on the nearside above the axle

I can send a pic if it helps.

Cheers - mike

[delux]

An ok so it looks like metal junction?

[reliantscimitar]

That's strange

I suspect it has seized before and been removed.


Its there to reduce rear braking when the vehicle is lightly loaded but as a motor home is effectively fully loaded all the time then its not really needed.


Cheers - mike 

[shielsy68]

looking sweet

[delux]

Now freshly MOT'd



Happy days!

[shielsy68]

hats of to al your hard work , looks super , enjoy the road

[delux]

Thanks shielsy68

We've done most of the internal vertical surfaces now. Having removed the carpet that was stuck to them, sanded down and varnished. Just got one side wall to paint, the other to varnish and the door to varnish as well. Hopefully I can tackle that this week after work.

The cushions will go off to a friend tomorrow for recovering now that some suitable fabric had been found!

In the meantime, after the MOT, yesterday I started on the outside trim replacing all the brittle plastic insert with fresh new stuff.

The white insert was broken in places and just brittle all around.



New red insert fitted to spruce it it up! Thought a colour change may add a little uniqueness to this Talbot.





Still lots of detail cleaning to do but this was very satisfying to start. We've got family over for a few days so the camper is being put to good use again.

With the whole near side done it was time to replace the first of the wrecked side position lights.



Note the red trim insert looking very good...

New light Hella fitted & wired up.





I'm glad to have moved onto this kind of refurb now that all the mechanicals have been sorted. Maybe we'll get some camping in this summer afterall.

[vulgalour]

Details like this give a huge boost to the old mojo, especially so soon after an MoT pass. Top work.

[norniron]

Looking great... time to get a few nights away now!

[MiniDan]

Love the work you've done 👍🏻 Top job!

[shielsy68]

friend landed today with the same van , lol says i , i no where to look lol

[delux]

They're everywhere!

A few bits arrived in the mail today...

Out with the yellowed side light lenses:



And on with the new Jokon clear lenses!



What a difference.

So after some more varnishing the door and fridge cabinet is now done so it was time to refit the light switches and grab handle with new stainless screws.



Screws together nicely.

[vulgalour]

I wouldn't have thought those were light switches had you not said, they look more like chunky trim covers. All these little details are making it look loads better.

[delux]

Thanks vulgalour, if this rain abates I may even get to do the other side lights.

[delux]

After discovering that the battery was dropping voltage with the engine running, this morning I decided to pull the alternator and take it for refurbishment.



It must be original as it's Valeo made in France.



Honestly, it was the easiest alternator removal I've ever come across. So much room in this engine bay. I'd love to stuff something like a 300tdi in there!

After that it started raining...

[MK2VR6]

Great project, and excellent to see one that's being repaired and upgraded properly. I shudder to think how many of these have rot holes stuffed full with wob, and that look pretty to an unassuming owner. Interested to see what you do next!!

[commervan]

Please can you let me know where you got your red insert for the aluminium trim as i could only find black
Thanks

[delux]

commervan I got it from Peak Caravan Services off eBay.

mk2vr6 agreed. I was astonished to see what had been done to mine. The good thing is all these steel repair panels are available new to do these things up.

The looming challenge I have now is trying to figure out how to fit seatblets in the rear and have them pass a future MOT.

I've been reading lots online, and as usual it's inconclusive with some people having no issues passing & others failing. From what I can tell I need to anchor them to the steel chassis and most likely get a steel frame made up for the benches in the dinette area - kinda like a rock & roll bed frame with belts but that don't fold up. If I can't get seatblets in here I'm going to have a family mutiny...