Hermione's Makeover

[FalcoColumbarius]

Nice butt work, Nxski ~ good clean tidy cuts.

[thedjjack]

Nice butt work, Nxski

Comments like this might be better in a PM...just saying

[FalcoColumbarius]

Hahaha.... I was referring to the butt hinges.

[nxski]

I'll take both meanings as a compliment. I'm certainly glad that I've done all the chiseling I have to since the only chisel I have is very dull and despite my best efforts to sharpen it it seems to be too far gone. I just need to buy some #8 5/8 screws and then I will have a functional bed, then sliders as my next project, then painting, then my second coat of paint, then having the custom foam cushions made and purchasing a queen size memory foam topper (I'm doing all of these as small evening projects which is why it's taking me so long, and I only have 4 potentially free evenings a week). Once the bed is complete it will be time to install the catch can, oil bypass system and then wiring the reverse and fog lights (with the help of Jay) and she should be trip ready!

[nxski]

More gizmo's to install... Anyone want to have a gizmo installation day? I'm bringing them in faster than I can make use of them.

[nxski]

Yesterday I put my newly painted couch / bed into the van.

Today I had a block heater installed, greased up everything, checked fluids, bought foam for the bed, found a good deal on a torque wrench at Home Depot and got it, put in my first 2-stroke oil with my fill-up, became a Petrolabs distributor, put advertising on the van, added some Royal Purple Purple Ice super-coolant, and figured out where I will install my dual bypass unit and my catch can. Good solid day in my opinion!

Here are some pics (sorry again for the quality)...

[1994delicaman]

Did you see any change in your coolant temp with the purple ice when after you left my house?

[nxski]

I haven't seen any yet, the heat doesn't go above about 1/8th so that's good! The EGT's did seem lower at 90km/hr but I'll have to drive it more to see the differences.

[1994delicaman]

sounds good

[nxski]

I bought 12' of hose and a plug for my bypass unit and I think I've come up with a way to install it with no welds but we'll see if it all comes together as planned (it usually doesn't)

Also, my foam arrived! The van is looking very sharp and there appears to still be enough head room for after the sliders are added. A queen size roll of memory foam will then be laid on top of everything and let the camping begin.

[nxski]

I've started the installation of my dual bypass system. I've found a good location, I have everything I need (apart from 4 bolts which are too short), and I have fabricated a mount for it. Tomorrow I will attempt to attach all the hoses, do an oil change and switch to the bypass system. If that all works out smoothly I'll see if I can make some headway on the sliders for my bed / couch.

Here's what I have so far...

[1994delicaman]

Looks like you did not need to weld on a bracket for your bypass system , what are you going to do about the oil lines?

[nxski]

Looks like you did not need to weld on a bracket for your bypass system , what are you going to do about the oil lines?

I have some oil cooler hoses that I'm using and I found a route that will work well. I'm just about to do an oil change and try to connect everything up before it gets dark out.

[nxski]

Finished up the install today. I'm short 2.5L of oil (the extra needed for the bypass system) so will buy that tomorrow and test it out. I also realized that I had 2 filters but they are both for the free-flow and none for the bypass so I found the correct dimensions from Fram and installed that instead. I'm very happy with the result and luckily there were no big headaches (just a minor one which advil cured ). I have my fingers crossed that there will be no leaks when I start it up tomorrow. i've heard of some single bypass systems on a few L300's but if anyone has installed a dual bypass please let me know as I'm hoping I've done everything correctly but can't find any examples of others who have gone this route.

[1994delicaman]

Lookin good bro