Search found 21 matches

by thomp1983
Wed Mar 18, 2026 10:37 am
Forum: Bongo Chat
Topic: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project
Replies: 17
Views: 2097

Re: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project

So earlier in the thread I mentioned a snapped bolt for the dipstick tube as shown below,

IMG_20260317_222704.jpg

This proved to be stubborn in coming out, it resisted heating with map gas, mole grips which snapped it flush, a hole drilled through and a torx bit knocked in with more heat and ...
by thomp1983
Wed Mar 18, 2026 12:43 am
Forum: Bongo Chat
Topic: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project
Replies: 17
Views: 2097

Re: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project

So with the boxes out of my way I had a go at cleaning up the belt end of the engine, this has all been done with brake cleaner and a small wire brush, it's going fairly well.

IMG_20260317_214805.jpg

That's before I started,

IMG_20260317_230039.jpg

And that's after, it's made quite a ...
by thomp1983
Wed Mar 18, 2026 12:34 am
Forum: Bongo Chat
Topic: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project
Replies: 17
Views: 2097

Re: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project

Evening,

So this evening I've done a bit more.

IMG_20260317_154222.jpg

IMG_20260317_160115.jpg

First up I needed to get the gearboxes out of my way as they won't be needed for awhile so I removed the torque converters and put both boxes on a dolly and wrapped them up to keep them weather ...
by thomp1983
Sat Mar 07, 2026 4:02 pm
Forum: Bongo Chat
Topic: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project
Replies: 17
Views: 2097

Re: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project

So another little bit has been done, mainly stripping the good engine so I could access the timing belt,

IMG_20260303_233945.jpg

IMG_20260303_233948.jpg

There's oil absolutely everywhere it's going to need a good going over with some brake cleaner and possibly the pressure washer.

I think ...
by thomp1983
Tue Feb 24, 2026 5:51 pm
Forum: Bongo Chat
Topic: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project
Replies: 17
Views: 2097

Re: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project

Now I'm back from holiday I spent another few hours on it today so now I've got both gearboxes removed and both engines up on stands.

IMG_20260224_160915.jpg

Before I removed the gearboxes I decided to compression test both engines, the broken engine is severely done on compression, the best ...
by thomp1983
Fri Feb 20, 2026 8:43 am
Forum: Fancy Meeting up & Bongo Trips
Topic: Where to go?
Replies: 0
Views: 839

Where to go?

Not sure if this is the right forum but it is about trips.

So looking forward towards the kids 6 weeks holidays when my bongo should hopefully be fully back on the road I'm looking for recommendations for where to go with a 6 year daughter.

We live in Nottinghamshire and I don't think the trips ...
by thomp1983
Wed Feb 11, 2026 4:46 pm
Forum: Bongo Chat
Topic: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project
Replies: 17
Views: 2097

Re: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project

It looks like I need to replace the bottom 2 pipes due to the ends failing, the first one I'm sure was decent on my other bongo that's no longer here but that's just typical, what is the blanked off nipple for?

IMG_20260211_135228.jpg

IMG_20260211_135324.jpg

The second pipe is the lowest one ...
by thomp1983
Wed Feb 11, 2026 4:38 pm
Forum: Bongo Chat
Topic: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project
Replies: 17
Views: 2097

Re: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project

IMG_20260211_135419.jpg

IMG_20260211_135428.jpg

IMG_20260211_135453.jpg

So as you can see it's really clean and tidy, a bit of surface rust which I think I'll wire wheel and treat before undersealing the whole lot.

I also plan to drill a hole in the sills at each end so I can get an ...
by thomp1983
Wed Feb 11, 2026 4:35 pm
Forum: Bongo Chat
Topic: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project
Replies: 17
Views: 2097

Re: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project

IMG_20260211_144614.jpg

So that's both engines now into the garage, I'm going to get a second engine crane, remove both gearboxes and get them mounted up on stands at a nice working height, quite a few of the ancilleries on the broken engine are on better condition than my donor engine so I'll be ...
by thomp1983
Wed Feb 11, 2026 4:30 pm
Forum: Bongo Chat
Topic: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project
Replies: 17
Views: 2097

Re: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project

Hi again,

So unsurprisingly the great british weather delayed things along with another couple of more pressing jobs such as changing the turbo on a friend's a3.

As I'd made a start on disconnecting the engine I decided I wanted it out before I go away for half term holidays on Thursday.

IMG ...
by thomp1983
Wed Feb 04, 2026 11:27 pm
Forum: Bongo Chat
Topic: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project
Replies: 17
Views: 2097

Re: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project

Hello again,

So it stayed dry today so I decided I'd have a look at disconnecting the various bits that connect the engine and gearbox to the chassis and have a general poke around.

IMG_20260204_095545.jpg

That's the broken engine that shall be removed before I removed anything,

I managed to ...
by thomp1983
Thu Jan 29, 2026 7:12 pm
Forum: Bongo Chat
Topic: Hello - An Introduction
Replies: 8
Views: 6477

Re: Hello - An Introduction

Only trip I have planned so far is the first outing which will be to woodhall spa.

It's only 30 miles away which is close enough to home if my daughter decides she doesn't like sleeping in it but at the same time has enough there to be worth the trip (lido, decent kids playground and kinema in the ...
by thomp1983
Thu Jan 29, 2026 5:56 pm
Forum: Bongo Chat
Topic: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project
Replies: 17
Views: 2097

Re: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project

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Screenshot_20260123_212048_com.ebay.mobile_edit_304533101146760.jpg

Screenshot_20260123_212128_com.ebay.mobile_edit_260428599928490.jpg


Enter the new bongo, she's got a few marks but given the age I'm fine with that.

I plan to remove the broken engine and box in ...
by thomp1983
Thu Jan 29, 2026 5:41 pm
Forum: Bongo Chat
Topic: Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project
Replies: 17
Views: 2097

Making 1 from 2 - my new bongo project

Hi all,

Long time lurker, rare poster here. In March I'm about to embark on a new bongo project which I thought I'd document here (not sure if this is the best section, feel free to move.)

https://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/viewtopic.php?t=78632

Thats a link to my original introduction thread ...
by thomp1983
Thu Jan 29, 2026 5:20 pm
Forum: Bongo Chat
Topic: Hello - An Introduction
Replies: 8
Views: 6477

Re: Hello - An Introduction

Hello all,

So i think it'd be good to start with a reintroduction as it's been a long time since I posted and things didn't quite go according to plan.

Nearly 3 years has gone by in a haze of building extensions, work redundancies, other vehicles and life and my 3 year daughter is now 6 and I didn ...

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