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UltravanOwners's avatar
UltravanOwners
Explorer
Mar 25, 2013

Any help would be appreciated!

Hello Everyone,

I’m saving this coach. The PO started to restore it many years ago and has since passed away.
Any help would be appreciated!
Those who want to help and/or who like to turn wrenches please let me know.
I’ll be in Terre Haute, IN July 5th thru 11th and could use some help. Thank you!!

I plan to be in Terre Haute, IN to get Ultravan #520 ready to tow home.
I plan to be there July 5th and I might get there on the 3rd.
But that all depends on how I and my truck hold up with the long trip, two stops and pickups before I get there. GGG

I have alot to get done within a week.
I’m trying to make it to Kalamazoo, MI for the Corvair Convention starting July 16th and running through until the 20th.
This is my first Corvair Convention ever. It’s also my first vacation in well over 10 years.
After the convention I’ll head home from there.


If you would like to help please let me know.

Here are the things I have to get done within a week:

• I’m removing the entire rear suspension and frame to get the power plant out and tie it down in my truck.
• I then have to put the frame and suspension back under the coach.
• Inspect the rear hubs and bearings.
• I have to run two of the coach’s old tires and rims to a tire shop to have newer tires that I’ll have with me mounted on the special Toronado rims.
• I have to inspect the front brakes and more than likely rebuild, or replace, the front wheel cylinders.
• I have to clean and repack the front bearings.
• I have to install newer tires and rims on the front of the coach that I’ll also have with me.
• I have to attach my custom tow-bar with surge brakes to the front suspension of the coach.
• I have to get brake lines, hoses, and fittings at FLAPS; to attach to the surge brake system and bleed the brakes.
• I have to pack up all the loose parts the PO had removed from the coach.
• I have to tow the coach to the local sand and gravel pit to weigh it. I want to make sure the coach has good tongue weight and is not too heavy.


Here are some pictures of what I’ll be working on.
For those who might not have already seen some of my post; this is an Ultravan with a FWD Toronado conversion in the back.

Removing the heavy FWD Toronado power plant is the biggest part of the project.
But removing all the extra weight from the back will make it much easier to tow.




Class A
  • UltravanOwners's avatar
    UltravanOwners
    Explorer
    Mar 25, 2013
    Dave, Thanks for the info..

    I've never worked on a Toronado front suspension.
    I know the torsion bar is under extreme tension/load.
    However, I do not fully understand what I will need to do, to release the tension safely.

    And I must say I completely forgot that the coach will sit much higher or even bounce harder due to the stiffness of the rear suspension from the missing engine and transmission weight and the original setting of the torsion bars.
    I could use more details and maybe some pictures to help in this area.
    (I want to make sure I have all the tools I need and better understand what I have to do.
    Or to know that someone will at least stop by with the special tools needed to handle that and/or they might also lend a hand.)

    BTW - I did look at the ReadyBrake system. It will not work for this situation.
    There is no MC or bracket system in the coach.
    PO took the MC, its bracket system and the dash apart. I hope to find it in the garage.
    Plus I do not know what shape the brake lines are in from the MC to the rear of the coach or what shape the rear brakes are in.

    My Tow-bar is made just for Ultravans and I will tie into the front brakes – without – the MC.

    Tony
  • Daveinet's avatar
    Daveinet
    Explorer
    Mar 25, 2013
    That is about what I imagined they would have done. Looks like the Toro Half frame.

    Do you have a torch??? If you plan to do this in a week, count on a lot of rusted bolts and weird rigged connections. Make sure you have a 2-jaw gear puller. This will be used to take the load off the torsion porkchops, so the suspension can be lowered. There is an adjustment on the porkchop to adjust ride height. You must remove the load from the adjustment bolt, otherwise it will strip the threads. Gear puller upside down hooked to the frame flange and thread the bolt into the porkchop will release the tension.

    I noticed in your comments, that you intend to use a towbar and surge brake. I assume tapping into the existing brake lines is the intent. If you have not done so already, you may want to look at ReadyBrake hitch receiver, as it is about the simplest surge brake system I know of.

    I also noticed the coach has side air scoops, assumed for cooling. Do you know for sure that idea worked? Makes me wonder if there are permanent design issues, unless these are known to be OK.

    As much as that would be a lot of fun to help, my wife would kill me.

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