Hi all

Just a bit of an intro as I`m new here. Just bought an old 1982 Trafic RV50 1400 petrol, so thought I`d register to pick up some tips/advice etc.
I`ve owned several campers over the years, Mk1 Transit coachbuilt, two Austin J4`s (a Dormobile and a Canterbury), and a Honda Acty Romahome.
The mrs has been pestering me to get another so I picked up the Trafic, although regretting it now as I paid well over the odds for it, but heyho, you live and learn (at 50 I should have known better though).
The trip home was interesting if slow, 55mph max, bit of a misfire at half throttle, and a water leak where the pipe from the expansion tank to the top of the rad caught on the fan belt. I managed to bodge the pipe temporarily with a biro tube to get home.
I`ve just emailed Autosleepers to see if I can get a seal which is missing from the side panel of the elevating roof (previous owner had glued a piece of foam pipe insulation in it`s place). And going to look for a replacement set of cushions for the rear.
Found a place which stocks the ignition components, so a dizzy cap, rotor arm, and a set of leads is on it`s way. The points are the weird cassette type fitted to the marchal distributor. they were nearly new according to the previous owner but I`ll order a new set as spares. Will also be checking the dwell and the ignition timing to see if I can get the little critter running a bit smoother.
Have to make a trip to the tip tomorrow with three bags of old crockery/rubbish and a portaloo to get rid of, then I might get around to cleaning up the interior, then cutting out a bit of carpet which is shredded.
Over time I hope to re underseal the underneath, and repair/respray the body, and make up some new door cards all round. 
I was hoping to get away to France for Christmas but that looks like a very long shot  .

Hi Rob
Welcome to the forum from a mild damp, gray morning in Bridlington.
Boaby

Rob, Welcome from Leicestershire:wave: 

 Sounds as though you are going to be busy, well worth it in the end though.

Hi Rob, welcome to the forum   the 1400s were a bit underpowered but 55 flat out sounds a bit slow, even for a 1400  
If Auto-Sleeper can't supply the seals, try Seals+Direct http://www.sealsdirect.co.uk/ quite a few of our (RTMR) members have used them and have been well satisfied.

Frank

Thanks for the welcome chaps, much appreciated. Took the junk down the tip today and spent all morning and part of the afternoon cleaning out the inside. Looks a helluva lot better than it did, plus the carpet wasn`t as bad as I thought and is saveable.
Just had a look at that site Boxerman and there looks to be a seal which will do the job, thanks for the heads up. :)

Welcome from N.E Wales  

Hi &

Did a bit more today.Popped the new dizzy cap, rotor and leads on. Checked the dwell and it was way out at 70 degrees instead of the correct 57. The ignition timing was also way out at 35 btdc, so I reset it to 6 btdc. Engine feels a lot more alive now, not so much of a slug uphill and managed 60mph on the flat before I ran out of road. Stuck some purifier in the water tank, left to stand and then flushed it through.

Nostalgia  ....  Fitting new points and checking the timing -  the improvement was always good and you felt you had achieved something.   

Hi there,

Welcome from a warm and sunny sud France!  

Best regards,
 

Hello & welcome from S/Yorks