My VW T2 Camper Van
 

Having rebuilt the engine a few years back.
Managed to put it back in with the gearbox and last week after some faffing, it works :)

https://youtu.be/GuRExGyB4e0

Nearly ready for the road next year (this has been a 15 year project so far :D)

Nice - sounds very smooth-running too. I miss my Beetling days :-( .

Roll on 2021, when you'll hopefully have this out on the road again +++

From 1958 to 1961 I did a lot of work with VW Bulliys, all were in a delicate shade of Army Green but a lot of miles were covered. I'm attaching a photo taken in 1960. We were on our way to Wolfsburg to visit the VW factory.
The Army guys were my fellow LAD people. The two with black berets and round cap badges were our two MSO (Mixed Services Organisation or displaced people working as pseudo military, unarmed but clothed, fed and accommodated by us, mainly Latvians, Poles and Yugoslavs) drivers.
The civilians were local Germans employed mainly as vehicle mechanics, they could change a VW engine in twenty minutes.

What was the cause for it not running initially?

Presume no electronic ignition under the dizzy cap? I think I'd have been a bit nervous having my hand that close to the cap and leads if there were a very juicy spark going on! My dad once had me adjust the dizzy on our Singer Chamois while the engine was running - got thrown back with a hefty jolt, which my dad thought was hilarious :rolleyes:

Great story and pic Ray +++

I have totally rebuilt the van from the bottom up and as I had to take the engine out to rebuild the chassis, why not strip it back and replace what needs replacing to give many more years of service (only changed the piston rings as everything else was in good fettle).

Not electronic ignition but one change I will probably make once it is back on the road.
The cap and leads are new so the chance of getting a jolt or low (I hope...)