TheSamba.com :: View topic - Help me "Pimp My Vanagon": Advice Needed and a Dis

Thu May 29, 2008 9:09 am

The 4.5 GPS is from Blackbird. It is the only GPS I found that does the United States/Canada, Mexico, as well as some foreign countries in Europe and the Middle East. I kid you not, but it had maps of Iraq and Egypt too. These is a plus if your surfing in Baja, or want to visit our troops. The GPS has an input for video as well. You can either have it run as a GPS or as a small TV monitor. I already have one TV distracting me, I don't think I need a second…so I just use the GPS primarily.

Here is a link to check it out (this unit is cheaper because it does not have the Mexico or international maps):
http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/Blackmore-Por...duct.html?

I think that a barbeque on the outside would be great. I am over viewing the pictures you guys sent, and I am going to design something similar. I am staying away from adding aftermarket rims or custom interior, because I am a big fan of keeping everything original. The stereo did not make one cut into the factory setup from VW. In the worst situation, if a panel had to be modified, I found an original part from a junkyard and used that instead of cutting any original panels that came with the bus.

Here is a picture of the orange LED accent lights at night:

Thanks,

Matt
So Cal

Thu May 29, 2008 9:40 am

Here's a couple of cool mods that I really dig in mine:

Wood floor, makes cleaning take 2 seconds with a broom

Plastic catch all I got at home depot and mounted in front of shifter, holds everything (it was beige and I sprayed it black with Krylon Fusion flat black)

I didn't like were the gauges were in the above pic so I moved 'em here:

Thu May 29, 2008 12:42 pm

I dig the wood floor! How did you do that? Is that pergo or laminate? Is it a major thing to put in?

Thu May 29, 2008 12:52 pm

The "wood" floor is a piece of cake, takes only 1 box of laminate, about $20 - 30. If you do a search you can find everything you need to know to do it, lot's of people on here have. I can't recommend this mod enough, it's one of the best things I ever did to my van

Thu May 29, 2008 1:50 pm

Thanks!

That is the kind of upgrade a like: Cheap, creative, cool, and something to do on the weekend to get your mind off your worries.

Thu May 29, 2008 5:20 pm

My pimp idea's when I first bought my van are to put in a 3 channel color organ and hook it up to a 3 color LED rope light. Hang up high on the side tray and wrap all the way around to the sliding door.
Disco ball in the middle. I never did find a good narrow spotlight for the disco ball.
Also do the under carrige lights. But mount a shaped templet to cast a shadow on the road. Vanagon,trucker mud flap girl,Playboy bunny head, etc. Also get some more colored LED interior lights to set the mood with the ladies. Yes I grew up in the 60's and 70's. :P

Glenn

Sun Jun 01, 2008 7:56 pm

Has anyone seen a 12volt disco ball? My bus is begging for one....and so are the ladies! :D

Sun Jun 01, 2008 7:59 pm

I checked out your music online and it kicks ass brother. keep jammin in your bus!!

Mon Jun 02, 2008 7:52 am

If you're talking about my band, thanks!

Mon Jun 02, 2008 11:32 am

surfinwesty wrote: Has anyone seen a 12volt disco ball? My bus is begging for one....and so are the ladies! :D

run's on a single D battery

you can get it here: http://www.epartyunlimited.com/battery-mirror-ball-motor.html

then just add one of these

and your 'disco'

Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:54 pm

Yo Matt, ven you vant to umpimp dis ting let me here you say "Vhot" ;-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0CfSvB_ei8

-Kent

Sat Mar 28, 2009 9:35 am

very nice Van Matt, you actually gave ME ideas :) sweet surf Bus

Sat Mar 28, 2009 10:21 am

This is a completely useless modification.

This one is a little more useful.

Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:09 am

iltis74 wrote: Crap, when I was starving in college I could barely afford cheap gas and just hoped the battery would hold on so I wouldn't have to push start the rest of the year.

Yeah really that's what I was thinking. :? :? I'm in college and ya know what its not fun being bankrupted be a vehicle. :lol: But I love my Westy for what it is and all of its 67hp Air-Cooled engine pushing it along.

I like having music but personally all the amps under the seats and the big kicker box behind the seat would be a major cramp in my camping style. If I was to "pimp" (God I hate that term) out a Vanagon I think I would have just got a Regular Van. I got a Westy Cause I want to camp in it not Kick a rice rockets ass at a stereo competition.

But none the less the install looks good and clean. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

Sat Mar 28, 2009 3:44 pm

I kinda like the VW badge being lit up

Sun Mar 29, 2009 8:33 am

I remember seeing somewhere somebody backlit the VW symbol on the back hatch and wired it as a 3rd brake light. It would involve some cutting but I always thought that would be a cool and useful mod.

Sun Mar 29, 2009 11:34 am

here are my suggestions (and my wife totally digs your ride):
1)
wheels.. you can always keep the orig for resale.
2)
interior fabric redo. get to a fabric store
3)
shag orange carpet to go with the disco ball.
4)
awning
5)
bar set up with old school cocktail glasses and shakers
6)
check out Rhinoculips sweet bbq setup..
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=273628&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0