TheSamba.com :: View topic - best modifications you've made, NO engine conversions please

Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:16 am

and please, no brake or suspension upgrades
lets try and keep this one,
so, what's the best, if not one of the best.
for lucy i think it's this

i think the pop top struts were also very necessary

Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:38 am

I love the Pergo floor and middle seat options. I'll post more later.... :D

Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:49 am

Wheelskins steering wheel cover.

Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:51 am

Ooops: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=171071&highlight=favorite+favourite+mods

Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:54 am

dhaavers wrote: Ooops: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=171071&highlight=favorite+favourite+mods

May the search be with you :wink:

Thu Feb 13, 2014 9:16 am

We already have that thread:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=171071

Thu Feb 13, 2014 9:28 am

^^^ I'm sayin...

Thu Feb 13, 2014 9:37 am

Yeah... but I'm actually reading this one.

Thu Feb 13, 2014 9:42 am

The problem, with many of the older topics like that one, is half the pictures usually no longer work.

Thu Feb 13, 2014 9:48 am

DAV!D wrote: The problem, with many of the older topics like that one, is half the pictures usually no longer work.

Which is why the moderators encourage pictures linked into threads be posted in the Samba gallery. Then they don't disappear. It's also more interesting to continue the older threads (this one was last posted in only a few months ago) and see what people have already done. Not a lot is new with these vans.

Thu Feb 13, 2014 10:48 am

I know it kinda goes against the culture here but I do love a nice fresh thread. Those oldies really are a bummer with pics that don't work and members that are no longer active.
Also once a thread is ten pages long it's just painful to wade through looking for the scrap of info you need.
I can easily see the flip side of clogging up the site with the same 10 threads redone every week.

Might be a happy balance somewhere.

Thu Feb 13, 2014 11:02 am

PDXWesty wrote: Not a lot is new with these vans.
i heard you can replace the original engine with one out of a subaru.

could you really type in "best mod" as a thread title and think it hasn't been done before :roll:
all in good fun, rubbachicken.
settling down is boring, i know :lol:

Thu Feb 13, 2014 11:41 am

Tobias Duncan wrote: I know it kinda goes against the culture here but I do love a nice fresh thread.

----

Might be a happy balance somewhere.

Maybe a "Best New Mods, 2013"
Then following year "Best New Mods, 2014"
etc.

A fresh thread is nice.. prompts some old timers to come back and offer perspective on older projects, too. And it may help keep links fresh, etc.

But from the moderators point of view.. I would think that more than one thread a year would be a bit much to manage.

Thankfully, YEACTs are not as prevalent as in yr's past. Keeps the noise level down.

Thu Feb 13, 2014 11:54 am

Notice the cabinet door opens with the table stowed.

How does it work?

I cut down a spare rear table to match the front table dimensions. The pedastal gets the table back to the stock height. The front table stores on top when traveling with a bungee cord around both.

There are a lot of other improvements I have made, but in fairness, they are copies or mods of others posted projects.

Thu Feb 13, 2014 12:00 pm

Each of these has made the van feel a bit more modern and comfortable.

Cabriolet wheel (this is my favorite mod):

Jag brakes:

Overhead interior light w/delay and self-dimming mirror w/compass and outside temp display

Thu Feb 13, 2014 12:31 pm

Favorite mod I've done is adding a '99 audi a4 steering wheel, vast improvement over the enormous stock wheel IMO. Also the addition of a subwoofer and amp to the otherwise bassless sound system is my other favorite "mod"

Thu Feb 13, 2014 12:51 pm

1. Headlight relays! I like a lot of other little tweaks, mods, ad-ons I've puttered with but actually being able to see on a rainy night just trumps them and the bang for the buck/effort is very high.
2. Changing my 89 grill for an 85 with 7" round Ecodes and 100/80W Hella bulbs was also a huge step up. Again, not much scratch (had the donor vehicle) and not tough but great results
3. Replacing Back-up bulbs with LED CREE Q5 lensed bulbs. Cheap, 2 minute job and now I can see backing up! Literal night and day difference, and it looks stock, with no extra light to get in the way or be damaged. Why would you go to the expense, effort and extra power load of installing another light like the GW kit when this is SO stupidly easy and actually reduces the electrical load on the van for $10/pair shipped? Mine are 7W but apparently there are 20w ones out there for ~$25 a pair. Might be too bright!

Can you tell night visibility is important to me?! :lol:

BTW, tried to copy picture locally but something's weird with the gallery...freezing up?

Thu Feb 13, 2014 2:46 pm

Bluetooth everything :wink:

Thu Feb 13, 2014 3:20 pm

Done too much to list but my favorite would be the inflatable lumbar support I added inside the drivers seat.

Just bought a cheap pillow type off flea bay and took the bladder out and put it in.

Works a treat.

Neil2

Thu Feb 13, 2014 3:32 pm

geo_tonz wrote: apparently there are 20w ones out there for ~$25 a pair. Might be too bright!
No such thing when it comes to reverse lights.

IMO, at least.