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

Thu Feb 13, 2014 4:08 pm

Intermittent wiper relay from a Skoda... gives you the ability to set the time between sweeps.

More detail here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=383000&start=0

Drilling into the front panel to oil the heater fan motor bearings without taking the dash out.

More detail here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=386923

Relays for the headlights makes a massive difference to the amount of current getting to the bulbs and therefore more light.

Can't think of much else at present.

MG

Thu Feb 13, 2014 4:09 pm

PDXWesty wrote: 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.

Except there is a problem with that. The forum limits how many pictures a member can upload. Right now I can add no new pictures to my gallery which means I have to either delete older pics and cause 404'd images in topics I posted pictures or upload new pictures to a third party host which may 404 in the future.

Thu Feb 13, 2014 4:41 pm

DAV!D wrote: Except there is a problem with that. The forum limits how many pictures a member can upload.

Incorrect. One member has over 30,000 photos. :wink:

DAV!D wrote: Right now I can add no new pictures to my gallery...

And you're not the only one: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=584972 . The Gallery is apparently having an issue at the moment.

j_dirge wrote: 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.

I understand both sides; some topics get a bit over-bloated and/or outdated, while others have info best kept archived in one place. So, dis/allowing repetitive topics, from my point of view, depend on the subject matter. I'm okay with what's been suggested for this particular subject, if Everett and the forum majority are okay with it.

As for me, the best mods:
Headlight relays
Headrest pillows
Upper bed extension
A/C plenum removal
Rear table hole grommet
Rear table pipe support
Skylight screen re-do with magnets
Shurflo faucet
Instrument cluster LEDs
Rear heater removal
Bike rack light
Interior LED strips (cabinets, kitchen, over rear seat)
Progressive, zero-lift springs
Three-window tent
Jetta IV grille emblem
Magnetic sliding door screen
Rainfly
TerraPodz
Awning from owner #1

Thu Feb 13, 2014 5:22 pm

Eurovan heated seats

Thu Feb 13, 2014 5:23 pm

The best mod I have done to my Westy is . . . err, two mods:

1. Steroid pop-top:

2. Front Air Conditioning:

Thu Feb 13, 2014 5:28 pm

duplicate.

Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:45 pm

One of my most useful favorites...

When installing the new fridge, I left a little space on top, and mounted a custom cut board on drawer slides.

BTW, i still had enough room to surround the fridge with 1 in of xps foam, and have 3-4 inches of space underneath the fridge.
Frankly, the Fridge is the best mod I may have ever done.

Thu Feb 13, 2014 8:04 pm

nmerrill, awesome, once in a while you see incredible. does it lock in closed position so it doesn't slide out in a corner?

Thu Feb 13, 2014 8:13 pm

I did relays and big bulbs in a late model. Damn near zero improvement. 80/100 lamps. Then I swapped to Bus Depot HELLA E codes and an early grill with standard 55/60 bulbs. 400% better. Great light now.

CLK wheels and Nokian tires. Great upgrade over the BFG ATs on 14s.

Took out the middle seat in my tin top. Now I don't have to give people rides anymore.

LED dome lights.

Amsoil in the transaxles. Slick shifting and quieter.

2316cc wasser boxer! I can say it because it isn't a conversion. That is the whole reason I did it!

Thu Feb 13, 2014 8:30 pm

Zeitgeist 13 wrote: Each of these has made the van feel a bit more modern and comfortable.

Cabriolet wheel (this is my favorite mod):

Nice wheel but I like the clock. Where from?

Thu Feb 13, 2014 8:40 pm

tristessa wrote: 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.

Yeah, you want to be able to see what's behind you when you're backing!

Small objects, especially.

Thu Feb 13, 2014 8:50 pm

K58 wrote: Zeitgeist 13 wrote: Each of these has made the van feel a bit more modern and comfortable.

Cabriolet wheel (this is my favorite mod):

Nice wheel but I like the clock. Where from?

The clock was pulled from a 944. I finally got tired of the flaky LCD clock

Thu Feb 13, 2014 11:04 pm

Replacing the stock sink faucet that has 2 settings, off and fire hose, with an adjustable faucet meant for a boat. I forget that brand, but I know a lot of people here have done the same thing.

Fri Feb 14, 2014 2:09 am

I really enjoy these mod threads for the great ideas. Love the slide out cutting board! Had thought of doing the same thing in the rear of the van for tailgating and having a table to set a drink or anything else. Inside the cabin is slick!

In eight years of ownership I've completed literally hundreds of mods, big and small. Those that know me understand I have an obsession, and I've documented a handful in my Samba gallery. Most of them are copies of others' great ideas, but there are some that are my own.

Nevertheless, some of my favorites include adding the cork flooring and jumpseat (thanks Brent Weide), and the extra rear closet door (thank you Mootpoint). Again, many many others, but these two stand out.

Fri Feb 14, 2014 5:22 am

Hatch Struts, if weak or to keep Hatch open for a longer duration with some weight on it, this Mod will be helpful.
Part used, any Car's front door Gass bottom channel. Channel cut to Hatch rod length.

Channel.

Pressed fitted to the Hatch rod. Caution, it is used when van is stationery. Don’t forget to remove it before closing the Hatch.

Made my own Engine lifting Mod. Two car jack welded to a pipe.

Fri Feb 14, 2014 7:05 am

Eurovan seats. I feel this was especially important in our Westy, whose stock seats felt very flat and non-supportive. Standard non-Westy seats would have worked but I found the EV seats first. These have the added benefit of a full-recline feature, handy on the passenger side.

A/C plenum removal. Virginia summers demand maximum cooling and this mod greatly improves the airflow to the front seats in the Westy.

Headlight relays and bulbs. I used the GoWesty kit and it made a huge difference for night driving.

Rear closet sliding door mod. We also did away with the hanging portion in that space and added more shelving along with the improved access. I further plan to lower the opening's sill to be level with the mattress top for even better access to very the bottom of the closet space.

Soundproofing. Helps reduce the boom in the box.

Fri Feb 14, 2014 8:12 am

Probably the best as far as comfort return on dollar:

We use the van for camping, but we use it even more for 3+ hr trips to a cabin.. and kid hauler in town
Real seats in the back are so much more comfy for the kids.
(a middle bench is available to.. converts the camper to a 6 seater.)

I can swap out the Westy bench/bed cushion on the bottom for camping trips.. in about 15 mins. Or I pack the Westy cushion and can use it for the bed with seats removed

Other easier mods that were among my favorites.
- Addco front and rear sways. The rear was added several years later and is a nice tune in union with the front one. If you've got a heavier 2WD.. consider it. (working on disconnects ideas)
- T3 Techniques purple power steering rack bushings.
- Modern Sony stereo head with USB port and REMOTE CONTROL !!!!
- Regular GL seats swapped in for the Westy seats. a tad more cushion and a little taller for my frame
- extended shifter with offset
- oil pressure gauge
- 80/100watt headlights (later upgraded to H4s which are nice. but the 80/100 watters were the biggest leap for the buck)
- dash wire cup holder (see gallery pics)
- LED backup lights
- And the G-60 brakes probably rate up there

Other mods were worth the effort but were not necessarily the amazing improvement for the dollars/time spent....

Fri Feb 14, 2014 8:22 am

nmerrill wrote: One of my most useful favorites...

When installing the new fridge, I left a little space on top, and mounted a custom cut board on drawer slides.

BTW, i still had enough room to surround the fridge with 1 in of xps foam, and have 3-4 inches of space underneath the fridge.
Frankly, the Fridge is the best mod I may have ever done.

That's actually a really good idea. I'm installing a 12v fridge in the next few days and I think you just gave me an idea. Any tips on where to find a cut board that size?

Fri Feb 14, 2014 8:26 am

narendra.vw wrote: Hatch Struts, if weak or to keep Hatch open for a longer duration with some weight on it, this Mod will be helpful.
Part used, any Car's front door Gass bottom channel. Channel cut to Hatch rod length.

Channel.

Pressed fitted to the Hatch rod. Caution, it is used when van is stationery. Don’t forget to remove it before closing the Hatch.

Made my own Engine lifting Mod. Two car jack welded to a pipe.

I have a very similar solution on my westy. The struts usually hold but sometimes they leak down. I have a piece of PVC pipe on the strut which can be slid into place and then slid back. No need to remove it as the hatch closes with it in place.

Edited for the pic.

Fri Feb 14, 2014 8:51 am

WOW! Lots of great ideas. Well, OK...here goes
1. a few male snaps and quick as Bob's-your-uncle, no more head bangs or finger slams.

2. an extra plastic snap strap secures the small table the same way it was stowed in my long, lost '78 Westy

3. the rear table leg mod, this one I saw from another post

4. snap-together flooring from LOWES..not the cheapest, (about $60 total including the border trim pieces) but the result is durable and easy to clean

5. putting the 100A AGM AUXILLARY BATTERY system in the utility cabinet; 1500W SAMLEX inverter and GW's DUAL BATTERY CHARGER; HALF-PINT MICROWAVE (OK, these are DEFINITELY NOT the cheapest ones, but have become my favorite camping mods)

6. poptop and cab ceiling insulation..

and door, floor and panel insulation/sound abatement..

7. third brake light, from a junkyard find, an early 90-something Suburban or Tahoe..the idea came from another post..thanks!

8. extra front door cab light for the passenger side..

Thanks, again all you "master-fabricator-sambanistas" for all the ideas, the encouragement and the inspiration...my OCD did the rest
..and you know who you are