TheSamba.com :: View topic - How to open the hidden area under the RearSeat/EngineCover

Sun May 15, 2011 12:28 pm

Does anyone recall a posting that show how to cut open the
area behind the rear seat to expose a compartment
where you could put a battery or in my case I'd put the starter battery
and the ecu cluster for a eTDI conversion leaving the area under the rear seat for storage only ..???

then the passenger / driver storage will be 2 deep cycle batteries

or at least maybe recall who posted the how to

Sun May 15, 2011 12:43 pm

You mean under the drivers seat right?

Sun May 15, 2011 12:44 pm

No, I think he means the rear seat.I'm pretty sure it was Andrew Libby. Wasn't the title something like
"Haven't you ever wanted to do this"

Sun May 15, 2011 1:13 pm

This?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=397722

Sun May 15, 2011 2:42 pm

Bingo we have winner, yah that is exactly what I want to pull off
what did you use to search that with ..

Sat Jul 16, 2011 7:57 pm

OK I did the dirty deed today
But not quite as dramatic as mr libby
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=397722
but still very cool

I simply cut out the top of the cargo area
http://members.shaw.ca/trclark/vwvan/cargo/P7160017.JPG
used aluminum 1" square stock to make the new box frame
http://members.shaw.ca/trclark/vwvan/cargo/P7160018.JPG
& welded in a angled stainless steel support

to replace the support we loose when cutting out the hatch
then used door edge to face off the cargo access door
http://members.shaw.ca/trclark/vwvan/cargo/P7160020.JPG

next week end I drop in the new cargo box
freeing up the under rear under seat storage
The new cargo box will be screwed into the box frame eg the aluminum 1" square stock , so i can remove if i want better access to the tranny, starter etc
EPDM be applied to box frame for the water tight seal
and grommets for the battery cable exits

now I am less than 12" from battery + to the solenoid & maybe 24" from tranny ground

I am not sure how much space i will loose by not opening up the rear side & using that to access the new storage compartment
but the space i have will easily handle by larger 1000 cca battery & the ecu & relay with space to spare ..

might be able to keep some other spare parts in the box as well

total time actually working about 5 hrs
looking for parts hinges, the metal stock,caulking blah 4 hrs :(
time spent measuring figuring how big to cut & getting the kahoonas to let the zip cutter fly end less :)

ps I can see RMW offering kit for this entire project shorty including a simple template you line up the zip cutter with...
seems like such a no brainer vw should have done it day 1

Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:26 pm

Yes nice work. Yup some kind of kit would be
A best seller! Battery box and the wiring to hook er up for
Us electrically challenged types.

How would access to the starter and solenoid be through there?

Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:32 pm

Great work. Fun to see other implementation of the idea.

Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:34 pm

Let's just say the sales to the Syncro crowd would be, uh, booming?

Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:53 pm

Great idea, not quite as radical as the other post but still very useful 8)
What are the limitations under there? Do you have rough measurements where the hatch is made?
Nik

Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:14 pm

tencentlife wrote: Let's just say the sales to the Syncro crowd would be, uh, booming?

You just know someone will try it. :lol:

Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:34 pm

tencentlife wrote: Let's just say the sales to the Syncro crowd would be, uh, booming?

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Sat Jul 16, 2011 10:04 pm

vannin wrote:
What are the limitations under there? Do you have rough measurements where the hatch is made?
Nik
OK we have 32" long by 9 1/4" wide & 8-8.5" deep..suits my needs for ecu & wire harness from under the seat & moving the battery above the solenoid

Now this is a westy so we have the cabinet interference it could be longer (maybe 36+ inches if you do the Libby, the depth is kinda funky you have the top of the solenoid interference so 8" deep is for a flat cargo box if you box that in we could go an honest 10" deep in the rest of the box then sterp back up at the edges again to 8"..
and the 9 1/4 width not much you can do here except change you framing & use angle bar you could get another 1.5-2inches wide so max I say is

36-40" Long, by 10.5-11.5 inches wide & 8-10inches deep

I wonder what andrew's opening is ?

You can also following the line of the rear seat & go for maybe a 45 ish angle of the box & get more width toward the bottom of the cargo box

Sat Jul 16, 2011 10:18 pm

as a syncro owner.. id be tempted to cut a panel just to access the starter if i thought it would be a help for the god awful job of starter changes !

For once Im jealous of the 2wd van owners ! thats impressive storage

Bob

Sun Jul 17, 2011 12:45 am

I was eyeing this up today. Mine is air cooled so maybe different? There is the blower motor (new to T3s) but looked like a good bit of storage Im just looking for somewhere to house the 2nd battery anything else is a bonus.
I did think about in the cavity infront of the left side brake lights is there any reason not to do this as well?
Thanks Nik

Sun Jul 17, 2011 5:35 am

Did you use a plasma to cut that? Those cuts are so straight and clean.

tclark wrote: OK I did the dirty deed today
But not quite as dramatic as mr libby
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=397722
but still very cool

I simply cut out the top of the cargo area

Sun Jul 17, 2011 7:49 am

James 93SLC wrote: Did you use a plasma to cut that? Those cuts are so straight and clean.

tclark wrote:
time spent measuring figuring how big to cut & getting the kahoonas to let the zip cutter fly end less
just a used $25 angle grinder with a zip cutter blade & wet towels every where
/me has badge of honor in the driver seat when i got lazy & did not stop all the flying sparks a few weeks back when I was doing the body work

you are also looking at the finished project covered with door edge
http://www.brandsport.com/trmg-2205-b.html 3/8"
and urethane caulking to seal the 1" stock to the corrugated rear cargo bay
and fill the voids on the alternating high section(s) of the cargo bay

Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:08 am

A metal cutting blade in a power jigsaw will cut as clean and straight and doesn't cause any sparks.

Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:18 am

Andrew A. Libby wrote: A metal cutting blade in a power jigsaw will cut as clean and straight and doesn't cause any sparks.
Ditto that...and use a fine tooth blade, and a slower recip speed if you hav a variable.
What I like to do is take the ends of hacksaw blades and trim them to fit my jigsaw (use a dremel and a separating disc.)
These cut real smooth, and last longer ...and I can make them length appropriate for the job

Sun Jul 17, 2011 9:22 am

tclark wrote: vannin wrote:
What are the limitations under there? Do you have rough measurements where the hatch is made?
Nik
I wonder what andrew's opening is?

Andrew can you post your dimensions of the storage space you created
either here on or on the other thread just for comparison
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=397722 ?
I am kinda curious how much smaller in the end this version will be