What did YOU do to your van today?

[curator]

[McVanagon]

With a great idea from Texxxxx to use ashtrays for 12v sockets, I grabbed a Dremel chopped up a few ashtrays.

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'69 Mike
'85 GL
'87 Wolfsburg Hardtop

[hiram6]

Finally mounted the gray water tank that I've had sitting on the shelf for almost a year. I had to fabricate the three mounting brackets, but that was pretty easy. What I've discovered though, is that the drain tube coming through the floor of the van and the inlet opening on top of the tank don't line up. I'll need to do some fabricating and reconfiguring to get those to line up.
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1985 Westy, 1.9L automatic (Daisy)
1996 Mazda Miata
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited

You can't lie around on the beach and drink rum all day.................unless you start first thing in the morning.

[flyingCoyote]

By way of inspiring myself to get busy and give the van some love - some of what my Vanagon's done for me since the last customization:

- transported a washer, dryer, sofa, futon, and full-size refrig (not all at once!)
- hauled tons of lumber, rebar, fencing, t-posts, tools, and hardware
- transported several goats
- parked in front of newly transplanted raspberries to block afternoon sun while they settle in
- hauled many bales of straw and hay
- kept buddy's kids occupied crawling around in it so we could have lunch in peace
- served as a rifle stand while we were out target shooting - one with tables, seats, tunes, and a frig full of pale ale
- towed my wife's Beetle about 8 miles when it broke down.
- jump-started my pickup, my wife's beetle, and several strangers' cars
- plus of course she's my daily driver =)
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1985 Vanagon GL / homebrew camper (daily driver)
1974 Super Beetle (Wife's daily driver)

[kevinbassplayer]

Added a wheelskin the other day, looks and feels killer but man what a beatch to install! The instructions said to allow about 1 hour, yeah right. When it was all said and done it took me 3 hours. The whipping twine they give you works great but gets tangled very easy and the needle broke on me and I had to finish the job with a homemade needle made out of a paper clip

[82WestyMan]

Continued to work on my 'punch list' before the start of the trip in two weeks

Figured out why my dash lights were going out. Turns out the circuit tracks for the light over the tach were finally giving out so I used an old instrument cluster I had and patched in a good one. After I made sure the below was working, I used some 'liquid electrical tape' over all the connections and it works like a charm. Thanx to whoever posted this fix before

Lastly, installed this upgrade compliments to a friend who's a woodworker. Its an ash surround with a maple cutting board insert on the right and a replaceable plastic cutting board on the left. All the wood on the top was finished with 'salad bowl' finish (food friendly) while the rest got 3 coats of MinWax Polycrylic. Nice have the top of the cabinet become a true working surface

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"The floggings will continue until morale improves"
"I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell" - Harry S. Truman
82 Westfalia - w/ a Raby 'Camper Special' engine

[Jamos]

Installed a new muffler & tailpipe today...
I had exhaust leaks happening in the header>cat and cat>muffler connections. Originally I was just going to install new gaskets and hardware, but decided I might as well go for more. I bought the 2.1 muffler w/heatshield, made in denmark, from Van Cafe...and the heavy duty tailpipe from GoWesty, also made in denmark.

I've read some reports of the aftermarket mufflers breaking welds after only a year or a little more...so I'm a little skeptical, but am hoping for the best. So far, I like it. This combo sounds a little more throaty than my old rig, but is still mellow and nice.

Also installed high wattage bulbs in the headlights. 80/100's in the low beams and 100's in the high beams! Not as good as H4, but hopefully with the relays I installed last week, this will be a marked improvement.
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'86 Wolfy Westy Weekender
2020 Audi Q5

[Texxxxx]

Installed a GoWesty propane tank on the passenger side of my GL. Next weekend I'll install the Propex.

It has been a long process. I decided I wanted a Propex...but before that I had to have an aux bat and fuse box to ignite it (plus some 12v sockets for the heck of it) and a propane tank for igniter...but before the aux bat I had to install the swivel bases I bought. Almost there.
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'85 GL w/2.1L "The Tardis"
It's A Vanagon Day

[Rodknock]

You will like the Propex Tex, but it is a lot of work installing it.

I put a Fiamma bike rack on the rear hatch. I see why everyone recommends this thing, it is very well made and prefectly functional. Also replaced all the lines to and from the bottom of the fuel expansion tanks, no more smelly van after fillups.

[md2020]

Not all in one day but, I just finished working-

Oil change + filter,
New fuel lines in the engine compartment
new tailpipe

Next up:

check for seam rust (not likely on my CA van but I want to be sure) and beginning prep for a full repaint.

[BuffaloNyWesty]

So far a weekend well spent...some overdue projects complete
1) oil change
2) New Fuel Filter
3) added a compacitor and grounded out my AFM
4) wood laminant flooring (thanks to all the Samba members for the inspiration)

my next projects> aux.battery, SA grill, replace sensors (awaiting order from Gowesty) hhhmmm i know theres something else..well theres always something...enjoy

[firedome]

Changed the oil and replaced the slave cylinder. Did the slave without having to bleed it. Have driven it alot since replacing slave, and still have a great pedal and smooth shifting. LUCKY!!!!!

The bonding continues...

[GWTWTLW]

- Installed a GW 2.5 (March)
- replaced the clutch (original)
- Sanded, Stained and oiled all the interior wood
- Added high power headlights and relays
- replaced the Odometer (died at 134,648)
- replaced the accelerator cable
- checked the coolant pipes (replaced in 99)
- rain-x'd the windshield
- Installed a Magnaflow muffler

That should get me through the summer...
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89 Syncro Westy - GW 2.5, now with a double knob job
@gwtwtlw

[kevinbassplayer]

Sunday 6/1:

-Installed short shift kit (Van-cafe) It's OK, did shorten the throw but I'm not sure it's worth $50

-Replaced all fuel lines from the tank to the injectors - was WAY overdue and all of the engine fire threads had me nervous. I actually bought the Van-cafe kit a few months ago but just now got to the install.

[msinabottle]

Today I worried about the noise from Winston's fuel pump, plotted to do something about it, and spent most of the evening soldering connectors so that I could use my old VW cigarette lighter charger plug with the Harbor Freight 15W solar panel I haven't tried on Winston yet.

I've got a lot to do tomorrow, but I'll put the thing out in the sun and take a reading off of it with a multitester. There's a diode in the negative pole that screwed up my continuity testing, but I think it's all still good.

I hope that fuel pump doesn't go tomorrow. I'll hopefully be saying that for years.



Best!
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'Winston,' '84 1.9 WBX Westy
Vanagon Poet Laureate: "I have suffered in
many ways, but never, never, never in silence."

[wyomingresident]

Installed a new rear view mirror. I purchased one on ebay. It took about 60 seconds to install.

Very pleased.

[bmwmango]

Presently working on converting my my 1990 Westy into a Syncro Westy with Suby engine. I will post my progress soon.

Chester, I might have some questions for you.
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1990 Westy converted to a Syncro Westy
2009 BMW R1200GS
1990 BMW K75
1986 BMW K75 Parts (Deer 1, Beemer 0)

[Williamtaylor33]

Yesterday i changed the wasserpumpen on my 2.1 vanagon. Took about 3 1/2 hours.
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89 Bostig powered syncro westy

[targis58]

Finished installing backup camera and monitor today. I usually keep my rear hatch curtain closed and have two bikes on my hatch rack. Some times it s really difficult to reverse the van in tight spaces because of the bikes hanging in the back. The camera was purchsed from costco for about 60 bucks. It s a wireless camera and a color monitor. It even has night vision ability to it. very nice~~ Now I am able to see what s behind my bikes. In order to see the end of the bike and approaching objects while backing up, I mounted the camera on the top portion of the pop top instead of on license plate. Vision from license plate would not work for me. From the top of the pop top, I am able to look downward the bikes and both corners (almost)of rear bumper. I carefully positioned and mounted the dash monitor so that power jack comes thru the instrument cluster cover and powers it. no dangling wires. It automatically powers on when I shift the stick reverse and turns off when shift forward.

My van is so dusty
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90 westy 2wd w/ TBD

[McVanagon]

Enjoyed my jailbars.

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'69 Mike
'85 GL
'87 Wolfsburg Hardtop