Slick Aluminum Step Protector

[Syncronoid]

Not sure if anyone's done this.... I was running out of things to do when I noticed the plastic protector covering the step from the middle of the Westy cabin to the driver/passenger seats had worn through due to it being a high traffic area. I had been eyeballing it for a while, so when I discovered a spare piece of right-angled aluminum stock, I got a hair and knocked it out in about 45 minutes. I may add a couple screws on the top for extra stability.

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'90 Syncro Westy w/GW2.5L

[ragnarhairybreeks]

It kills me, my blindness that is. I have a ratty stock protector and tons of scrap aluminum angle and I didn't make the connection until I saw this.

Good work and thanks!.

alistair
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'86 7 passenger syncro, converted to westy pop top, project still in progress
'82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94, now gone...
https://shufti.blog/
Old address still works...
http://shufti.wordpress.com

[joseph928]

Cool, I'll take one!
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1987 syncro westy tin top sun roof , GW2.3, rear locker, decoupler, Gary Lee tire rack & winch mount, lift, south african grill, big brakes , rhein alloy ,15 BFG AT, Fiamma 10 foot awning ,140 watt rear 85 watt front solar , mppt, truckfridge, automatic fire extinguishing system, tencent oil cooler, And a RMW SS exhaust! - 1971 bug convertible 1776 engine- 2010 Subaru turbo - 1993 Toyota 4x4 truck - 1999 Harley 95 CI, big bore, Andrews cams . Also 80-84- vans. Stock 65 sunroof bug.

[PDXWesty]

That serves a purpose, but I see a very sharp hard corner that could take out a knee or crack a little ones head if they fall down against it. Something with a protected edge or rounded corner would be better. You'll notice Wesfalia avoided any sharp edges in their build and have protected all edges with rubber. Just a thought.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto

[redlinedave]

a wee file job could fix that
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1985 Country Homes VW van 1.9L

[randywebb]

it would still be hard metal -- also metal is no fun for bare feet; use rubber
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1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans.

[Racerrojo]

I'm sure you can fin it in plastic, or glue some thick foam
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Tight is tight... too tight is expensive!!!!


Too many vans and mostly all projects

[danfromsyr]

Whirrrrrl whirrrrrllll whrrrrrrrrrlll

wow the safety police strike fast..
better pad that front table mount too for when the wee little ones are drinking in the back.


maybe some of these will be needed to make everyone's environments safe.

Of course I'm not really joking to some here's personal safety and comfort level concerns. you can pad your van anyways you like.
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[Syncronoid]

I find it kind of humorous. We're all driving around in airbag-less, rear-engine vehicles with our bodies a few inches from the impact zone of a head-on accident. I'm not too concerned about a somewhat sharp edge 3" off the floor.
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'90 Syncro Westy w/GW2.5L

[berkeleyjack]

[Syncronoid]

[IdahoDoug]

3M makes a nice 90 degree rubber molding for bathtub edges that would perfectly address the edge. Look for it at big box stores sold in rolls for bathtubs and such. Designed for a humid and wet environment, and you'll have about 10 feet left over.

DougM
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[BenT Syncro]

Great ideas! The rubber version would be easier to work with for most people except Alistair.

My Doka already has a metal edge there but had a rounded edge from the factory.
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BenT

[insyncro]

[ragnarhairybreeks]

I dug into my scrap pile and pulled up some candidates

Safety police might like the polyethylene angle, I lean more towards the aluminum - either cutting down the large curved angle piece or rounding over the smaller hard angle examples.

We're a obsessed bunch of folk here on the Samba, eh?

alistair
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'86 7 passenger syncro, converted to westy pop top, project still in progress
'82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94, now gone...
https://shufti.blog/
Old address still works...
http://shufti.wordpress.com

[BenT Syncro]

Alistair,

Whichever material to chose to use, don't neglect to route some channels to make it the look of a proper threshold. Step the router to about 12mm from each edge to give it that professorial built appearance.


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BenT

[tam_shops]

[BenT Syncro]

Hey, what about the same edging on the part of the carpet that folds over the battery box? It's same vinyl cr@p and mine is torn. Obviously, a piece of angled metal won't work since you have to get to your battery under the seat. I can't wait to see someone create something which works like a piano hinge. AB?!
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BenT

[berkeleyjack]

[climberjohn]

Good idea!

I did this a few years ago, using something that was little more rounded and less heavy-duty.

I generally agree with PDXWesty. I think I would injure my foot on that sharp 90° edge, as I am often barefoot in the van.

The material I used was some sort of stair tread protector I got from Home Despot. I painted it with some POR 15 and is still looking pretty good.

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'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often.