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j8 Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2003 Posts: 575 Location: Minneapolis, MN
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Posted: Wed May 13, 2020 6:08 am Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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Thanks 4Gears4Tires & campism, on some level I know this has happened to other people and that helps. Still pretty ticked off/bumfuzzled at myself about it.
Looks good now, although I'm not used to how dark that tent is. Wowsa! Might even sleep in some mornings. _________________ Julia
'89 2WD Westy (No end to names...) |
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covelo Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2005 Posts: 825 Location: Fairfax, CA
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2020 8:24 am Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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I finished replacing the fuel hoses yesterday. Found all the old ones to be in good condition despite having the worm clamps. I do need a new bushing for the metal return line going through the firewall.
I also diagnosed an annoying oil leak. Turns out one of my valve covers was quite bent out of shape. Wonder how that happened. Maybe a rock or something?
Tried to bend it back to stem the leak but will probably have to find a new one. _________________ '80 Vanagon Westfalia
'72 Bay Window Westfalia (with 2L AVP engine and dual solex carbs) -- sold in 2009 |
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VicVan Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2015 Posts: 1826 Location: Vancouver Island, BC
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2020 8:45 am Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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VW Garages always plenty of those lying around.
Re bushing, you can just put another layer of hose (fuel hose, garden hose,...) around the first hose. Will last a while, and way easier to visually inspect than a grommet. _________________ '90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH) |
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covelo Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2005 Posts: 825 Location: Fairfax, CA
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2020 9:50 pm Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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Good idea re. the hose. It's actually a piece of steel pipe going through the firewall, with a hose attaching to it on the outside of the engine compartment. I'll put a piece of the old hose around it with some zip ties. _________________ '80 Vanagon Westfalia
'72 Bay Window Westfalia (with 2L AVP engine and dual solex carbs) -- sold in 2009 |
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bobbyblack Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015 Posts: 4332 Location: United States, Iowa
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 6:34 am Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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covelo,
Are you thinking that the lower edge 'bend' in the picture of the valve cover is new and causing your leak? Check the other side. Then look at a few pictures of covers available at the big vendor sites. It is possible that what you are looking at is not new, but perhaps it is how these covers come. It might be that your leak is actually due to something else, and not that 'bent spot' at all. I have seen covers with that same look, I think it is to provide a spot to pry a cover off in case it became glued on from heat (and too little maintenance).
If you are talking about a different spot, let me know so I can look again.
-bobby _________________ '87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
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VicVan Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2015 Posts: 1826 Location: Vancouver Island, BC
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 7:01 am Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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Good point. Try changing the gasket for starters. They're the cheapest spare part you can buy too! _________________ '90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH) |
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old_man Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2018 Posts: 1381 Location: Newfoundland
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 5:25 pm Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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I got fed up and cut the rusty pins off the sides of my sinka using a cut off wheel. I then pressed out the rusted pins. All is fixed now. I can now mount and dismount the sides of my sinka.
I realized this picture may seem 'awkward' to all you van drivers out there.
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jlrftype7 Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018 Posts: 3548 Location: Chicago
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 6:41 pm Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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old_man wrote: |
I got fed up and cut the rusty pins off the sides of my sinka using a cut off wheel. I then pressed out the rusted pins. All is fixed now. I can now mount and dismount the sides of my sinka.
I realized this picture may seem 'awkward' to all you van drivers out there.
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That poor thing is NAKED now... I can't unsee what I just saw.... _________________ '68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto |
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jimf909 Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 7400 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Wed May 20, 2020 7:31 am Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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old_man wrote: |
I got fed up and cut the rusty pins off the sides of my sinka using a cut off wheel. I then pressed out the rusted pins. All is fixed now. I can now mount and dismount the sides of my sinka.
I realized this picture may seem 'awkward' to all you van drivers out there.
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I sure enjoy seeing pics of your Sinka. They inspire me to consider getting one. Look at that awesome flat bed! _________________ - Jim
Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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Jake de Villiers Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007 Posts: 5911 Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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covelo Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2005 Posts: 825 Location: Fairfax, CA
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Posted: Wed May 20, 2020 12:29 pm Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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bobbyblack wrote: |
covelo,
Are you thinking that the lower edge 'bend' in the picture of the valve cover is new and causing your leak? Check the other side. Then look at a few pictures of covers available at the big vendor sites. It is possible that what you are looking at is not new, but perhaps it is how these covers come. It might be that your leak is actually due to something else, and not that 'bent spot' at all. I have seen covers with that same look, I think it is to provide a spot to pry a cover off in case it became glued on from heat (and too little maintenance).
If you are talking about a different spot, let me know so I can look again.
-bobby |
Thanks for that suggestion. I'll check. It definitely leaked in that spot but worth making sure. _________________ '80 Vanagon Westfalia
'72 Bay Window Westfalia (with 2L AVP engine and dual solex carbs) -- sold in 2009 |
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campism Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007 Posts: 4484 Location: Richmond VA
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Posted: Wed May 20, 2020 3:44 pm Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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old_man wrote: |
I realized this picture may seem 'awkward' to all you van drivers out there.
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You could get an old van body and cut off the top of the back end and make yourself a nice canopy to cover the bed, both for secure storage and to make us all feel better. _________________ '87 Westy in Wolfram Grey Metallic |
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old_man Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2018 Posts: 1381 Location: Newfoundland
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Posted: Wed May 20, 2020 4:05 pm Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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campism wrote: |
You could get an old van body and cut off the top of the back end and make yourself a nice canopy to cover the bed, both for secure storage and to make us all feel better. |
That is a very interesting idea.
My current idea is to remake the sides to be removable ATV ramps. Dual purpose. |
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xoo00oox Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2010 Posts: 2671 Location: East Nassau, NY
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Posted: Thu May 21, 2020 6:16 am Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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old_man wrote: |
I got fed up and cut the rusty pins off the sides of my sinka using a cut off wheel. I then pressed out the rusted pins. All is fixed now. I can now mount and dismount the sides of my sinka.
I realized this picture may seem 'awkward' to all you van drivers out there.
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That is a really nice feature, my Suzuki drop panels are like that and it is really handy. Just slide them off when you don't want them on. I'm always surprised that Ford/GM/Dodge/Toyota/Nissan/etc. has never gotten into marketing beds like this in the US.
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jimf909 Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 7400 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Thu May 21, 2020 5:21 pm Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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xoo00oox wrote: |
That is a really nice feature, my Suzuki drop panels are like that and it is really handy. Just slide them off when you don't want them on. I'm always surprised that Ford/GM/Dodge/Toyota/Nissan/etc. has never gotten into marketing beds like this in the US.
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Given all the beds that are removed and replaced with flatbeds it's surprising mfrs don't offer a few different options to the standard box other than bed length.
_________________ - Jim
Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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loverofpeace Samba Member
Joined: May 20, 2020 Posts: 71 Location: Czech Rep
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Posted: Fri May 22, 2020 12:31 pm Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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Sanded and painted the rear bumper black. Resealed two of the rear windows with silicone |
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B.O.B.Wanders Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2014 Posts: 351 Location: Atlanta, GA USA
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Posted: Fri May 22, 2020 3:59 pm Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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Put reflective tape on the deck lid.
This idea was originally posted in the Texas Vanagons (http://texasvanagons.com/deck-lid-safety-reflective-tape/ ) website a few years ago. Brilliant!
I used 18" strips of red and white tape in alternating "valleys" unlike the original poster, but I think that is plenty and I still have a few feet of tape left over. I plan to test it out tonight.
I used the following product but there are many choices: Starrey Reflective Tape 1 IN X 15 FT Red White DOT-C2 High Intensity Grade - Conspicuity Safety Warning Tape. $8 on Amazon.
_________________ 83.5 WBX 2WD Assuan Brown Westy, B.O.B.
"It feels good to be lost in the right direction” - unknown |
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Steve M. Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013 Posts: 6798 Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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Posted: Fri May 22, 2020 9:51 pm Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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B.O.B.Wanders wrote: |
Put reflective tape on the deck lid.
This idea was originally posted in the Texas Vanagons (http://texasvanagons.com/deck-lid-safety-reflective-tape/ ) website a few years ago. Brilliant!
I used 18" strips of red and white tape in alternating "valleys" unlike the original poster, but I think that is plenty and I still have a few feet of tape left over. I plan to test it out tonight.
I used the following product but there are many choices: Starrey Reflective Tape 1 IN X 15 FT Red White DOT-C2 High Intensity Grade - Conspicuity Safety Warning Tape. $8 on Amazon.
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You should also put the reflective tape on the bottom and sides of the rear hatch. This will be visible when the hatch is opened at night. _________________ This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.
There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them. |
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VicVan Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2015 Posts: 1826 Location: Vancouver Island, BC
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Posted: Fri May 22, 2020 10:30 pm Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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Made my upper control arms young again.
Primed (Who needs a paint booth?)
Painted
Bushing "pressed" in (Turns out the axle socket is the perfect size for the job!)
Tackled some surface rust while I was at it. Wirebrush, Ospho, 2 coats of Rustoleum paint
_________________ '90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH) |
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shadetreemech Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2005 Posts: 777 Location: Claremont, CA
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2020 8:57 am Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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All I wanted to do was change the gear lube in the Westy's transaxle.
One of the POs had welded the plate under the exhaust crossover pipe to the pipe. Couldn't fit a socket with a breaker bar in there. Got a 2" piece of 17mm hex bar off Amazon, fitted a 17mm box end on to it and, Voila!, case is drained. Already made sure the fill port is accessible. Redline awaits.
Dan _________________ '84 GL 1.9
'01 Volvo V70 T5
'88 Westy - "MZDRTHY" |
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