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Geato Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2021 Posts: 97 Location: Vancouver Island
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 11:34 am Post subject: New improved dash foil for '86 - '91 Vanagons |
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Hello everyone,
I have redesigned the foil for the '86-'91 vanagon. As you are aware, the original VDO blue foils are becoming brittle and the copper has oxidized to the point where connections have become unreliable and even delaminating from the substrate. This new design uses far superior materials such as Kapton for the substrate and all connections are gold plated. All the components are surface mounted so no more of those crimped connections. These are prototypes and we will be testing shortly.
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?Waldo? Samba Member

Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 9992 Location: Where?
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 11:39 am Post subject: Re: New improved dash foil for '86 - '91 Vanagons |
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Nice. |
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zimflux Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2015 Posts: 226
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 11:51 am Post subject: Re: New improved dash foil for '86 - '91 Vanagons |
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This is great and I appreciate anyone doing something new and helpful to our community. Thank you!
I am curious what made you pursue this project given the current solutions out there? _________________ 84 Westy w/ 2.1 MV |
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Geato Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2021 Posts: 97 Location: Vancouver Island
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 11:59 am Post subject: Re: New improved dash foil for '86 - '91 Vanagons |
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zimflux wrote: |
This is great and I appreciate anyone doing something new and helpful to our community. Thank you!
I am curious what made you pursue this project given the current solutions out there? |
Cost is the biggest driver. Plus having the tools to design this. In the end, I wanted something that was "drop in" compatible. |
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skills@eurocarsplus Samba Peckerhead

Joined: January 01, 2007 Posts: 17827 Location: sticksville, ct.
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 12:12 pm Post subject: Re: New improved dash foil for '86 - '91 Vanagons |
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now that is fucking rad!
i have the foil fix kit already installed which works fine, but what an ugly mess that thing is with the box and wires.
i really like this solution, and would buy one just to have on hand _________________
gprudenciop wrote: |
my reason for switching to subaru is my german car was turning chinese so i said fuck it and went japanese....... |
Jake Raby wrote: |
Thanks for the correction. I used to be a nice guy, then I ruined it by exposing myself to the public. |
Brian wrote: |
Also the fact that people are agreeing with Skills, it's a turn of events for samba history |
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Geato Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2021 Posts: 97 Location: Vancouver Island
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 12:28 pm Post subject: Re: New improved dash foil for '86 - '91 Vanagons |
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skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
now that is fucking rad!
i have the foil fix kit already installed which works fine, but what an ugly mess that thing is with the box and wires.
i really like this solution, and would buy one just to have on hand |
Thanks. That is the other reason for doing this. A much cleaner installation.
Amber is the new blue! |
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Franklinstower Samba Member

Joined: September 21, 2006 Posts: 1991 Location: PNW
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 12:35 pm Post subject: Re: New improved dash foil for '86 - '91 Vanagons |
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If you have enough interest, which I am sure you will, what is the price range for something like this? _________________ '89 Westy - EJ25/22 Frank 4.44 5mt
'75 Miami Blue Sunroof FI Standard Bug
YITB |
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Geato Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2021 Posts: 97 Location: Vancouver Island
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 12:43 pm Post subject: Re: New improved dash foil for '86 - '91 Vanagons |
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Franklinstower wrote: |
If you have enough interest, which I am sure you will, what is the price range for something like this? |
I still need to work that out. I need to source the components and determine assembly time. In the end, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. I will post when I know. |
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Irishcalifornian Samba Member
Joined: September 08, 2016 Posts: 175 Location: CaliWestyfornia
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 1:28 pm Post subject: Re: New improved dash foil for '86 - '91 Vanagons |
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As said before, Nice! _________________ One Life, Live It |
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Vanagon Nut Samba Member

Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10495 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 1:37 pm Post subject: Re: New improved dash foil for '86 - '91 Vanagons |
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This is very cool. Thank you for doing the R&D you've done. I'll be interested to read further re: Kapton but it seems (Dupont ?) has improved it over the years.
Neil. _________________ 1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
(VW Gas I4)
1988 Westy DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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DuncanS Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013 Posts: 4583 Location: New Hampshire
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 2:08 pm Post subject: Re: New improved dash foil for '86 - '91 Vanagons |
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Pervious post disappeared.
Very nice work. I like especially the way you have used both sides to keep the electrons from having to wander halfway around the world so they could avoid crossing the other paths of some of their buddies.
And installation has to be far simpler than the "other stuff out there".
Congratulations, Duncan |
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ALIKA T3 Samba Member

Joined: July 30, 2009 Posts: 7166 Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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davideric9 Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2009 Posts: 1014 Location: Oakland CA
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 2:43 pm Post subject: Re: New improved dash foil for '86 - '91 Vanagons |
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I'm in also and ready for the beta test program or waiting list. I have a small pile of clusters waiting to be repaired. great work. what line of work are you in that puts these tools at your disposal? _________________ 1987 Syncro Westfalia, stock (bought 1994)
1986 Syncro Westfalia SVX, 3 knob (bought 2008)
1987 Westfalia (bought 2010)
1988 Wolfsburg GL (bought 2012) |
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ragnarhairybreeks Samba Member

Joined: October 26, 2009 Posts: 1933 Location: Sidney B.C. Canada
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 3:08 pm Post subject: Re: New improved dash foil for '86 - '91 Vanagons |
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ALIKA T3 wrote: |
Van Quality Parts in France already has these...
Yours sound better quality though....So many offers these days... |
Not quite the same. The French site seems to be offering (199 euro), foils pre 86, diesel and gas.
The new foil version is for 86 and newer, gas.
Alistair _________________ '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 |
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Geato Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2021 Posts: 97 Location: Vancouver Island
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 3:16 pm Post subject: Re: New improved dash foil for '86 - '91 Vanagons |
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Vanagon Nut wrote: |
This is very cool. Thank you for doing the R&D you've done. I'll be interested to read further re: Kapton but it seems (Dupont ?) has improved it over the years.
Neil. |
Kapton is just DuPont's trade name for polyimide. And yes, one can call it a miracle material now. (Quoting someone else).
The base is Kapton and there are coverlays of Kapton over the copper and any exposed copper is gold plated |
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Geato Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2021 Posts: 97 Location: Vancouver Island
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 3:21 pm Post subject: Re: New improved dash foil for '86 - '91 Vanagons |
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davideric9 wrote: |
I'm in also and ready for the beta test program or waiting list. I have a small pile of clusters waiting to be repaired. great work. what line of work are you in that puts these tools at your disposal? |
I am an electronics systems designer. There will be other products coming but I will focus on this for at the moment |
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khughes Samba Member
Joined: July 13, 2013 Posts: 872 Location: Phoenix AZ
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 3:42 pm Post subject: Re: New improved dash foil for '86 - '91 Vanagons |
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Geato wrote: |
davideric9 wrote: |
I'm in also and ready for the beta test program or waiting list. I have a small pile of clusters waiting to be repaired. great work. what line of work are you in that puts these tools at your disposal? |
I am an electronics systems designer. There will be other products coming but I will focus on this for at the moment |
Sweet! You get my vote for Vanagon Dude of the Year (so far ) I'd be up for one of those. _________________ '86 Westy FAS GenV Turbo (Marvin) |
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Vanagon Nut Samba Member

Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10495 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 4:50 pm Post subject: Re: New improved dash foil for '86 - '91 Vanagons |
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Geato wrote: |
Vanagon Nut wrote: |
re: Kapton but it seems (Dupont ?) has improved it over the years. |
Kapton is just DuPont's trade name for polyimide. And yes, one can call it a miracle material now. (Quoting someone else).
The base is Kapton and there are coverlays of Kapton over the copper and any exposed copper is gold plated |
Ah very good. I bet it will be quite robust. I'd be in for at least one.
Neil. _________________ 1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
(VW Gas I4)
1988 Westy DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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DirtDog Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2021 Posts: 90 Location: FOCO, Colorado
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 5:52 pm Post subject: Re: New improved dash foil for '86 - '91 Vanagons |
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This is great to see! Can't wait to see it in action! |
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0to60in6min Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2006 Posts: 3456 Location: OR & CA (Oregon/California)
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 7:35 pm Post subject: Re: New improved dash foil for '86 - '91 Vanagons |
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The French version is for 1.6 D and 1.9/2.0 from 1979 to 1985 only. |
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