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harrywt Samba Member

Joined: April 10, 2007 Posts: 31 Location: San Gabriel, CA
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Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2025 11:36 am Post subject: Re: Camper interior build on a 64 Kombi |
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Have you ever posted the CAD files for the cabinets? I found your work that you posted on GrabCAD but I didn't see the cabinets
sgellis wrote: |
What I am planning will be sort of a standard layout with the addition of a small cabinet in the left front. The bench seat will fold out into a bed. Upright cabinet on right rear. Custom fridge on right front with solid-state cooling. The electrical will be in the bottom front of the left front cabinet.
This are not quite current but close.
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sgellis Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2016 Posts: 2184 Location: SW Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2025 6:00 am Post subject: Re: Camper interior build on a 64 Kombi |
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Moving the fan resulted in a massive increases in efficiency. We just did a 800 mile 5 day trip and fridge stayed in the 2 to 4c range. On one night stays the bus would set 18 hours without any solar. After the 100 ah battery was still at 13.2v.
On the two night stay bus set for 42 hours with 3 hours of evening solar (maybe 200w gained) the battery was at 12.9v
I did notice the fridge did not cycle off when outside temp reached 30c and on low power mode. if the outside temp rises over 30 the fridge temp will start to rise unless I let it run in high powered mode when on battery only.
Solid-state fridges are quite inefficient compared to a good compressor fridge but they are cheep, light and compact. I am quite happy with this performance in the relatively hot weather we had.
Now I will improve the seals, do a few tweaks and tidy up everything. _________________ My 64 Kombi restoration
My camper interior build
My 54 standard restoration
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (YouTube)
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (CAD drawings) |
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sgellis Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2016 Posts: 2184 Location: SW Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2025 4:48 pm Post subject: Re: Camper interior build on a 64 Kombi |
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Small upgrade to the solid state fridge today.
I wanted to move one fan from the cooler to the exhaust duct to improve efficiency exhausting the warm air. Also seems like a waist of good heat when the weather is cold so added a diverter flap to allow exhausting air behind front seat. I was planning to put a servo control to automate it with the heating system but didn't get around to ordering the parts. So a rod and knob on vent holds the flap in ether position. It will be awhile before we can test it in cold weather. I am curious how much difference it will make. The bus is quite well insulated and holds its heat.
The duct is printed out of PLA. It may not like the heat and I have a few tweeks to the design so will likely reprint it out of PETG and add the servo.
Also added a magnetic switch so it will notify me if the fridge drawer is not closed but will likely change that to a mechanical switch so I can tell if it is fully latched. Magnetic switch can not be set accurately enough.
I reinstalled the back panel with aluminum tape but plan to make a removable insulating panel for the back for maintenance and upgrades.
_________________ My 64 Kombi restoration
My camper interior build
My 54 standard restoration
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (YouTube)
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (CAD drawings) |
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sgellis Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2016 Posts: 2184 Location: SW Nova Scotia, Canada
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markham56 Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2012 Posts: 9 Location: Knoxville
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Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2025 4:26 pm Post subject: Re: Camper interior build on a 64 Kombi |
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nlorntson wrote: |
Install the usual springs that sit between the door and the back of the wooden panel and you should be fine I'd think. |
How was this done at the factory? I'm replacing my old panels and this large gap just doesn't seem normal. I bought some springs from WW but they're not nearly strong enough. |
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sgellis Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2016 Posts: 2184 Location: SW Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2024 3:00 pm Post subject: Re: Camper interior build on a 64 Kombi |
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BarryL wrote: |
sgellis wrote: |
The pump is not self priming. |
Supposedly one way the handle lays is "keep prime" while the other way is "drain back" for freezing temps. Is yours like that and still losing the prime?
sgellis wrote: |
Switched out the AGM battery for an 100 ah LiFePO4 group 24] |
Is the Lithium Iron battery about $700? |
Possibly. The hand pump is not working great so I need to take it apart and see. It has always drained back but that could just be poor quality.
Got my battery on sale for under around 300. It is a LiTime from Amazon. They are good quality but lower price. Some of the brand name ones are over priced. _________________ My 64 Kombi restoration
My camper interior build
My 54 standard restoration
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (YouTube)
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (CAD drawings) |
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BarryL  Samba Member

Joined: November 01, 2004 Posts: 15199 Location: Casa de Oro, California
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Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2024 6:20 pm Post subject: Re: Camper interior build on a 64 Kombi |
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sgellis wrote: |
The pump is not self priming. |
Supposedly one way the handle lays is "keep prime" while the other way is "drain back" for freezing temps. Is yours like that and still losing the prime?
sgellis wrote: |
Switched out the AGM battery for an 100 ah LiFePO4 group 24] |
Is the Lithium Iron battery about $700? |
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sgellis Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2016 Posts: 2184 Location: SW Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2024 10:50 am Post subject: Re: Camper interior build on a 64 Kombi |
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Added an electric water pump. Had one laying around so put it in. Installed a small waterproof switch that is not really noticeable behind the hand pump.
Old hand pump still works but the electric pump is much less work and I can fill the coffee pot in the morning without waking up the wife.
The pump is not self priming. Works great when the tank is full but starts loosing prime when at 1/3. I may get a self priming pump to try but I am not sure the hand pump will still work. Also concerned they will be loud.
I tried to find a check valve to keep it primed but they all have too strong of a spring for the pump.
_________________ My 64 Kombi restoration
My camper interior build
My 54 standard restoration
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (YouTube)
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (CAD drawings) |
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sgellis Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2016 Posts: 2184 Location: SW Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted: Fri Aug 30, 2024 10:36 am Post subject: Re: Camper interior build on a 64 Kombi |
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Did a few upgrades.
Switched out the AGM battery for an 100 ah LiFePO4 group 24. The AGM only worked well the first two years and then started falling off. The new lithium battery will give me about 80% more usable ah and likely last 10 years.
With the battery change I needed to replace the old 25 amp battery charger with one that would handle lithium batteries. Like the old charger the new one is loud so vented it under the bus.
Also added a 40 amp DC-DC charger so the alternator would charge the battery correctly.
I am going to redo the power and ground wires and tidy up stuff but wanted to run it for a bit to make sure it wasn't going to have a cooling problem in the cabinet. Apparently the DC-DC charger produced very little heat.
Went on an 11 day, 979 mile trip and all worked great so considering it tested.
_________________ My 64 Kombi restoration
My camper interior build
My 54 standard restoration
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (YouTube)
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (CAD drawings) |
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Insertcomedyname Samba Member
Joined: December 30, 2023 Posts: 7 Location: Aberdeenshire
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Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2024 10:06 am Post subject: Re: Camper interior build on a 64 Kombi |
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This is fantastic and thank you for sharing! I also found your models on GrabCAD so thanks again for this amazing resource. I was thinking about doing this myself, especially with the LiDAR scanning on the newer iPhones, might make data capture a little easier?
Im the proud new owner of a 67 T2 split and hope to start my journey getting the old bus looking as nice as yours.
Thanks Again
Andy
Scotland, UK |
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LAGrunthaner  Samba Member

Joined: March 18, 2007 Posts: 5593 Location: 1st Coast
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Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2023 8:15 am Post subject: Re: Camper interior build on a 64 Kombi |
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OMG sgellis, I accidentally stumbled across your YouTube and as I'm looking halfway through all I could say to myself is "wow this bus is 100 times better than my westy in the woodworking/functionality category among other areas. Then it dawned on me "it's your bus and that's you!". So cool to see and hear you and get to know this beautiful bus even better. Now I'll reread the entire thread again. Both you and your bus are celebrities.
Linda
sgellis wrote: |
Made a little video to show off the bus.
Link
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_________________ American Red Cross Safe And Well:
https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/...bsite.html
Maui Roadsters
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http://www.oacdp.org
Lind wrote: |
Have you considered simply starting with a nicer bus? I don't know what your skills are, but the race is easier if you can see the finish line. If you are not a runner, don't start off doing a marathon. |
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Don66bus Samba Member

Joined: January 11, 2006 Posts: 439
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Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2023 5:56 am Post subject: Re: Camper interior build on a 64 Kombi |
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Thorough video and incredible build. It is great to see such artistry. |
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steven wardlaw Samba Member
Joined: January 13, 2012 Posts: 146
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Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2023 6:48 pm Post subject: Re: Camper interior build on a 64 Kombi |
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I want to thank you for all the great ideas you've given me these past few months on my 1965 camper build. I saved so much effort and time using your panel drawings. I will be taking my camper out for its first campout next week. I'll post some pictures of my trip when I return on Thursday. You are correct on the time it takes to travel in an old bus. If Google says 2 hours you had better plan on at least 3 to 4 hours. Half of that time is spent answering questions at every gas or food stop. Thanks again. |
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sgellis Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2016 Posts: 2184 Location: SW Nova Scotia, Canada
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sgellis Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2016 Posts: 2184 Location: SW Nova Scotia, Canada
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Don66bus Samba Member

Joined: January 11, 2006 Posts: 439
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Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2023 4:05 pm Post subject: Re: Camper interior build on a 64 Kombi |
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A comment on your 2022 post on failing curtain material ...
I know that this suggestion is not for stock purists but it works well for self-built campers. I received these curtains from the original owner in 2006 and they are still in use. One difference is that they are not in the sun all day, nor are they blocking visibility when driving. They just hook up to sheet metal screws when needed and go away in a bag the rest of the time. Takes no time at all to set them up.
Actually, your design is very similar to mine. Maybe the big difference in our curtain durability is that mine are rarely up during the day, hence no sun fading. |
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sgellis Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2016 Posts: 2184 Location: SW Nova Scotia, Canada
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sgellis Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2016 Posts: 2184 Location: SW Nova Scotia, Canada
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sgellis Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2016 Posts: 2184 Location: SW Nova Scotia, Canada
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sgellis Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2016 Posts: 2184 Location: SW Nova Scotia, Canada
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