What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod?

[designer]

1. My favorite mods thus far is the raising up in place with the rear table which is on here somewhere. That sucker is invaluable.

2. Front table mount to the bottom of the A/C cabinet:
http://campervanculture.com/shop/campervan-culture...rida-grey/

3. Two person sleeping bag

4. 2" Memory Foam Topper for lower bed. I think i got it at overstock or amazon for around $70.00
_________________
__________
87 Syncro Westy : 2.5l

"It is that annoying, accelerating downhill so I can make it up the next hill in the same gear. Foot to floor hoping I can get out of the way of other cars getting onto the highway." - somebody on here around 2013.

[Fuzzyip]

[syncrodoka]

Stick some SOLAS(safety of life at sea) tape on the bottom of the rear hatch so that it is always in place whenever the hatch is open and it is over the height of people's bodies so that it cannot be blocked or forgotten to be placed in the right spot. I can't see putting the decklid at the rear of the van while trying to work on something being beneficial.
I have that tape on the 4 corners of my truck rear gate when it is open and you can easily see it with a flashlight from across a campground.

[1621]

It's been several years since I've posted to this thread, and I've completed several more 'favorite' mods since then. In no particular order -

Chipped 1.8T makes it a totally different vehicle.
Oil cooler to keep the temps within a tighter range 200-230ish.
Regear with lower R&P (5.50), and slightly higher 3rd and 4th. The result closely mimics the stock gear/tire ratios with 28.5 inch tires, and a lower (torquier) 1st and 2nd. Excellent driveability in a heavier van with this gearing.
CLKs with 28.5 inch Nokian D-rated tires.
Lifted and customized suspension with a 'sportier' feel.
Disc brakes all around, though the ebrake took some finagling.

There have been dozens of mods inside and out that are worthwhile and I've greatly enjoyed, but few have changed the drive and handling like those listed above.

CLKs with Nokian WRC Cargos

Perma cool oil cooler under the slider, now with a protective screen

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'85 Westy

[samwise]

[syncrodoka]

That illustrates what I was mentioning nicely, they are always in place and visible.

[VolkswagenT25.com]

A bit of thread resurrection
http://campervanculture.com/2016/10/my-favourite-v...es-part-1/
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VW T25 Westfalia Club Joker, 1988, 2.1 iDJ
www.VolkswagenT25.com

[Stephenmarklay]

[owokie]

[figborg]

[ragnarhairybreeks]

I put one in that I found at wreckers yard. Was missing the control knob and I had to make a replacement. Was pretty well straightforward to make an insert to fit on sink to hold the faucet.

Blog post from back in 2010

https://shufti.wordpress.com/2010/08/07/eurovan-faucet-in-vanagon-westy-sink/

Worked ok, but felt that the stock water pump really didn't have the oomph to make it shine.

Recently I installed a diaphragm type water pump and although it makes more noise than the stock pump, the faucet works so much better.

https://shufti.wordpress.com/2016/07/17/vanagon-fresh-water-pump-update/

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

[Stephenmarklay]

[owokie]

Pictures when I get home, but I suspect total length of the hose is 4ish feet. I'll measure. The vwbusshop "kit" had what I needed aside from brass adapter to og water line and an insert into the sink. I wouldn't see a problem with a cutting board. As to water pressure, my stock pump is more than adequate, in fact I've got the flow set at less than it will put out, something you can adjust with this faucet easily. I simply took the stock black faucet that was there, used a cutoff wheel to remove the head, and the remaining plastic/hole that remains is the perfect diameter for the new faucet. Again, a picture this evening will likely help.

[figborg]

[owokie]

Faucet at full extension, faucet sitting how I travel (obviously with the lid down), nesting pots in the sink. From recollection the grey piece was slightly smaller than the stock hole, thus me cannibalizing the old faucet. I'm sure any old piece of thin plastic would serve the purpose, but then you'd have to drill the screw holes etc.

[figborg]

Owokie, did your kit come with a clip to keep the handle under the cover and decided not to use it? I'm wondering if I should wait for the CVC more complete kit (if it is in fact more complete) or the one from Germany which is available now and cheaper.

I gather you must lose the city water connection, correct? That would be fine with me. I may turn that in to a hook up for the a future solar panel.

I think I need to do this mod as well, but first I will tackle the front door speakers
_________________
-- PF
Providence, RI
1986.5 Westy camper (G year code, grey interior), 2WD, manual transmission, Subaru conversion by Vanaru. Spoiled rotten.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=662374

[kourt]

On the same page as the Westfalia shower tap on the vwbusshop.de site:

http://www.vwbusshop.de/epages/GuenzlClassicParts..../701070821

...there is also listed the shower head carrier:

http://www.vwbusshop.de/epages/GuenzlClassicParts..../701070813

When you order the two together, you get almost the same kit as CVC offers.

You'll still need a 3/8" BSPT to 3/8" barb converter:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AXYBB6E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This kit does not interfere with your city water connection. It simply replaces the existing Westy faucet with an extending spray head that has flow control and spray/stream control built into the head.

kourt

[figborg]

Wow! Thanks, Kourt!

UPDATE: purchased from VWbusshop!
_________________
-- PF
Providence, RI
1986.5 Westy camper (G year code, grey interior), 2WD, manual transmission, Subaru conversion by Vanaru. Spoiled rotten.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=662374

[kourt]

More info on the Westfalia shower tap:

If you have a North American market Westy, the existing hole in your galley sink will be too large for the Westfalia shower tap rosette (the gray plastic base in which it stands, and through which the extended hose travels).

I am documenting an easy method for solving this problem. You will build a plastic disc that spans the gap, allowing the Westfalia rosette to be installed.

I previously had a Shurflo faucet bought through GoWesty, which included a disc of stainless steel as its base. Using this disc is a good template, but not required if you read these directions.

The GoWesty base disc has an inner hole that is too small. You could drill it out, but you would ruin the disc in case you wanted to revert to the Shurflo for some reason.

Go to Home Depot or some other hardware store that sells electrical supplies. You need to find a two-gang plastic junction box in gray plastic, preferably with a solid back.

Also buy a 3" hole saw and a smaller hole saw--1" for the inner hole. Both hole saws need the same size pilot bit for accuracy.

Clamp down the j-box and drill out a 3" gray plastic disc. Then clamp the disc and drill out the 1" hole in the center. Lastly, mark and drill the three screw holes and obtain stainless machine screws and nuts to screw it down.

Dress up the edges of the disc with sand paper. Assemble the rosette onto the new gray plastic disc and install into the galley sink hole.

A friend pointed out that sometimes, in the course of play, your balls get dirty. Anyone can wash balls in the sink.

But what if you've got a ball that's too big for the sink? It helps to be able to wash them outside.

I hope this helps.

kourt

[pablum]