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What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod?
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HackAl
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 4:02 pm    Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? Reply with quote

Repurposed old camping chair by hacking off the legs.
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Stows away nicely.
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61Scout
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 8:51 am    Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? Reply with quote

I recently "installed" one of these: https://smile.amazon.com/Pikibu-180-Degree-Definit...ibu+mirror

I actually found one at a thrift store for $3 and thought what the heck. It does have to be just in the right position to still have the visors operable, it's a tight squeeze. Takes a little while to get used to looking out of, but once your eyes adjust it's really neat. You can see yourself, all the glass in the rear, and the best part for me personally, I can watch my dog and see what he's up to without having to adjust the mirror or turn my head.

-Kevin
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1986 Westfalia Weekender Wolfsburg, RJE 2.3
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Vanlife Geek
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 4:49 pm    Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? Reply with quote

My van is basically a total mod! It started life as a syncro passenger van and the PO installed all of the Westy interior, so that was already taken care of. I had a poptop installed, along with a ton of other stuff and I can't seem to stop!
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My favorite mods to date are:
- Poptop, of course
- SA Grille and Lights (so much better!)
- Propex HS2800 Heater
- Jack Bombay Poptop Shocks (absolutely necessary with Baja Rack)
- Shurflo Faucet
- Porta Potty stored in the old fridge cabinet
- Pelican 45 Quart cooler
- New sound system with Focal 3-component speaker system (two in the doors and tweeters on the dash), 10" subwoofer, 900 watt amp, and head unit with 7" screen with GPS, DVD, etc.
- BajaRack found on Craigslist for $50
- Side ladder from Rocky Mountain Westy
- Rear tire carrier from Rocky Mountain Westy
Here's a recent picture showing the rack, ladder and tire carrier.
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I also love this little mod for storing some tools behind the back cabinet. It is basically found space, so no loss of storage.

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Previous:
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1981 Westy
1972 Bug (Last year you could buy a new one for under $2,000)
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Kkinsch
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:33 pm    Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? Reply with quote

Epbiggs,

What straps are you using to mount your implements of destruction on the rear cabinet?
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Vanlife Geek
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:39 pm    Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? Reply with quote

Kkinsch wrote:
Epbiggs,

What straps are you using to mount your implements of destruction on the rear cabinet?


I used a couple of different sizes of Quick Fist clamps. They seem to work great.
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Vanlife Geek
Current:
1986 Syncro Westy
Previous:
1983 Westy
1981 Westy
1972 Bug (Last year you could buy a new one for under $2,000)
1965/66 Bug (2 bugs from a junk yard combined to make 1 functional bug)
1959 Bug (Pre Gas Gauge Era)
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Colorado Yeti
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 04, 2017 4:24 pm    Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? Reply with quote

1. Subaru 2.2 engine
2. Truckfridge - Cold beer AND ice cream sandwiches while camping
3. Auxiliary battery kit with 3 deep-cycle batteries
4. Torque reduction starter from Go Westy
5. Oversized anti-sway bar from T3 Techniques
6. Awning

All the other mods on my van are nice, but those have to be my top ones.
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singletrackrod
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 10, 2017 8:58 am    Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? Reply with quote

Here my list for the last couple of years.

New zero hours EJ25 engine conversion (many upgrades)
OBDII Gauge
Transaxle rebuild (4th gear switch/new R&P)
Wheels and tires (225/55-60 16)
Front Floor Mats (German)
Steering wheel cover (Wheelskins leather)
Audio player, speakers, amp and sub
Phone dock (hardwired w/ switch)
Replace window tint
Replace domestic water pump
Solar/controller/2 deep cycle batteries (210 AH)
Aux fuse block
Rear soft under-flooring
Reading lights (LED)
Koni Classic shocks (4)
Master cylinder (clutch)
Master cylinder (brake)
Rear wheel cylinders
Monza exhaust tip
Custom rear table/trim
Rubber matting rear/center/back
Interior LED lighting
Invertor (hardwired)
New outlet/breaker (w/ USB) & faceplates
Dometic CF-025 freezer/cooler console
Switch 100w Renogy flexible solar panel
Extended seat belt receivers
Skylight scissors
Pedal covers
Cutting board (GW)
Custom shifter knob (matches trim)
Silicone wiper blades
Replace speedo cable
Mud flaps (rear)
Tie rod ends/upper ball joints
AC rodo
Custom Wet Okole seat covers
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Louise '87 Full Camper - bought her new - zero hours 2.5L subie conversion. She had more add-ons and mods than I could ever count. (lost in an accident 10/25/2020)
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VanDwellerFeller
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 4:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

EricD wrote:
My favorite mods...


- Replaced the rear cushion with a bouldering crash pad. Perfect fit - bulky item now takes zero space.



What pad do you use to make this work? Specific size and brand? I'd like to do the same thing.
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Merian
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 11:07 am    Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? Reply with quote

fav mod is to pull the auto. trans., fix the rust in the unit body and replace everything else
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86scotty
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 7:37 am    Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? Reply with quote

Impossible to narrow down one favorite mod but I did make a little cup holder mini table as others have. I really like it for restaurant cups or a split-window bus pint glass.

I didn't show the underside which actually takes the most thought and effort to get it to mount properly, so I'll explain.

I took about a 2"x1" piece of flat steel bar and drilled a hole in the center, then welded a nut onto it. I carefully drilled the center of the cupholder out with a 1" wood bit careful to not poke through the top of the 'table', then put the welded nut face up in the wood, not below, which keeps the plate and table flat on the bottom, which is necessary to snug the little table down so it is sturdy and doesn't wobble. The table is 3/4" birch ply with a few layers of polyurethane on it and arcade T-molding around.

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Colorado Yeti
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 2:30 pm    Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? Reply with quote

I have to add this one after installing this new windshield washer nozzle from Forrest.whitmore this past weekend.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=664047&highlight=nozzles

Imagine a nozzle that actually washes off the windshield and doesn't clog after 4 sprays. I will need these next winter for sure. Great product.
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danfromsyr
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 28, 2017 7:58 am    Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? Reply with quote

found this pic on the net, anybody in here?

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vanis13
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 28, 2017 10:51 am    Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? Reply with quote

danfromsyr wrote:
found this pic on the net, anybody in here?

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That could be a great idea. I wonder where it stores. I'm pondering if that is better than a horizontal surface on pulled out drawer.

Interesting they don't use the F table leg for support. wonder if they have it wedged under the back lid .
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vw4wd
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PostPosted: Wed May 31, 2017 9:35 am    Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? Reply with quote

Dropping back to earlier suggestions for a cup space for the user of the rotated cab seat, my kitchen design has an option which is similar to the board over the Westy drawer.

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The drop flaps built for access to the underside of the sink & to the grille have chain restraints which hold them level.

Also, to provide extra worktop space when using the sink or hob I have drop flaps at each end -

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.

They probably won't help those with a standard Westy kitchen but may plant ideas for anyone designing their own unit.
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Zeitgeist 13
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PostPosted: Wed May 31, 2017 10:42 am    Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? Reply with quote

This seems like a pretty trick mod...but the price, whoa!

https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/pts/6155028976.html

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mtnride1
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PostPosted: Wed May 31, 2017 11:05 am    Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? Reply with quote

Just won one of these at syncrofest. very nice workmanship and great directions from the company to install it.
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The Carrot
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 5:48 pm    Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? Reply with quote

This weekend I was fixing wiring on a non functioning power mirror and wondered if I could install the passenger side convex mirror on the driver side and if so what would that look like.....

The answer is yes you can, and it is a massive improvement in visibility. I have a line on a second convex mirror so that I will be able to run them in both side mirrors from now on.
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danfromsyr
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 8:58 am    Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? Reply with quote

not mine but a mod I wouldn't mind seeing in my van.

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figborg
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 1:31 pm    Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? Reply with quote

I miss seeing new posts in this thread. I have gotten so many good ideas from it.

Any new fave mods out there?
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Zeitgeist 13
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 1:51 pm    Post subject: Re: What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod? Reply with quote

I gotta say that my newest and most favoritest mod is the elimination of the firewall just ahead of the engine. It makes access to the clutch slave and starter so so so much easier. I can almost install the starter completely from the top, and if I climbed inside and reached around from the front I think I could get that bottom bolt, too.
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