What's your favorite Westy/Vanagon mod?

[jimf909]

I just received an assortment of Quick Fist clamps (from 4/2/2017 in this thread and also shown in a separate thread recently). I’ll probably use them on the closet as shown above and possibly in the bottom of the rear bench (raise the bench and there’s something that needs to be handy held in with a quick fist clamp).

I’ve also enjoyed the 250 psi hatch struts suggested in a different thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=687800. This allows me to easily raise the hatch with two bikes on the Fiama rack. The Stabilus struts that I believe I got from GW are marked 200N (about 67 psi according to an online calculator).

The lower strut in each photo is the one ordered from McMaster-Carr along with the end fittings mentioned in the thread above.

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- Jim

[drj434343]

How hard is it to close the hatch WITHOUT bikes or a rack installed using those struts?

[jimf909]

It’s more difficult but I wont day its hard, it just takes some effort to close whereas with oem struts it’s fairly easy.

I’m also experimenting with one 250 psi strut and a 70N strut. There’s a balance to be achieved based on the most common weight carried on the hatch. I could open and close the hatch with two 70N struts but it was getting dicey and I had to prop it open using the Gary Lee conduit or s ladder.

Ultimately, I want to add a swingaway to carry bikes and a small box. We carry bikes a lot and I like to use the hatch so these struts are a good step forward but may not be the end result.

The bikes and rack probably weigh about ~75 lbs.
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- Jim

[plummerdesign]

Faves:
Jack Bombay Pop top struts
Alistair’s kitchen/hob lid strut
Lighted cup holders
Pop top insulation
Heated seats : )
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It is old and green and it makes me grin.
1984 Westfalia 1.9

[cmayna]

Thought I contributed to this thread but can't find anything from me so here's a couple mods I did to our white turd which I really enjoyed doing.

Extra ciggy lighter and USB port on the side of the stove:

Driver's side grab handle:

Passenger door map pocket:

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'90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.


Craig

[Zeitgeist 13]

I'm pretty sure everybody knows this already 'cause I'm always the last to learn about shit around here, but I discovered something "new" yesterday. I have my interior gutted currently as I'm cleaning and sound-proofing like a madman. My kick panel had a crappy looking carpet with a shrinking vinyl covering underneath. I didn't like the look of it, so I began peeling off the layers, and lo and behold I found wood...like, real wood. It seems to be beech and as usual for Westfalia, the quality of the ply is quite decent. I spent about twenty minutes with an orbital sander to get the residual glue off and was pleasantly surprised at how good it looked.

These pics are after two coats of polyurethane.

I suspect that all the models with a vinyl covered kick panel are eligible for this wood "upgrade"...but you knew that already, didn't you.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[figborg]

That was definitely worth the effort. It looks great with the varnish.
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-- 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

[SteveVanB]

led headlights. major upgrade

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91 CARAT

[unibagel]

I like the Upper Bunk Powerpod to give USB power for my phone while sleeping up top! It's also easy to power awning lights as it is located righ above the slider...

https://uniwerksdesign.com/product/upper-bunk-powerpod/

[llilibel03]

Today my kitchen table was swinging and banging round for the umpteenth time, so I got home and was determined to solve the problem. I did a Samba search and I eventually decided to apply some left over tread tape on the tube and the pressure plate and I hope that does the trick.

I personally would have just removed the table but my wife says it's a necessity for laying out toiletries and what not at night. The front table has long been in storage.

In the course of my samba search to resolve the moving table syndrome, someone mentioned that the front table is smaller than the kitchen table. A light bulb went off in my head.

So I removed the kitchen table. Got the front table and moved the attachment plate on the bottom and I have now solved the closet access issue which drove me mad on all our trips (not being able to get to jackets without moving the table), and I did it without having to cut a new door into the side (as I had been planning). Best of all it cost nothing.

Only glitch- while moving the mounting plate's position, there are threaded inserts and one did not align perfectly and I thought I could cajole it in at a slight angle. I stripped the bolt. I just put a wood screw in its place. It's on the bottom so you do see anything.

YEA! I can open the door with the table in place!

Ooops

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87 syncro tintop
90 gl tin top
85 westy 2.0 tiico automatic (present)

[WestfaliaMike]

Love my floor..

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1981 Vanagon Westfalia
1983 Vanagon Passanger (Parts Vehicle)
2016 Passat TSI

[calo1956]

It has to be the parquet oak floor i put in 38 yrs ago! it will outlast the bus and me! Yes i know it needs to be refinished!

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Enjoy the ride....
72 bug
80 westfalia

[greggarthurevans]

[Vannimal]

Here are a few recent mods. I found a window seal product today that is easy to work with and stops a lot of the rattling caused by the kitchen I cut it down the centre and stuck it in place. Bought at Home Depot (Canada) and cheap, about $9.00. I have used on my cabinet doors and across the stove top with great results.

I also removed and converted my fridge to additional storage.

Some other fav mods I have done include:

- Installing small LED pot lights in my 'catch all' above the stove. These flood my kitchen with lots of warm light.
- AAZ Engine Conversion
- Stereo upgrade
- Fox Shocks
-GW 1.5" Lift springs with .5" rear blocks
-16" Metro rims with BFG A/T tires
- Rebuilt tranny
- Rebuilt clutch
- Window tint
- Made all new interior paneling
- New upholstery
- Removed all gross vinyl and sanded and painted all cabinetry
- Exterior propane hook up
- Fimma bike rack
- Steering wheel wrap with cycling bar tape.
- Sound proofing on engine hatch/firewall (currently working on rest of van)
- Roof Racks
- Jack Bombay struts
- New tent

In progress:
- Body work/paint
- Barn board flooring
- Sound proofing

[jimf909]

That's a solid list!

Is the van on your forearm missing a rear tire?
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- Jim

[Eric_Taylor]

[Vannimal]

[Vannimal]

[levi]

Watch out drilling the holes, I'm pretty sure there's wires in that pillar.
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One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40

[creative native]

1. GoWesty 16" steel wheels with Nitto Crosstek 215R70 16" tires.
2. New brown door pull finger guard trim from uniWerks Design.
3. 1.5" lift springs from GoWesty.
Now the Bus drives as I feel it should have from the factory.