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SlalomVan Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2006 Posts: 127 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2024 1:59 pm Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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[quote="shadetreemech"]Had mine powder-coated.
The parts I painted on previous rebuilds had started to chip and flake over a relatively short period of time. The previous two rebuilds I decided to have them powder-coated instead. I am super happy with the results.
_________________ 1989 Vanagon GL - 2.1 (White - "Northlake" Totaled/Gone)
1988 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg (Orly Blue - "Poulsbo" - Sold)
1989 Vanagon G - 2.1 (White - "Kingston") - Full rebuild underway - Last on the road in 1997 |
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RicMcK Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2023 Posts: 70 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2024 7:27 pm Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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Beautiful. I like the Red! Yes powder coating is great. It lasts for ever.
Today I removed the firewall insulation, wire wheeled as much as I could, treated the rusty spots with "Rust Mort". I used Rust Mort on my 1936 Ford, and 40 +years later no rust has returned. The rusted areas looked better than I thought they would. Hopefully the weather will cooperate on Monday so I can seam seal it and then spray it with under coating. _________________ Rick McK
Seattle
New to me 89 Westfalia
2006 TDI Jetta
1936 Ford Pick up |
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4Gears4Tires Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018 Posts: 3061 Location: MD
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2024 7:14 am Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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That motor is so pretty. The only upgrade left is an aluminum thermostat housing. _________________ '87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition |
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Mark Lewalski Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2010 Posts: 406 Location: Safety Harbor, FL (Tampa Bay)
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brickster Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2004 Posts: 512 Location: CO, USA
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Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2024 8:07 am Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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I finally replaced all of the propane tank parts with Jim's Vanavation kit. My intention was to drop the tank, but the AC lines made me do it in situ.
Not easy due to access, but I got it done on the ground. Used sealant paste instead of tape on all threads. Due to the longer regulator, I broke the old, integrated cover off of the skid plate. I've ordered a Camco regulator cover kit, and still need to mount the missing mud flap to keep it all happy.
After nervously pulling up to my local Ace, all went well. It took 3.1 lbs, which is more than I expected assuming an 80% fill. Maybe due to it being completely empty? I couldn't see how much came out of the bleeder, but 0.5 lbs seems like a lot.
Soapy water test passed, and stove/fridge are working. It always feels good to check something off the list. _________________ 1984 Campmobile Automatic |
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campism Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007 Posts: 4496 Location: Richmond VA
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Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2024 4:23 pm Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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Put it on the trickle charger. The van has been "resting" recently and always started when asked until today. Need to drive it more. _________________ '87 Westy in Wolfram Grey Metallic |
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shagginwagon83 Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016 Posts: 3805 Location: VA/TN
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Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2024 10:22 am Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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campism wrote: |
Put it on the trickle charger. The van has been "resting" recently and always started when asked until today. Need to drive it more. |
I hard wired a trickle charger into my van for the starting battery. So now aux and staring batteries are happy during the winter. _________________ Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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CarstenR Samba Member
Joined: August 07, 2023 Posts: 48 Location: Michigan
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2024 10:33 am Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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Hello, all, I'm happy to be able to share something I completed last night on the Opa Bus. My priorities may be a little whacked, since the Westy doesn't run, but at least now I have access to the space under the driver's seat (LHD) thanks to completing the installation of the Intrepid Overland Seat Tilt Kit. When I add the house battery I will mount the CTEK D250SE in this location along with the fuse block for my 'consumers'.
The kit is not plug & play, and required some cutting of welds with my trusty Dremel tool. I haven't had much experience doing this, but after taking some deep breaths I took cutting blade to metal and cut out the center of the seat base. This ended up being (in my opinion) fairly painless and a good confidence builder for me for some of the bigger projects yet to come. Plus, I now have access to the valuable space under the seat!
https://intrepidoverland.com/shop/seat-tilt-kit/
- Carsten _________________ Carsten Ramcke
Allen Park, MI
1981 Aircooled Westfalia: the 'Opa Bus' |
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jimf909 Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 7485 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2024 10:49 pm Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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CarstenR wrote: |
Hello, all, I'm happy to be able to share something I completed last night on the Opa Bus. My priorities may be a little whacked, since the Westy doesn't run, but at least now I have access to the space under the driver's seat (LHD) thanks to completing the installation of the Intrepid Overland Seat Tilt Kit. When I add the house battery I will mount the CTEK D250SE in this location along with the fuse block for my 'consumers'.
The kit is not plug & play, and required some cutting of welds with my trusty Dremel tool. I haven't had much experience doing this, but after taking some deep breaths I took cutting blade to metal and cut out the center of the seat base. This ended up being (in my opinion) fairly painless and a good confidence builder for me for some of the bigger projects yet to come. Plus, I now have access to the valuable space under the seat!
https://intrepidoverland.com/shop/seat-tilt-kit/
- Carsten |
Nice work. I've been interested in that seat-tilt kit. The Intrepid Overland fresh air control kit is also a darn good improvement, esp. if you have A/C. _________________ - Jim
Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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jlrftype7 Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018 Posts: 3583 Location: Chicago
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Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2024 7:42 am Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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Washed the dirt off all the windows/glass in lieu of an actual wash. Recent light snow had left dust streaks all over the place as it melted off the Vanagon.
Removed both front door switches and cleaned them. I was getting erratic performance out of the drivers side this Winter. _________________ '68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto |
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JIME82 Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2023 Posts: 7 Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2024 7:22 am Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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Finally got around to installing the self-made roofrack on the pop top. Pay special attention to the laser-cut VW logo's
Now I have a good reason to get a lift-assist-kit. Any recommandations?
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bobbyblack Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015 Posts: 4353 Location: United States, Iowa
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Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2024 12:53 pm Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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JIME82 wrote: |
Finally got around to installing the self-made roofrack on the pop top. Pay special attention to the laser-cut VW logo's
Now I have a good reason to get a lift-assist-kit. Any recommandations?
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That is a hella-cool rack. I have only adventured to drill two holes in my top, and that was to put in the Jack Bombay struts kit.
https://vwparts.aircooled.net/Jack-Bombay-Pop-Top-...ck-kit.htm
There are others. The last thread I was reading about a full length Westy rack show, clearly, the holes where the Jack Bombay kit was used, and abandoned in favor of a more forward setup like GW sells. The kit on that full rack visually at least, shows that one of the mount points for the strut was a hole already being used for the rack mount.
I like the Jack Bombay units I run, but I really only use them because I am getting a bit grumpy trying to push an unloaded top up. I have the light duty version. I plan on getting another kit from aircooled.net for my 2nd Westy, along with another in-house version of the tent BusDepot offers. I've had no problems with either of those purchases.
Hope it goes well for you!
-bobby _________________ '87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
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harvgwen Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2021 Posts: 160 Location: British Columbia, Canada
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vanis13 Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010 Posts: 3107 Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2024 5:31 pm Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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bobbyblack wrote: |
JIME82 wrote: |
Finally got around to installing the self-made roofrack on the pop top. Pay special attention to the laser-cut VW logo's
Now I have a good reason to get a lift-assist-kit. Any recommandations?
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That is a hella-cool rack. I have only adventured to drill two holes in my top, and that was to put in the Jack Bombay struts kit.
https://vwparts.aircooled.net/Jack-Bombay-Pop-Top-...ck-kit.htm
There are others. The last thread I was reading about a full length Westy rack show, clearly, the holes where the Jack Bombay kit was used, and abandoned in favor of a more forward setup like GW sells. The kit on that full rack visually at least, shows that one of the mount points for the strut was a hole already being used for the rack mount.
I like the Jack Bombay units I run, but I really only use them because I am getting a bit grumpy trying to push an unloaded top up. I have the light duty version. I plan on getting another kit from aircooled.net for my 2nd Westy, along with another in-house version of the tent BusDepot offers. I've had no problems with either of those purchases.
Hope it goes well for you!
-bobby |
Using the jack Bombay kit with 280 lb struts I lift a few hundred pounds of stuff on the roof _________________ 83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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Kdj Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2017 Posts: 143 Location: Naptown
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2024 3:32 pm Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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Pulled my starter motor to take to the local rebuilder. Been having to give it a hit with hammer every now and then to get it to go! Seems to be the original Bosch unit so prefer to get it rebuilt then go with something of unknown origin. |
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Atadloco Samba Member
Joined: July 13, 2012 Posts: 254 Location: New Hampshire
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Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2024 8:18 am Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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The heater fan stopped working so before the spring season hits New Hampshire, best to get this fixed and replace all heater parts. Going to sound deaden the area, replace the wiper washer hoses and a general old wire clean up.
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4Gears4Tires Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018 Posts: 3061 Location: MD
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Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2024 10:42 am Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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You can't throw too much sound deadener at the nose. It helps a lot. My van went from "so noisy elevated voices are needed, normal convos aren't possible" to "noisy by regular voices are fine, normal convo." Get the best you can justify spending. Butyl sheets and mass loaded vinyl. _________________ '87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition |
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Atadloco Samba Member
Joined: July 13, 2012 Posts: 254 Location: New Hampshire
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Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2024 5:15 pm Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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4Gears4Tires wrote: |
You can't throw too much sound deadener at the nose. It helps a lot. My van went from "so noisy elevated voices are needed, normal convos aren't possible" to "noisy by regular voices are fine, normal convo." Get the best you can justify spending. Butyl sheets and mass loaded vinyl. |
Big time!! I was able to get all but one screw out, the screw that is in the middle left was stripped before I started, the heater has been rebuilt at some point, lots of silicone around the middle. There is a special place in hell for those that put a stripped screw in a hard to reach place. |
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jlrftype7 Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018 Posts: 3583 Location: Chicago
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Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2024 8:13 pm Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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Finally got some money for new front rotors- installed those today- and installed a Time-Sert for the stripped oil drain plug. Threads gave out on me when I was changing oil to Winter weight weeks ago. I cobbled a repair to hold the plug in place till I could properly deal with it. _________________ '68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto
Last edited by jlrftype7 on Wed Mar 13, 2024 5:11 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7758 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 8:57 pm Post subject: Re: What did YOU do to your van today? |
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(Yesterday)…heated up the garage & installed Bus Depot H4 headlights.
Beautiful kit…these things look fantastic!
- Dave _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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