What did YOU do to your van today?

[AceTaylor]

91 2.1 Automatic 347K miles, 28K miles since engine refresh.

What did I do to my van today? Yesterday? Last month?

Not a damn thing. It has been running just so perfectly for the past year. There is nothing to do. It has been kind of boring. I crawl around, look and poke here and there looking for something, but it just does what it's supposed to do.

[dhaavers]

^^^ Careful there...that's just asking for trouble.

<crosses fingers, knocks wood, rabbit's foot, throw salt...>



- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[Neil Davies]

Did a little chopping today. Cut out the front of the drivers B-pillar to investigate a little hole that occurred when I pulled at a bit of loose underseal...
OK, i knew that the inner sill was crispy, and I replaced the outer sill about 8 years ago, but until I did the passenger side a few years back I didn't really know much about how the inner and outer B-pillar, the strengthener, the jacking point, the inner sill and the outrigger all come together!

Plan for next time I'm in the workshop is to get the remains of the old inner sill cut out and the front of the new inner sill tacked in. I've decided to cut the sill into three sections. Slot the front bit in, slot the rear bit in, then get the middle bit in place before welding it all together properly. Seems a better way of doing it than to have to get the jacking points and trailing arm mounts out of the way.
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'67/'68 Cal Look Beetle, 2007cc, 48IDFs, 14.4 @ 93mph, Oct 2017.
'68/'70 Karmann Beetle, wife's project, progressing slowly.
'80 Devon Moonraker, wife's ratty but cool toy.
'86 Scirocco special project - still measuring up...

[oasis]

I drove mine.

Doesn't sound impressive, I know, but this was my first drive of a clutch since my knee replacement four weeks ago. So, YAY ME.

I drove crap to the dump, went to physical therapy, went to my body shop expert (April 26 is the target date), and searched for a shrimp plant across the street from the shop I used to go to for all of my VWs for 30 years before the gold standard owner sold it to a rat bastard.

Then, I took my dog for a run on some trails while I hobbled about cane-free. (There's another thread about dogs and I forgot to take a pic. Can't blame it on the meds since I've been off for two weeks.)

I hope to have meaningful updates soon. YAY ME.
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Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI

[4Gears4Tires]

That's a really nice even dissection, Neil! Well on your way to having a much stronger rear suspension, haha. Doesn't it seem crazy that you were driving around with your trailing arm attached to rust?
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'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition

[Neil Davies]

[pbrown]

I completed my aux battery project tonight. I have a heated Battle Born 100ah LiFePo4 battery. I will build a plywood wall to the right to keep the storage away from the electrics.

Charging is via Redarc DC/DC charger with 100w of solar. There is a Victron shunt for battery monitoring.

Now I need to start adding some creature comforts.

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Patrick Brown

1986 Westy Syncro EJ25
Flickr --> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmQNUXEF

[Neil Davies]

Had my second Covid jab on Tuesday, so felt like crap yesterday. Done more today though - front section of inner sill is in, and remade the outside edge of the crossmember. Found some decent thickness steel at school, and as a bonus, its galvanised! Got some quite frankly embarrassing welds to knock down but running out of time - caretakers want us out by 4 and I like to finish welding at least half an hour before I leave.

Inner B-post next. Been making cardboard templates but might do it kn sections out of the galvanised stuff. Its thicker than stock, so hopefully it'll take longer to rot through too...
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'67/'68 Cal Look Beetle, 2007cc, 48IDFs, 14.4 @ 93mph, Oct 2017.
'68/'70 Karmann Beetle, wife's project, progressing slowly.
'80 Devon Moonraker, wife's ratty but cool toy.
'86 Scirocco special project - still measuring up...

[4Gears4Tires]

Galvanized or powder coated? I hope you aren't welding galvanized steel, zinc becomes really toxic when heated. I like your use of self taping screws to hold it in place while welding.
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'87 Syncro
Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition

[Neil Davies]

[Vanlife Geek]

I was thinking my van was looking a little drab, so I got a new blanket to cover the rear bench. With my new dog, Willow, the olive drab cover was showing every bit of dirt, bone bits, paw prints, etc. Maybe this new blanket will hide the mess a little better.

So, what do you like better, Olive Drab or Colorful Rasta?
Before (Drab):

After (Westafari):

I also put two layers of 1.5" memory foam on the seat. It had been beaten down over the years and was almost 3" lower than the seat back and rear foam when folded out into the bed configuration. Plus, my butt was getting sore. It's my office and living room, so I spend a bunch of time sitting there and was tired of a sore butt. It's super comfy now. There was enough foam left over to extend from shoulders to hips on the upstairs bed and I can still fold the bed up and lower the pop-top without removing the 1.5" layer of foam.
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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)

[Vanlife Geek]

I did the laborious chore of putting on a Wheelskins leather cover on my steering wheel today. Took me a little over an hour. Looks and feels great, but I'm glad I only have one steering wheel.

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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)

[aidanp]

Fitted the GoWesty front seatbelt receiver extensions. Very nice little modification.
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1989 Vanagon Westfalia, with 2.5l Subaru by SmallCar, manual 'box, 16" wheels.

[joetiger]

[tomkat73]

FINALLY installed the GoWesty Rainfly I bought before COVID.

Just in time for some sunny PNW summer camping!

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Tom

90 Bordeaux (Wine Wagon) Syncro Westy
87 Flash Silver (Silver Slug) Syncro Westy (1996-2011)
86 Bronze Beige Metallic Westy (Tourist Delivery - 1996)

[Vanlife Geek]

[oasis]

I ordered a stereo & speakers, and picked up the stereo.

I also went to the dump to the dump to the dump dump dump.

_________________
Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI

[bobbyblack]

[Vanlife Geek]

[jlrftype7]