Who hates their plastic engine lid?

[Rocky Mountain Westy]

Hey guys,

It seems like most of the vans we work on have pretty rough engine lids on them these days. The insulation seems to be dusting off in bigger piles these days. I am ready to make replacment ones that are aluminum and insulated. Just looking for some design ideas and a interest level.

I like the idea of more of a captured rear hinge and the hood shock. I could make it two piece for the campers with the rear cabinet. Maybe some resessed Led lights.

I would like to have a econo version around $150 to someones doorstep and hoping a tricked out version might bring $400 area.
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Van Cafe & Rocky Mountain Westy Inc.
www.rockymountainwesty.com
970-310-3441
[email protected]

The Splitzgauer build (when I have time to work on it and update the thread)

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=497133

[garryv84]

Can you just make the insulation? Mine lid is fine.

[dhaavers]

^^^ Ditto.

Engine cover is WAY down my list...
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[borninabus]

what part of the engine lid is plastic?
the foam?

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88 Van WBX, A/T - 93 Multivan 5cyl 5M/T - 13 JSW TDI 6M/T - 2012 Touareg TDI Sport

[rubbachicken]

new fire proof insulation would be the way to go.

in the even of a fire a metal lid would conduct more heat helping the bus go up in flames quicker, i think that was the original reason for the change to a plastic lid in the first place, my vanagons in the UK all had metal lids, i'd much rather stick with a plastic one, and new insulation
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lucy our westy

lucy's BIG adventure

meet 'burni'

[D Clymer]

[j_dirge]

I am a customer if you build a nicely hinged lid cut down to open with Westy cabinet in place.
Either a strut to hold it open with cushion in place.. or a rod to prop it.

My plasitc lid is in like new shape.. but the above mod has had me thinking.
_________________
-89 GL Westy, SVX.. finally.

-57 pan f/g buggy with a 67 pancake Type 3 "S"
"Jimi Hendrix owned one. Richard Nixon did not"
-Grand Tour, Season 1, episodes 4 and 5

[Racerrojo]

[K58]

[msinabottle]

Winston's original engine cover and insulation are fine. I put a little Baby Oil on it every now and then to feed the plastic.

How about doing an instrument panel cover instead, or... a certain item I suggested to you... Mike?

Best!
_________________
'Winston,' '84 1.9 WBX Westy
Vanagon Poet Laureate: "I have suffered in
many ways, but never, never, never in silence."

[tschroeder0]

Nice isea, i would love to have a 2 piece that seperates at the 1/2 way point. When on the road most of what gets checked is done with just a quick look and not having to pull the whole thing would be nice.
Todd

[shadetreetim]

I'm interested in a non-plastic unit. With the small freon fire over the summer, it burned up some of the insulation. I was kinda surprised the plastic is not deformed, just discolored.

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Tim Potts

Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!


'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5

[seventyfo]

I love my plastic engine lid. It's the only part on my Vanagon that hasn't broken or had to be replaced YET.
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85 Vanagon GL Westy GW 2.2 (Rebuilt by YT)


"I don't know you well enough to care about your comments". Watkins Cravey

[vw7266]

can you just swap out a plastic one for the metal one from an air cooled? or are they different?

[chazz79]

Something simple, sturdy, and with a dutch door set up that could be opened partially in a westy situation. A prop rod that could support the matress and maybe 40lbs of gear. This item would sell pretty easy. Add height options and lighting for the bell and wistles crowd.

I can't be the only one that hates tossing their matt and stuff on the ground every time I need to look at my engine.
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One day as a lion, or a lifetime as lamb

The green monster in bits and peices: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=332556&highlight=green+monster

[vwjedi]

I had a small engine fire from leaking fuel hose. The insulation caught fire and I just about couldn't put it out. I covered it in fire extinguisher powder stuff and then it just smoldered.

I ended up smothering it with water as well, it was like the insulation loved fire????? Poor design or oil saturated? The plastic never cracked or bent so it's still original just spent hours scraping off insulation gunk.

oh yeah, I probly would spend $150-$400 on MANY other things. I put FAT MAT on it and called it a day.
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1987 Wolfsburg T25 still riding out. A bunch of other VW's passed on...

[?Waldo?]

The engine lids are fiberglass not plastic.

[AdrianC]

[danfromsyr]

I do plan to cut my engine lid so there's semi fixed section under the closet and then allow the remaining 3/4s to hinge up and utilize a proprod so I don'thave to pull the lid and lean it against the side of the van while checking or repairing things.
I love in my ASI that the engine lid is unobstructed and i just prop it open with a long prybar/stick I keep along the cushion.

making one like that would be valuable to those less handy..
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[jacklndn]

From left field, while we're at it:

How about a two-part folding lid with hinges on the rear side. Open the hatch and pull the upper lid outward to form an exterior table under the hatch.

This unlikely idea springs from the design of the Honda Element. The spare tire cover -- very similar in size, shape and placement to the Westy engine cover --
lifts out and rests on legs (factory accessory) to make a substantially sized table.
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1986 Westy GL 4 spd