Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab
Page: Previous  1, 2, 3, 4  Next
Forum Index -> Vanagon Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
mikemtnbike
Samba Member


Joined: March 26, 2015
Posts: 2791
Location: North Carolina
mikemtnbike is offline 

PostPosted: Mon May 21, 2018 9:53 am    Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab Reply with quote

Samaleshi thanks for letting this discussion happen in your thread. If you want it moved, I will start a new thread.

I looked up the specs on rivnuts and pull-out torque for the M6 steel rivnut is over 500 pounds. No data was given, however, on shear strength, I'm guessing because that depends on material and quality of install, as Mark describes. I'm going to try it within the next couple days, seems solid, I'm going for it.

OP, and Mark, how'd you handle the luggage rack mounts? If installing to original, it seems like I'd need to take my headliner out to put the bolts in from below, which I'd rather not do. After marking the locations as Samaleshi shows, my plan is to put longer bolts in from the top and through the weld nuts on the mounts, into more rivnuts. Seem like a decent plan and/or am I missing an easier solution?
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled Sad https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Samaleshi
Samba Member


Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
Samaleshi is offline 

PostPosted: Mon May 21, 2018 2:05 pm    Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab Reply with quote

I don't have any issues with discussions on this thread! As long as no one has issues with me getting lazy and answering what I can remember in one post without quotes. Have at the discussions, this is about the last bastion for sanity on the whole damn internet...and that's saying something; people cutting holes in the top of 30 year old Volkswagens!

I believe I used 5/16" SAE riv-nuts, they didn't have enough Metric ones in stock at Ace. I'm not at all worried about the integrity of the joint, I work in the trucking industry, we use them all over the cabs with no issues, at least none that I'll experience with this rig.

I clearanced the section near the latch for my fingers. It is hard to make the edge trim look good with the extra curves.

You can reach the luggage mounts after you cut the hole in the headliner, just have to stretch for the fronts. I used bolts threaded the wrong way with fingernail polish to leave witness marks for holes.

The nibbler was loaned to me. Appeared to be a 110V harbor freight piece, worked great.

Stoked that crazyvanman stopped by. I'm honored. Carry on with the craziness.
_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man

1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Samaleshi
Samba Member


Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
Samaleshi is offline 

PostPosted: Mon May 21, 2018 2:20 pm    Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab Reply with quote

Got our inaugural trip in the books this weekend. Round about 400 miles. Even were rewarded with a sunny Oregon coast, I'll take it. Weighed in at 4800lbs with 4 kids, dog, and camping gear. Everything went well, CV's are a bit noisy, just in time for the rear brake conversion.

For parents with little ones, a quick shot of some tether anchors I scored out of some random Kia in the wrecking yard. Also swapped in Jetta shoulder harnesses in the rear for the teens. Moved the rear lap belts with no retractor to the jump seats. Had trouble keeping tension for kids seats in our other vanagon. The friction belts with the tethers work extremely well, and they're naturally rear-facing!

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man

1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4


Last edited by Samaleshi on Mon Jun 18, 2018 6:44 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
mikemtnbike
Samba Member


Joined: March 26, 2015
Posts: 2791
Location: North Carolina
mikemtnbike is offline 

PostPosted: Mon May 21, 2018 4:31 pm    Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab Reply with quote

Thanks samaleshi, that's super helpful. Hole cutting is going to happen whatever time my super handy friend can come over this week, so hadn't cut the headliner yet, so hadn't seen that I'd be able to reach. Appreciate it.
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled Sad https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Samaleshi
Samba Member


Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
Samaleshi is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 27, 2018 1:59 pm    Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab Reply with quote

The Thule box and rack combined with the tired lift assist springs were too damn much trouble. I went ahead and ordered Jack Bombay's kit. It definitely helps, I flipped the shocks to clear my rain gutter mount fasteners. Used the lowest level asssist, it says 60lbs on the shocks. The measurements included in the instructions worked out fine, even though ours isn't a real Westy.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Acorn nut hiding behind the gutter mount.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man

1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4


Last edited by Samaleshi on Sun May 27, 2018 2:06 pm; edited 1 time in total
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Samaleshi
Samba Member


Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
Samaleshi is offline 

PostPosted: Sun May 27, 2018 2:04 pm    Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab Reply with quote

Used rubber mat over the factory jute padding for floor covering in the back. I really like this product, we get it at the local farm store, they use it for horse stalls and such, perfect for kids and dogs, made from ground up tires. This time we used 1/4". It comes in a 4ft wide roll, so you have to section it somewhere.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man

1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Samaleshi
Samba Member


Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
Samaleshi is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:25 am    Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab Reply with quote

So my low oil pressure light started flashing the day after our maiden voyage, which expedited my Subaru swap plans. I've done it once before with a Smallcar kit, going to try to make it my own this time. I'm going to try to minimize costs at all times. Any questions/comments/ideas are welcome.

Drug this poor guy home...50k on a completely rebuilt EJ25, trans is going out.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man

1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Samaleshi
Samba Member


Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
Samaleshi is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:29 am    Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab Reply with quote

A couple in process shots, super fun pulling and swapping engines in gravel, but the shade tree helps.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.



Shop situation has been upgraded from Harbor Freight to Made in China Shipping Container!

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man

1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Samaleshi
Samba Member


Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
Samaleshi is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jul 11, 2018 10:36 am    Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab Reply with quote

My main cost savings is by using a factory Subaru BRZ header. Here's a couple shots. This one cost $100, beautifully made, all OEM, comes with cat and both O2 bungs. Had to massage the oil pan, use a Smallcar cradle, and stack one extra set of flanges to clear the bellhousing.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Some friends were coming over with some barley sodas, so I made my next day self a note.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man

1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Samaleshi
Samba Member


Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
Samaleshi is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 6:07 pm    Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab Reply with quote

Van is all done and running great. I retrofitted to '06 Audi A4 rear discs and threw some GoWesty lift springs and XHD Bilsteins at it.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.




Getting ready to head to Colorado for a road trip. If anyone who saw this thread has any ideas for out of the way stops, please chime in. Not going to camp in the van most likely, so neat hotels and hot springs would be nice to know about.
_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man

1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Samaleshi
Samba Member


Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
Samaleshi is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Dec 09, 2018 11:57 am    Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab Reply with quote

Made it to Colorado Springs and back, with a quick side trip to Arches. Little over 2800 miles with no issues. Especially impressed with: Burley Motorsports coolant lines and throttle body reverser; GoWesty's XHD Bilsteins and Lift springs; T3Techniques HD front stabilizer bar; Yokohama's Geolandar A/T's.


Hwy 191 out of Rock Springs, Wyoming after an I80 closure
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Vernal, Utah
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Papa Joe's, home of rocket piss soda
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Trump Monument in Arches
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man

1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Samaleshi
Samba Member


Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
Samaleshi is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Dec 09, 2018 12:03 pm    Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab Reply with quote

Figured out the spare situation ...after the road trip. Sometimes my plans get behind.

Van is running 215/60-17 Yokohama's on Metris steelies. Really wanted to re-use the original spare location. Figured out that a 2009-17 VW Tiguan compact spare might work, and was almost exactly the same diameter.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


and it fits!(needs centerbore massaging though)
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man

1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Michael4104
Samba Member


Joined: February 09, 2014
Posts: 340
Location: Livermore, Ca
Michael4104 is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Dec 10, 2018 7:25 am    Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab Reply with quote

Did you try the compact spare to see if it fits? Do you know what the back spacing (ET) is?
_________________
1990 Wolfsburg Carat with new poptop.
1985 Westy now sporting a 1995 Jetta ABA 2.0L. Sold
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Samaleshi
Samba Member


Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
Samaleshi is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Dec 14, 2018 6:53 pm    Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab Reply with quote

Michael,
I have to bore the centerbore before I know how well it fits, guess I jumped the gun a bit. Don't know the backspacing off hand, I'll check it when I bore it.
_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man

1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Samaleshi
Samba Member


Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
Samaleshi is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jun 12, 2019 1:57 pm    Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab Reply with quote

Just wanted to let the internet know that Matt at AA Transaxle is a great person and did an excellent job on the trans. Go figure, adding a Subaru and an 80mph trip to Colorado and back sped up the demise of the original trans at around 160k. All back together and running great.
_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man

1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Samaleshi
Samba Member


Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
Samaleshi is offline 

PostPosted: Tue Dec 31, 2019 1:19 pm    Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab Reply with quote

Update on Tiguan compact spare, bored centerbore, it fits perfectly.
_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man

1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Samaleshi
Samba Member


Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
Samaleshi is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 1:28 pm    Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab Reply with quote

Switched to a CoastMountain High Top this summer...

Drove 5 hours with the hole in the roof duct-taped closed:
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


More ratchet strap-on action:
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Inaugural campout before we headed home thanks to a dispersed spot that the seller told us about:
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Decked out the inside with some foil backed insulation and hull liner:
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Added some windows:
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Somebody's happy:
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Successful trip to Olallie Lake before the big fire:
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.




And now the pop-top that started this whole deal is for sale:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2425218
_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man

1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Samaleshi
Samba Member


Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
Samaleshi is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Nov 09, 2020 5:11 pm    Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab Reply with quote

225/65-17 BFGoodrich A/T's on Metris 17" steelies work really well.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man

1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
erste
Samba Member


Joined: March 29, 2013
Posts: 1110
Location: San Francisco
erste is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Nov 09, 2020 7:07 pm    Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab Reply with quote

Those tires look really good.

The Metris wheels won't work with stock brakes on the front? Or it sounds like they'd need a spacer?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Instagram Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Samaleshi
Samba Member


Joined: April 25, 2014
Posts: 51
Location: PNW
Samaleshi is offline 

PostPosted: Mon Nov 09, 2020 9:04 pm    Post subject: Re: 1987 Westfauxlia Project - Kitchen Sink Rehab Reply with quote

erste wrote:
Those tires look really good.

The Metris wheels won't work with stock brakes on the front? Or it sounds like they'd need a spacer?


The added width of the MB rotor that I installed over the top of the original VW hub provided enough clearance to the upper control arm. If memory serves, about 6mm. I think 100% BFG's might be tight to the rear swingarm pinch weld too, these are about 50%. I was looking for one mockup tire and stumbled across 4.
_________________
Yeah, well, like, that’s just your opinion..., man

1987 Vanagon CoastMountain Hightop
1991 Jeep Comanche 4x4
1999 Jeep Cherokee 4x4
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Vanagon All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page: Previous  1, 2, 3, 4  Next
Page 3 of 4

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.