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Topics - Cole

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1
Interior! / Dual Goal Zero Yetis under the back seat!!
« on: September 28, 2016, 06:38:25 pm »
These move with the rear bench.  ;)
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2
General Discussion / 3D Printed parts sharing and development!
« on: September 20, 2016, 01:17:17 pm »
A few years ago a similar topic popped up a another classic car forum.

The community came together to develop and share files for "No Longer Available" parts and cool modified parts.

I'd love to see something similar here for the VW T4.  I know that there must be some of you out there that love designing and making stuff. Let's put it to good use!



3
Show off your projects here! / "Snapdragon" by CaveVan
« on: July 17, 2016, 10:01:31 am »
The latest van has come along far enough to post some pictures.


Here is what we started with. A well loved 2003 Eurovan Westfalia.

Lots of little dings, torn and patched top, poorly installed roof rack but otherwise a solid platform to reform.











4
CaveVan Stuff / New-CaveVan Premium flooring.
« on: May 10, 2016, 05:37:44 pm »
I'm going to be using some premium flooring in my custom vans and am considering offering this flooring as an option for the DIYer too.

This stuff is about the same thickness as the current vinyl flooring but offers more color choices and other benefits for a long wearing floor with great traction.

I'm also considering making this one continuous sheet instead of the two pieces that I currently do. That way there is no seam under the seat.

The grey fleck is a much closer match to the Eurovan grey interior and is a lighter color for those that want it cooler in the direct sun.  There is a blue, green and white that would look very cool in some of the custom vans. Those may come at a slight premium to the premium. (also some bright yellow, and maroon that will look great in some vans)

This stuff is quite a bit more expensive to deal with for me but should be a nice premium upgrade for those that want the best stuff. Price would be about $450 for the grey fleck and $500 for the special order colors. Cut out for your van of course.

These pictures are taken on the original standard flooring that is in my own Eurovan. Its the original test piece so had lots of miles of abuse on it. But is there so you can see the difference.



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Here you can see the difference in backing between the standard and the premium flooring. (this standard piece has been hauling engines in the back of my Sprinter so its pretty dirty)





6
Show off your projects here! / Latest CaveVan build "Shades of Grey"
« on: April 05, 2016, 04:49:47 pm »
Figured I would share my latest Eurovan creation.

Here is the cliff notes "after" picture. This van started life as a tiptop :shock:



It's now a full Weekender Poptop. But unlike the factory poptop vans is now has rear AC and the Climatronic digital dual zone climate control.




The poptop and the bottom of the van are bed lined in charcoal grey to compliment the silver van.

The bedliner on the top will protect it against scratches from loading gear on top and from the top hitting trees when out camping.

The bed liner on the bottom will help prevent rust and the door steps and rear bumper will add traction and paint protection.

The interior door handles are also bedlined in the same grey. This makes them match the exterior and also gives a durable door handle while eliminating the annoying "soft touch". I've done these on several vans now and love it!

These all match the exterior bed liner.




The seat bases were cut down 1" to accommodate the swivel. Then painted in charcoal grey outside and bright red inside, carpeted and reflective red shock cord added for extra storage. The charcoal grey paint on the seat bases was also used on the rear bed supports, the H-bar, the entire poptop frame and bed board frames.

I also installed a euro dash cubby and a new Blaupunkt stereo.





CaveVan vinyl flooring, custom hard wood table and upper bed boards/celing,



Upper grey bed board, charcoal frame, red button :wink:



Of course I also added the titanium and deluxe grey Fiamma awning, the red brakes. It has a H&R Cup kit on it but that is being replaced with proper Westfalia springs and a 1.5" CaveVan lift.

This is about the closest I have to a "before" picture. Except I'd already bed lined the lower part of the body here.




8
T1N vans 2002-2006 / Sprinter Lift kit!!
« on: April 03, 2016, 08:42:44 am »
I've been dreaming of doing a lift and ultimately a 4x4 conversion on my Sprinter from day one. There just weren't the right parts available and I haven't been ambitious enough to put together buy own kit.

Many of you may remember the original quest to run bigger tires on my Sprinter In this link here

The cliff note version is this quote from myself below.  Notice how much bigger the tires I have now are compared to the ones I started with on the 3500.

After running this set up now for about 30K miles I've been very happy with it! I don't have rub issues except on the sway bar I added in the front at full lock. BUT...........the fit is VERY TIGHT! I would like to have more room in there and a more aggressive look.


Quote from: Cole;277885
Figured someone had to step outside the box here and "go big or go home":lol:

Full disclaimer, these don't fit......yet:tongue: They rub the rear edge of the front and wreak fenders but there looks to be plenty of space for my to play with my cut off wheel:crazy: I knew this was going to be the case.....but bought the van to have fun with so here goes!!!!:thumbup:

Just didn't have time to start the fab work today.

235/85/16s





We test fit them and there was about an inch between the duals!




https://vancompass.com Just introduced a new "lift kit" and skid plates for the Sprinter!!:thumbs: 

I live in the Colorado rockies and have ventured to some crazy places in my Sprinter as it is. So I'm excited to get a little more room under it.

At this very moment VanCompass is only making the from 2" lift for my 3500. We have been working together to get a rear kit done too:thumb:(They just didn't have a 3500 to work with) They are also working on kits for the newer Sprinters so I figured this might be a good place to have a general discussion about lifts on the Sprinters in general.

VanCompass did such a detailed set of install instructions and a video on their site HERE That I figured a detailed "install" thread wasn't really necessary:lol:But I will include a few pictures and details of my own experience doing it.


I just started installing the front and I'm excited to see how it works out.

Here is the required "before" side shot of my front wheel fitment. The inner fenders have been *slightly* trimmed. I know this looks like it must rub, but it doesn't even in the deepest snow.




Here is what comes in the front kit. There are two spacers for the front sub frame. Two engine mount spacers to keep the engine in the right spot and two spacers for the upper part of the struts. (and bolts).




Of course there was no way the neon green was going to look right on my burgundy Sprinter. So I had them Powder coated to a better color! I honestly would have been fine with grey or black but as long as I was having them done doing a color that was a bit more fun was in order. :laughing:






I'm doing this on the floor of my shop space with pretty basic tools. Having 2 jacks will make life much easier.




You have to pull the control arms off to reach the sub frame bolts. But it only took us about 2 hours to get to this point of having the subframe spacers installed.




I stopped here for the moment to wait for parts.  My van drove great but one of my front struts was totally dead:dunno:  I decided to do all the brakes, struts and tie-rods while I had the van this far apart. It needed those parts anyway. :thumb:

9
Interior! / Small tips and tricks for the interior
« on: March 03, 2016, 03:27:53 pm »
Figured this would be a great place to share all those little ideas people do that don't really fit anywhere else.


Here is one to start off with.

Its pretty easy to add rear 12v outlets that run off the house battery. This is especially important to the 1993 vans that did not come with the three 12v outlets in the back that the 1999-2003 vans did.


Here is an example of a 12v outlet off the house battery that replaces the rear ash tray. This puts it right next to the table and receded for safety. Also puts it above the bed unlike the stock ones. Which is nice for charging a phone at night.

10
CaveVan Stuff / Heated Seat kits now on the store!!
« on: February 02, 2016, 11:02:16 am »
One of the best things I've added to the older Eurovans and vans that didn't come with heated seats.

Also makes a nice replacement if your heating elements have failed.

I've got these in my personal van :P


http://cavevan.myshopify.com/collections/eurovan/products/seat-heating-kits

11
I've been working with the manufacture to improve these tops over the last year. I've asked them to change several things to make these fit better and install easier.

We discovered that I've been installing more of these than any other individual so had more experience on how they should fit and install. I also sent them nearly every top I took off so that they could compare and improve their patterns.




http://cavevan.myshopify.com/products/replacement-tent-fabric-for-westfalia-weekender?variant=15793717571

12
Exterior / Techno Blue Bedliner
« on: January 19, 2016, 08:48:30 pm »
I finally got around to doing a little work on Blu.O today.

Color matched some bedliner to the Techno Blue Metallic and did parts of the van.





13
CaveVan Stuff / Favorite forum templet?
« on: January 02, 2016, 08:36:54 am »
The forum is built on a "Simple Machines" forum.


After using it for awhile now I feel like the current templet is missing some usability features.


I'd like to make the forum better and easier to use.

Does anyone out there have a favorite SMF templet or add ons?

14
Need a few parts I don't currently have.

Need a shift lever and pedal set for a syncro TDI swap  :o

....and a set of snap in MV curtains for one of my friends that just picked up a van from me.

15
CaveVan Stuff / Fiamma Awnings now available.
« on: August 14, 2015, 11:48:43 am »
http://shop.cavevan.com/collections/eurovan/products/fiamma-f45-s-260-awning

We can also get any of the other Fiamma awnings and bike racks. I just haven't added them to the store yet.


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