16

Westfalia / Re: Pop-Top Chop Advice needed

« on: March 22, 2017, 06:43:09 am »

3M Window weld

17

Westfalia / Re: Westfalia Weekender aux battery, upgrades, solar, etc thread.

« on: March 20, 2017, 12:34:21 pm »

Most of the vans that got Yetis in them were either MV to Weekender top conversion vans. So they didn't have factory house batteries or they got shortened front seat bases with swivels which takes away the room for the factory house battery.

The Yeti 400 is about 8.5" tall.

The just released Yeti Lithium 400 is about 5.75" tall. So it may fit more places. I'm about to get one for a van I'm building so I should be able to let you know soon

18

Interior! / Re: Small tips and tricks for the interior

« on: February 05, 2017, 07:18:32 pm »

The lights and the rear charge circuits are all interlinked.  I just drew power from that system to keep it on the house battery

19

Interior! / Re: Show us your stereo!

« on: January 13, 2017, 08:21:26 pm »

The solution is finally here!!! This unit just came out and is perfect for the Eurovan!!

I just installed this in a custom build van. (Not fully installed in the picture, just the test fit)

It's does NOT require cutting the dash bar!!!!

20

Westfalia / Re: Replacement Tent Options

« on: December 29, 2016, 03:09:53 pm »

I'm going to be replacing my tent canvas in the next couple of months. Mine has a couple of rips from wear and will not keep out the rain any more. The 3 window canvas sold here looks great!

Any thoughts about cotton vs. acrylic? Aside from the color choices, why would I choose one vs the other?

Does the canvas come with installation instructions? Any chance they could be posted/linked to here? I'm trying to figure out if this is a project I should take on myself, or if I need a professional. Where I live (Monterey Bay, CA), there aren't any shops within a couple of hours drive that would be able to do the install.

Omi

I prefer the cotton. From installing lots of these it seems like the more durable, and in the cold, warmer material.

As far as the install goes.

-Pop the top.

-Walk around back and you will see where the rubber seal bead comes together. Pull the end of it out. You might have to use the tip of a screw driver, dental pick, etc. Then just walk around the van pulling it all out of its track. Make sure to kinda look at it and see how it is seated in the rail so you know how to reinstall it.

-Using a #1 screwdriver bit. Unscrew all of the UPPER rail. You will see that the top fabric is simply pinched into the groove of the upper rail.

-The top is a giant "loop". Now that it is totally loose you need to simply loop it up and over the top to get it off. (like taking off a t-shirt, its not rocket surgery).

-Install the new fabric the same way you took the other off.

-Now, I would lower the top about 8" to give it some slack to install the new parts. On vans with gas struts I just use a motorcycle tie down from the handle to one of the seat bases. On tops with a "H-bar" I have a long piece of wood I use to prop it up from the floor.

-Start at the front of the top and reinstall all of the trim and screws. The rope sits in the channel and the screws go through it. Work your way around back.

-Now start to push the rubber seal into the bottom track, pinching the top into the track. 2 ribs of the 3 rib seal seat easily with your thumbs. Install 2-3 feet at a time and then come back and tap the 3rd rib in with a rubber mallet and a dull tip "____". I dulled a big screwdriver for this.


Thats basically it. Good luck.

21

Westfalia / Re: Pop-Top Chop Advice needed

« on: December 27, 2016, 08:26:30 pm »

Advice on the best cutting tool for the van?

Depends on where you are cutting

I use a sawzall, an airsaw, a cutoff wheel, a drill and two grinders to do all the top cuts.

22

Westfalia / Re: Will a 1993 Westphalia pop top fit on a 2003 short wheel base Eurovan?

« on: December 15, 2016, 04:03:03 pm »

Yes. It can be done.

I've done many of them.

2 of those were GLS vans. I would much prefer to start with an MV. LOTS of work to fully convert the GLS interior correctly.

23

Interior! / Re: All seats heated seats?

« on: December 15, 2016, 04:00:49 pm »

I've added heated seats to several vans. There were not factory elements in them to start with.

24

Show off your projects here! / Re: VW t4 converted

« on: November 09, 2016, 07:30:58 pm »

Looks great!

25

General Discussion / Re: Just for you, Cole - video 993-powered T1

« on: November 09, 2016, 07:28:50 pm »

I was just showing this to my wife a few days ago and telling her I wanted to build something similar. 

26

Share your adventures! / Re: Official random Van pictures! Post a picture of stay out!

« on: October 31, 2016, 08:31:48 am »

27

Exterior / Re: Eurovan emblem

« on: October 30, 2016, 07:56:41 am »

Marketing department is in charge of emblems. There is a two drink minimum.

28

Exterior / Re: Exterior Detailing Stuff

« on: October 29, 2016, 03:17:59 pm »

Sooooo.....maybe I went too far?

29

Tires and wheels! / Re: The ultimate tire and wheel guide thread!

« on: October 19, 2016, 12:49:34 pm »

Just mounted Yokohama 235/60s - this is rear clearance (wheel offset is 35 - early GoWesty lift kit).  Same tire size as before, but with tread at maximum this is a close shave!

There are a couple of issues here.

First, from my understanding GW doesn't really make a lift. They simply stack a second rubber spring isolator....and often only on one side in the EVC. Which is about 1/2" thick.

For a lift to actually allow for bigger tires it's more than just the clearance at the top of the fender. You need to lift it far enough to make the center diameter of the wheel NOT side below the tightest spot in the fender opening.

Secondly, et35 pushes the wheels outward about 15mm(ish....or more depending on which stock wheels your van came with). Moving the tires outward makes them conflict with the fenders more. The ideal is to have the tires sit more inside the fender. So when they travel upwards they move into the large inner opening of the fender and not into the lip like yours appear to do.

30

Interior! / Re: Rubber floor install

« on: October 17, 2016, 11:14:16 am »

glad to have that nasty stained 23 year old carpet out!

Makes a world of difference.