Date:         Sun, 3 Sep 2000 12:50:34 -0500
Reply-To:     "Roy O." <keepsake@PANGEA.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Roy O." <keepsake@PANGEA.CA>
Subject:      Westy Mods Correction
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"

I have a correction to the following posting which I made August 25, 2000. The
dimensions of the Rubatex tubing used in the A/C mod described below should be 1
1/8" ID X 3/8" Wall, which is about 2" OD overall. When inserted into the A/C
cabinet, it fits snugly enough to prevent air leakage but can be pushed around
(I used a yardstick) to the desired position within the cabinet. Rubatex keeps
it original shape even when exposed to extreme temperature changes.

Sorry for any confusion I may have caused.

Roy O.
'87 Westfalia GL
(till death do us part)

> > This summer I acted upon two ideas that originated in past postings. The
> results
> > were more than satisfactory!
> >
> > 1. Made a "pillow board" for the upper bunk. After using it for the first
> time
> > during a three week vacation this summer, I highly recommend this mod to
> tall
> > Westy owners who sleep in the upper bunk. You will no longer have to sleep
> in
> > the "Z" position to prevent your pillow from falling to the floor below!
> It was
> > simply a matter of cutting a 10" X 48" piece of three quarter inch plywood
> to
> > fill in the void between the pop-top roof struts and the expanded bunk.
> Using
> > quality auto upholstery fabric and 2" upholstery grade foam, I fabricated
> a
> > cushion of the same dimensions which I place on the board. Both the board
> and
> > the cushion store nicely in the upper bunk just aft of the bunk when it is
> > folded.
> >
> > 2. Made the A/C duct more efficient. This took all of fifteen minutes.
> Now, with
> > judicious adjusting of the A/C vents, the driver and front seat passenger
> > actually feel a comforting cool breeze in the front of the vehicle, even
> at the
> > lowest A/C blower speed setting. The theory behind this easy mod is to
> create a
> > more direct route for the cool air to follow on its way from the blower,
> through
> > the A/C cabinet and out into the van cabin. The A/C cabinet is much too
> large,
> > allowing for the air to bounce all around in this large cavity looking for
> a way
> > out. If you remove the A/C vents and peer inside, you'll see where A/C air
> can
> > even find its way into the closet! To make things more efficient, I
> removed the
> > A/C cabinet vents and inserted a length of 1 1/4" dia. Rubatex tubing into
> the
> > cabinet such that is ran from the rear of the cabinet, all the way to the
> front
> > where the vents are situated. I ran one length of tubing on either side of
> the
> > cabinet so that the two outermost vents were blocked. The diameter and
> density
> > of tubing make for a snug fit to keep it in position and to prevent air
> from
> > leaking where I don't want it to go. Rubatex is a brand name for dense
> foam
> > tubing used in the heating/air conditioning trade.
> >
> > Roy O.
> > '87 Westfalia GL
> > (till death do us part)
> >
>
>