Date: Sun, 13 May 2001 12:51:40 EDT
Reply-To: Cotsford@aol.com
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Steve Cotsford <Cotsford@aol.com>
Subject: Happy Camper
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Hi all you Vanagoneers,
I just wanted to share my new '84 Westy modifications with you.
1 Audiovox cruise control installed with help from the archives. $99.00
from Jean Claude Whitney
It works well up to about 75 mph which I probably all I will want to get from
it.
I had to set the switches for 5000 pps, not 4000 as per instructions for tach
signal only.
2 Rear view mirror mod . I cut the stem of the original mirror and
grafted in a 2 inch copper pipe extension. It works great. Now I
can see if the Crown Vic following me has flashing blue lights on the roof.
Before, the rear mounted A/C obscured all but tailgaters.
3 A/C ducting. I fitted the cab roof section of a '84 vanagon A/C
ducting to the board type roof liner in my Westy. This was tricky as it
did not want to fit well and threatened to crack. I reinforced it with
epoxy and glasscloth inside the ends and left it a little on the loose side
and now it works well.
I ran a duct from the rear unit straight into the centre rear facing ductwork
and made a baffle to close the gaps. I am amazed at how well it works!
Before, I would have to have the A/C on full blast and put up with a light
draught on my back as well as a jet like noise but now I can get an effective
frontal airstream with the fan in its lowest position.
The duct I use is made from 2 lengths of white vinyl guttering down pipe
which are 2 1/2 inches square. They are attached side by side and fit into
one of the two bigger diffuser outlets of the rear unit and run straight into
the front roof unit.
I can remove them in seconds when I want to put the roof up and I can easily
pop the diffuser back into the hole in the rear unit.
I must say it is not particularly pretty and if anyone has done a nice
professional looking duct, I would love to see pictures.
I cant knock how well it works though, especially as I have fixed the leaking
flaps in the dash heater unit.
I have come close to getting rid of this bus because of the lousy A/C but now
I think I will keep it and plan to head west in a few weeks.
Maybe I will run into some other list members. What does the list member
bumper sticker look like?
Steve Cotsford
'84 Wolfsburg Westy 69k
Columbia SC