Date:         Mon, 14 May 2001 21:54:25 -0400
Reply-To:     Alain Pierre Hovasse <aphovasse@home.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alain Pierre Hovasse <aphovasse@home.com>
Subject:      Re: Happy Camper
Comments: To: Cotsford@aol.com
In-Reply-To:  <39.14a16d77.2830159c@aol.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hi

The a/c modification sounds intriguing: could we see a photo of it please?

Alain Pierre Hovasse
86 Westy
Toronto

on 5/13/01 12:51 PM, Steve Cotsford at Cotsford@aol.com wrote:

> 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