Date:         Sat, 13 Sep 2003 09:04:57 -0700
Reply-To:     mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Anyone widened a VW van?
Comments: To: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I've thought about it pretty hard. Due to the fact that the front is
where a lot of the more tricky bits are I concluded that widening it
behind the front seats would be the way to go though a slight stretch
also would be best to accommodate the width transition area.  Dash,
windshield, heater box, radiator, grills, fuel tank area, etc. would be
left stock.  Widening is harder than stretching and stretching is plenty
of work as I found out. Given enough time and money most things are
possible. I don' think that 15-20cm would add enough for comfortable
seating 4-abreast. The stock 3 wide seating area allows for more than
50cm per person. I would look at 40cm or more wider and at least 20cm in
stretching as well. 3 donor bodies would make it easier with my approach
though it could be done with 2. No problem finding cheap rust free
junked donor Vanagons in SoCal but harder elsewhere perhaps.

Mark


Andrew Grebneff wrote:
>
> Just wondering if anyone has been known to widen a VW van. Plenty
> have been stretched and no few shortened, but it seems to me a useful
> and feasible custom trick would be to widen one.
> ......