Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2011 13:52:37 -0400
Reply-To: pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: 85-86 westy seat rails in an 83?
In-Reply-To: <4e19e496.85c0e60a.64a7.ffffd0b5@mx.google.com>
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great, thanks for the clarification!
On Sun, Jul 10, 2011 at 1:42 PM, David Beierl <dbeierl@attglobal.net> wrote:
> At 12:08 PM 7/10/2011, pickle vanagon wrote:
>
>> I was wondering if someone could comment on installing these in an 83? I
>> know that some later westys had some kind of tracks for these, which I'm
>> assuming an '83 doesn't have...
>>
>
> They *are* the tracks. All Vanagons have threaded holes to mount them, but
> Westys have a plywood floor over the holes. The Westy tracks are
> shortened because of the furniture, and come with covers that fill the gap
> in the plywood when the tracks aren't in use.
>
> The installed tracks are a bit below flush with the edges of the plywood.
> I found that with a rug over the floor (which I always used anyway) they
> weren't obtrusive to walk on.
>
> I cut the installed rug ('84 Westy) with slits so that it could roll back
> down around the base of an installed 2-person seat.
>
> I think I must have made the main plywood cuts with a Skil saw carefully
> set for depth. I probably used a Dremel tool with a router base to round
> off the edges of the cut, because I have such a tool and it's easy; but a
> sanding block would do as well. I can't remember the details of finishing
> off the inside end, toward the cabinet; but I think it's likely that I
> stopped the rails short enough that the saw could reach, or nearly reach,
> and maybe worked with a saber saw to make plunging cuts if necessary beyond
> that. I did not remove any furniture. I was starting with passenger-van
> rails which had to be shortened, so I'm sure I chose the shortening point
> based on reaching as many fasteners as possible without getting involved in
> the furniture.
>
> I have a metal-cutting bandsaw; I might have used that to cut segments from
> the steel edging strip. Otherwise I may have used a Dremel with a cutoff
> wheel since I tend to use that for sheet metal rather than a hacksaw. An
> angle grinder with cutoff wheel would be faster. I remember that I left
> extra length on the parts of the strip that would be reinstalled, so that
> the ends could fold over to make a pocket. I probably silver-brazed them
> since I had the means to do so.
>
> Yours,
> David
>
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