VW Transporter Day Van Conversion
Discussion
Finally got the roof lining in!.
Abandoned the fir tree clips in the end and screwed it in. The conversion from 2 piece to 1 piece being trickier than I anticipated.
Spots and LED backlighting work with switches accessible from the side and rear doors. The LEDs are not that visible in bright sunlight but on the whole I'm very pleased and it now looks much more finished inside.
Abandoned the fir tree clips in the end and screwed it in. The conversion from 2 piece to 1 piece being trickier than I anticipated.
Spots and LED backlighting work with switches accessible from the side and rear doors. The LEDs are not that visible in bright sunlight but on the whole I'm very pleased and it now looks much more finished inside.
hashtag said:
Is it comfy to drive?
Yes it's pretty good. Ride is fine although now slightly on the firm side as it's got 45 profile tyres on it. The elevated driving position is fun, you sit higher than something like a FFRR for example. It rolls a bit in the corners which can be tamed with H & R antiroll bars and poly bushes.
You can get captain chairs with 2 armrests which gives something to rest your left elbow on.
Now mine has been sound proofed and insulated NVH is comparable to a car. I had no dramas when driving it to the south of France.
Edited by ChocolateFrog on Monday 22 May 20:05
Bit more progress today. Finished off the Hook up side of the electrics so now I'm covered for pretty much anything.
The voltage meter seems to be reading low. It doesn't agree with my multimeter so will have to look into that.
12v TV installed.
A couple more pictures of the roof lining, the photos don't really do it justice.
Spots
LEDs
The voltage meter seems to be reading low. It doesn't agree with my multimeter so will have to look into that.
12v TV installed.
A couple more pictures of the roof lining, the photos don't really do it justice.
Spots
LEDs
The difference between 6 winters in the UK and a similar time spent in Lithuania.
Similarly, these clips hold things like undertrays and engine bay sound deadening on and they've seen better days.
I've had the ABS and traction light on since I refurbed the suspension. VCDS suggested NSF wheel sensor. Before I bought a new one at £50 I took it off and noticed one of the pins had flattened itself instead of inserting into the plug connector, once straightened the lights went out, happy days.
I've just dropped a few bits off at the Hydrodippers, they should be ready next week, might even get the cab headlining in today.
Similarly, these clips hold things like undertrays and engine bay sound deadening on and they've seen better days.
I've had the ABS and traction light on since I refurbed the suspension. VCDS suggested NSF wheel sensor. Before I bought a new one at £50 I took it off and noticed one of the pins had flattened itself instead of inserting into the plug connector, once straightened the lights went out, happy days.
I've just dropped a few bits off at the Hydrodippers, they should be ready next week, might even get the cab headlining in today.
k!
The van has been a bit neglected recently but picked up a couple of bits from the Hydrodippers. 2 weeks late and the lacquer looked like it had been sprayed outside using a rattle can. Didn't want to leave it with them any longer so agreed on half price.
I've wet sanded it and it looks a lot better. Smoothed in the key lock so no doubt the central locking will pack in tomorrow.
I've wet sanded it and it looks a lot better. Smoothed in the key lock so no doubt the central locking will pack in tomorrow.
The speakers in the van, all 2 of them, are not up to much. Before it was sound proofed and with the bulkhead removed it was barely worth turning the radio on.
It's never going to compete with the best HiFi set ups but I've gone for a bit (lot) more volume.
Old vs new
They come with custom collars as a direct replacement. I think they're as big as you can go without any modifications, and more than up to the job of blasting out Spotify.
The kit came with 4 sheets of sound deadening and I replaced the door card clips with new to stop it rattling.
The difference is night and day although they could do with an amp as I think they're a bit beefy for the head unit to cope with. Still very pleased with the result.
It's never going to compete with the best HiFi set ups but I've gone for a bit (lot) more volume.
Old vs new
They come with custom collars as a direct replacement. I think they're as big as you can go without any modifications, and more than up to the job of blasting out Spotify.
The kit came with 4 sheets of sound deadening and I replaced the door card clips with new to stop it rattling.
The difference is night and day although they could do with an amp as I think they're a bit beefy for the head unit to cope with. Still very pleased with the result.
Insert Coin said:
Marti01 said:
Hey ChocolateFrog,
I see you did a great job with your van. So maybe you can help me with this: Last year I bought a Ford van from a small electronics company which went insolvent. The idea behind the purchase was to convert it so that my family and I can transport our goods easily (we love to go mountainbiking, skiing, and so on) whenever we like to. The main problem was that we have been unconcerned about the load securing – in retrospect this was a big mistake. We thought that we can use the lashing straps: https://www.sortimo.com/products/load-securing/ which the company has been using before. But this didn’t work because they aren’t flexible.
Therefore I’d like to know if there is any post in this forum or somebody who can help me to secure my goods? Or do you have any ideas?
Looking forward to your reply.
Best wishes, Martina
Strange post, but I've got similar fitted to a few of my Transits at work,I see you did a great job with your van. So maybe you can help me with this: Last year I bought a Ford van from a small electronics company which went insolvent. The idea behind the purchase was to convert it so that my family and I can transport our goods easily (we love to go mountainbiking, skiing, and so on) whenever we like to. The main problem was that we have been unconcerned about the load securing – in retrospect this was a big mistake. We thought that we can use the lashing straps: https://www.sortimo.com/products/load-securing/ which the company has been using before. But this didn’t work because they aren’t flexible.
Therefore I’d like to know if there is any post in this forum or somebody who can help me to secure my goods? Or do you have any ideas?
Looking forward to your reply.
Best wishes, Martina
- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Track-Anchor-Rail-System-...
You could bolt them straight through the floor, where you need them. Be sure to check it won't foul anything underneath and use a piece of steel as a spreader plate so they won't pull through.
Long time since I've updated this. Took quite some finding actually.
The van has been generally great. It wasn't getting that much use until the hybrid battery in my Insight started playing up and since then it's become my main form of transport. It's just about to roll over 250000 miles. This was taken as pulled up this evening.
As far as problems go. The Android headunit stopped working after 11 months. The seller was not particularly helpful and was initially saying I'd have to wait for him to send it back to China. A little negotiation and about 6 weeks later I had a replacement, that's been fine since.
The Alternator packed up, maybe hastened by the extra load from the split charge and leisure batteries. Luckily I picked up a used spare locally for £25. I think the Ebay outfit cocked up as when I went to collect the one they presented was much cleaner than the slightly ropey one in the picture, it was also rated to 140 Amps, higher than the original. Fiddly to fit, some places suggest taking tbe front end off but not necessary although some bolts are by feel only.
The DPF light comes and goes now, sometimes along with the EML and the MPG drops significantly as it forces a regen. I've been putting off the job for a while as there never seems a right time to go crawling under the van, particularly in winter.
My windscreen cracked and was replaced, no big drama although I'm fairly sure it's an inferior screen to the one that was fitted.
And that's about it. I think the front wishbones are starting to have some play, they might need doing before the next MOT and it has some bits of bodywork that let it down. Undecided if I'll fix them and keep it or sell to make way for a more baby friendly vehicle next year.
The van has been generally great. It wasn't getting that much use until the hybrid battery in my Insight started playing up and since then it's become my main form of transport. It's just about to roll over 250000 miles. This was taken as pulled up this evening.
As far as problems go. The Android headunit stopped working after 11 months. The seller was not particularly helpful and was initially saying I'd have to wait for him to send it back to China. A little negotiation and about 6 weeks later I had a replacement, that's been fine since.
The Alternator packed up, maybe hastened by the extra load from the split charge and leisure batteries. Luckily I picked up a used spare locally for £25. I think the Ebay outfit cocked up as when I went to collect the one they presented was much cleaner than the slightly ropey one in the picture, it was also rated to 140 Amps, higher than the original. Fiddly to fit, some places suggest taking tbe front end off but not necessary although some bolts are by feel only.
The DPF light comes and goes now, sometimes along with the EML and the MPG drops significantly as it forces a regen. I've been putting off the job for a while as there never seems a right time to go crawling under the van, particularly in winter.
My windscreen cracked and was replaced, no big drama although I'm fairly sure it's an inferior screen to the one that was fitted.
And that's about it. I think the front wishbones are starting to have some play, they might need doing before the next MOT and it has some bits of bodywork that let it down. Undecided if I'll fix them and keep it or sell to make way for a more baby friendly vehicle next year.
Now the Insight has gone the van has become my daily transport, despite being significantly bigger than a FFRR it's not too bad at all. That said I did tag small signpost reversing in a carpark the other day, parking sensors wouldn't go amiss. Looking back I've actually used it more than I thought, 21000 miles and counting over 3 and a half years.
With a staycation to the Norfolk broads in mind today was service day. Oil seems to be getting cheaper, £40 for 10 litres of Fully Synthetic Shell oil in the right spec, all in less than £60 for what most places would class as a 'Full Service' and Porsche would charge £1500 for
Had some leftover cheaper oil so used it as a flushing oil was the right viscosity and FS so put it in before collecting the service items, will be interesting to see how quickly the new oil turns black.
Went round all the exposed metal bits with ACF50, particularly the fuel hardlines that have suffered corrosion quite badly, if you've got a newer van I'd get on top of it straight away.
I'd forgotten how much of a PITA the oil filter location is. Without this UJ and extension, along with a 32mm socket, it would be very difficult.
With values firming up, or in some cases going a bit mental I've considered selling but then what else fits a baby and all their stuff, a German shepherd and all his stuff along with me and the missus for a week? Not much.
With a staycation to the Norfolk broads in mind today was service day. Oil seems to be getting cheaper, £40 for 10 litres of Fully Synthetic Shell oil in the right spec, all in less than £60 for what most places would class as a 'Full Service' and Porsche would charge £1500 for
Had some leftover cheaper oil so used it as a flushing oil was the right viscosity and FS so put it in before collecting the service items, will be interesting to see how quickly the new oil turns black.
Went round all the exposed metal bits with ACF50, particularly the fuel hardlines that have suffered corrosion quite badly, if you've got a newer van I'd get on top of it straight away.
I'd forgotten how much of a PITA the oil filter location is. Without this UJ and extension, along with a 32mm socket, it would be very difficult.
With values firming up, or in some cases going a bit mental I've considered selling but then what else fits a baby and all their stuff, a German shepherd and all his stuff along with me and the missus for a week? Not much.
Kitchski said:
I've got one of the Chinese Android ones (made/marketed by/as Xtrons, I think) in our S-Max. Being Chinese didn't put me off, as a lot of good stuff comes out of there these days. My Honor phone has been great!
Not the head unit, though! Sound quality is cack (no better than the OEM Ford one); radio reception is poor; processor is very slow and clunky, and it was expensive (£280)...only positives are that it looks kinda OEM, and that it still works. We really NEED some of the bigger brands to pick this market up!
I think Kenwood do a decent one but you're talking a lot more money. Not the head unit, though! Sound quality is cack (no better than the OEM Ford one); radio reception is poor; processor is very slow and clunky, and it was expensive (£280)...only positives are that it looks kinda OEM, and that it still works. We really NEED some of the bigger brands to pick this market up!
Time to address one of the MOT advisories as I've noticed recently the steering has felt a little more vague and the edges of the front tyres have feathered a little.
It's a long time since I've gone to the hassle of pressing suspension bushes in and out but with quality replacement suspension arms costing 3 times the price of good quality bushes I thought it would be worth the effort, time will tell.
Options were basically Lemforder arms or Meyle HD bushes, went with the latter. I'd used them for the drop links and was impressed with the quality and they're still fine now.
Will get to it this weekend hopefully.
It's a long time since I've gone to the hassle of pressing suspension bushes in and out but with quality replacement suspension arms costing 3 times the price of good quality bushes I thought it would be worth the effort, time will tell.
Options were basically Lemforder arms or Meyle HD bushes, went with the latter. I'd used them for the drop links and was impressed with the quality and they're still fine now.
Will get to it this weekend hopefully.
Edited by ChocolateFrog on Thursday 10th December 16:21
Mariosbt said:
Saw this thread a while ago. Can’t be bothered to trawl back through it. Did the guy with the silver ‘day van’ get it finished? 
If "the guy" means me then it's finished to the point I want it.There's bits to do, but it's nearly 10 years old with 250000 miles there's always going to be bits to do.
That's tidy.
Ideally I wouldn't have got a Silver one but mine came up at the right time at a good price and atleast hides it's sins fairly well.
Got the wishbones off, surprisingly easy, about an hour from rolling the jack out of the garage to putting tools away.
Something tells me stage 2 won't be quite so easy.
It looks like the only bush that is worn is the rear one on each side.
Ideally I wouldn't have got a Silver one but mine came up at the right time at a good price and atleast hides it's sins fairly well.
Got the wishbones off, surprisingly easy, about an hour from rolling the jack out of the garage to putting tools away.
Something tells me stage 2 won't be quite so easy.
It looks like the only bush that is worn is the rear one on each side.
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