VW Transporter Day Van Conversion

VW Transporter Day Van Conversion

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ChocolateFrog

Original Poster:

24,850 posts

172 months

Friday 14th April 2017
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Stopped off at the old grandstand in Reims, very nostalgic and we'll worth the small detour.

As I was leaving a convoy of 2 488's and atleast 3 California's pulled up, along with an E36 which may not have been part of the same group. All UK registered so maybe on here. No pics unfortunately.


ChocolateFrog

Original Poster:

24,850 posts

172 months

Saturday 15th April 2017
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Well that's me back having covered more than 2500 miles in less than a week, one of the reasons I tend to prefer high mileage vehicles.

Only other slight issue after the drop links was it stalled a couple of times pulling up at junctions. Will have to check that out but otherwise it ran perfect. Didn't work out the fuel economy but it was getting through around 100 euros per day (500-600 miles) at around 30ish mpg. I'll get a more accurate reading from this last tank, when I fill up.

AyBee

10,522 posts

201 months

Tuesday 18th April 2017
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ChocolateFrog said:
Well that's me back having covered more than 2500 miles in less than a week, one of the reasons I tend to prefer high mileage vehicles.

Only other slight issue after the drop links was it stalled a couple of times pulling up at junctions. Will have to check that out but otherwise it ran perfect. Didn't work out the fuel economy but it was getting through around 100 euros per day (500-600 miles) at around 30ish mpg. I'll get a more accurate reading from this last tank, when I fill up.
Loving the thread! Was your high mileage buy just an eBay find? These vans still seem to fetch incredible money even with high miles!!

ChocolateFrog

Original Poster:

24,850 posts

172 months

Tuesday 18th April 2017
quotequote all
AyBee said:
ChocolateFrog said:
Well that's me back having covered more than 2500 miles in less than a week, one of the reasons I tend to prefer high mileage vehicles.

Only other slight issue after the drop links was it stalled a couple of times pulling up at junctions. Will have to check that out but otherwise it ran perfect. Didn't work out the fuel economy but it was getting through around 100 euros per day (500-600 miles) at around 30ish mpg. I'll get a more accurate reading from this last tank, when I fill up.
Loving the thread! Was your high mileage buy just an eBay find? These vans still seem to fetch incredible money even with high miles!!
Found on ebay yes. There's lots of scams though, much more than any other marque I've followed.

Unlike a lot of my previous purchases I did go down and check it out before the end of the auction, even got to run it round the block. The guy was a small time trader and I didn't get any bad vibes so we did a deal there and then.

The difference in a 100k one and a 200k one seems to be a minimum of 4k with the majority of lower/average miles being double what I paid which would cover parts cost for a few years.

Going to continue with a few jobs soon, I now want a full width rock and roll bed. The best seem to Rib Altair 150 cm but trimmed in leather you're not getting much change from 3k, ouch.

ChocolateFrog

Original Poster:

24,850 posts

172 months

Sunday 23rd April 2017
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Conscious not to bolt on or stick too much tat onto the van, which seems easily doable I've tried not to go overboard on the exterior.

Having said that I picked up a gloss black grille which I think enhances the front and the cost to change wasn't much.


e21Mark

16,205 posts

172 months

Sunday 23rd April 2017
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Nice job! Am looking forward to getting the Mrs' T5 done later this year. I've already got some better alloys and had the 1.9TD re mapped etc. When she bought it, she struggled to get up hills and it turned out to be making just shy of 75bhp! A bit of fettling and the best run was now 150bhp! It no longer struggles with hills! smile Hers is a nice spec' with rear seats and dual sliding doors too! The rear tailgate is dog friendly and the Labs' love it.

Have you had any corrosion problems with wiring?


Morningside

24,110 posts

228 months

Monday 24th April 2017
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ChocolateFrog said:
Ended up getting back fairly late yesterday so not much progress.

Did manage to change the horrid plastic wheel for a much nicer offering from a mk 7 Golf.

Those steering wheels do feel more chunky don't they.

Otispunkmeyer

12,556 posts

154 months

Monday 24th April 2017
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e21Mark said:
Nice job! Am looking forward to getting the Mrs' T5 done later this year. I've already got some better alloys and had the 1.9TD re mapped etc. When she bought it, she struggled to get up hills and it turned out to be making just shy of 75bhp! A bit of fettling and the best run was now 150bhp! It no longer struggles with hills! smile Hers is a nice spec' with rear seats and dual sliding doors too! The rear tailgate is dog friendly and the Labs' love it.

Have you had any corrosion problems with wiring?

is that St Agnes?

arguti

1,772 posts

185 months

Monday 24th April 2017
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ChocolateFrog said:
Found on ebay yes. There's lots of scams though, much more than any other marque I've followed.

Unlike a lot of my previous purchases I did go down and check it out before the end of the auction, even got to run it round the block. The guy was a small time trader and I didn't get any bad vibes so we did a deal there and then.
We own a Caravelle and was interested in your comments above....interested in what sort of scams ....are you referring to clocking or other?

ChocolateFrog

Original Poster:

24,850 posts

172 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
arguti said:
ChocolateFrog said:
Found on ebay yes. There's lots of scams though, much more than any other marque I've followed.

Unlike a lot of my previous purchases I did go down and check it out before the end of the auction, even got to run it round the block. The guy was a small time trader and I didn't get any bad vibes so we did a deal there and then.
We own a Caravelle and was interested in your comments above....interested in what sort of scams ....are you referring to clocking or other?
The main ones seem to be new accounts or hacked accounts with offers that are too good to be true. Low mileages Sport line spec at half its value. They try and get a deposit out of you through PayPal which they say is protected but of course they withdraw it straight away so it's gone.

The worst ones and a few I emailed are the ones that are almost believable, just a couple of thousand underpriced for a quick sale but they quickly unravel when you ask to view.

ChocolateFrog

Original Poster:

24,850 posts

172 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
e21Mark said:
Nice job! Am looking forward to getting the Mrs' T5 done later this year. I've already got some better alloys and had the 1.9TD re mapped etc. When she bought it, she struggled to get up hills and it turned out to be making just shy of 75bhp! A bit of fettling and the best run was now 150bhp! It no longer struggles with hills! smile Hers is a nice spec' with rear seats and dual sliding doors too! The rear tailgate is dog friendly and the Labs' love it.

Have you had any corrosion problems with wiring?

The wiring has been fine so far.

Mines had it in the usual places, where the doors drop and catch the frame and/or front wing along with the bits detailed earlier in the thread.

There's one more bit I need to sort where the lower sliding door runner has dried up of grease and cracked the paint, otherwise it's not doing too bad.

ChocolateFrog

Original Poster:

24,850 posts

172 months

Monday 24th April 2017
quotequote all
From this, plastic knob and cheap vinyl gaiter



To this, milled alloy gear knob and genuine leather gaiter with silver stitching.


ChocolateFrog

Original Poster:

24,850 posts

172 months

Monday 24th April 2017
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And another quick one. The rear bumper is easily scratched when climbing in and out. Picked up a plastic bumper protector which looks pretty good.


e21Mark

16,205 posts

172 months

Monday 24th April 2017
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Otispunkmeyer said:
e21Mark said:
Nice job! Am looking forward to getting the Mrs' T5 done later this year. I've already got some better alloys and had the 1.9TD re mapped etc. When she bought it, she struggled to get up hills and it turned out to be making just shy of 75bhp! A bit of fettling and the best run was now 150bhp! It no longer struggles with hills! smile Hers is a nice spec' with rear seats and dual sliding doors too! The rear tailgate is dog friendly and the Labs' love it.

Have you had any corrosion problems with wiring?

is that St Agnes?
It is. wink

ChocolateFrog

Original Poster:

24,850 posts

172 months

Thursday 27th April 2017
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A little job done today. I'd noticed a while ago that a couple of the undertrays were cracked. It seems relatively common I've seen a few posts on the T5 forum about them. It wasn't until I got new ones that I realised how much I was missing.

The new ones have been redesigned slightly so hopefully they'll last a bit longer.

Nearside was particularly bad



Offside could probably have got away with plastic welding but hey ho.


ChocolateFrog

Original Poster:

24,850 posts

172 months

Friday 28th April 2017
quotequote all
We have power.

Apologies again for the quality of the photos, a new phone is inbound.

Installed a 1600W pure sine wave inverter and hooked it up to its own sockets, result is off grid AC, and it works.





And back in the van, with all my junk stowed away.




Sillyhatday

441 posts

98 months

Saturday 29th April 2017
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Sweet. Cant beat mobile mains power. Neatly done too, like everything else so far smile

You running off the engine battery? Potential to pull some hefty current those things. Being such a big one, I'd imagine it's quiescent current will be quite high in relative terms. Charging phones and such would be more efficient being done from 12v directly. Unless you need the power for something hefty yes

Just would worry myself about flattening the battery overnight. Unless you have split charge, I can't remember without reading back.

ChocolateFrog

Original Poster:

24,850 posts

172 months

Sunday 30th April 2017
quotequote all
Sillyhatday said:
Sweet. Cant beat mobile mains power. Neatly done too, like everything else so far smile

You running off the engine battery? Potential to pull some hefty current those things. Being such a big one, I'd imagine it's quiescent current will be quite high in relative terms. Charging phones and such would be more efficient being done from 12v directly. Unless you need the power for something hefty yes

Just would worry myself about flattening the battery overnight. Unless you have split charge, I can't remember without reading back.
I've got a couple of leisure batteries under the drivers seat so no worries about draining the starter battery.

I'll use the 12v electrics where I can but wanted the option to have mains power even if it's low power.

Sillyhatday

441 posts

98 months

Sunday 30th April 2017
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I see, no worries. Can't beat extra batteries.

ChocolateFrog

Original Poster:

24,850 posts

172 months

Wednesday 3rd May 2017
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Today was a good day.

Firstly this happened.



It's quite a big thing in T5 circles to cracking 700 miles to a tank. Considering the bigger, heavier wheels, the weight I've added and the fact I wasn't trying particularly hard I was pretty pleased. Wonder how much fuel went into the DPF.

Secondly I've upgraded the shoddy standard head unit to an Android double din unit.

It's great, one of the best mods I've done. It's got DAB, Bluetooth and I can tether my phone to it and watch TV, listen to Spotify etc.