Caddy Van VR5 Conversion
Discussion
shalmaneser said:
I'd be a bit nervous about filling out the centre of those wheels. It looks like that's how they locate on the hub and if the hole isn't completely concentric with the rim you'll get appalling vibrations... Can you not get some spacers with appropriate features on them to keep everything concentric?
The engine mount sounds like a pain the the arse, is a fabricated one completely necessary?
I thought the same about the wheels but after doing lots of research it turns out it's a pretty popular way of opening the bore up and doesn't cause and issues with balancing and vibrations. The engine mount sounds like a pain the the arse, is a fabricated one completely necessary?
The rear gearbox mount bolts straight on. The front engine/gearbox mount needs cutting and shutting to fit and the drivers side mount needs completely fabricating as nothing from the VW parts bin will fit the engine and van together.
Soooooo, I don't really have much of an update to give 
I still can't find anyone to make the engine mounts for me and being unable to weld means I can't make them myself. I've spoken to a few people about them but nobody can give me even a rough idea of cost and have shown no real interest in making them.
I did have a parcel arrive the other day though from Germany. It's a pair of Koni rear shocks for once the beam is flipped
I still can't find anyone to make the engine mounts for me and being unable to weld means I can't make them myself. I've spoken to a few people about them but nobody can give me even a rough idea of cost and have shown no real interest in making them.
I did have a parcel arrive the other day though from Germany. It's a pair of Koni rear shocks for once the beam is flipped
Still haven't done any welding and still don't have any engine mounts, however I do now have a low entry trolley jack I've wanted one for ages but always had more important things to spend the money on. Anyway, I decided it was to splash out on one. I wasn't sure what size to go for and it's quite difficult to gauge an idea of size online. So to be safe I went for the 3 tonne version. Well, it's pretty big haha. The delivery guy nearly gave himself a hernia carrying/dragging it down the path.
Once I was set up I tested it out straight away and got the engine back off the steady bar so I could try and do a bit of measuring up for mounts.
I've wanted one for ages but always had more important things to spend the money on. Anyway, I decided it was to splash out on one. I wasn't sure what size to go for and it's quite difficult to gauge an idea of size online. So to be safe I went for the 3 tonne version. Well, it's pretty big haha. The delivery guy nearly gave himself a hernia carrying/dragging it down the path. Once I was set up I tested it out straight away and got the engine back off the steady bar so I could try and do a bit of measuring up for mounts.
996Keef said:
OP, if you can make what you need out of cardboard, and post them to me , I can knock them up in steel as long as they're not too complex
A very kind offer. Thank you. The main issue with working on the floor is trying to gain access to the back of the engine while keep it in the correct position to do a bit of chopping with the cardboard.
Sammo123 said:
A very kind offer. Thank you.
The main issue with working on the floor is trying to gain access to the back of the engine while keep it in the correct position to do a bit of chopping with the cardboard.
Had you though about this type of engine support beam?The main issue with working on the floor is trying to gain access to the back of the engine while keep it in the correct position to do a bit of chopping with the cardboard.
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/laser-4842-engine-...
Can probably be rented if you didn't want to buy. I imagine an ebay job wouldn't be expensive. Combine with a few wooden offcuts and should support the engine nicely while you work around mounts.
Mr Tidy said:
Has anything happened in the last month?
I was enjoying this thread.
Absolutely nothing has happened in the last month, however, the van is booked in somewhere in 3 weeks time to go and have the engine mount made I was enjoying this thread.
Once that’s done I’ll be getting back on with it. I promise!Dr G said:
Had you though about this type of engine support beam?
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/laser-4842-engine-...
Can probably be rented if you didn't want to buy. I imagine an ebay job wouldn't be expensive. Combine with a few wooden offcuts and should support the engine nicely while you work around mounts.
I’ve actually got one of these already. Annoyingly because there’s no space for the original drivers side mount to be left on the engine there’s no way of propping it up with bits of wood. My choices are to either have the engine support fitted and right in the way of everything else or the trolley jack under the engine and right in the way of everything else!https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/laser-4842-engine-...
Can probably be rented if you didn't want to buy. I imagine an ebay job wouldn't be expensive. Combine with a few wooden offcuts and should support the engine nicely while you work around mounts.
I’ve got a very small update
I will admit that recently I have completely lost interest in the van. I couldn’t find anyone to make the engine mounts for me without me having to try and mock something up (which I haven’t had time to do) and the list of things that needed doing were just never ending! Thankfully I have found a company pretty local to me that have agreed to take the van and make me some engine mounts It’s going over there in a couple of weeks time to have that all sorted and then hopefully it’ll spur me on to get the rest of the list sorted a bit quicker
Seeing as the van is going to have to move it means it’s going to need a steering wheel! Today seemed like a good day to do interior stuff so when my daughter fell asleep watching Harry Potter earlier (I was enjoying it and had to pause it!) I nipped outside in the pouring rain to try and tidy the interior up slightly!
This is how it was left last time I worked on the dash
Then I lost interest! Today I managed to get the dash centre panel fitted, although it’s pretty knackered so I’m on the look out for another one. I got the Polo centre console fitted and got the steering wheel in place at least.
I will admit that recently I have completely lost interest in the van. I couldn’t find anyone to make the engine mounts for me without me having to try and mock something up (which I haven’t had time to do) and the list of things that needed doing were just never ending! Thankfully I have found a company pretty local to me that have agreed to take the van and make me some engine mounts
It’s going over there in a couple of weeks time to have that all sorted and then hopefully it’ll spur me on to get the rest of the list sorted a bit quicker Seeing as the van is going to have to move it means it’s going to need a steering wheel! Today seemed like a good day to do interior stuff so when my daughter fell asleep watching Harry Potter earlier (I was enjoying it and had to pause it!) I nipped outside in the pouring rain to try and tidy the interior up slightly!
This is how it was left last time I worked on the dash
Then I lost interest! Today I managed to get the dash centre panel fitted, although it’s pretty knackered so I’m on the look out for another one. I got the Polo centre console fitted and got the steering wheel in place at least.
Projects such as this one, always go through that "why am I doing this" thought pattern.
It seams the engine mounts are the lynchpin of the equation.
I hope once they are done it gives you the motivation to get this running\driving.
That will be another big stepping stone in the project.
All the best with it.
It seams the engine mounts are the lynchpin of the equation.
I hope once they are done it gives you the motivation to get this running\driving.
That will be another big stepping stone in the project.
All the best with it.
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