I admire what your doing at such a young age. My van was brand new when i was your age, and i didn't have to do anything but drive it and camp in it. 40 years later, Im still driving it almost daily, and still doing all the rust repair you are looking at and so much more. Its out love and passion that keeps us doing the work on these old vans. Your videos are so well done, and your content is right on. Im surprised you dont have thousands of subscribers to your chanel. Your so much better than most!
I’ve seen a few campers that otherwise seem rust free to have some major rust surprises under the kitchen cabinets. My camper was a mouse hotel - home was behind both rear speakers and their toilet was a massive mouse outhouse above the front headliner. Fun! GL
Yup, won’t be the most fun job, but I'll be able to do it. Just have to prepare mentally for more cutting, welding, and grinding.
4 года назад
I started this same project recently and the same screw on the bench seat is stripped out. I went to Ace Hardware to get a bit only to find a long line of people waiting to get in since only 10 are allowed in the store at once. Most people were wearing masks. The corona virus has made this project evening longer. I gave up on that for now but will return to it some day. Thanks for these videos.
The virus is definitely taking a toll on a lot of projects. It's taken me forever to even receive spark plugs in the mail. Those screws are always such a pain. I think it's because they protrude under the car and get rusty on the bottom threads.
4 года назад
@Gotta Split I hear you. It's uncanny how your vehicle's condition is similar to mine. I have the same rust hole in about the same place and a rodent (or several) made his home in the insulation. I will be proceeding at a snail's pace! Stay well.
4 года назад
Just a quick update: I thought I was about to have success removing the screw when it snapped the head off taking about a quarter of the screw with it. Then I tried drilling out again and the bit I got from Amazon broke off into the hole! Fun! So, now I'm going to visit the guy at the machine shop to hopefully help out. Everything else is going ok though...it's amazing how something so small can be so frustrating.
@Old Gadfly Oh man! That really sucks to have happen. Taking it to a machine shop is probably the best idea. Once a bit gets broken in there, it's almost impossible to drill through since its hardened steel. Hope they can get it out without more trouble. It's some how always the little things that get in the way the most.
4 года назад
@Gotta Split I know! I couldn't believe it! It's just the way it goes with the old van!
Under the car there is a metal blocker with foam around the pipes. I unscrewed that and disconnected the lines from the stove, fridge and from their connections at the regulator. Then just pulled the lines out. You don't really need to remove that metal part through the floor if you don’t plan on removing the fridge line like I did. Just be really careful not to bend the lines since they can't be taken off the van without removing that metal plate. Once you have the cabinets out, I suggest you pull the lines back up and tape them so they don't slide down and rest on the floor. If you move the van around they will bend if they are dragging on the ground. Learned that the hard way...
@@gottasplit5707 thank you for the detailed explanation. I’m at this point now. I’m debating removing the pipes or dropping them like you said. I feel like removing them might be best so I can keep them out of the way while the interior rust is being worked on.
if I remember correctly correctly, there is a single screw on the rear bottom corner that is a bit difficult to get to. After removing that you either slide the arm rest forward or backwards, I can't remember which way though.
Removed the headbanger first to get the AC unit out, then wardrobe cabinet and rear seat, the water tank was already loose ?? - undid the drain hose, removed propane tank, sink drain, two copper gas lines..sink was last to come out...time to tackle the rust
Any chance you could provide the details on how you removed the stove/sink cabinet? I can SEE that you are doing it but have no clue where the bolts are or what your disconnecting so I could replicate your process. Thank you!
I just followed all of the instructions in the Bentley Manual. I honestly can't remember the specific steps at the moment, but I'm sure there's a PDF of the manual online if anything. Those instructions go step by step through the removal process.
Came across your video while looking for one on how to reassemble my Vanagon interior. My 1986 had the same rust and rodent issues. Unlike you, I don’t weld. I removed all of the insulation (filled with dead mice and their poop). I treated the rust with a special paint that dries hard like enamel. The holes were patched with fiberglass cloth and the special paint. The exterior was smoothed over with body filler, and then covered with Raptor bed liner. I didn’t replace the insulation. I applied sound dampening material to the panels. I also got rid of the fridge and the propane tank. I use my VW for weekend camping. I’m trying to preserve it, not restore it. I also replaced all of the gaskets, sealed factory holes, etc., to keep the water out. Thanks for the video.
Glad you enjoyed the video! It seems like a lot of vans have the same issues with that area rusting. It was a good idea to use raptor liner. I wish I had done the same. I’ve heard it cuts down on road noise a lot. Safe travels!
Yup. Biggest issue with mine was that the plastic side ports and the fridge vent on the side were all leaking pretty badly also. Glad to have that all repaired now.
After taking everything out, I realized there were better ways of doing it. I just did it the way the manual said to. The last thing I needed was to break something. Needed to be cleaned under there anyway.
Yup. I was thinking about using one of those before I completely closed off the vent, but I'm not sure it would have stayed on while driving to keep rain out.
