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General => General discussion => Topic started by: tobz. on 06 April 2006, 09:50
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Hi Dinx
Here are those pics as promised, I thought I'd start another thread for em rather than hijack Nick's thread any further.
I thought I had some better pics of the finished interior but I hadn't, must remember to get some better ones this year when it's all bolted back in!
(http://www.yourimagehost.com/is.php?i=85594&img=Finished_interior.jpg)
This one shows my basic interior. The cooker is mounted on a unit behind the passenger seat, there is a cupboard below it which houses the gas, cooking equipment and water carriers. The top of the drawer unit hinges up and there is a sink/drainer fitted underneath. The bench seat folds down like a regular car seat and then the bed I built folds out over the top of it. My mum made me some curtains the same shape as the windows and these are simply put up using pop studs, there is also one that divides the van behind the cab area. There's also various lights/power points around the van which are supplied by a leisure battery under the rear seat.
(http://www.yourimagehost.com/is.php?i=85593&img=bed_frame.jpg)
This pic shows the framework I built to mount the bed on, it's raised above the deck so the beds clears the rear seat when it's folded down. This means there is a stack of storage space under the bed when it's fitted. The folded bed simply slides onto this framework so it can be removed in seconds if access to the engine area should be necessary.
(http://www.yourimagehost.com/is.php?i=85595&img=folded_bed_2.jpg)
This is the bed in its folded position. This was the first time I had tried fitting it to the van and at this stage I hadn't built the folding legs which hinge down to support the foot end when it's extended.
(http://www.yourimagehost.com/is.php?i=85596&img=unfolded_bed_2.jpg)
The bed in a mostly extended position, the middle bench seat was still in the van at this time so it was resting on that. Once it was finished it was all painted to match the other furniture. The bed was the thing that required the most thought and caused the most headaches to build. It was worth it in the end though as we now have a full size double bed in the van. It has an air mattress which can be blown up in about 15 seconds using the high flow pump in the van.
Sorry if I've bored you with all the waffling but after all the effort that went into such a simple interior I thought I might aswell explain. The joy of it is within an hour it can be converted from a camper to an 8 seat minibus to a very spacious 5 seat car to a stripped out van fo lugging stuff about.
You know it makes sense to get one Dinx :smiley:
Tobz
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That's ace dude, given me some ideas on how to do mine!
Nick
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How long did it take you to do all that chap?
Nick
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I really got stuck into the van in the middle of july last year, the goal was to have it finished by our holiday in the middle of august, I only just managed that!!! So a month of working every evening til it got dark and again sat/sun until it got dark (or the bbq got lit and beers came out).
The cooker unit and bed were built from scratch and took a lot of time, the kitchen sink unit was a converted chest of drawers which didn't take too long.
The floor was a bit of a pain as you can't buy a single sheet of ply large enough so it's made up four pieces sandwiched perpendicular to each other and glued, the afternoon spent in my kitchen with a litre of evo-stick was an absolute scream I must say :wink:
Another time consuming job was the wiring as it required the van to be completely stripped off all interior panelling.
The bed was a nightmare, it's not as simple as it looks. It hinges in two places to enable the full length to fit behind the rear seat. It also slides forward about 20cm in runners to allow the little rear piece to be unfolded.
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Hummm I need to build a bed at least by easter so we have somewhere to sleep, the rest I need done by the middle of July for our honeymoon. I think I've got m,y work cut out!
Nick
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You could cheat and just buy a full width rock & roll bed from just kampers Nick.
I was too tight to splash out on one and wanted to keep the proper rear bench seat in place.
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Can't afford one mate as I'm unemployed at the moment with a mortgage to pay!
Nick
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tobz..ur a fcukin star mate..u have convinced me even more now!! :cool: i think its deffo gonna happen like....
Dinx :kiss:
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Nice bus Tobz. :cool:
Bluebird customs also do a nice rock and roll bed frame which my mate has in his T25 full width double bed or a 3 seater bench with space underneath for a propex heater, leisure battery, and gas bottle two 10" subs mounted on the front in seperate boxes he's on his 5th van so getting good at fitting rock n roll beds didn't like the JK ones but might have been us..?
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Cheers Dinx & Monza
More pics to follow soon to convince you even further, today I'm expecting delivery of some wheel spacers and longer studs. By next weekend it should be sporting some Merc SLK rims I bought for it a while back, hopefully it will look uber :cool:
Dinx one tip, if you don't mind a bit of graft look to buy yourself a minibus or a panel van as they are sh!t loads cheaper than a full blown camper. One benefit with the minibus is that it already has a full length headlining and inerior panels. However having all the windows isn't always convienient or to everyones taste that's where the benefits of a panel van come in.
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Panel vans Rule!
I'm lucky thaty mine has already had a sliding door off a caravelle fitted to it so it has one side window. Lets in just enough light but leaves you plenty of privacy.
It would be nice to have the interior already covered but I'll work on that later in the year. Getting a bed and a cooker in there is my first priority.
THe other good thing about panel vans is if you park up and sleep in it, it doesn't look like a camper to the casual observer so you are less likely to ge tmoved on.
Nick
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Cheers Dinx & Monza
More pics to follow soon to convince you even further, today I'm expecting delivery of some wheel spacers and longer studs. By next weekend it should be sporting some Merc SLK rims I bought for it a while back, hopefully it will look uber :cool:
Dinx one tip, if you don't mind a bit of graft look to buy yourself a minibus or a panel van as they are sh!t loads cheaper than a full blown camper. One benefit with the minibus is that it already has a full length headlining and inerior panels. However having all the windows isn't always convienient or to everyones taste that's where the benefits of a panel van come in.
tobz..im a total gonk..i don't know the difference between anything :embarassed:
just think of me havin a proper blonde day every time u tell me summit..cos i haven a clue mate..
dont mind the hard graft, but ul have to point us in the rite direction.. :grin:
Dinx :kiss:
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Well I have started building the folding bed today, I'll post up pics when I have made some visible progress!
Nick
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Ok Dinx check these out to see the difference:
Panel van:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Volkswagen-Transporter-T25-2-1L-Petrol-injection_W0QQitemZ4627489809QQcategoryZ108851QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Minibus/caravelle:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1984-Vw-Volkswagen-T25-Caravelle-camper-1915cc-12-MOT_W0QQitemZ4629122123QQcategoryZ14256QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Full blown camper:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1990-VOLKSWAGEN-VW-Transporter-Camper-Van-T25-White_W0QQitemZ4629143192QQcategoryZ14256QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Hopefully even the blondest of blondes can see the difference between these :wink:
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Yep pics would be good Nick, it's always handy to see how other people have tackled things.
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ooo..ur a super star tobz... cheers hun
Dinx :kiss:
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Well my folding bed is 90% finished, just a few finishing touches and some foam and it's sorted. The Mrs has also managed to score a couple of old kitchen cabnets for me to convert into the stove holder and sink unit. It's lookin good so far and it's pretty cheap to boot.
I would post up pics but I've lost the bloomin cable for my digi camera :-(
Hopefully it'll turn up and I can post em up.
Nick
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Oh..that would be cool to see hun..u seem to be working quick! :cool:
tobz, is there any particular engine which is better than the rest?! What do you reckon i'll be lookin at pricewise?! :undecided:
Dinx :kiss:
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Right Dinx you have a choice of the following engines:
1.6 diesel, 1.6 turbo diesel, 2.0 aircooled, 1.9 watercooled, 2.1 watercooled.
1.6 diesel is horribly underpowered for the weight of the vehicle but all the gear is there for any easy upgrade to a golf gti engine :wink:
1.6 turbo diesel is a better choice if you want reliability/economy just about up to the job.
2.0 aircooled was available until 1982 that's the engine mine has, pretty thirsty on fuel (about 20mpg) but very basic and reliable if you get a good one. Mine will cruise at 70mph and I have taken it as far as 85. Most parts are still available.
1.9 watercooled is the most common engine, 8 horse power more than the aircooled engine at 78bhp. They are basically the same engine as aircooled but with a water jacket. They are slightly more economical and you get better heating for the cabin. HOWEVER if somebody has neglected to change the antifreeze often enough or has used the wrong stuff the head studs are prone to corrosion. This leads to leaking head gaskets and is the most common problem on watercooled T25's.
2.1 watercooled is the gti of the T25 group pushing out 112bhp and they are fuel injected. Plenty of power and capable of cruising at over 80mph however they are still prone to the same head stud problems as the 1.9, vans with this engine also sell for more.
In summary aircooled=older van so more likely to be rusty, diesel is reliable but doesn't suit the character of the van, 1.9 watercooled is a good choice as long as it's been well maintained, 2.1 watercooled yes if you can afford one!
Personally I love my aircooled and I've done 8000 trouble-free miles in it so far.
Pricewise anything from about £700 upwards should get you a pretty decent air/watercooled panel van or minibus (mine was £800 with 12 months mot).
If you want a full camper it will probably be about £1500 upwards.
As with anything the cheapest ones are likely to be suffering from the dreaded seam rust.
I would allow yourself about £1000 get a van/minibus the fit a basic interior to your taste.
Blimey sorry for waffling on :grin:
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Oh I also forgot the early vans 1979-80 came with a 1.6 aircooled engine. This is the same power as the non-turbo diesel therefore you need to work them hard due to the weight of the van. Probably best avoided unless you are very patient!
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wow! thats sum fab info..cheers tobz, ill owe u a pint mate after all of this! :laugh:
Dinx :kiss:
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If it helps dinx I paid £900 for mine. It has a little rust on the seams at the rear but I'll treat it this year and it should be fine. It's a 1.9 water cooled petrol with 70,000 miles and had 10 months MOT and 4 months tax plus a folder full of reciepts. It laso had a recon engine in 1996.
As Tobz has stated there are issues with proper maintenance on these to do with antifreeze. I have no idea whether mine hjas been done properly so I just have verything crossed and will be doing a complete coolent change soon.
Hope this helps,
Nick
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Thanx Nick, appreciate all the info you's guys can and have given me.. :smiley:
Dinx :kiss:
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JUst got back from our first weekend in "Millie". We had an excellent time and the interior I built worked a treat. Pictures to follow shortly!
Nick
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oh..super cool hun! lookin forward to the pics...just want one now! :laugh:
Dinx :kiss:
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Here ya go dinx, none of the inside I'm afraid tho. I didn't take em, a mate did and I forgot to asj for some inside shots.
Nick
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/Horney_mini/Millie/Picture044.jpg)
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/Horney_mini/Millie/a96735f4.jpg)
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/Horney_mini/Millie/610a5739.jpg)
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/Horney_mini/Millie/d4e02f44.jpg)
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/Horney_mini/Millie/464d40ce.jpg)
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Hey Nick wanna sell me your captains seats?????
I desperately need to change my front seats but due to the brown/beige colour scheme of my van I'm very limited by colours that would work.
At the moment I'm thinking of some beige leather seats from a saab as these are relatively painless to make fit. However some lovely captains seats in beige would be perfect :wink:
Looks like you had a fun weekend Nick.
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ooo..super jealous hun..i had a tent :laugh: we need sum inside pics thou next time hun :wink:
look at that tobz, movin in on ya seats..shockin! :grin:
Dinx :kiss:
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Hands off my seats mate :wink: they are great though, I need to get the swivel bases for em when I've got the cash.
Nick
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As this thread seems to have turned into a T25 apprieciation thread I thought I best post some pics of my newly fitted rims!!!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/tobzman/Img_1037.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/tobzman/Img_1038.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/tobzman/Img_1040.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/tobzman/Img_1041.jpg)
Dinx you sooooo want one of these :cool:
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I know i do! and wots worse, wen i show bloke these..he'll say ive deffo gotta have flowers on cos u have! :laugh:
he'd already said we had to, but i was putting him off it! so cheers for that tobz! :angry: :grin:
Dinx :kiss:
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Heh heh soz Dinx, you can blame that on my other half. She saw them at vanfest last year and said she wanted them for the van. I thought it was nice she was showing an interest so let her go for it.
I sometimes worry what people might think when they see me and me mates in a van with pink flowers on it!
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yeah ud have thopught it wud have been the other way round with the bloke and i, maybs he's just in touch with his feminine side..or gay.. :huh: :laugh:
Dinx :kiss:
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Ha ha Lizzie wants to put flowers on ours too. I put my foot down.
I'm hopefully getting it resprayed Matt Nato Green over the summer so less like a hippy bus.
Love those rims Tobz I looked at some of those on eBay and I wasn't sure how well they'd suit the T25 but they look ace!
Nick
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ok..time for me to sound like a proper girl..
wot engine wud a '87 t25 have? its petrol, water-cooled n got a pieburg carb o summit?! :embarassed:
Dinx :kiss:
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That would be the 1.9 watercooled dinx, you getting close to making a purchase???
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i may just be hunny.. :wink:
Dinx :kiss:
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Cool, bring on the pics!!!
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well bloke went and had a looksee last nite.. its cherry red, solid but has a problem with the engine, but hes lookin forward to fiddling with that! :laugh:
if we do get it, promise you's will be the first to see it :smiley:
in fact tobz, u can even make us a bed if ya fancy.. :tongue: :laugh:
Dinx :kiss:
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in fact tobz, u can even make us a bed if ya fancy.. :tongue: :laugh:
now there is an offer :lipsrsealed:
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Oooo red!!! That would look uber cool with some shiny rims and some limo tints.
Reckon this site is gonna have to be renamed to golfgti&T25.co.uk :)
Would love to build you a bed dinx but I dunno how the missus would view me making a bed for some bird on the net :wink:
Tobz
in fact tobz, u can even make us a bed if ya fancy.. :tongue: :laugh:
now there is an offer :lipsrsealed:
Yeah I guess I would have to.......ahem.......take some measurements :laugh:
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:rolleyes:
yes thanx for that input john.. :laugh:
listen to u with the shiney rims n stuff..i aint bought it yet man! :grin:
Dinx :kiss:
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Pics no longer work... :cry:
Take a look at Photobucket.com.. they dont have a bandwidth limt...
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was at stanford today and had a very gud gander around loads vans/ bays etc.. the more im seeing em, there more im loving em..im even starting to get a soft spot for the beetle! :shocked: :laugh:
Dinx :kiss:
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Sounds like you're going down exactly the same path as I did dinx. I knew I loved all vans but didn't think I could afford one so I started considering beetles, so glad I didn't go for one though as it wouldn't have served any specific purpose like the van does.
Oh yeah and my van landed on my drive less than six weeks after I was drooling over them at stanford last year :wink:
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Still not got one then Dinx?
I should get some pics of the inside of mine up soon. Just got a wicked cooker for it!
Nick
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Nah...awaiting on the couple we were gonna buy it off, theres like a few deals to be done i think before we actually buy it (they have now realised its worth abit more than they were gonna sell it for :sad: )
yes..more pics nick!
Dinx :kiss: