Eurovan Blu.O (2.0)

Cole

Expedition Leader
Just sold my last Eurovan build and I'm starting a new project Eurovan.

If you didn't read the thread on the other Eurovan Conversion from GLS to Weekender you can find it here.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/94519-Screwing-around-with-a-Eurovan!


Here are a few quick pictures of that van finished.

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Long story short, nearly every mechanical bit of that van is brand spanking new, its a GLS to Weekender conversion so it gains rear AC and 3 zone climate control that no factory delivered poptop came with. Then add the custom bits.

I've always loved the blue Eurovan and wanted to built a TDI (Diesel) with factory parts and syncro. So that is the goal with the new van. (I originally wanted a blue van)

I had so much fun building and using the first one and seeing how excited the new family is to have it that I'm going to build this one for my family but would be willing to sell it for the right price at any point along the way or possibly build one for someone that wants one.

I picked up a 1999 Westfalia Weekender with 235K on the chassis but only 17K on the engine. Since I end up making nearly everything on the van new the mileage on the chassis isn't going to be a big deal.

I actually bought this van from a really nice family and drove it over 1,000 miles home without issues.

Here it is at home! You may recognize the wheels from the black van. They were my snow tires that did not get sold with the black van. So on they went.

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I've got my eye on a set of ML350 16" wheels that I think will work great with BFG 215/70/16s for a nice off road look. [/img]


Basically I'm planning on building this van but MUCH nicer.

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Here is the list I have going in my head right now. Not complete but should give you an idea.

-2.5L Euro TDI with 5 Speed manual
-Syncro
-Diesel furnace
-Double DIN stereo in factory location
-All body work done, new front fenders (they are rusty), new paint...maybe more metallic but same color. Other custom bits and body mods.
-Ceramic window tint for heat reduction
-New 3 window top
-16" wheels and off road tires
-Lift and HD shocks
-Custom upholstery, and bedding.
-Poptop struts
-Roof rack.
-Bigger brakes
-New tie rods, CV shafts, brakes, hoses, etc, etc, etc, etc
-Rubber/vinyl floor
-Custom real wood table, upper and rear bunks.
-Custom interior painting of all interior steel to match the outside of the van. (seat bases, table leg, rear bed supports, door grab handles?, upper bed cross frames, )
-Custom curtains.
-Leather steering wheel.
-Euro cubby and/or glovebox for passenger side.
-Hazard switch relocation for boost gauge.
-Heated seats.
-Potentially dual house batteries.
-Solar
-Skid plate.
-LED interior lighting, all of it.
-Awning.
-Driving lights.
-Full insulation and sound deadening.
-Every little bracket and metal piece that comes off will get media blasted and painted or powder coated before going back on

......and potentially a carbon fiber top that we have started working on!



There is a lot about this van that will be simple restoration type stuff. Little things wrong with a car really bug me!

I've already started to play with it a little bit. When I picked it up it had a broken sun visor. Thankfully I had one laying around from the last van.

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Notice that there are no Govt warning labels on the visors! I can't stand these nanny labels. Not so much the warning but the placement. They can make a very nice looking interior look crappy.

It literally takes 2 minutes to wipe them off with Acetone.

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It's the little details like this that can make the difference between a cool looking ride and one that just looks off. This is a much cleaner look.


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I also collected a few switches for future use. The two heated seat switches and the hazard switch are new additions. That radio is going away to be replaced with a double DIN one too.(fun with the welder)

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My growing collection of leather steering wheels. The fat 3 spoke leather ones are MUCH nicer to drive with than the 4 spoke plastic one that comes in the Eurovan. But they are not nearly as plug and play in this 1999 as they were in my 2002.

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Italia64

Observer
Subscribed. That's a very comprehensive list of options and upgrades, Cole. It will be fun to see it come together.
I'll be in for one of these sometime in the future, although not a syncro.
 

plumber mike

Adventurer
You had me at Blue.:coffeedrink:

I'm in.

Was tinting the windows on the list of mods? Otherwise it sounds like you've got all the bases covered.

Happy tinkering.
 

Cole

Expedition Leader
You had me at Blue.:coffeedrink:

I'm in.

Was tinting the windows on the list of mods? Otherwise it sounds like you've got all the bases covered.

Happy tinkering.

Yep! This time I want to do ceramic for additional heat reduction. Especially since this one doesn't have rear AC like my conversion.

Which is part of the reason I may sell this one along the way and convert another one.
 

Scilacci

New member
I have seen your Sprinter here in steamboat and saw the vw one day when I was in denver. Super cool. I would love to talk more about your new build because tdi synchro would be my dream rig up here. Owned a weekender once but my wife said never again... Maybe your work could convince her otherwise. Happy Thanksgiving
 

Cole

Expedition Leader
Just picked up 5 of these 16x8 Mercedes wheels. Might need some spacers though.

Picture of them on another T4!

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Cole

Expedition Leader
Looking forward to another great build!
What kind of MPG do you expect?

I honestly don't know. My buddy with a 1.9L TDI swapped into a 1993 Eurovan gets between 30-40mpg depending on how and where he drives.

The guys in the UK claim about 29-33mpg(converted to US mpg) for the 102hp 2.5L TDI


Which is far better than the 15-18mpg I'm seeing now with this van.
 
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Cole

Expedition Leader
So the 5 wheels I picked up were not in that pristine of condition. Not all of them needed work but I figured I'd work on the worst two first.


Into the blast cabinet!

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Same wheel after a little media blasting and sanding with an air sander. Got rid of all the curb rash. I didn't strip these down to bare metal as that would be just too much work. The factory primer is really durable and will actually still work well. Really only need to get them down to a stable surface that the new paint will stick to really well.

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First two wheels with just the first coat of paint. Closest one is the same wheel.

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BigDan

Observer
I`m in too....
Looking forward to build an offroad capable van .....

I already had a 94 eurovan westfalia with a 1.9L TDI with 5 speed tranny .....

but it wasnt syncro ,sold it ......I want to go offroad with my next project .....

either a VW TDI Eurovan syncro ( if possible ) or full size van awd or 4 wd .......mucho difference in fuel consumption ....

Dan ,
 

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