My door cards are grotty and their current state of disrepair lets water into the cab. I want to replace them. I've already bought a new set of plastic liners off ebay. I'm not particularly bothered about what they look like, the main thing is to avoid soggy flappy hardboard, peeling upholstery and a wet floor. With that in mind I've been wondering about plywood or ABS panels: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-T2-Doo...735?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item33a3246de7 http://www.busandcamper.com/bay-window-door-cards-replacement-and-restoration.html I'd lean towards the ply ones on the basis of cheapness, I think they'd look OK with a coat of varnish. I'm also not mad about the way the original fixings work - I wonder if I could screw those ply panels on - maybe using rubber bungs as plugs and cup washers? Also, is there a trick to prevent the vents leaking or would I be better off just to git rid of them?
If the membrane is properly installed and you have the full set of window rubbers and drain holes in the door even the cardboard door cards will stay dry. Mine do and the bus is left outside.
Yep, I'm aware that drain holes and membrane are the key... What's the best adhesive to use? But also just looking for the quickest / cheapest path to a cosy van... Current cards are covered in grotty carpet. I could recover them but doing it well would be time consuming. Or I could buy nice new TMI ones buy they'd cost me a day's work. When I've attempted to replace door cards before I found the clips were a pain - tricky to line up and not always very grippy. Also had a job with the vent falling out at the last minute. Anything to avoid this sort of tedium would be welcomed.
Although I suppose the GSF ones are cheap enough... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-T2-Doo...735?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item33a3246de7
Don't get rid of your vents. VW pretended they were a great breakthrough in ventilation, but their main purpose I suspect was to dry the inside of the doors out. Make a vertical cut in your membrane and tuck it behind the vents, which'll stop water splashing in. Original VW membranes (I've never seen one) were I believe double-skinned, with a bit that went behind the vents. The whole design is, basically, poo.
Clear your drain holes, park downhill if you can, fit a membrane to the door (with vent flap). Flood the inside of the door (especially the bit over the wheel arch) with Waxoyl or similar before fitting the cards. That's about all you can do. Waterproof hardboard probably best for the cards. I bought JK MDF ones, and they've warped.
I'm sure there is a thread about moisture barriers with a link to home made ones, good thick plastic is the key with a couple of flaps taped in if memory serves correct
Hi I bought some ply ones. They are thicker than the normal card style ones and a bit of a faff to get new clips on. I had to pre bend each one so that they would slide into the hole with sufficient gap to allow them to be moved around to fit into the holes in the door. The kick panels are useless as there's no flex in them. I snapped mine trying to get them into place. I'be bought some proper card ones from Newton commercial. They also do the membrane for the doors at 8 quid odd each http://www.newtoncomm.co.uk/cars/vw-camper-van/model-131/panels/5283-vw-t2-pvc-inner-door-liners/
I've done a couple of threads on door cards lately, in which folk have contributed good info. Have a search for them. Have you seen the plastic door cards on eBay? That's what I'm going for once I'm over my current malfunction. No need to worry about them getting wet and damaged. Pkrboo has them too
Ye and at the moment I don't have membranes and I get a bit of water coming in and sitting on the tip of the pedestal BUT I will fut new membranes soon, bought some on ebay, will be adding the extra over the vent hole flap first though
Yeah I quite like the idea of them, although they don't seem to be available at the moment, and the mrs described them as "a bit s&m". I know what she means, but I'm currently leaning towards them as they look like an affordable / practical solution. The plywood's a cheaper option, aesthetically I quite like the idea, but possibly a pain to fit. @mk2zetec could you fit them with screws instead do you think?
Slightly off topic, and apologies for temporarily hijacking the thread..... I seem to be close to getting my doors waterproof: new window seals, scrapers, and door seals mean it's as good as it's gonna get; I'll probably adapt bin liners for membrane, and with luck any water that still gets in will be minor and go out the holes in the bottom of the door rather than cascading in from every available direction. The door cards that came with the van are not to my taste, and luckily have been destroyed by the afore mentioned cascading water so I don't feel guilty about junking them.... so I looked at the JK plain black ones (still pricey but at least not 'custom made' pricey) but I don't seem to be able to locate matching black cards for the sliding door, rear door etc. Uncovered ones are listed, but not ready done to match the cab. Any ideas? (I'm going with black plastic kick bits at the front unless anyone has a better idea or a negative review of them) Advice appreciated. Cheers
Black door cards: http://www.justkampers.com/black-front-door-cards-for-vw-t2-bay-1970-1979.html Black plastic kick panels: http://www.justkampers.com/front-kick-panels-vw-t2-bay-1972-1979.html Can't find ABS ones for sale anywhere - websites either come up in USA or 'not found'
ABS ones can be bought from the only UK mporter which is www.busandcamper.com they have an eBay shop only, now. The Kick panels are also awesome. They are made by a chap called werksberg in America. He does rear side panels and boot panels as well but busandcamper tend not to stock them,
Thank you! There's not any for a late bay on ebay at the moment, but at least I know where to look when I am ready
