I'm not sure why you would want to re-invent the wheel. Why
not just try to find a used Sportsmobile? There are several
listed under the pre-owned section at:

http://www.sportsmobile.com

For a Ford "Westy" check out:
http://www.gtrv.com/

I found these links at:
http://www.vanagon.com/vendors/#conversions

Thanks,
Chris

---- Original message ----
>Date: Tue, 3 Sep 2002 12:48:52 -0400
>From: David Brodbeck <gull@CYBERSPACE.ORG>
>Subject: Re: westfalia conversion van idea (MVC)
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
>On Tue, 3 Sep 2002, Andrew Fox wrote:
>
>> The result would hopefully be a hybrid that has shares the
>> excellent layout of the Westfalia with the durability, and
practicality of
>> a late model american van.
>
>You might want to test drive a few American vans, before you
make a final
>decision on this idea.  They are durable, for the most part
(though there
>are things that will get you -- every V-8 Ford we've had has
needed a new
>transmission at some point, for example) but you may be
disappointed in
>the handling.  My '82 Westy handles better than the '90 Ford
Club Wagon I
>used to drive.  The Club Wagon was also starting to have
cooling system
>problems of its own, but those might be attributable to
neglect.  Real
>bastard of a vehicle to work on -- it always seemed like the
part
>you needed to reach was in that inaccessable space halfway
between the
>hood and the inside engine cowling.
>
>             _ _
>  __ _ _   _| | |  | David M. Brodbeck (N8SRE)
Ypsilanti, MI
> / _` | | | | | |  +-----------------------------------------
------------
>| (_| | |_| | | | @ cyberspace.org
> \__, |\__,_|_|_| "The VW camper is a brilliant invention --
it's like a
> |___/             Swiss army knife for the road... It's the
stealth RV."
>                                                        --
Wayne Curtis