I'm at the point where i will son be cutting the hole for the fridge flu,
and wondering "How they did that"?
I was always under the impression it was a round hole.......it is however,
far from it. So what's the best method of cutting it accurately?
It's probably too thick for tin snips, a sawzaw would be too rough, a series
of hole saws could get you close, there must be a trick.

What have people done!?!?

-Craig
'85GL (Half Westy)
'80Westy (Half rust)

On Thu, Aug 7, 2008 at 9:23 PM, mdrillock <mdrillock@cox.net> wrote:

> I always just use bolts through the floor with locknuts below. Oversize
> washers are a good idea too. A big advantage of locknuts for this is that
> you don't need tighten them that much and thus don't need to distort the
> cabinet bottom or washers by cranking them down in fear of them loosening
> over time. I clamp a visegrip on the bolt head and then put the nut on from
> below. That lets me do it alone when help is not at hand. Only the front
> floor bolt holes can be used this way on the bed/bench since the rear floor
> holes would not be accessible from below. I also use metric screws with
> locknuts on the bed hinge strap holes instead of relying on the sheet metal
> screws the factory used.
>
>
> Mark
>
>
>
>
> The bed/benchcraig cowan wrote:
>
>> Well today was an uneventful day in the conversion. I purchased the
>> necessary hole saws (Still can't believe they fetch what they do cost
>> wise....), and went to town. I have 3 nice holes in my floor, all probably
>> in the wrong spots. (We'll worry about that later).
>> I also determined that the front two "nuts" welded to the body for the
>> propane tank are in the right places, but the two rear most ones will need
>> to be added. For the front's, i will have to have a hole going through the
>> floor (well, unless i use bolts from below), so i think i'll take my
>> trusty
>> 1/8'' titanium drill bit that's getting oh so much use in this conversion,
>> and send it up from the bottom in the center of the welded in nuts as a
>> pilot hole, and then using bigger and bigger bits drill through the floor
>> from up above and later insert the bolt, and weld the head in place. The
>> problem here though is that i'll end up drilling out the threads inside
>> the
>> welded on nuts.....
>> So do you guys who have converted, just use bolts from below in the front
>> most two positions, and drill holes and weld the heads of bolts from above
>> to the floor to give you studs in the rear most two?
>>
>> I also cut out all the little brackets that secure the rear bed and the
>> fridge to the floor, and while i'm trying to find someone to weld them in,
>> i'm thinkin "What's the point of these?". They raise it up so that the nut
>> is flush with the top portion of the westfalia installed wood floor,
>> making
>> it so that the flat bottom of the seat surface mates with the flat top of
>> the wooden floor, and the bolts have very little to travel before enaging
>> and therefore securing the bed to the floor. Well.....so why can't i just
>> weld a nut to the floor? Or for that matter, just drill a hole....and put
>> a
>> nut on the other side of the floor (Well i don't want to do this, too much
>> work pulling the bed later on.). I think so long as you had a nut fastened
>> to the floor, it would all "pull in" wouldn't it? I was always under the
>> impression that the brackets were one of the major obsticles in a
>> conversion
>> to a westy......but if they seem pointless and can be done in a way other
>> than stock, then i was in fear for nothing.
>>
>> I'm still going stock on these for the time being, but i just thought
>> about
>> this today and it seemed like a waste of time to make them the  way they
>> are
>> made.
>>
>> -Craig
>> '85 with new holes
>>
>> On Mon, Aug 4, 2008 at 3:34 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
>> scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> well for sure .............the 'jury rigged' factor.
>>> I've sure seen enough of that in vanagons ! ........but never in propane
>>> systems, but that is a wise thing to watch out for.
>>>
>>> very interesting to read ............... " USA based Injury Board claims
>>> domestic propane tank explosions are a
>>> major source of personal injury in the United States each year."
>>>
>>> news to me, but I'll factor that in.
>>> I think i've only seen brass fittings on propane tanks, never anything
>>> but
>>> that.
>>> scott
>>> www.turbovans.com
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Roger Whittaker" <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
>>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>> Sent: Monday, August 04, 2008 11:22 AM
>>> Subject: Re: From rags to westy in a week.
>>>
>>>
>>>  dear all
>>>
>>>
>>>> regarding the brass monkey ...
>>>> i mean brass wrenches ...
>>>> nearly 7 years of work in several different refineries has got me always
>>>> thinking of explosions when dealing with older installations and stuff
>>>> with
>>>> LEL
>>>> and yes ..i understand that all approved propane fittings are brass,
>>>> copper,
>>>> plated, or something to keep them from sparking. but-
>>>> when working on a series of vehicles that are already >15 years old  ...
>>>> most do not have the new generation quick connect propane  hook up
>>>> any sort of great weirdness could have been jury rigged together by
>>>> previous
>>>> owner and those not conversant in propane approved hardware ...
>>>> might not know ...
>>>> i certainly would not fully understand everything i was looking at in
>>>> the
>>>> propane assembly
>>>> -specifically  what was westfalia factory and what was jury rigged -if
>>>> it
>>>> were not clearly different
>>>> so my note was simply one of caution ...
>>>> the USA based Injury Board claims domestic propane tank explosions are a
>>>> major source of personal injury in the United States each year.
>>>> i have also seen more than my share of ... "It was never supposed to
>>>> happen
>>>> like that ..." accidents and incidents in workshops and sites-
>>>> simply my own over whelming need to imbibe the oft over looked aspect of
>>>> safety  when dealing with our westies
>>>> yours
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, Aug 4, 2008 at 5:46 AM, Dennis Haynes
>>>> <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>  You definitely need to be careful that the propane is under control. As
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> for
>>>>> the need for Brass wrenches, all approved propane fittings are brass,
>>>>> copper, plated, or something to keep them from sparking. The Brass
>>>>> tools
>>>>> only become a true necessity when working in what may be a hazardous
>>>>> location and if using steel fittings.
>>>>>
>>>>> BTW, once a vehicle is in a garage, the lowest 18 inches is a hazardous
>>>>> location. Does anyone here use XP rated drop lights and power tools?
>>>>> Think
>>>>> of that if using one of those kerosene floor heaters for heat.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>  From: Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Reply-To: Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
>>>>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>>>>> Subject: Re: From rags to westy in a week.
>>>>>> Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2008 22:28:35 -0700
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> dear craig
>>>>>> i hope you are storing the propane tank outside and away from errant
>>>>>> sparks
>>>>>> while you work
>>>>>> hook it together with brass wrenches ... check for leaks constantly
>>>>>> use only new fittings and hoses
>>>>>> be safe
>>>>>> yours
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sun, Aug 3, 2008 at 7:40 PM, craig cowan <phishman068@gmail.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Well the weekend has passed, and boy do i have alot to show for it! I
>>>>>>> started out friday night with a 1980 westy in deplorable shape, and a
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> 1985
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> vanagon with a full interior, and after only 26 hours of work (14
>>>>>>> hours
>>>>>>> saturday, only 12 today), i have a fully gutted westy, with the
>>>>>>> entire
>>>>>>> interior in my garage and most of it cleaned up, a fully gutted
>>>>>>> '85GL,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> all
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> the curtains and curatin hardware has been transfered to the '85, the
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> rear
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> cabinet has been cut down 3 inches and installed (It worked out
>>>>>>> great!),
>>>>>>> The
>>>>>>> propane tank and all the westy accessories are off and ready to go,
>>>>>>> i've
>>>>>>> removed the westy floor, and the vanagon floor is recieving some
>>>>>>> holes.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> I
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> borrowed a welder today in anticipation of cutting and welding in the
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> seat
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> brackets (And the one under the kitchen), have removed the rear
>>>>>>> heater
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> core
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> (which will have to be relocated or negated for the time being),
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> Replaced
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> all my rear seatbelts with the westy configuration, and cleaned up
>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>> addressed the start of some rust behind where the fridge will sit on
>>>>>>> my
>>>>>>> '85.
>>>>>>> Oh ya, i also found time to pull the engine and transmission, and
>>>>>>> they
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> went
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> off to a loving home. I would say a pretty fullfilling weekend as a
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> whole.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Tommorow evening i will try to get these holes cut, the floor
>>>>>>> secured,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> and
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> start cutting/welding in the brackets that need to be addressed. I
>>>>>>> also
>>>>>>> plan
>>>>>>> to figure out how to mount the propane tank on the '85. I'm guessing
>>>>>>> i
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> need
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> to drill some holes, send some bolts through, and weld the heads
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> inplace?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I hope to have a 'roof removal party' friday, so i need to have
>>>>>>> almost
>>>>>>> everything done by then so I can gather my friends with their
>>>>>>> favorite
>>>>>>> cutting instruments, to do some serious damage. So, who thinks a
>>>>>>> westy
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> can
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> be built in a week?   : )
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -Craig
>>>>>>> '85(Gutted)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> roger w
>>>>>> There are two kinds of jobs in the world:
>>>>>> Picking up garbage and telling people things.
>>>>>> Successful people do both, with the same good attitude. (riw)
>>>>>> -----------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>> View the growing list of video work at:
>>>>>> http://revver.com/find/video/?query=LastonLastof&search_on=owners
>>>>>> and ... older work at
>>>>>> http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7135104650374818257
>>>>>> http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3259745150182742364
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> roger w
>>>> There are two kinds of jobs in the world:
>>>> Picking up garbage and telling people things.
>>>> Successful people do both, with the same good attitude. (riw)
>>>> -----------------------------------------------------------
>>>> View the growing list of video work at:
>>>> http://revver.com/find/video/?query=LastonLastof&search_on=owners
>>>> and ... older work at
>>>> http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7135104650374818257
>>>> http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3259745150182742364
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>