Mine's an '85 Wolfsburg Westy so I'm definitely looking for an earth-tone,
although I wish that Boogie Woogie VW fabric from the early, early Vanagon
Westies was still available (and not prohibitively expensive like what they
had recently at Bus Depot.)

Doesn't Sunbrella make a bunch of different levels of fabric?  I'll admit
that I have no idea what I'm talking about.

Joe T.

On Tue, Feb 1, 2011 at 1:16 PM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:

> Sunbrella on an interior? Not for me! It's pretty flimsy stuff and
> besides, it's more expensive than most auto upholstery I've dealt
> with.
>
> You want  something really heavy for that rear. If you have an older
> westy like mine, you'll be glad to know that those unobtainable browns
> are back in style after all the decades. Not those neutral tones of a
> few years back but rich, dark chocolatey BROWNS.
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> On Tue, Feb 1, 2011 at 1:43 PM, Joe T. <vanagon85@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi Jonce,
> >
> > Thanks for the info!  Since reading your email, I've been giving myself a
> > crash course in fabric education, reading about FMVSS-302 and
> > lightfastness.  I've found lots of fabric online that meets spec, but
> can't
> > see buying it without knowing what it feels like.
> >
> > I'm told there are a few auto fabric places around Denver so I'm going to
> > check them out as soon as it warms up a bit.
> >
> > I did meet a guy with a Westfalia who had redone his rear bench with
> > Sunbrella fabric.  It looked good and wasn't too vinyl-ish.  I'm thinking
> > about looking into that as well.
> >
> > Thanks again.
> > Joe
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Jan 31, 2011 at 6:46 PM, Jonce Fancher <streetbugs@frontier.com
> >wrote:
> >
> >> Hi
> >> If going to a fabric store you may not find fabrics with UV protection.
> >> There are Auto Upholstery fabrics that will give much better performance
> for
> >> the rigors of Auto needs. Do a bit of research before dropping coin and
> time
> >> on something that will just turn to crap in no time flat.
> >> Have fun!
> >> Jonce
> >> BTW a rule of thumb is if it has a MVSS-302 usually it will work just
> fine
> >> for auto but make sure it has a lightfastness of MANY hours in the sun.
> Hate
> >> to see your work fade into dust!
> >>
> >>
> >>  This is a very timely topic...
> >>>
> >>> My mother-in-law and I are heading to the fabric store next weekend to
> >>> pick
> >>> out the new interior for my Vanagon.  She's offered to teach me how to
> do
> >>> the whole thing. I'm very excited to get into upholstery and to learn a
> >>> new
> >>> skill!
> >>>
> >>> Joe T.
> >>>
> >>> On Sat, Jan 29, 2011 at 9:18 AM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net>
> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> > ---- Mark Dearing <VWBrain@AOL.COM> wrote:
> >>> > > In a message dated 1/29/2011 10:40:34 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> >>> > > fonman4277@COMCAST.NET writes:
> >>> > >
> >>> > > I am one  of seven siblings
> >>> > >
> >>> > >
> >>> > > hey david  I am also 0ne of seven.  my father flew P38s during  WW2
>  ,
> >>> > > became chief of construction on the N&W railway , got into VW
>  buses
> >>> > cause it
> >>> > > was the only thing that could carry all of the family.  he  is the
> >>> only
> >>> > person
> >>> > > I know that has flipped 2 buses. Course we had to learn how  to fix
> >>> them,
> >>> > I
> >>> > > rebuilt my first engine at 14 , was driving them even earlier
>  around
> >>> the
> >>> > > neighborhood and woods. Unlike jeff I really miss my father, he
> would
> >>> >  love
> >>> > > my vanagon westy. later  mark d
> >>> >
> >>> > Well, unlike most on this list, I am not deep into mechanics, but the
> >>> > basics were required when we were kids, and I required them of my
> >>> daughter.
> >>> >  but I go to a pro for anything beyond basics.  I do carry a tool kit
> >>> with
> >>> > me, and by having the camper in tip top shape on departure for a
> trip, I
> >>> can
> >>> > keep it going and usually get out of a jam (haven't really had much
> in
> >>> the
> >>> > way of a jam, just some concerns that have never gotten me stuck
> >>> somewhere
> >>> > for long).  But getting into transmissions and engine innards, or
> even
> >>> r&r
> >>> > major parts, I generally don't do it.  When I needed a radiator, I
> had
> >>> it
> >>> > done at a shop.  I'll be adding an external oil cooler from "ten cent
> >>> life
> >>> > before summer," and I don't know right now whether I'll do it myself
> or
> >>> hire
> >>> > it out.  I do have a great guy who doesn't mind that I do a few
> things
> >>> > myself who does my heavy stuff.  He will even advise me on things I
> do
> >>> > myself.
> >>> >
> >>> > mcneely
> >>> >
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> --
> >>> Joe T.
> >>> '85 Wolfsburg Westy Subie 2.2
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> > --
> > Joe T.
> > '85 Wolfsburg Westy Subie 2.2
> >
>

--
Joe T.
'85 Wolfsburg Westy Subie 2.2