At 12:08 PM 7/10/2011, pickle vanagon wrote:
>I was wondering if someone could comment on installing these in an 83?  I
>know that some later westys had some kind of tracks for these, which I'm
>assuming an '83 doesn't have...

They *are* the tracks.  All Vanagons have threaded holes to mount
them, but Westys have a plywood floor over the holes.    The Westy
tracks are shortened because of the furniture, and come with covers
that fill the gap in the plywood when the tracks aren't in use.

The installed tracks are a bit below flush with the edges of the
plywood.  I found that with a rug over the floor (which I always used
anyway) they weren't obtrusive to walk on.

I cut the installed rug ('84 Westy) with slits so that it could roll
back down around the base of an installed 2-person seat.

I think I must have made the main plywood cuts with a Skil saw
carefully set for depth.  I probably used a Dremel tool with a router
base to round off the edges of the cut, because I have such a tool
and it's easy; but a sanding block would do as well.  I can't
remember the details of finishing off the inside end, toward the
cabinet; but I think it's likely that I stopped the rails short
enough that the saw could reach, or nearly reach, and maybe worked
with a saber saw to make plunging cuts if necessary beyond that.  I
did not remove any furniture.  I was starting with passenger-van
rails which had to be shortened, so I'm sure I chose the shortening
point based on reaching as many fasteners as possible without getting
involved in the furniture.

I have a metal-cutting bandsaw; I might have used that to cut
segments from the steel edging strip.  Otherwise I may have used a
Dremel with a cutoff wheel since I tend to use that for sheet metal
rather than a hacksaw.  An angle grinder with cutoff wheel would be
faster.  I remember that I left extra length on the parts of the
strip that would be reinstalled, so that the ends could fold over to
make a pocket.  I probably silver-brazed them since I had the means to do so.

Yours,
David