My experience with spray foam insulation is not good. I suggest that before
you try it on your van, try it on someone elses! (heh heh)

Seriously, try it on a household project, like sealing a gap around an
electrical outlet or pipe etc.

See if that whets or dulls your appetite for using the product.

Cheers!

Marshall Ruskin
84 Westy
-----Original Message-----
From: Vernon Craddock <Vernon@CRADDOCK.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Wednesday, March 03, 1999 1:46 PM
Subject: Re: Insulation

>        I have been considering insulating my '90 standard vanagon for a
while.
> The recent thread has me interested again.  It seems to me that fiberglass
>would be the easiest, least expensive and fastest way to do this.  The
>front doors cannot be done because of moisture.  The sliding door is also
>susceptible to water because the paneling gets wet when it is opened in the
>rain. This leaves the drivers side, rear quarter panels, and rear hatch.  I
>know I don't want a lot of fibers flying around inside my van, but once the
>wall panels are back in place, how much air will be circulating through
>there?  It doesn't seem like this is a major issue.
>
>        I have considered the spray in two part foam insulation.  This
would
>undoubtedly insulate better, as it would expand to fill every niche.  Fire
>retardant is mixed into the stuff, so I'm not sure there is a fire hazard.
> The difficulty here is the actual installation.  Do you remove the panels,
>spray it in, then use a knife to hack the excess off to where the panes fit
>again?  If you pull an edge back and spray it in, will it pop off the
>paneling?  One in there can you ever remove the wall panels again?  Would
>this be a problem if you ever had to have any body work performed?  I
>called a local shop and they have a $300 (Ouch!) kit they estimate might be
>enough to do the job.
>
>Anyway, I'm leaning toward fiberglass now, and perhaps having the sliding
>door filled with foam.
>
>All input is welcome,
>Vernon Craddock
>'90 Standard Vanagon
>