The VW Camper Van Blog is a website for lovers of all types of VW campers from Split Screens and Bays to T25’s and T4’s.

This weeks Readers Rides comes from Orville Smith from the United States. Orv contacted the VW Camper Van Blog a few weeks ago about a custom conversion he performed on his 1979 VW Type II Van a number of years ago. After reading the detail Orv went in to when converting this Volkswagen Van into his ‘Ultimate Camper’ I thought I had to share it with you. The van does not look like the majority of Bay Window VW’s we see in the scene (lowered / alloys / etc), but the extras Orv fitted in to his van meant it had to be included in the Readers Rides section.

From here I will pass over to Orv who explains in great detail the many hurdles he had to overcome whilst installing the numerous improvements he made to his Volkswagen Bay Window Camper Van in order to suit his needs:

About the Van

I started out in 1979 with a brand new 3-speed automatic 1979 VW Type II Van and immediately put an ‘Adventure Wagon’ top on it. Then because of all the weight that I had added, like built-in cabinets, 4 deep cycle storage batteries, refrigerator, a full library of my fav books and a full video library, I had to install a beefier engine that was water cooled. So I choose a rebuilt Ford V6 engine 171ci, 2800cc with the correct new, flex plate etc to fit the drive train. It fitted and worked like a charm!

I had to put the radiator in front (not the most attractive thing, but had no choice). So I went to a muffler shop and had them put 2 lengths of 1½”

muffler piping the length of the van, then simply added 1½” hoses on each end to connect-up the new system. I also added a fan behind the radiator to suck in more air with an automatic temperature gauge on it.

I had a 5-gallon water storage tank installed underneath the closet in the new Cabinet system, which was mostly for drinking water but I also had 2 pumps installed. One was for pumping water through a filter system into my sink for drinking water and the other pump for pumping water to my radiator with 2 spray jets for extra cooling of my radiator externally while going up steep hills or mountains. I simply had a toggle switch on my dashboard to manually turn the pump on or off. Worked like a charm!

Then underneath the van I also installed an extra in-line water cooling unit with cooling fins to also help cool the engine water even more. I also added a similar device underneath with cooling fins for the engine oil, which also added about 3 extra quarts of oil to the engine system. Basically, I thought of everything!

A 5 gallon butane tank was also installed underneath for my inside air heater while sleeping at night, if I needed it and was controlled by an automatic thermostat. The refrigerator I installed was an AC/DC, which I used the 2 solar panels on the roof (the larger one was a 120 watt adjustable panel and the smaller one is a 30 watt fixed panel) to charge the 4 deep cycle storage batteries to basically keep the refrigerator running 24/7. Then of course, when I was at a place where I could plug in an AC landline, the refrigerator would automatically switch over to AC from DC.

Before I started this whole project (while the van was still new and empty), I removed the inside wall panels and filled in the hollow blank space within with 3″ house insulation, then replaced the panels. Next, before building and installing that incredible rosewood designer touch-latch cabinet system with built-in sink and clothes closet and 9’

TV, I bought a roll of thick hunter green velour fabric, went down to a border town in Mexico to have all the walls covered professionally with this green velour fabric at a reasonable cost. Then back at home I had a seamstress lady make me some curtains with extra heavy-duty insulation fabric inside. So these curtains would help keep out the cold at night and the light while sleeping!

Another addition was an AC/DC power inverter for plugging in any AC appliance I might need or use. I then  installed a ‘Dometic’ roof air conditioner (A/C only) because at the time I was living in Arizona where they experience extremely hot summers! I also had a separate air conditioner installed in the front (sealed off from the back) compartment that ran off the engine power.

You can imagine all the extra weight I have added. So much so a 4 cylinder VW air cooled engine just would not have made it. Then, I also added extra heavy duty sway bars underneath, front and back along with 4 lifetime warranty Bilstein shocks. Then I added 4 heavy duty 65 lb. truck tires meaning it rides very smooth and is very steady driving in the Wind!

For the interior (besides the elaborate cabinet system) I added two, face to face bi-leveled book shelves w/books above the bed in a closable cabinet. And then tons of video taped movies etc placed underneath the bed in another cabinet. I then added a magazine rack/storage hole for magazines next to the bed and on the adjacent side, an AM/FM/Cassette Blaupunkt radio. Next to that radio, I had manual controls for a 360 degree flood/spot light on roof to see if there where any bogeymen or bears outside at night. You’

ll also notice the 2 reading lights I installed there also.

In the front compartment I removed the VW front standard seats and replaced them with electric adjustable ‘Recaro’ orthopedic heated seats. Also, you’

ll notice an AM/FM/Cassette/TV in the front dash, which I could watch live TV with the help from my directional enclosed adjustable electric remote control TV antenna on the roof. You’ ll also notice below the tv/radio I added 3 gauges for water temperature, battery, amp meter.

Thanks to Orv for sending in the photos and the information on his truly unique Vw Bay Window Camper Van. What do you think of Orv’s Van?

Posted by Steve

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Posted on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Posted In Bay Window, Readers Rides | Tags: Bay Window, custom conversion, Readers Rides

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