The Big E

The northeast's version of the state fair, the Eastern States exposition was this weekends destination.

Camping out overnight is the way to see this event.  We went Friday (opening night) in order to beat some crowds.  It had rained earlier to day and was forecasted to be chilly out, so we figured we would stand a good chance to have minimal crowds.

We were right.

Arrived in lot by 5:30.  Paid the $20 to camp, and looked for a spot away from the camp buses that would have generators humming all night (annoying - if you need that much crap to camp out - stay home)  Found a spot next to a dirt hill that would ensure that no monster bus could tuck up next to me during the night, and gave my son a start point or some play time while I set up.

We had dinner, and then headed over to check out the fair.  Opening night $10 admission for me, free for my son.  Unlimited rides for $20 and no lines, he must have ridden 100 rides by the time we called it quits at 9:30. 

Perfect nights sleep for both of us, chilly morning though.  Fired up the little buddy heater to take edge off and made some miso soup.

Started morning with Beignets in the expo, saw competitions amongst the cow, sheep and horse folk. Watched some pig racing.  Old restored tractors, activities for my kid and finished up with some rides on the ponies and a camel.  Freak show starts arriving after noon, so we had a couple hours to wander as we felt necessary and saw everything we wanted to without issue.

Reminded me of the Geico commercial - What day is it?  Huuuummmp Daaaaayyy!

Van drove well, no issues at all.  Good times.

Firsts

Was doing a bit of reflecting last night; on the summers activities in the Thingamajigger and realized that there were a lot of 'firsts' for my son this year and many of them happened during trips with the Thingamajigger.  I am by no means accepting that this summer is over, but my wife's two degree temperature comfort window has closed - so it will be him and I for the rest of the year.  Have three more trips planned, and potential for a couple others as the time approaches.

First rock climbing (NH), first 3rd story leap into a stunt pillow (NH), first day without training wheels on his bike (Maine).

First hike to top of mountain (Western Mass) and exposure to the breathtaking views.  First alpine slide (NH).  First water slides (NH). He has visited two artisan cheese makers, a smokehouse and countless farm stands / 'you pick farms'.

Lost first four teeth while camping - one in a grilled cheese and one in a strawberry while in Washington DC, then one in North Carolina and most recently in Maine while eating corn on the cob.

His first try at tubing down a lazy river (VT) his first go kart ride (NH) first mini golf (and a hole in one too).  First Loggerhead turtle hatching (NC), and first climb up a lighthouse (NC).

His first time fishing in New York, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

Many of these things will be done by many children across the states this year, and probably not in a Vanagon.  But I can't help but think I am creating some great memories for him with the assistance of this van, and hopefully he learns to not take it for granted.

Forgot

I forgot to wish my van a Happy Birthday.

In August the Thingamajigger turned 30 years old.  She was manufactured in August 1983.

Happy Birthday Thingamajigger, you dont look a day over 20!

Buese shelf

So I had made his acquaintance once before, but at the Buses by the Bouy Tom Buese was camped right beside me in his spiffy Syncro Doka.

Gave me an opportunity to have a good look at his shelf setup.  Tom is an architect by trade, but his salesmanship abilities are top notch.  I bought one at his discounted 'on the spot' price and he installed it right away.

The basic construction is a piece of 3/4 inch plywood.  It is roughly the same width as the inside distance between the upright supports short an inch or so for clearance, it uses a couple 'U' clamps to attach and can be outfitted with racks or hooks as one could desire.

The basic version that Tom sold me had a couple of Ikea rails for hanging towels, or mugs on the end.  They are purposely set a perfect distance apart to hang wine glasses when drying.

Some use the top shelf for camp storage; pots and pans, kitchen items, or the like.  I envision using it for placing my sons water, books or iPad to use in the AM while he waits for us to stir!  Allows for a few more minutes of rest since my little energizer bunny of a son is WIDE awake at 6 regardless of bed time.  Especially in the clean air of the woods.

The first photo is the shelf installed and in the stowed position when pop top is lowered.  The cut out allows for the shelf to fit around the skylight.

With the top raised, but still in "stowed" position.  It is essentially vertical.

Now with shelf lowered.  Assuming a nice level placement of you van, the shelf too will be level.  

Bumped my head last night, and then this morning.  Will take some getting used to, but should not take long. 

 

Tom can be contacted at: http://busware.biz/Other_Cool_Stuff.html

Buses by the Bouy 2013

Just got back from the BBTB 2013 event in Lebanon Maine.

Really good time.

Little boys learn early - there is nothing like a well built and clean box to play with.

Lots of vans, I think about 75.  Lots of laughs.
 

Doug, Bill and their families - of Freeport Maine.

Ian of Maine, and Eric of Vermont.  My son fell in love with May, Eric's retired seeing eye dog.

Tim and Kristen's Westy.

Plenty of vans to meet new folks.

The cargo carrier generated a lot of inquiries as did the use of 18x8 wheels.

A bit of a caravan out to a meeting spot.  That many VWs generated some interest amongst the community.

Thanks to the organizers, it was a good time.

Brown dashboards, black dashboards

My 1984 Westy came stock with a Brown dash.  Not the covered version, but the metal rough surfaced version.  It's in good condition, including the front end impact strip, but the plastic bits within the dash are not so great.  The age of the plastic, and the oxidation is getting unsightly.

I am seriously considering swapping it out for a black dashboard, from a later Wolfsburg this winter.

What really pushed me over the edge was this photo, found on the Samba, that I REALLY like the looks of:

The added burled wood veneer brings the interior look closer to my Mercedes, and although I do not aspire to turn my beloved Thingamjigger into a Mercedes wanna be - it sure does look nice. Even considering the dark brown carpets I will have.

Have a good friend that parts out the Vanagon and he had a few Dash assemblies. I have some credit there as I have given him most of my takeoffs and promised him my parts van when I put the suspension back in it to move.  What goes around, comes around? 

I grabbed a mint condition black dash, with cluster cover, lower air vent, glove box, and all the pieces to make it complete.  With the very dark brown checked seats and door panel inserts, I think I could get away with it without it looking too ghetto.

I suppose if I had to swap out the front seats for some Honda S2000 black ones, or recover some late model stock seats like the picture below in a faux leather product, I may not be so concerned. :)

UPDATE- 10 Sept - looking at the Sewfine catalog, it appears that a set of faux leather seat covers could be had for under $300 if I do the recovering myself.  If I did that 'pleather' look, with a black tweed insert down the middle I would have a seat that would allow for a sweaty back to breathe.  I don't have AC, so should I even be thinking about black?

But then what to do with the rear? 

I need to finish packing for this weekends adventure.

Have a fun weekend everyone! 

One foil, two foil, bad foil, good foil

Oh, the dreaded blue foil.  Yes, the delicate and no longer available blue foil.

Had to delve into this today.  Little wisp of smoke yesterday tells me nothing good can happen by ignoring it.

Here is the major problem

My reaching into the dash caused this de lamination and the metal to cross over itself and arc.

So it was time to replace the foil.  Luckily, I had another tach foil in the garage.  So I started the surgery, being extremely cautious not to tweak the foil in any way that could harm it.  I got them switched over and gave it a try.  Still no gauges, or clock but the indicator lamps worked. It's a step in the right direction. 

There is a small voltage regulator on the rear of the tach. Tiny little thing.  Looks like this

It is known to create mischief.  I tried three of them and best I could get is gas and temp gauges, but no clock. I will order a new one and see.  When I tried the clocks directly connected to a battery, they worked.  Once the screw is removed, the regulator can slide out easily.

While I had the tach out, and was disassembling the cluster anyway, I went ahead on modified the tach for the Bostig. I had an 85 tach in it which does not require modification, but the foil I just took out was a bit fused to the tach.  So I swapped the while thing over for a tach and foil from an 87. So now I needed to modify the tach.

Bostig breaks it down pretty well, but here is a shot of the board in the tach.  

The one over the whole towards the bottom center got changed.  There is another on the right, just to the left of the light blue / brown striped one. That one gets removed entirely.

The other thing that needed to get completed while the cluster was out is the placement of the MIL light and the Low Oil light.  After much consternation, deliberation and research of what others had done, I wanted a stock look.

Decided to use the unused lower location beneath the high beam for the MIL light, and after carving out the existing LED for oil, I placed the new oil light in its place.

That's right, I modified the blue foil!  Well, I tried it on the old one first to make sure it could be done.

Carved off the port for the mid light, and the unattached lower port.  

And then modified the front piece.  Only required little changes, but a dab of black silicone to keep the new lights in place. 

After it was assembled, it looks great.  And nearly stock.  

Still need to run the wires up front and connect for a full light test, but I am pleased with how it came out.