Andy’s Silver Caddy Build

andyreflexsilver · Post by **andyreflexsilver** » Tue Jun 18, 2019 10:53 am

Hi guys, I’m Andy, 23 from Northumberland and I bought my 2013 Caddy Trendline about a year ago, have done a few mods since then so thought it was about time I did a build thread, I haven’t photographed everything I’ve done but will be updating it from now on with every mod. Everything has been done completely by myself which makes it so much more rewarding in my opinion. Here she is the day I bought it

The first thing I did was to fit new alloys. Went for some 18” OZ Superturismo. A steal at £500 with 4 Continental Sport Contacts.

Then got brakes sorted as they were looking very rough. Callipers and carriers powder coated and new discs and pads all round. (I know the spring clip is missing, the black paint was drying when I took the photo)

The powder coating is the only thing I haven’t actually done personally.

Before

After

Then it was lowering time, as I could only look like a daft monster truck for so long. H+R 40mm lowering springs on the front, and a Darkside rear axle flip kit on the rear.

Before

After

Then after searching for ages and with lots of help from members on here I sourced all the bits for a MFSW upgrade. Went for a Golf MK6 Leather one but may have to go for a flat bottom soon I think.

Before

After

Rear roof spoiler painted and fitted

Then after a few months of no mods I finally got round to getting the sound proofing and insulation and carpet ordered.

Began by removing all the old ply, a good clean out and copying the ply panels onto new thicker 6mm ply.

Then started on the soundproofing and insulating. I was cautious at first but turns out once you start, if you take your time it’s not difficult at all.

Onto carpeting the ply, and the inner metalwork of the van

Then I wanted some interior lighting. Went for decking lights from Screwfix, learnt from another user on here that they are 12v anyway just work on a 230v socket with a transformer so they worked ideal.

My roof liner was starting to sag, but unfortunately had no ply left to make a new one so fitted some braces into the roof to screw the liner to when installed. Worked really well actually

Then onto installing it. Big job by yourself

Had some laminate flooring left from a job in the house one day so thought I’d put it to good use.

And here’s where it’s up to right now.

Still got the sliding door to do, and the two barn doors, I want to make blanks for the windows with carpeted ply too, and also some blanks for the bulkhead mesh. Once that’s all done I’m going to start my pull out bed, ready for the first road trip, hopefully to the south of France next month if workload allows!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

robblowen · Post by **robblowen** » Tue Jun 18, 2019 1:22 pm

Looking smart man, what else you got planned for it?

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

andyreflexsilver · Post by **andyreflexsilver** » Tue Jun 18, 2019 3:21 pm

Thanks mate! In the rear I’m planning a pull out, or a fold up bed, and a mountain bike fork mount then possibly some shelves or power supplies etc to make it a bit more camperish. Hahah. Then I’m thinking a front splitter, roof bars, wind deflectors, gloss black grills, front fogs, new style rear lights, side rail cover, upgraded stereo, and like I mentioned maybe a new steering wheel, I’m sure this list will just grow and grow. Also want to retrofit air con, it looks like a big task, but I plan on keeping this van for a while, so I want it how I want it to be. It’s the only major thing missing from it at the minute. Just waiting for the right donor vehicle for all the parts, or going to build them up gradually on eBay etc.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

P33l · Post by **P33l** » Wed Jun 19, 2019 6:44 pm

Andy, I have the older style caddy 2007 but I want to lower it using a similar method to you. How does it drive? I have heard people say it can be a bit crashy and bumpy? Did you just keep the original front shocks with 40mm lowering springs and then the DS rear lowering kit? https://www.darksidedevelopments.co.uk/ ... sters.html

Or did you put new shocks on the rear as well?

P.s. van looks awesome

andyreflexsilver · Post by **andyreflexsilver** » Wed Jun 19, 2019 9:18 pm

Hi mate, thanks for that. And oh right, yeah I fitted the lowering springs to the original shocks on the front, fitted the kit you have linked on the rear but left the original shocks. I do plan on changing the rear shocks as the ride on the rear is a bit bumpy but it’s not all that bad really, and I’m hoping shorter shocks should sort the problem. But nah rides pretty good mate, there’s movement in the back axle which comes with all axle flips, but I’m also thinking of polybushing everything one day so that should help!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

P33l · Post by **P33l** » Fri Jun 21, 2019 11:08 am

Thanks for the reply. So the front shocks are fine with the lowered springs? Just you would suggest changing the rear shocks to shorter ones when I lower it? Sorry for all the questions I just don't want to race out and go buying stuff then to find out its horrible to drive.
Thanks

andyreflexsilver · Post by **andyreflexsilver** » Mon Jun 24, 2019 7:47 am

Yeah the front ones are fine, no problems but I would recommend shorter ones on the back. It’s not 100% essential but mine doesn’t half do some bouncing because the shocks aren’t operating at their desired length so they will be getting changed. I’ve been recommended by a forum user to buy Gaz short adjustable rear shocks. They’re about £75 each. Also don’t forget to cut down your bump stops when you do the rear axle flip.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

andyreflexsilver · Post by **andyreflexsilver** » Fri Jun 28, 2019 9:31 am

Looking good in this lovely weather

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Calamity Kev · Post by **Calamity Kev** » Fri Jun 28, 2019 1:39 pm

Sweet

Caddy63-Adrian · Post by **Caddy63-Adrian** » Sat Jun 29, 2019 6:17 am

Love the van buddy, I'm going to be pulling out all my carpet soon and fancy a colour change, wheres that carpet from and what colour is it down as?

andyreflexsilver · Post by **andyreflexsilver** » Sun Jun 30, 2019 10:31 am

Thanks mate, it’s from vanliningcarpet.co.uk. The colour is described as anthracite. Comes with the glue, and works out at roughly £10 per meter including glue so not too bad really.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

andyreflexsilver · Post by **andyreflexsilver** » Mon Jul 01, 2019 9:49 pm

Bit of progress over the last few days, managed to get my pull out bed made, just looking for a mattress now. Also planning to make some sort of pull out drawer or tidy storage idea for under the bed, and carpet it to match. I also fitted roof bars and cross bars and test fitted the roofbox ready for the road trip!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Stedlocks · Post by **Stedlocks** » Tue Jul 02, 2019 9:31 am

That looks Good bud! It's weird, but I'm not a fan of roof racks/bars, but the top box looks spot on

andyreflexsilver · Post by **andyreflexsilver** » Tue Jul 02, 2019 10:39 am

Thanks man, yeah I prefer them without bars I think, but it’s for practicality really so I think I’ll leave them on most of the time, as I’ll be using the roofbox a bit over the summer but it’s just a couple of bolts to take them off if I want to so not too bad

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

andyreflexsilver · Post by **andyreflexsilver** » Sun Jul 07, 2019 7:34 pm

Picked up a self inflating air mattress from Go Outdoors today, fits near enough perfectly with a little headboard effect and rolls up and stored underneath the bed. Don’t worry that’s not my spare wheel underneath

it’s a punctured tyre I’m repairing for a neighbour tomorrow

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

CADDY2K.com