Dan's fishing van

[FishermansFriend]

Good luck with your new van Dan. Off to a great start already.

[DW2207]

Cheers mate, really enjoying caddy ownership again.
As I was saying before, I've taken some pn from your build as some of your mods I will definitely be doing

Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk

[3rdLeg]

Nice fresh base for shenanigans!

I take it you’re staying with the diesel this time? Planning a remap?

Ps good to hear Elite are still going, I got my first set of alloys/tyres and eibach springs from there in 2001.

[DW2207]

Hi 3rdleg, yes a nice fresh blank canvas to put my mark on mate.

Went to elite's earlier, however they were so busy. So I used a local garage to me. Cost me £20 and was in and out in 10 mins so happy days.
Yes elite's is still going strong, nice group of guys that work there, only to happy to accommodate you if they can.
Use them for my tyre and wheel alignment work.

This time, I will be sticking to the 2.0tdi mate.
I'm going to slowly work through a list of modifications/enhancements that I want to achieve first.
One of the last ones will be to go for the R type 340mm front brake setup from the mk7 golf R.
I like the idea of this from @fishermanfriends who has done this to his caddy. Plus, it's plug and play and won't need to change the brake pipes.
This should then round things of nicely with a stage 1 remap. But I do want a custom one for my driving needs and not a generic of the shelf one.

I'll update my build as and when I do stuff. Most things have already been documented before by other owners, but kinda like this interaction side of the forum.

Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk

[3rdLeg]

Glad they’re still busy; it’s a big old setup they’ve got.

I haven’t been back there for probably 15yrs; I’m from the other side of London; but they were great when I dealt with them.

Back then there wasn’t many companies doing this stuff, so you had to travel!

Be interested in your approach and results on the custom map you get.

Always good to hear and see other peoples version of events; even if it has been done before.

ATB with the rest of the build

[DW2207]

Second part of tge front lowering is now complete.

I manged to get a rare (job o knock ) yesterday from site.
This gave me pretty much the whole afternoon and evening to get the shocks and springs over to elite's for them to hopefully swap them to the 60mm eibach springs.
Wasn't to be, the guys were extremely busy and was told possibly next Monday/Tuesday. I did chance my luck to be fair thinking that it would not have been that busy like it gets on a Saturday.
Did make use of the visit to pick up my black bimecc locking wheel bolts they had ordered for me.
On the drive home I popped into another local garage and they quickly swapped the springs across for £20. In and out in 10mins, happy days.

Back home it was just a simple case of refitting everything in reverse, and cleaning up the various shock spline bolts and nuts with some wd40. Everything else hardware wise looked fresh as a daisy tbh.

Had some 312mm front brake calipers/carriers and ebc discs and pads that I got for my previous caddy. These were in good condition with less than 1000miles on the discs and pads. I knew there was a reason I could never sell them , must have been fate.
A quick paint up of black hammerite smooth and some new clips, re bleed of brakes and they were on.

Battling in the rain I finally had the new shocks on, wheels tightened and torqued and a test drive around the local neighbourhood that is littered with speed humps confirmed no rattles, squeaks or clunking noises.
Brakes felt alot better. No squealing and paddle fell is cock on now.

Rears will be next, will start on these hopefully later weather permitting

Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk

[stu_b]

Looks mint
The sound (or rather no sound) of sweet success

[DW2207]

Cheers stu, really enjoy the process of caddys. Probably why I've had a couple now. Never thought I would get this involved in van ownership, especially as its my fishing van .
Once the modding bite gets hold of you, your find it hard to stop.

Finale of the lowering phase.

As yesterday is known as POETS day on site, (piss off early tomorrow's Saturday) I was able to start the rear lowering of the van.

As I'd done this a couple of years ago on my mk3 I knew I was going one route, darkside developments rear kit.
Nice piece of machined parts and a centralising/dowel kit for wheel alignment.

When I did this I stuck to the second option on their instructions as I wasn't going super lower with the van.
I quite like the subtle drop I get with the 60mm eibach springs and highest setting on the rear shackles. Find this best of both worlds for were my van is driven at times.

Not the easiest job to tackle on your own on a driveway when the heavens open up and gales drive in, but needs must .

A couple of hours later, everything was buttoned up and lowered.
Looked exactly how I wanted it to.
I will say, I had to undo a few extra bolts from darkside's instructions. I un loosened the lower shock bolt and nut plus drop link nut. This stopped the axel wanting to twist itself towards the front of the van when getting the centralising plates in place.

All tightened up and lowered.
No issues with the sliding door or wheels fouling on the wheel liner by sticking to the central set up in the pics.
Out of intrest my wheel choice is

Pretoria's replicas
8J et45 tyres 225 45 zr18 95y. Nice flush fitment with regards to the wheel arches.

Last job was to cut one notch if the foam stop.

Whilst I was there, I made sure to check the spare wheel, make sure the 2 bolts had not corroded their selves in situ.
All good, so went about doing the hose pipe mod that Doc as written about on the how to section.
Probably one of the first and most important mods to do if you are in caddy ownership.
This along with the bonnet housing mod, again modified by doc in the how to section. Another important enhancement.

Now awaiting a few parts, and will next do the front pdc sensors before I get the bumpers, door handles, side trim colour coded.

Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk

[3rdLeg]

Nice work, liking the extra profile of the 45s

If I get the hump with coilovers , I’m gonna go eibach 60mm I reckon, looks comfy and stress free!

[stu_b]

Just a fishing van ,,,, pffffft
That's the perfect reason to be doing it
Hahahaaa
Whatever your reason, don't need to justify with us + just need to have an understanding Mrs !!!

[DW2207]

I had these tyres on my 18's on my connect.
The tyre centre said for the van a 45 profile on this width wheel (identical alloy specs on both vans) would be correct and give you the load rating.
I've had pzero's before on my car so rate them tbh. It was my first choice for the 18's.
Gave it a quick run again around the neighbourhood speed humps and everything is OK, no rattles or clunking from the back.
Ride comfort is always good on this spring set up for me, no problems here.

Apart from some exterior enhancements, the interior will be pretty much left alone.
Love the caddy seats, driving position and comfort is good for my needs. Will just get some nice fitted seat covers and finish of with the golf mk7 mat chrome door handles and window/mirror buttons.
A solid bulkhead and that's pretty much it.
The rear will be left ply lined, and will sound deaden and insulate this part.
It as sufficient led vw cargo lights, so this lights up this space perfectly.
Much easier to keep clean this way to.

Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk

[FishermansFriend]

Tidy work Dan, gonna be a real nice fishing van

[DW2207]

Thank you @FishermansFriend, if its just a patch on your fine oem plus example I'll be an happy carper

Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk

[DW2207]

Just a couple of subtle add ons done over the week.
Sourced a good condition engine cover. A clean with gunk and some auto glym rubber/trim restorer got it looking pretty good again.
Fitted some plastic caps for the wiper arm nuts as well.
Ordered some volkswagen touran rubber floor mats and fixing pegs, can confirm the fitment is spot on.
PN is in the pics for these.
Went this route as they are no longer available in RHD if ordering for caddys mk3/mk4.
Thanks to theoldseacaptain for pointing this out to me in the 'wanted' section of the forum

Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk

[Billy69_UK]

@DW2207
Did you find it straightforward to repin the connectors for the replacement tail lights or was it a faff on?

Cheers.