Dan's fishing van

[DW2207]

Hi, I am so far. The only thing that I occasionally scrape on is the front mudflaps. But this is on steep high humps.
A must have for me before I even lowered the van and previous vans is to fit an undertray.
Another cost saving exercise no doubt from vw accounts dept, however would rather potentially smash the undertray than my sump.
I would again not advise to have any front splitter on either. Especially if you are going lowered to mtb meets. I'm sure thus would end in tears.

Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk

[300396]

MY caddy came lowered with 19 inch wheels on first fishing trip didn’t get on to a loose track going down a single track road that had big puddles both side of the road driving at 15 mph in the middle of the road a big pothole full of water on n/s i ripped off one side of the deflector strip under the van so I’ve lifted it up back to standard and it drives so much better if this van hadn’t been the right spec I wanted eg 2.0 dsg gearbox lift up rear door and all the toys I wouldn’t have bought it.

[DW2207]

This was always a worry with me regarding the lowering.
I've seen a few vans on the 40mm springs, which may be an option if it starts to cause issues.


Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk

[DW2207]

Another update to my vans modifications.
I got around to getting the van over to the local garage to have the rear retrofication saddle kit welded on and fitted.
I left the rear hangers from the darkside developments kit in place as the retrofication ones compared side by side looked no different. If anything the darkside ones are slightly shorter by 10mm.
The one obstacle the guys encountered was the metal pin pressed into the leafs that needed to be relocated to the other side.
Try as they may, these pins on the mk4 leafs are virtually unmovable. Not like the mk3 pin and nut set up.
Luck would have it they had some 14mm steel dowel rod, so was able to replicate this on the leafs opposite side. Create a pin.
The saddles required a slight brush up on the curved machine sides for a closer fit to the axels curve.
New U bolts, nuts and locking plates were ordered from deutsch parts (cheaper than LLL parts) were fitted.
The recess in the underside plate allows the pin on the leafs to site nicely in, thus allowing a flush fit clamp system.
The new fitted dowel pin locates in one of the two holes on the saddles for axel alignment.
Only have the one pic, as the guys got me in last minute so didn't want to get in their way.
Will paint all parts in hammerite black paint and spray the recess with some wax oil this weekend.
Happy with the outcome. The wheel sits almost the same position as the previous shackle kit. I measured the before and after. We are talking 5mm difference towards front arch. I can live with that.
Will get a pic of the wheel later on level ground and follow up on this.
Looks much nicer and less cluttered on that rear axel now.

Pic shows the saddle in its final position prior to a few tack welds to show how everything will go together eventually.


Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk

[DW2207]

Bilstein b8's fitted now on the rear.
Whilst there, I applied some more grease to the rear arb poly bushes as they creaked a bit when lowering the van off of the axel stands.
All is quite, ride is spot on and like the ever so slightly height gains I've now got on the rear axel with my setup.
I think I'll re do the vans paintwork again. Not sure if I'm a fan of this rupes uno advance all in one.
Will go to a yellow rupes da fine polish and rupes da wool pad.
Heard and seen some good results with this combo for a nice paint enhancement on vag clear coats.
Not after full paint correction results, just a nice clean polished surface for my chosen ceramic coating.
Will use cquartz uk 3.0 this time. Used cquartz on my mk2tts with good results.
Maintenance washes with a coating is a joy, so much nicer and slicker to work with.
Rinsless washes are also very effective too.
Will do this the weekend. Hopefully will be able to get some good pics of the results.

Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk

[DW2207]

With the rear suspension now done and everything torqued, poly bushes greased and tightened up under the vans laden weight, I spent the next few days driving around, just to bed it all in.
I'm a lot happier now to spend the extra time going over it like a mad man making sure the rear arb was in the correct position and everything sitting exactly where it needs to be and torqued to elswain manual on its wheels.
I have now finally got a super quite non squeaky suspension lowered caddy .

Next port of call was elite's in rainham essex to get the front wheel alignment done, as this had plenty of time to settle in on the new setup.

Out of interest, I took the van over to a quite industrial estate that has very flat ground.
Decided to take measurements to see how the rear axel set up was now on the weld on saddles and new shocks.
The measurements were spot on tbh.
My van is currently sitting on the highest possible setting with the rear hangers, so have a nice arch gap on the rear.
This has now left me looking at the front to see about fitting the 40mm eibach springs to get that up with a similar arch gap.
Made a quick sketch if this of any interest to someone perhaps who is going this route.

Also purchased a new solid bulkhead panels from deutsche parts to replace the grid ones that were originally fitted. I like the full separation of the drivers cab and the cargo space. Plus it does sound slightly quiter too from that noise resonance I would normally hear.



Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk

[FishermansFriend]

Nice work Dan, rear wheels look perfect.

[DW2207]

Thanks Wayne. As you know yourself and being an angler, some of the tracks we drive down can be crap.
Hopefully don't have to many issue's going forward.

Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk

[DW2207]

A small update to my van.
As mentioned in a previous post, I wasn't too happy with how the front of the van slightly dipped with the 60mm eibach springs and the rear setting being on the highest hole.
So, I took a punt and purchased it, fitted some 45mm eibach springs.
This as now pretty much levelled up the front nicely. It only needed a knats c##k to do so, but now I much prefer the stance.
I also removed the 340 mm R line front brakes too.
If I'm being honest, I didn't think they offered any better or more effective braking than the 312 mm ebc discs and pads I was originally running.
I fitted the R line ones with trw pads and discs.
Only carry angling kit, so not like the van is fully loaded at all times.
Another thing I had to change was my replica pretoria wheels.
With the extra width and poke, especially from the pzero tyres, if parked up on uneven ground, the ply lining panel on the sliding door would rub on the tyre wall.
On level ground, it cleared with mm's to spare.
Again, most would look past this, but me being a bit anal it had to be sorted.
Wasn't a fan of the gunmetal grey wheels with the grey paintwork of the van, so I went down the oem pretoria route again as I like this style on the caddys.
Got a brand new genuine set from a chap off of eBay on Sunday.
18 7.5j et50 and with the tyres now have a nice tucked wheel that doesn't cause any issues no matter the grounds level.
Also , I prefer the lighter coloured wheels with the indium grey paint, especially as I have the chrome strip on the front grill still in place.
With new springs, drives just as nice as the 60mm ones.



Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk

[3rdLeg]

Looking good

[DW2207]

Thank you for the comment mate

Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk

[DW2207]

Got a few jobs to do on the van. Some are preventative issues, others are just cosmetic modifications.

First job was to get the ac gas removed. Used elites in rainham for this, and for £70 will refill once I go back.
I then replaced the damaged ac condenser and secondary coolant radiator behind lock carrier.
This came about when around 3/4 months ago when I went to fit the undertray, I noticed the plastic support foot on the radiator was missing.
This lead to me replcing the front lock carrier as this was damaged at this point too. Looks like the previous owner had hit something and did a fair bit of damage.

Whist there, I checked the front condenser, and low and behold this was damaged too at the same point.

So went about obtaining the part numbers from these, and ordered the oe valeo ac condenser (modine is vag only and twice the price with vw tax) and valeo coolant radiator. Again, this is valeo without the vw sticker and £80 cheaper, too.
Also got 2 new ac pipe rubber O rings.
Was impressed with the quick turn around from autodoc and will using this company more often. LLL parts seem to be price hiking their parts.

I remembered vag vehicles allow the front slam panel to be put in a service position so bought a neilsen lock carrier tool.
This was quite handy to have, and worth the £20 for doing the job.

Job went to plan, no rusty screws obolts to fight with and was able to re loom the headlight wiring harnesses for the xenon headlights I'm going to fit.

I have since fitted the xenons, however in my stupidity, ordered the wrong revision delphi led drivers.
Got the H ones apposed to the F suffix revision ones, .
New ones ordered from a skoda dealership in the Czech Republic, which was cheaper than anyone else this side of the world.

Just an heads up. My van is a startline model, and can confirm these coded correctly to my vans bcm, 5k0937085AG. Also as options in the long coding for front fog lights and RLS if I so wish to do so.

Coded with obdeleven Pro, and the good 'how to' coding section on this topic.

Thanks again to @ Petrev who confirmed his coding to mine when I had only 50% of the drl bar on. As mentioned this was my doing on the hardware.

A bit long winded post, so thank you if you have read this .



Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk

[DW2207]

Another very small update.
Recently acquired the correct front brakes calipers, carriers, new discs and pads from autodoc.
In my hast, I left my old ones out for the scrape man when I fitted the big golf R ones. As mentioned before, didn't really notice any better braking from these and removed them as didn't really feel they were necessary nor wasn't feeling the look of the larger front brake setup on my van.

Gave the parts a few coats of wruth galv silver paint. Like the cleaner silver look on oe brakes. That or black. Just my preference.

Ate 312mm x 25mm discs and ebc ultimax pads completed the setup.
Bedding in process at the moment, but initial bite from this setup feels alot more smoother than the grabby larger setup I had fitted.

Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk

[stu_b]

those brakes look OEM
you've done a great job

[DW2207]

Thanks stu, beginning to realise I much prefer the softer oem look now on my van than the route I was going to go with it.