Engine bay condition and restoring it

Discussion in 'Buying a VW Camper' started by blondebier, Oct 27, 2022.

  1. blondebier

    blondebier Supporter

    Hi All,

    I've been looking at a few vans and I'm wondering how concerned I should be about the condition of the engine bay.

    Surface rust could be rubbed down and treated with rustoleum (or similar) fairly easily. I guess battery tray panels could be fixed with the engine in.

    How bad is it before you need to take the engine out and repair? Or is that impossible to say?

    One thing I have noticed is the top panel/covering in the engine bay. Some have them and some don't. What are they called? Is it just a sound deadening insulating cover?

    Some appear to be made out of some odd material full of holes:

    [​IMG]

    Can you get replacements for it? It almost looks like cork or ply sheet full of holes?

    Other's seem to be made out of a metal mesh:

    [​IMG]

    That one looks pretty good.

    Some don't have anything and all you see is the floor of the bus.

    I've looked at JustKampers, Heritage and Schofields but I can't find anything on the bodywork diagrams that shows this.

    Any pointers?

    Thanks
     
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2022
  2. Day

    Day

    The engine/ engine bay i consider to be the heart of the bus... Therefore it wants to be in the best condition possible.

    The thing above engine bay is used to hold in the soundproofing material.
    It is often rotten, so people make them, i made mine from ply, youcould use aluminium.
     
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  3. JamesLey

    JamesLey Sponsor

    The panels on the ceiling of the engine vary a little over the years. The earlier vans had the metal panels, which was replaced on later models with the cheaper cardboard.
     
    blondebier likes this.
  4. Day

    Day

    I think they are called... 'baffle boards'.
     
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  5. blondebier

    blondebier Supporter

    Thanks both, that's really helpful.

    I guess they're like hen's teeth now if the aftermarket guys don't make them.

    It explains the differences. I'm relieved that it's not a critical part and shouldn't be expensive to replace if I end up with a duff board version.
     
  6. Hello together,

    these panels are indroduced in model year '71 - so not all have them,
    there different models because e.g. the maintenance hatch at the top introduced in model year '73.

    But the flame retardant pressed wood panels are only what you see directly -
    the main thing is behind it: glass wool wrapped in plastic film.
    As noise reduction and thermal insulation.
    And I repainted my one in white roof color - instead lower body color. So in white it's easier to have more light inside. ;)

    [​IMG]

    My engine bay is clean.
    If I go on my long trips, I would like to work in this one with joy if necessary.
    And it is easier to see, if there is some issue...

    [​IMG]

    regards,
     
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2022
  7. I've got a set of metal ones going spare !
     
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  8. DubCat

    DubCat Sponsor

    Will they fit an engine hatch model? How much and can I have them please if OP isn't interested?
     
  9. If you have a opening hatch they won't fit sorry
     
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  10. DubCat

    DubCat Sponsor

    OK thanks Mick. (B#gger)
     
    3901mick likes this.
  11. matty

    matty Supporter

    I’m after a set if you want to sale
     
    3901mick likes this.
  12. Message me tomorrow I have had a beer too many :)
     
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  13. blondebier

    blondebier Supporter

    Thanks 3901Mick.

    If Matty doesn't go for them I'd be very interested. I've attached a pick of our new engine bay as of this morning.

    Would they be a good replacement for these?

    Cheers
     

    Attached Files:

  14. blondebier

    blondebier Supporter

    I think I've found a supplier...

    https://www.bus-ok.de/Typ2-bay-Covering-the-engine-compartment-insulation-type4-engine

    From what I can tell, these would be a replacement for the boards at the front of my engine bay. There isn't one across the rear of mine and I wonder if that is because it has a hatch above it?

    There is some insulation in plastic wrapping there, but no board covering it.

    I wonder if that is by design? It just looks a bit odd like something is missing.

    I'd really like to get my engine bay sorted so that I can fit a Fire Fighter tube at the top, but these boards are a flaming wind up!
     
  15. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    It's people who insist on hanging things from the hardboard ones that wreck them. ;)
    I think you're right, it's for the top hatch version. Your link:
    [​IMG]
    Non hatch looks like this.
    [​IMG]
    The lid itself has a spring thing holding the insulation in place.
     
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2022
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  16. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    If you were only interested in insulation there are fire retardant aluminium faced self adhesive foam sheets you can fit that provide insulation.

    Use the metal ribs that would have supported the pop rivets for the boards for the fire extinguisher hose.

    Add a fuel shutoff solenoid triggered by the extinguisher so there is less fuel to spread in a burning puddle under the bus where the auto extinguisher has not a hope of reaching.

    Carry at least a 1kg manual extinguisher as well for "mopping up" under the bus..I needed half in the engine bay, half under the bus to put out the fire, after the fuel feed was shut off via a solenoid. It was powder so messy but I was driving again a day later.
     
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2022
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  17. blondebier

    blondebier Supporter

    Now if someone made them in aluminium or some composite material I'd bite their arm off.
     
  18. blondebier

    blondebier Supporter

    Scrap that - bus-ok.de don't ship to the UK. (The Google translation did make me laugh - "nebulous customs and shipping")

    Perhaps they should change the translation flag to a circle with stars to go alongside the German flag?

    I think I've accepted that if I want to replace these I'm going to need to make some of my own.

    The search for a suitable fire retardant/heat resistant board commences...
     
  19. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    That's a little unfair. They will ship to the UK if you are a trade customer. This is Brexit fallout where some German suppliers weren't set up, or couldn't be bothered to set up, for the change in import regs when we left the EU. Its not been an easy ride for some of us who buy from overseas.
    However, I used standard perforated hardboard on Chip back in 2014 and it's been fine...
    https://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/chip.33075/page-4

    Hope that helps your quest...:thumbsup:
     
  20. blondebier

    blondebier Supporter

    Those boards look great. Thanks for the tip.

    It certainly saves drilling a load of holes.
     
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