Club 80-90 Forums

Hi All,

I've recently bought a 1983 air cooled van with an EMC high top and need to free up the sliding door. It will just about open, with some force, but is jamming badly. What steps should I take to free the door? 

Thanks for any advice
Pete
 

De-rust the middle runner , there are no bearings on a early on the middle runner , just metal on metal 

Dirt does get into these areas, it may also be advisable to remove the covering over the sliding channel to get better access, and to view the areas around the running channel as they are prone to rot.

And welcome to the forum

Thanks for the advice and welcome

I lived in a hightop T2 in the early 90s for three years (had a small woodburner in there) and about 20 years ago had a T25 with a Viking roof for a couple of years. After deciding to get another camper, and having a long look at what is available nowadays, I decided a T25 is still my favorite. 

This is my van, bought unseen at a good price. The paintwork is a bit flaky now, and we are going to roller it in the Spring. Weirdly, there is hardly any rust anywhere, although the underside hasn't had a good inspection yet,





I took the sliding door panel off and cleaned the solidified gunk out as best I could. There is a bit of rust on the left but otherwise seems pretty solid.


There are a couple of problems. The door is very stiff at the point where it has to swing out, and has to be closed very firmly.

Also, the catch to hold it open is dropping down, I wondered if it was because the piece holding it in place is bent to the left? Or is is supposed to be that shape? Arrowed in white below.



Cheers

Pete
 

For interest, this is a sketch I did of me sitting in the van in 92, sketching myself...with stove and lurcher

Didn't have cameras back then