Air precleaner

[Simon Baxter]

getting it moulded would be prohibitively expensive. Seriously! If you had a design then the mould alone would be tens of thousands of pounds. I'm sure vw did their R & D and decided against it for to tooling costs and the amount that they would be able to sell. Getting it made in fiberglass would be the only viable option and to do that you would need something to take a mould from, which isn't going to happen.

The only option in my eyes is to build it from wood or something easy to work and take a mould from that. In all honestly I really don't thing its a goer due to investment needed and the rewards that you would reap.
What you got to remember is that most T3s are campers with either a elevating or high roof, yes its cool, yes I would buy one but in reality you have a fairly limited market.

[Simon Baxter]

http://brick-yard.co.uk/VehicleSpecific ... roch87.pdf

Sorry, it's on a silver van, not blue.
And the rack is black...
Maybe it was painted and put on the Weltenbummler, the brochure above is dates '87.
I wonder why they never made them?
Interesting part, with a dual purpose...

That has to be the coolest accessory .... not even in EKTA

There is a load of things that VW sold that weren't on ETKA, for them you would need the contemporory "Accessories catalogue" which I should imagine no longer exsist unless some old parts person had one that they took home.
There is still an accessories catalogue in ETKA but it covers current models, not old stuff.

[v-lux]

Like you say, there are a limited number of vans they would fit (mine included as my roof rack would be in the way, it would require a different design for me personally)

My thoughts had been to mock it up in balsa or something similarly easy to form. Weve got loads of GRP workers round this way because of all the boat and surfboard making, so it might not be all that hard to get someone to make something up.
To be totally honest, i wouldn't really be that interested in making it a money making exercise, unless it really did generate lots of interest....but to get a small run made for interested parties cant be a bad thing surely?

I might make some inquiries and see whats possible...

So, moving on

What kind of arrangement do people imagine VW put inside there's? I cant see any obvious hatch or opening to remove a filter from or empty a dust trap?
Most pre cleaners as far as i can make out use a kind of cyclone system, air is made to vortex as it enters by angled fins and the dust ejects out the side from a slot (put simply)

Any one got any thoughts on what sot of system could be put inside the VW stylee thing?

[poshbuggers]

Easiest way would be to mock it up in high density foam then smooth over with filler and filler primer.

A setup that doesn't overlap the roof too much could be made which could be suited to many vans including high and poptops.

Something that wraps over/clamps/fixes into the gutter and uses the existing vent fixing points. You could fix it to the van, then add the outer skin (looks like the original works the same with 4 fixings) to seal it and it also provides access to the filter within.

[syncropaddy]

I would hazard a guess and say that there is nothing inside except a mesh guard or something like that and the air filter is tucked away inside the C post.

[Simon Baxter]

I would hazard a guess and say that there is nothing inside except a mesh guard or something like that and the air filter is tucked away inside the C post.

What he said.
I would want one to mount without drilling the body if it was me, looks like the VW ones uses some form of fixing that uses the original mountings for the plastic rear vent.
If it were to be a pre cleaner I would be tempted to find a universal item that could be mounted inside the rack, but something that is going to be available for years to come

[syncrowjoker]

Would probably be reticulated foam, ie foam with all the bubbles burst! Available in various "pore sizes",the larger the number the coarser the filter. Used 30/45 pore for stockcar filters.

[Syncro G]

I would hazard a guess and say that there is nothing inside except a mesh guard or something like that and the air filter is tucked away inside the C post.

What he said.
I would want one to mount without drilling the body if it was me, looks like the VW ones uses some form of fixing that uses the original mountings for the plastic rear vent.
If it were to be a pre cleaner I would be tempted to find a universal item that could be mounted inside the rack, but something that is going to be available for years to come

What they said. Recon its only advantage is air from along the roof (far enough forward of the turbulance right at the back) might be slightly less dusty than air by the rear vents, if you were the leading vehicle on a dusty road it could make a difference, though wether its actully worth it would depend if that much dust gets drawn down the standard vans and wether something like front mudflaps could also reduice dust kickup. If your following another vehicle in dust I doubt it makes the slightest difference as it just gets everywhere. Plenty of Mammut dust got into my engine bay, doubtless some of it came down the vents.

Thouse mushroom tops on most snorkels are a pain in the a*** when it comes to trees and stuff but when you look at air/dust flow inside them, nothing else comes close! Just a shame they don't fit on a T3 van very well. Still you can have fun winding up Land-Rover owners when they ask about what those vents do and you point out your standard fit snorkel just visable inside (much better location than a standard LR Tdi, and they would have payed hundreds to replace it with duluxe drain pipe (which of course is still a must have accessory even if you don't go wadeing or to dusty places (or maybe Tescos is the dustyest place of all?)))

[jed the spread]

I know what your saying about the mushroom one getting knocked off I have seen it happen loads, but if you were in true dusty conditions (Morocco for example) Traveling in convoy and could remove it for UK green laneing where they have trees and stuff to knock it off unlike true dusty conditions that would be best. I know its not on a syncro and is more suited on the front of this van but on Russels Lt he has what looks like a pair of sheeps bollox on his at the front to collect the crap without having to lift an engine lid and you can keep your eye on it as you drive. Bloody clever idea....






I am going to try and convince him to build me one when he is next drunk and venerable

Jed

[lhd]

Ooooh pass the tissues......
And before you get me in any "pooh" I mean the one on the right.
You would have thought he could afford a bumper end kit though.
Rob.

[jed the spread]

He knocked it off when he took it for the maiden voyage to Wales because he was thinking of bumming Jake or something.

jed

[lhd]

Tell Russel I have 6K burning a hole in my pocket if he's interested.
Thats For the van by the way not the air precleaner;.
Rob.

[jed the spread]

Ooooh pass the tissues......
And before you get me in any "pooh" I mean the one on the right.
You would have thought he could afford a bumper end kit though.
Rob.

Would have like to have read what you really posted before you edited it ya big bag of bollox

jed

[Simon Baxter]

Personally I really admire the porch light on that one.
Must make it all that much easier wandering home pissed and being able to get your keys in the door........