Club 80-90 Forums

OK, getting to know our new Lesuire Drive

The guy we got it off has done a very thorough job of re-fitting the interior and replacing the carpet type lining with cream vinyl (as per previous posts on this )

Now I am no stranger (as many will know) to electrics and T25's but I have come across a slight problem. I need to feed some wiring from the dash area into the forward roof space. As I say, normally this would be no problem, but, the way all the vinyl has been very thoroughly glued into place, and all the woodwork the same, and not wanting to attempt to unstick any of it (I know I will mess the nice job up !) I cannot figure out how to get the wires "up top".

So, a bit of a shot in the dark, I wonder if anyone has any suggestions I have not thought of ?

Remove cab headling. Use A pillar as conduit and above passenger side door member to route wires. Need to 'fish' for them. Drill through roof tin in desired location. Fit rubber grommet in hole to protect wiring.

While you're there, you might like to fit a cab courtesy light over the passenger door like there is over the driver's side - I did

1664 wrote:Remove cab headling.

Yeh right

Nah, I ain't going there looking at the amount of glue the builder has used, plus last time I did that (on a NEW Pug 206) I made a right mess of it, wrinkles everywhere, company car, employer at the time NOT pleased !

1664 wrote:While you're there, you might like to fit a cab courtesy light over the passenger door like there is over the driver's side - I did

Err, yeh, this is one of the problems, the builder fitted the new vinyl roof (very securely ) and omitted to fit ANY cab lighting This is one reason why I was trying to get power in the front of the Hi-Top, so at least I could fit a manually operated courtesy light in the centre of the cab roof !

I spent an hour looking at the problem today (until my 4 week old new hip started to hurt ) and decided there was no way it could be done without major surgery and the risk of making a right mess !

PLAN B = fit cab lighting, via door pin switches, somewhere on the lower part of the A pillars (both sides)... or similar...

If you only need the light for things like getting in and out you could consider led lights with batteries in the units.
If not - as you are going to make a hole in the new lining for a light the wiring is most probably in the channel already - have you checked as to what cables run up the A pillars? I know it won't be easy with a new hip getting to the loom at the base as I find it hard with my arthur itis.

Oldiebut goodie wrote:If you only need the light for things like getting in and out you could consider led lights with batteries in the units.

Aye, I was / am hoping to fit some LED lights in the cab area that go on and off as usual with the door switches.
I intend to take an LED torch in there when it is dark and test which is the most suitable AND "do-able" place to mount similar (12 V converted) units. As I say, 1 on each A frame, pointing upwards seems favourite at the moment.

Oldiebut goodie wrote:as you are going to make a hole in the new lining for a light the wiring is most probably in the channel already - have you checked as to what cables run up the A pillars?

I ain't cutting into the vinyl, it feels well tensioned and I ain't risking messing it up.
The "manual" light in the centre of the cab roof idea has now been shelved (in view of the above "plan")

Oldiebut goodie wrote:I know it won't be easy with a new hip getting to the loom at the base as I find it hard with my arthur itis.

Yep, and, esp in my case where I am under doctors orders to "not over do things", I have to keep reminding myself of that = Very frustrating but worth it in a month or two I have not even driven this van myself yet !! (1 week into ownership btw, it is good un though, just these "lack of forward planning" niggles by the builder !)

A friend of mine had both hips done - within a month he was back to dragging boxes of fish up the beach which wasn't bad as he was pushing 70 at the time.

Don't suppose you have the passenger side sun visor with mirror and courtesy lamp fitted?

I'd also look into what Oldie said; using the old cab light position as the wiring will already be behind it - vinyl can't be stretched all that tight surely?

Remove blank plates on driver's side grab handle position and drop some wires down and fit a small light there?

1664 wrote:Don't suppose you have the passenger side sun visor with mirror and courtesy lamp fitted?

I wish

1664 wrote:I'd also look into what Oldie said; using the old cab light position as the wiring will already be behind it - vinyl can't be stretched all that tight surely?

There feels like an inch+ of free space behind the vinyl at that place, so not enough vinyl to create "flaps" to go behind the light fitting

1664 wrote:Remove blank plates on driver's side grab handle position and drop some wires down and fit a small light there?

That is what very close to what I have in mind for "Plan B"

Shame the builder did not think of these "minor" details , Like the radio is foobarred as are the 2 main speakers And no fuses on the leisure battery wiring, (now sorted) etc. Just minor stuff though as the rest of the "main bits" of this van seem good

ghost123uk wrote:

1664 wrote:I'd also look into what Oldie said; using the old cab light position as the wiring will already be behind it - vinyl can't be stretched all that tight surely?

There feels like an inch+ of free space behind the vinyl at that place, so not enough vinyl to create "flaps" to go behind the light fitting

To be fair the cab headlining is stretched fairly tight. I just carefully cut a shape like this in it

>----<

and the bog standard cab light 'pulls' and locks the material flaps into the recess so it looks pretty good

Up to you of course but that's what I'd do....