The books in the Everyday Modifications series from Crowood are designed to guide classic van and car owners through the workshop skills needed to make their vehicles easier to use and enjoy. Camper van enthusiast Rob Hawkins gives practical advice on modernizing and improving a VW Bay Window camper van. With over 700 colour photographs, the book provides step-by-step guides on how to fit a wide range of simple and more sophisicated upgrades to bring a Bay Window into the 21st century.
With safety information throughout, the book covers:
Upgrading the interior - front bench seats, trimming panels, LED lighting, sound proofing and fitting a budget sound system
Improving the ride quality - how to improve the suspension, change dampers, assess wheels and tyres and fit uprated anti-roll bars
Better brakes - Bay Window brakes can be as good as a modern vehicle's, and this book shows how to do it
Updating the electrics - how to fit an alternator and a leisure battery with a fuse box, recharging the leisure battery and fitting a high-level brake light
Engine preservation and upgrades, including removing and rebuilding an engine
Many other upgrades - including how to fit a rear view camera, electronic steering and a towbar
About the Author: Rob Hawkins became a motoring journalist and photographer in 1993, combining his passions for writing, photography, and sports cars. He has written and photographed features for MG Enthusiast magazine since 1995, and has owned or driven most of the postwar MGs. When the MGF was launched in 1995, Rob was involved with test driving standard and modified versions, and wrote articles on how to repair and improve this mid-engined, two-seater sports car. He has also always had a passion for classic camper vans and after buying his own VW Bay Window Van in 2010, he made his own interior, fitting and testing a variety of popular accessories and equipment.
