T5 Build

[Kevo]

Hi guys,

I bought my T5 a couple of weeks ago now and im slowly building it up to suit motocross and to be a cruzy everyday ride,

Thanks to "Transporter" i replaced the water pump (instead of pulling off the head to inspect a water leak).

Its currently in the shop having the passenger electric window motor 'equalizer' relaced, bad timing as its going over the pits to be licenced in WA in 3 days!!!

So far all my stereo has arrived from the US and i have started to install that. I'll try get as much photos along the way as i can.

Coilovers will be here in a few weeks thanks to Lorenz and Evorobin from this site.

This is how it looked when it first arrived,




I stripped the back and put in a 12mm MDF false floor as i didn't want to carp[et over the corrugated metal floor, plus the MDF will help with sound proofing the cabin.




I chose marine carpet to put in as its hardy stuff and is easy to clean and doesn't show up dirt and sand easily so will suit carrying muddy motos back from races.






Next on the list was to trim and fit sound proofing to the wall panels.
I re-cut 12mm MDF for most of these too as the standard trim is thin, and i want to board up the whole right hand side and block off the B pillar window on the right. (dont want to smash it by putting a handelbar through the window).
The window has 10% tint and inside of MDF is painted black so from the outside it looks like a black window.


Rear doors re-trimmed




Sizing up the RHS wall before trimming

[Kevo]

Before i fit the RHS wall i had to wire up my stereo through the back as i didn't wnat to take it off again... That took longer than expected.
I fit a set of JL audio C5-525X splits in the rear and mounted the Crossover on the factory soundproofing on the inside of the panel and wired up before fitting the wall.




For anyone interested, the best route to acces the battery for amp power is directly infront of the passengers feet behing the trim and flooring.
There is a small metal threaded plug here, drill carefully to the left and it comes through into the battery compartment in the engine bay! Sweet.



Here the amps are dummied up in place to make sure they fit all right.
Ill hide the wiring later with a trimmed box on either end so the wiring is hidden.


The In-dash DVD arrived within 5 days from the US so that is going in now too.
More photos on that later


Next on the list was the Sub box.
I designed it to fit around two bikes so it wouldn' get in the way / damaged.

79L internal volume to suit two Kicker 12" L5 subs.


I managed to cover it with heaps of little offcuts i had left over form the floor so it matches and wont stand out too much



As it sits now at the mechanics getting the electric windows fixed.


Next on the list is to finish all interior trimming and fit front Rockford Fosgate T1652S Splits, the wiring is already routed there so its jst a matter of fitting them and wiring cables to standard tweeter locations.

Then i'll get onto the outside of the car

[Kevo]

**** Reserved space for extra photos ****

[Tornado T5]

I'm exhuasted just watching, lol...and looking forward to sharing the view of your project...well done so far.

[Lorenz]

Nice work there mate, should be a pretty nice rig once its all setup inside, and slammed on the outside!
Coils are on their way as we speak, let me know when they arrive

[Seano]

Looks great!!

What on earth was the van carrying before you bought it? The inside of the barn doors and arches look like they been attacked with a scutching hammer!!

[GoLfMan]

holy crap!

Good to see you getting stuck into it DIY styles

[Cousin]

Geez you're getting stuck into it kevo!
Don't forget to line those wheel arches, that'll get rid of some road noise


M

[fozz]

Look sh*t hot, it's great to get some info before attacking my beast. I'm looking to do a mountain bike/surfboard ready camper type set-up, hope to kick off this week with a few mock-up designs. It could take a while

[The_Hawk]

Thats coming together very nicely. Good to see people still like to get their hands dirty Nothing like sitting back and looking at something and saying "I did that"!

[Kevo]

Seano - it was an electricians van and had lots of loose stuff rolling around in it,

Yep i will definately soundproof and carpet the wheel arches! at the moment though finishing the stereo is priority as its olny got the subs and rear right speaker in!

Passed the pits on monday so all good to lower it as soon as coilovers and wheels arrive!

Ill post up more photos on the weekend of the progress, i've been away for the last 2 weeks as i had an away race in Southern Cross!

[Kevo]

Ok i made a few more changes to the van on the weekend,

not as much as i would have liked though as i have been busy enough with racing and blowing up MX engines the last 2 weekends Thats motorsport eh!


I fit the DVD head unit, that is prooving to be a good unit as it has seperate sub control, easy to use, plays music and videos from USB and SD card so i can watch Videos while i drive ( with the handbrake wire grounded)
It doesn't stick out too high in the dash too which is great !




I finally replaced the standard front splits, much easier job than fitting to a new falcon / commodore.



The standard speakers have HUGE spacers so i had to cut 6cm spacers so the magnet didn't hit the window, i was worried it might hit the trim sticking out so much but it clears perfectly!!!


(forgot to take photo of Rockford Fosgate 6.5" in the doors)

The tweeters were really easy to change too.
You're able to remove the thin metal mesh on dash with small flat heat screw driver and pop it off.
Careful though as this stuff breaks REALLY easily.....

Standard tweeter


There is a hole in the factory mount that i assume is for fitting after marked tweeters but mine didn't fit so i pulled them out and fit mine in by themselves. Wiring is able to be run beside dash - up door seal and under dash to the cross-over without being seen! very easy wire routing!



Next weekend ill fit the dash trim kit, put on the 5% tint on the rear windows and 35% on the front windows, and MAYBE start fitting the new Hottuning coilovers if i have time !!!!!!!

[Kevo]

Ok, i know its been a while since updating this thread but i have been away for a few weeks and busy racing on my time off so only a few updates for now,

The van has had the Hottuning coilovers fitted and is now dumped!
Thankyou Lorenz and Evorobin from this site for supplying me with the kit
The ride is actually smoother now than it was with the standard shocks and springs and higher springs on the rear, interesting....... and awesome!

I pulled the tint off the front two windows and the back doors to put new tint on. THIS IS A REALLY CRAP JOB. The glue removal sucks and takes ages to wipe off with thinners.


I finally finished re-upholstering the interior pannels! Very time consuming.
Here is where i mount the crossover for the rear splits before mounting the inside panel.





Before and after shot of the Van height.






Lots more room in the back compared to my ute!


More photos soon.

My 20" Lenso Blast wheels are being posted at the moment, and i also fit the woodgrain dash kit so i'll post up shots when i remember!

Cheers

[Lorenz]

Great work Kevo, glad the coils ride well and damn it looks great dropped. How much lower can it go?

[Kevo]

They can be wound down another 10mm Lorenz, but i left them that height as its low enough and still has a comfortable ride,

ok a few more photos, ill have some more time with van to do stuff now thanks to a crash at the track on sunday that left my with one functioning arm!!!!! Changing wheels on a car with a cast takes three times as long......................

My wheels arrived from Sydney,



255 will have me grip the road for sure

A quick shot of the coilovers for anyone interested


Here are the centre spigots that fit to the wheels. Bmw wheels are a few mm larger and these fill the gap inbetween T5 centre hub and BMW wheels, I have another set of four if anyone wants them too by the way



Fitting the 20"s raised the car by 28mm but thw wheel arches are full and i really like the look and ride height combination now, ill throw up shots of it later on today!!