Date:         Tue, 11 Apr 2000 19:21:30 -0400
Reply-To:     "Karl F. Bloss" <bloss@ENTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Karl F. Bloss" <bloss@ENTER.NET>
Subject:      Re: converting gl to be more camp-able (FREE TOP)
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2000041118512179@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

> The Vanagon roof is pretty different from pop-top to non.

I respectfully disagree.  The main difference is the the middle beam is flat on
the Westy and rounded on the GL.  I basically cut between the front and middle
beams.  It's all shown on this page:

http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/poptop/

> First you got the hole to deal with, no real way to trim that out nicely

I did it with luggage rack seal and those who don't know what to look for say
it looks stock.  The headliner is tucked in there nicely.

> The bunk structure and what the do to reinforce the roof in back when the
> remove stuff would be welding to do right as well.

Just run some wood pieces along the sides and the bed is supported in 3 places
rather than 2 on the Westy.

> And most of all the hinge pieces are mounted into sections with a
> different stamped contour, not merely onto a reinforced regular Van roof,
> but that doesn't matter that much likely.

There's enough slop there that it doesn't matter.  BTDT.  A backing plate is
necessary since you can't slip nuts between the vertical and horizontal sheet
metal.  Drilled & tapped and you're good to go.

> be interesting to see how some of those home grown conversions are holding
> up.

Well, our maiden voyage was through Hurricane Floyd and we had no leaks except
for the skylight, which was a separate issue.  So far it's like any other Westy
in terms of the poptop seals, wind stability, etc.

> Anyway FWIW, anyone considering this, I still am trying to sell the '81
> roof before I junk it, $50 you pull whatever you want but the bunk
> cushions not included or $0.00 (FREE) if you pull away the entire van, the
> smarter way IMHO as you'd want both the donor and yours there I gaurantee.

Someone should really grab this...  I got mine, so I don't need another.

-Karl

Karl and Kristina Bloss, Trexlertown, PA
'87 Westfalia Weekender  "Beverley" - 195K miles
http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/
PA/NJ Vanagon owner's mailing list: http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/pavanagon/