Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 17:13:35 -0700
Reply-To: Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: converting gl to be more camp-able (FREE TOP)
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I did this conversion 6 YEARS AGO and it is holding up fine. You can see
my Syncro in Coyote's Hollister report. The pop top has been through
thousands of miles of bad dirt road and 10s of thousands of miles of bad
paved roads. I have camped at least 200 nights with the top up, many
with the Baja winds howling and blowing like the end of the world, and
the top does fine. I did not cut away either of the arched supports,
only the flimsy sheet metal between them. I trimmed the edges of the
hole with oak and it looks good. Most people think it is stock. I also
installed the kitchen stuff but I left out the rear cabinet as we like
more room in bed. This can be a very economical way of getting a camper
and with Syncro Westy prices what they are, Syncro owners can save $8k
by doing this. You do not end up with a true Westy and the resale value
is questionable but if you are keeping it forever like me it makes
sense. Air cooled Westys with bad motors and trannys sell for $500-1000
bucks complete. These things are being crushed at an alarming rate and
to me it is a good thing if the parts can be used to extend the life and
use of other Vanagons. The top bunk is a problem to fit in but for 2 it
isn't really needed. With the top up we use the rear roof to put all of
our stuff and we live below. The bottom area has much more room than a
Westy as the ceiling over the bed is higher and there are no rear
cabinets to bump our heads on as I left them out. This also gives us
more cargo area in the back over the engine.
Mark
John Anderson wrote:
>
> ><< what about a poptop kit? any
> > great ideas or inputs as to how to develop this van to be more "home away
> > from homey" would be greatly appreciated.
> > thanks >>
> >
> >i have a complete pooptop for sale, if anyones interested..whole roof, beds,
> >hardware, excellent canvas, etc. easy conversion, do it in one weekend, no
> >welding.
>
> First off, the '81 top is still available free in WV to anyone who takes the
> van along with it.
>
> Next, not to slamn Chris, but I don't buy this at all. I was looking at doing
> the '81 top onto the '87 before just parting both. The Vanagon roof is pretty
> different from pop-top to non. First you got the hole to deal with, no real
> way to trim that out nicely, as the sunroof structure to do it right is VERY
> extensive, and would basically infolve sectioning the whole roof to do right,
> and that would be beyond imagining.
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> Now that all said, sure you can probably just cut a hole, trim with some
> windlace, and bolt on the hinges with a backing plate. How good it looks
> depends on how good a job you do. I don't know how the bunk will fit
> though. A lot of people did this to syncros back when they were worth
> something, be interesting to see how some of those home grown conversions
> are holding up.
>
> I might be missing something here, as I'm comparing '81 roof to '87 van, but
> I didn't think they changed.
>
> 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. The canvas
> and roof, are fair. No real holes, just some small slits where the stuff was
> between the hinges, and some light mildew and discoloration to the fuzz.
> What do you want for nothing. The bulk of a ratty camper interior except the
> tables, and fridge/sink cabinet goes with it.
>
> Anyway, I've got a MIG, I'm not half bad with it, I decided it wasn't worth
> my effort to do it right, if you want to do less, please come and drag it off.
>
> John
> jander14@wvu.edu
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