Date:         Tue, 11 Jul 2000 12:29:19 -0700
Reply-To:     Daniel Schmitz <djs@gene.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Daniel Schmitz <djs@gene.com>
Organization: Genentech, Inc.
Subject:      Painted my poptop...
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

After much deliberation (attempt factory color or just go with white), I
painted the poptop on my '87 Westfalia. I found a color that closely
approximates the factory blue that went with my metallic blue body. For
others out there with the metallic blue of '86 - '89?, you can try
Pettit brand "EasyPoxy" in "Slate Blue". It's actually a topside
fiberglass paint for boats, and I got it at West Marine. This is a
single part polyurethane gloss. It goes on really nicely with a brush,
and is self-leveling, although you have to allow a lot of time to let it
dry before you apply a second coat. It tends to go on lighter than the
final shade, and then darkens a bit as it dries. It's not an exact
match, but it's really close. I think it looks pretty good. One quart
will cover about 150 square feet, and I used less than half a quart for
a first coat on the poptop and two coats on the luggage rack. I will be
applying a second coat to the poptop as well. Now all I need is a set of
new, gray "Westfalia" decals.

I also purchased new seals (bulb type for the poptop, non-bulb type for
the luggage rack) and will be installing them soon. They seem to be
really nice seals, in that they are of a simpler design than the factory
ones, yet grip the top very tightly. I am hoping for no noise from the
luggage rack with the bulbless seal, but if there is some, I can simply
order the alternative bulb-type seal to close up any gap between the
rack and the roof. At less than $20, I think it's worth the
experimentation.

The van is currently parked as I don't want to drive it without the
luggage rack in place. See my other post about possible lifter noise
experienced when I started it up last weekend.

--
Dan
__________________________________________________
Dan Schmitz - Genentech Automation Engineering
djs@gene.com (650) 225-6119
__________________________________________________

"I'll so offend to make offense a skill
Redeeming time when men least think I will"

W. Shakespeare
Henry IV, Part 1