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Date:   Tue, 7 Aug 2001 14:39:05 -0700
Reply-To:   Joseph Fortino <fortino1@ONEBOX.COM>
Sender:   Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:   Joseph Fortino <fortino1@ONEBOX.COM>
Subject:   Re: putting a poptop on a vanagon
Comments:   To: David M Luddy <dluddy@HOME.COM>
Content-Type:   text/plain; charset=us-ascii

cool another bike rider on the list, hey send pics I would love to hack my 85GL into a pop top, this would be a great project.

anyone else do this?

-- Joseph Fortino fortino1@onebox.com - email (510) 360 -7829 voicemail/fax

---- David M Luddy <dluddy@HOME.COM> wrote: > Brian, > I'm in the process of doing this now to one of my machines. I'm taking > the slow, easy does it, in stages, approach. > 1. obtain donor top > 2. inspect, measure, repair (clean, sew, weld, paint) > 3. install luggage rack, ( this gives you the exhilaration of wind > drag! > remember that seal, or use black duct tape across the front) > 4. increase access to the roof. I started with an after-market sunroof. > 16" > x 32" $30 from Big Guys auto recycling. > this gives me the opportunity to bail out. it also shows me how > weak > the roof of an un-westy can be. I think I want to add extra cross supports > at front and rear of this now rather flimsy porthole into my roof. > This is > where I'm at now, awaiting my new seals from New Jersey and my guaranteed, > double-walled hallucination generating Amber skylight from Canada. > I don't know if you're aware that the westy roof is made of plywood > and > sits 4" or so closer to the inside of the cabin. Soooo, its angle aluminium > and screws and alot bigger hole in your roof if you want to maintain > the > stock sleeping height, or its thinner foam and plywood risers if you > want > to maintain the integrity of you roof. Either way, you've got to make > some > holes. > The single most needed item to actually mount to big tub on top, > is..... Drum Roll...... > a 1/8" thick 1" wide piece of cold-rolled steel, with 3 1/4" or so > holes > in it, spaced 140mm apart, and 6mm nuts brazed over the holes. This > 12" > steel bar mates with the rear hinges and will really ease the fastening > of > the bugger down. > Ideally, if you didn't want to make any standing room in your machine, > the only reason for cutting any holes in the roof is to just get at > the > latch to prop it all up, I'm pretty sure you could get into the little > tent > up above from the luggage rack thru the tent window. ( I plan on heaving > my > 8 year old up there, along with any other rascals he finds!) > Other item of use so far... > 3/16" pop-rivits > silicone sealer > purple paint and rollers > Hose repair tape > old bicycle inner tubes (you can never have enough ) > 8' x 10' heavy canvas tarp, fully grommeted ( makes the most versatile > awning/tent/holder-togetherer available. $25 at Le Home Depot ( you > can > make a really good awning mount and poles from a salvaged 10' oak palette > , > find them at sheet metal shops, out back, this side of the burn barrel > ;-) > I'll send you some pix if you want... > David Luddy > www.bilenky.com/rumors.html > > > > At 10:51 AM 08/07/2001 -0400, you wrote: > >I have been told both that it can and can't be done... I have > >82 vanagon and want to install a westfalia poptop (vw oem) I > >was also told there was a site showing this procedure... help? > > > >Brian Scotto >

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