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
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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