Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2003 16:17:06 -0800
Reply-To: Jeffrey Schwaia <jeff@TSSGI.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeffrey Schwaia <jeff@TSSGI.COM>
Subject: Re: Passenger van to westy pop top conversion?
In-Reply-To: <1dd.164faa53.2d090b1b@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
But Ben, you're forgetting that strange feeling of satisfaction you get when
it's done. Kind of like when I used to ride dirt bikes down the Baja
peninsula. During the ride, I often thought to myself "why the hell am I
doing this?". But upon arrival in Cabo, all we could talk about is what a
great ride it was.
Or that lousy feeling of complete failure when it doesn't work out quite as
well as you hoped. Kind of like when I used to ride dirt bikes down the
Baja peninsula... and half way down my Husky or someone elses bike would
implode. But upon arrival in Cabo (via chase truck), all we could talk
about is how good the beer was.
Cheers,
Jeff
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Ben T
Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2003 3:50 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Passenger van to westy pop top conversion?
In a message dated 12/10/2003 3:31:49 PM Pacific Standard Time,
drillock@EARTHLINK.NET writes:
Not that big of a deal really but you
then need to remove a major body structure (steel arch support) and
fabricate a replacement of the right shape (steel flat support) and
mount it at the right height so the bed will close and the top will
lower and latch without hitting the bed first.
Mark,
I think this is where further discussion should be directed. It would seem
to
me that fabricating a steel support is not an easy task for most people.
Let's face it, it takes skill and experience to alter the unibody of a
Vanagon to
the point where structural integrity is not compromised. Then there's the
question on aesthetics. The other disclaimer you should put on here is your
level
of experience. For example, not many of can claim that a 2wd to Syncro
conversion is trivial. You've done that.
You have to ask yourself what you are hoping to accomplish. You are marrying
a project of this scope. Resale value will be affected. In this very List
alone, there has been countless discussions about "Westies" which were not
real
Westies but conversions from a bus. The discussions was far from positive
IIRC.
You should also take into consideration what your time is worth. For some
folks who are retired and have the special skills to do this type of
project,
hooray. You've got it altogether. Let's also not forget the understanding
significant other. You've got all of the above as I recall.
At the end of the day, you have ask yourself if it was worth it. IMHO it is
NOT for most people. There are simply too many less expensive options with
less
compromises. Your money is better spent elsewhere.
BenT
Vanagon Cafe
