Date:         Tue, 17 Jan 2006 17:35:36 -0800
Reply-To:     Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Keith Ovregaard <kovregaard@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Pop-top Canvas
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

I too have been thru the process of installing a new canvas. After
reading the instructions I decided not to remove the top because it
made no sense to attach the top first. The bottom has that plastic
piping which means the slack has to be taken it at the top. So I
attached the bottom first and then temporarily tacked the top edges to
small wooden wedges that I made (Westfalia used something similar
because I had found many of these wedges stapled to the old canvas.
Doing this gave me the correct amount of fabric to make the canvas nice
and taught. Then I propped up the top to take the tension off and put
in the screws. The rear was a pain due to the lack of enough fabric. I
had to stretch it real tight and it was hard to get the screws in. I am
a bit concerned about the needle holes along the seems leaking. The old
canvas seems were nice and tight with several overlaps. By the way, the
canvas I installed is the waterproof sunbrella material available at
VanCafe & GoWesty. The project took me about 6 or 7 hours and I did it
by myself. I made a few mistakes and had to make some adjustments, but
I would do it again just to get those side windows.

For anyone thinking of doing the canvas replacement, do consider making
a bunch of those wedges to jamb into the slot on the top. It really
does help to be able to staple the canvas into place first before
putting the rails and screws in.

My 2 cents...

Keith O.
84 Westy "Brownie"
90 Westy Syncro

On Jan 17, 2006, at 1:09 PM, Automatic digest processor wrote:

> Date:    Mon, 16 Jan 2006 23:13:33 -0800
> From:    Zoltan <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
> Subject: Re: Pop-top Canvas
>
> Hey Maggie,
> Let me shake your hand and say 'good job'.  I know how difficult it is
> to do
> that particular job.  Not my favorite but it looks like a million
> bucks when
> its done.
> Hugs, Zoltan
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Maggie Dew" <wildebus@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, January 16, 2006 5:22 PM
> Subject: Pop-top Canvas
>
>
> I managed to put the new canvas on by myself with the exception of
> slipping
> the canvas over the frame with the help of my roommate.  I did NOT
> remove
> the pop-top from the van.  I started at the front, also securing one
> screw
> in the middle of the back to ensure I was using equal material on each
> side.
>   It took me roughly 10 hours over two days, but would have been much
> shorter if I had not put the bottom rails on the wrong sides!  I
> started
> both of them at the front, and when I got to the back realized they
> were
> reversed.  I undid all those dang little screws and put the rails on
> right.
> The front corners were tight but doable.  I propped the pop-top
> partially up
> with a piece of wood so it was not fully extended.  When I got to the
> back
> there was a little extra material left.  Although I did the job
> myself, I
> had advice from my roommate who had done it previously.
>
> Maggie
> '85 Subaru-Westy "Anne Bonney"