Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2006 19:34:53 -0800
Reply-To: mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: Whole Pop top conversion
In-Reply-To: <000001c6539b$c1223a80$2f01a8c0@FirstLaptop>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Of course, you could do it that way and some have.But removing the
windshield, all side windows, rear hatch, sliding door, etc, cutting,
fitting, and welding all 8 pillars is not that easy. And then having
body work and paint work to do before putting all those things back is
not reducing the work. Why do you think it is? Most of us want nothing
to do with that level of work. As for blending the paint at the welded
areas, that only works if both sections started out the same color.Most
likely the whole upper section will have to be painted, inside and
out.You are also minimizing the work involved in interior finishing. The
passenger models have headliner fabric running down all the rear pillars
to the lower panels but Westys don't. So in addition to the exterior
weld grinding, body filler, and paint work, the same must be done on the
inside and then some decision made as to how to finish off the rear
pillars that were cut and welded, for the parts that show on the inside.
Of course various wires run up through the front pillars and around the
ceiling areas so that must be removed and then replaced after the new
roof is welded in. And the entire interior must be removed or carefully
masked off so the exposed welded interior metal surfaces can be painted
to match the original vehicle color. Yep, that is a lot easier than just
cutting a hole in the roof and bolting stuff in.
Mark
Zoltan wrote:
> Hi guys,
> I was wondering why to do all that work when the whole pop top roof
> and part
> of the van that is made for the camper can be all installed onto a van.
> I would cut the donor at about the halfway at the windows around and
> fit the
> whole thing just like that onto the the other. It can be taylored to fit
> nicely and weld some reinforcing inside before lowering it onto the
> new one.
> At the windows, it is easy to weld, to bondo, and to blend in the paint.
> The area is narrow. As long as the windows will keep their proper
> size, all
> should be fine. Now, I am not sure what is inside the columns to be
> worried
> abut not to cut. Some guys on the list would probably able to tell us.
> There maybe some electricals that would have to be connected before
> assembly.
> Well, I think, it is easier to do this way and all the camper areas
> would be
> original. There would be no difference. No one could tell ever.
> Only it
> has to be done nicely, grind down the weldings, bondo it smooth, paint it
> correctly, reinstall the covering properly.
> I think, I could do one for about $4,000 plus the painting.
> I wonder what the list would add to this.
> Zoltan
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