Date:         Sat, 7 Mar 2015 15:58:13 -0500
Reply-To:     Eric Caron <ecaron1@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Eric Caron <ecaron1@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: PREPING FOR PAINT JOB ON 87 WESTY
In-Reply-To:  <1425761242.95196.YahooMailBasic@web120805.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

Thanks Steve,

        I’ll need a bit of help to pick the correct things from Frank’s site but that should work great.  I plan to attend bus Fusion this year so hopefully I can arrange to make a pick up of the hardware and a few other Vanagon items from him.  I’ll just be very happy to have the correct hardware.  I don’t have a good place to go around here where the help could actually match things up.  so I’d rather pay frank for his time and get the right stuff. 

thanks for pointing me in the right direction.  

In my case my van is recently painted and upgrading this hardware seems like a great upgrade. 

Eric Caron 
85 gL auto Westfalia 


> On Mar 7, 2015, at 3:47 PM, Stephen Engel <sengel543@yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> OK, I'm back. I did a more in-depth search. The bolt size is M6x16, don't know pitch. It looks like Frank Condelli and Go Westy are the only readily available sources. The Go Westy bolts are 20mm long and as Allister says they will interfere with the operation of the hinges, hence the need for trimming their bolts. My google search did turn up a Flikr page for Roger Sisler, who apparently sold stainless replacement hardware sets as well. The link for his eBay store says that the store no longer exists. Anybody know what happened to Roger?
> 
> Do you have an Aubuchon Hardware store by you? Before my local Aubuchon in Rutland closed, I would bring my old hardware in and ask for help finding a match. They were glad to help and came through every time except once. Ace Hardware is almost as good. The bolts might be at Home Depot or Lowes, but their staffs are inconsistent and the fastener drawers are always a mess.
> 
> Steve
> 
> 
> --------------------------------------------
> On Sat, 3/7/15, Stephen Engel <sengel543@yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> Subject: Re: PREPING FOR PAINT JOB ON 87 WESTY
> To: "Eric Caron" <ecaron1@COMCAST.NET>
> Cc: "vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM" <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Date: Saturday, March 7, 2015, 12:59 PM
> 
> Hi Eric, 
> 
> I replaced all the exterior
> bolts/screws on my 87 hardtop with Frank Condelli's set.
> His website, www.frankcondelli.com , shows that his pop top
> set is currently out of stock. 
> 
> A quick search showed that GoWesty has
> stainless replacements as well, but they suggest trimming
> 5mm of thread off their bolts. What?
> 
> Other vendors, bus depot, van-cafe, bus-boys,
> Rocky Mountain, etc may offer sets as well. Let me know if I
> can help further, my pizza's ready right now.
> 
> Steve
> 87
> Syncro GL
> 
> Sent from my
> iPhone
> 
> On Mar 7, 2015, at 11:37
> AM, Eric Caron <ecaron1@COMCAST.NET>
> wrote:
> 
>> Hi folks, 
>> 
>>         Does
> anyone have a source for a replacement kit for stainless
> steel pop top hardware?  I’d love to do this one  piece
> at a time.  I think this is another improvement I have the
> skill level for.  and, a quick check shows my original
> bolts seem happy to turn and come loose.
>> 
>> tips on a complete
> source pop top and other exterior stainless screws and bolts
> is greatly appreciated.
>> 
>> Sending me to the hard ware store with
> samples would be a disaster!
>> 
>> Eric Caron 
>> 85 gL
> Auto Westfalia currently waiting for spring
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> On Mar 7, 2015, at 10:44 AM, Harold
> Teer <teer.vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
> wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
> Mike,
>>> 
>>> I
> ran into the same problem removing some of my bolts when
> replacing them
>>> with stainless steel
> ones when I removed the luggage top to replace the
>>> footman loops.  After trying to
> loosen them over many days by using
>>> 
> penetrating oils, I finally used a Dremel tool and a cutting
> disk.  First,
>>> I cut a deeper slot
> for the screwdriver.  When using my big screwdriver,
>>> part of the screw head broke off so I
> carefully used the Dremel to cut the
>>> rest of the head off.
>>> 
>>> Hopefully,
> others may have a better solution because this one takes
> time
>>> and patience.
>>> 
>>> Harold
>>> 
>>> Harold
> Teer
>>> 1991 Westy -- VANGAUX
>>> Harrisonburg, VA
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Sat, Mar 7, 2015 at 9:58 AM,
> Michael <mikewelldon@icloud.com>
> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> The bolts I'm referring to are
> the ones on the actual fiberglass top that
>>>> take a flathead screwdriver to get
> out.
>>>> 
>>>> Currently, they are in there so
> tightly that all a screwdriver is doing is
>>>> stripping the head.
>>>> 
>>>> I
> don't have a torch and was wary of using one on the
> top.
>>>> 
>>>> Mike
>>>> 
> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>