Date:         Mon, 3 Jan 2022 18:53:38 -0800
Reply-To:     Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject:      Re: Luggage rack restoration tips requested
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

I’ll back up Jim’s warnings.

The m6 carriage head bolts coming up to secure the rear of the rack… magnet can be useful, what I’ve found is having mastic, dum dum, on the head ( yeah after you have to lower the headliner when the bolt drops down …) really helps keep the buggers up and erect.

And being so very very careful dropping the luggage rack down on the bolts.

Core strength and prayers 

Ab

> On Jan 3, 2022, at 6:34 PM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> My advice is to be careful about putting sound deadened in place. There is much less room than you think in some places under there and if you are not careful you will not be able to get the fasteners into the holes. You might want to fit everything up before you stick anything permanently to the car or the fiberglass. 
> 
> Another word of caution is to handle the row of bolts across the rear of the luggage rack very delicately so as not to push the bolts down below the level of the body metal. It is really easy to do this when you set the rack back into place on the car. Once the bolts are pushed down flush with the metal you can’t get a pair of pliers on them and therefore can’t pull them up to their full height to get a washer and nut on them. If you can’t pull them up you will end up dropping the headliner to reposition them. Ugh. 
> 
> Jim
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Jan 1, 2022, at 6:52 PM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>> Hi folks,
>> Happy New year!
>>      One of my winter projects is to remove the luggage rack, clean the roof, put down sound deadening material on the roof.  And do any related restoration.
>> A few years ago, with some help from the list, I removed the luggage rack, cleaned and waxed the roof and put on screens.
>>      My little screens have held up and are doing a great job.  It was a bit dirty with fine dust, but not bad at all.  And much cleaner then last time, without the screens.
>> So, this time I will want to replace the seal.  The old one looked ok, on the outside, but has no spring left into the part touching the van.
>> Also, there are tired foam blocks on the sides  but nothing on the front.

>> I’m hoping some of you out there have done some luggage rack work and might be able to answer a few questions and offer suggestions.
>> Here are some questions:
>> Were there any other foam blocks or just the ones on the sides?
>> Does anyone have a preference for the luggage rack seal or a preference for the entire pop top seal?
>>      What source were you happy with?
>> Dennis has reported to me that at speed my luggage rack was noisier then it needed to be.  I didn’t realize the benefits of adding sound proofing to the outside.
>> I plan to cover the hidden roof tightly and also use the material to waterproof the brackets.
>> All hardware and connections seem clean and sturdy.
>> The only exception is that there are four bolts sticking up from the back with round rubber disks around them.  The two on the outside are loose and the middle are tight.
>>      I will want to secure them somehow otherwise putting the rack back on will be extra challenging.
>> I was also considering putting some sound dampening on the under side of the rack itself.
>> I’d love some thoughts, suggestions, and tips on this project.
>> First step is getting the best seal.
>> What source do you recommend?
>> Eric Caron
>> 85 GL Auto Westfalia