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Sun Feb 28, 2010 12:59 pm

How hard/expensive would it be to turn a transpoter inot a tin top westy?
Also could i put a pop top off a donor bus to make it a complete westy?

Thankss

Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:06 pm

very easy to install westy interior. only cost what the donor interior costs. you can add a pop top if you wish. easier if your transporter is a sunroof model

Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:30 pm

Okay, Thanks I have a good deal on a transpoter, and a donor bus. I was just wondering if was eaiser to put in interior or to just wait for a nice camper.

Sun Feb 28, 2010 2:05 pm

al.hurst wrote:
Also could i put a pop top off a donor bus to make it a complete westy?

Thankss

Depends on what year your bus is and what year the donor is, a 74+ top won't go onto a bus without a big fight. But a Riviera top will.

Sun Feb 28, 2010 2:23 pm

I've been watching prices. A transporter with a clean interior can sell for much more than a Westy with a worn out interior. People do look at the M-codes when they pay higher dollars. Just keep that in mind depending upon what the interior of the transporter is like right now. Also you can convert a transporter into something like this if you will haul kids occasionally and sleep in it too when traveling / camping.

Sun Feb 28, 2010 2:34 pm

The interiors swap easily. I even had a '72 that I put a '72 Westy interior into. That bus got wrecked. With the help of a table saw and such, I turned a few of the cabinets inside out, put the closet on the drivers side and relaminated with a "close to factory" looking Wilsonart. I installed that in a '79 transporter. It is not hard. IMHO if you want a pop top Westy you should look for one.

Sun Feb 28, 2010 2:47 pm

There is a good topic about Tin-Tops over here:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=376702&highlight=tin+westy

I converted a Transporter to a Tin-Top too. Hardest part was figuring out what year and style I wanted/needed. Then it was just finding a complete set up in my area. I'm happy with the results:

Sun Feb 28, 2010 3:08 pm

Woah, That exactly what I wanted to do, A blue and white tin top westy!
Great minds think a like ehh?

I like the 77 Westy interior so if you know of one in the Georgia area let me know :D

Sun Feb 28, 2010 6:18 pm

Click on the link in my sig if you want to see what all goes into a riviera conversion. I'm close to having mine done. My goal was to get it done for less than 5000.00 cash outlay (not counting the endless hours). My bus started out as a 73 transporter 7 passenger. It's got a riviera top, 74 westy interior and a ford engine conversion.

Sun Feb 28, 2010 7:20 pm

al.hurst wrote: Woah, That exactly what I wanted to do, A blue and white tin top westy!
Great minds think a like ehh?
Indeed! Good luck on the conversion