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Fiberglass top on '76 Westy
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Ray1967Beetle
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 1:10 pm    Post subject: Fiberglass top on '76 Westy Reply with quote

This should be quick. My fiberglass top has two cracks on the rear corners. Should I repair the cracks or find a top with no cracks? Also, how do you paint fiberglass, I have heard you use a gelcoat? How do you apply a gelcoat? Is that something I can put on with an HVLP gun in the garage?
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Criswell
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 1:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Try using search. Pretty sure there's one or two really good threads on this. Try searching " refinishing pop top" or "restoring top" .I'd do it and post a link for u, but its a pain in the ares to do on a cell phone
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VDubTech
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 1:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

For the PITA it is to repair fiberglass I would find a top with no cracks and replace it. I have one in my backyard you can have if you can get it out of here. As for painting it, this isn't a boat or a corvette, no need to use anything fancy to paint it. Buy yourself 2 quarts of Rustoleum High Gloss White and a roller from Home Depot and go to town. I've painted every Westy top I've ever owned with it and they look brand new when you're done. Do a search, plenty of pics in the forum regarding painting the top. On a hot day it can be done in a couple of hours.

Here ya go, pics of a couple of mine in this thread:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5...mp;start=0


Some others, not necessarily the top but using the same product:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=320572&highlight=tremclad
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=271946&highlight=tremclad
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borninabus wrote:
a measurement of your rod would be extremely useful.

notchboy wrote:
my dad wasnt a belittling cock when he tought me how to wrench on cars.

EverettB wrote:
One photo = good for reference.
10 photos = douchebaggery


Last edited by VDubTech on Tue Jul 12, 2011 1:24 pm; edited 1 time in total
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notchboy
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 1:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=58119&highlight=pop+refinish
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t3kg wrote:

OK, this thread is over. You win.

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bugger101
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 1:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

VDubTech wrote:
For the PITA it is to repair fiberglass I would find a top with no cracks and replace it. I have one in my backyard you can have if you can get it out of here. As for painting it, this isn't a boat or a corvette, no need to use anything fancy to paint it. Buy yourself 2 quarts of Rustoleum High Gloss White and a roller from Home Depot and go to town. I've painted every Westy top I've ever owned with it and they look brand new when you're done. Do a search, plenty of pics in the forum regarding painting the top. On a hot day it can be done in a couple of hours.

Here ya go, pics of a couple of mine in this thread:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5...mp;start=0


Some others, not necessarily the top but using the same product:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=320572&highlight=tremclad
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=271946&highlight=tremclad



Rustoleum High Gloss White paint looks great.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


i also have crack's in mine but i didn't fill them in.
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GusC2it
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 1:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Fiberglas is very easy to repair, and polyurethane paint will last longer the Rust Oleum.
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VDubTech
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 2:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

GusC2it wrote:
Fiberglas is very easy to repair, and polyurethane paint will last longer the Rust Oleum.


I would love some proof of that. I painted this top 8 years ago. Still looks like the day I painted it.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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First Trip in the RustyBus:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=279077&highlight=
borninabus wrote:
a measurement of your rod would be extremely useful.

notchboy wrote:
my dad wasnt a belittling cock when he tought me how to wrench on cars.

EverettB wrote:
One photo = good for reference.
10 photos = douchebaggery
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GusC2it
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 3:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi V Dub!
..I notice you have a garage and you live in NY.Thats why it lasted.
Try it in Arizona, Calif or Fla. I'm talking UV resistence. Embarassed Not that Rustoluim is crap paint. I use it a lot. I think white would last the longest. Did yours hold its gloss?
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Randy in Maine
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 4:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have been to that garage in New York. You could not get a cucumber in there if it were not sliced, let alone a bus.
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VDubTech
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Randy in Maine wrote:
I have been to that garage in New York. You could not get a cucumber in there if it were not sliced, let alone a bus.


Truer words were never spoken Randy. It's on my to do list!!

We do have sun here in NY state despite our hellacious winters. We have 100 degree days, we have windchills well below zero. Keep it clean and maintain it and it will last damn near forever. Yes, it's held the gloss just fine. Like I said and the pics show, it looks the same now as it did the day I painted it.
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First Trip in the RustyBus:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=279077&highlight=
borninabus wrote:
a measurement of your rod would be extremely useful.

notchboy wrote:
my dad wasnt a belittling cock when he tought me how to wrench on cars.

EverettB wrote:
One photo = good for reference.
10 photos = douchebaggery
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Ray1967Beetle
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

VDubTech wrote:
For the PITA it is to repair fiberglass I would find a top with no cracks and replace it. I have one in my backyard you can have if you can get it out of here. As for painting it, this isn't a boat or a corvette, no need to use anything fancy to paint it. Buy yourself 2 quarts of Rustoleum High Gloss White and a roller from Home Depot and go to town. I've painted every Westy top I've ever owned with it and they look brand new when you're done. Do a search, plenty of pics in the forum regarding painting the top. On a hot day it can be done in a couple of hours.

Here ya go, pics of a couple of mine in this thread:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5...mp;start=0


Some others, not necessarily the top but using the same product:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=320572&highlight=tremclad
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=271946&highlight=tremclad


Well if shipping aint too bad to Tulsa area I might take it off your hands...I bet it would cost a bunch to ship that thing. Can you take dimensions and an approximate weight of it and use zip code 74116 to figure what shipping would be? I just need the back part, my front piece is fine. If it aint too bad I might just take it! Of course I might be able to find a local bus parting out. Just saw two late 70's westys sitting in a guys side lot on my way home. I might rap on his door and see if he wants to part out one of those suckers, they both look pretty much in need of a complete restoration.
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grandpa pete
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 8:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

when u want to ship something large and not too heavy remember greyhound bus sshipping. My friend ships bus racks all over the country that way
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vw76westy
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PostPosted: Wed Jul 13, 2011 12:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

VDubTech wrote:
Randy in Maine wrote:
I have been to that garage in New York. You could not get a cucumber in there if it were not sliced, let alone a bus.


Truer words were never spoken Randy. It's on my to do list!!

We do have sun here in NY state despite our hellacious winters. We have 100 degree days, we have windchills well below zero. Keep it clean and maintain it and it will last damn near forever. Yes, it's held the gloss just fine. Like I said and the pics show, it looks the same now as it did the day I painted it.


i see you cleaned up the driveway
there's even room for a non vw car
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RedHeadedJosh
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 8:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hey do you guys think this paint would work better?http://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-206999-Marine-Top...amp;sr=8-2
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 9:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

RedHeadedJosh wrote:
Hey do you guys think this paint would work better?http://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-206999-Marine-Top...amp;sr=8-2


I'm not sure about "better", but that's the exact product I used and it turned out great. I used the primer beforehand.
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GusC2it
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

That Topside boat paint has way more UV inhibitors and is made for exposed Fiberglas. It will absolutely work better .
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greenbus pilot
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I used Rustoleum on mine about 10 years ago, and it needs another coat. The fibers show through after a while. Be sure to thoroughly wet sand the top BEFORE you paint. I also scrubbed with soap and water with a shot of bleach to kill the mildew that loves to grow on those things. After drying and painting it does look fantastic for quite some time.
Remember, bleach and scrubbing and wet sanding to knock down the fibers.
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