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guystclair
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2008
Posts: 32
Location: Santa Barbara, Ca
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 Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:14 pm Post subject: Parts for my 71 bay sunroof |
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I have a 71 bay transporter with a sunroof that was sealed with bondo or welded, i'm not sure. A new non-sunroof headliner was installed prior to me buying it.
Before I decide to remove the headliner (still in great shape) Can I get all the part to restore it? and if so where?
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1969 bug |
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volksinthevalley
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2008
Posts: 147
Location: Citrus Heights, CA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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| I say go for it, there's nothing cooler than a working sunroof bus. I'm currently working on getting my sunroof operational again. I was able to track down all the parts I needed on CL and in the classifieds here on TheSamba. I'm sure I'll have extra parts when I am done since I picked up a lot of duplicates. Junkyards are also a good place to find the parts. They are a pain in the ass to get set up, but when they are working they are amazing. New cables are available online, most of the other parts are what need tracking down. But hey, it only took me 2 weeks to get all the parts I need. |
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guystclair
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2008
Posts: 32
Location: Santa Barbara, Ca
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| Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:24 pm Post subject: |
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You said "I was able to track down all the parts I needed on CL"
What is "CL"? I'm kinda new at this stuff so forgive me if I ask dumb question. Do you have a list of parts needed? I really don't what parts are involved.
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SGKent 
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 42921
Location: at the beach in Northern Wokistan
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| Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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before you start, here is what you are up against.
Cables if broken $250
plastic parts if broken hard to find $100
headliner or headliner repairs $250 to $1250
tracks and other things that may be broken $50 - $125
body work to remove bondo and etc $??
seals - 1 piece factory from England $125 or US 3 piece repro $60
replumbing drains if mising or rusted through $?
& major learning curve
http://kentcomputer.com/77VW/bus.pdf sunroof bus restoration under progress
_________________
 Canned Water - the new California approved parts cleaner (except in a drought in which case rub it with sand).
George Carlin:
"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it."
Skills@EuroCarsPlus:
"never time to do it right but always time to do it twice" |
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volksinthevalley
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2008
Posts: 147
Location: Citrus Heights, CA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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CL is just short for craigslist. I stumbled upon a guy parting out a sunroof bus and got all parts except for the roof panel out of that bus. I alreaddy had several sets of cranks, and various plastic trim pieces. I really only needed the cables but he was selling all or nothing, which is why I am going to end up with extra parts.
Here is an exploded diagram:
Since your bus alreaddy has the sunroof and it is just sealed up I would bet the cables are bad, but you might have everything else you need. Only way to tell is to open it up and look. |
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guystclair
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2008
Posts: 32
Location: Santa Barbara, Ca
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| Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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Wow! great information! after looking at the pdf file (great job on that 77 bay!) I need to remove the headliner and see what i have and what i don't have.
volksinthevalley, wound you be willing to sell some of the extra parts that i might need?
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volksinthevalley
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2008
Posts: 147
Location: Citrus Heights, CA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm definitely going to be having those parts for sale as soon as I get my sunroof put back together and know I don't need any more parts. Check my classifieds is a few weeks, and If I remember I'll shoot you a PM when I post the ad. You could also send me a PM when you figure out which parts you need. |
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aeromech
Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006
Posts: 17745
Location: San Diego, California
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 8:02 am Post subject: |
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| Volksinthevalley got real lucky there finding his parts on CL. I owned a 1971 sunroof bus for 26 years. I did a lot of work to the sunroof in that time including replacing the felt seal 2 or 3 times ($100), replacing a cable, replacing the drive gear, cleaning and lubing the tracks, etc. I think it was SGkent that gave you the prices on the parts and he was right on there. You need to decide what it's worth to you before you start ripping and tearing into this. There might have been a very good reason the PO decided to seal it up like he did. One problem I could never solve with mine was the front corner drain tubes came off so when it rained (I lived in North Carolina and Florida for 14 years), and it did a lot, that water would soak the front passenger whenever I hit the brakes. You're considering a project that could be very expensive just for a little sunshine. |
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guystclair
Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2008
Posts: 32
Location: Santa Barbara, Ca
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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Wow... lots to thing about!
I think I will atemped it early mext month. wish me luck, I will upload pics as i go.
thanks for all you help!!!
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El Chorizo
Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2009
Posts: 284
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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Hey- I bought a 71 sunroof in Santa Barbara in November!
Its wonderful
Lots of issues but they can be resolved and then you're stylin!
You can use bug sunroof felt 3 I think and cables are available
don't worry be happy
p.s. I'm upset that i didn't find that bus-i would like another one |
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norcalmike
Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2005
Posts: 4784
Location: Marina, CA
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 8:49 pm Post subject: |
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| SGKent wrote: |
before you start, here is what you are up against.
Cables if broken $250
plastic parts if broken hard to find $100
headliner or headliner repairs $250 to $1250
tracks and other things that may be broken $50 - $125
body work to remove bondo and etc $??
seals - 1 piece factory from England $125 or US 3 piece repro $60
replumbing drains if mising or rusted through $?
& major learning curve
http://kentcomputer.com/77VW/bus.pdf sunroof bus restoration under progress |
listen to merlin. he knows from experience. alot of these parts are NLA ( no longer available) especially the plastic pieces that hold down the cables.
be prepared to open up a can of worms when tackling this project.
than again, you may get lucky like Volksinthevalley and find a complete setup in good shape.
you may also find your parts to be in good shape once you get it open.
but, seeing how the previous owner sealed it shut, chances are it was sealed due to broken parts that could not be found.
good luck |
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that70s_bus
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2008
Posts: 66
Location: yorba linda ca.
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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| where can you get new cables? i need some for my 71' but can not locate them. |
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volksinthevalley
Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2008
Posts: 147
Location: Citrus Heights, CA
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Jalabert
Samba Member
Joined: December 06, 2005
Posts: 680
Location: On the coast in NZ, somewhere...
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| Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:48 pm Post subject: |
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I suppose if it all goes to custard you could fit one of the fabric sunroof kits, like the Paris Beetles one. http://www.parisbeetles.co.uk/index.htm
They aren't too cheap either though. |
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Alan Brase
Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2004
Posts: 4570
Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa
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| Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:09 pm Post subject: |
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| aeromech wrote: |
| You need to decide what it's worth to you before you start ripping and tearing into this. There might have been a very good reason the PO decided to seal it up like he did. One problem I could never solve with mine was the front corner drain tubes came off so when it rained (I lived in North Carolina and Florida for 14 years), and it did a lot, that water would soak the front passenger whenever I hit the brakes. You're considering a project that could be very expensive just for a little sunshine. |
Oh, it's a LOT of sunshine. I've driven a similar sunroof Vanagon for 18 years and it really makes a big difference. It's my favorite of the 8 I've owned.
On mine, the drain tubes regularly need to be cleaned of debris (leaves and pine needles), maybe every 2 years. I use a air gun and blast it from the bottom. I think if your tubes were off the water would be in the "B" pillar running across the floor.
The gaskets do not get it water tight. The design just catches the water and directs it out the tubes.
True, its a lot of work setting it right.
My ultimate ride would be a sunroof Champagne II Edition.
Got one? Cheap?
Al
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Al Brase
Projects: 67 sunroof bug, 67 Porsche 912 Targa, 70 Westy
Dec 1955 Single Cab pickup WANT 15" BUS RIMS dated 8/55, thru 12/55
To New owners: 1969 doublecab, 1971 Dormobile
Vanagons:
80 P27 Westy JUL 1979, 3rd oldest known US
83 1.6TD Vanagon, 87 Wolfie Westy daily driver, swap meet home |
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