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Dannyboy14
Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2012
Posts: 36
Location: United States
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 Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 9:57 pm Post subject: Will the later Westy roof and bed work? |
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Hello all. This is North Dakota Dan with a question. I really like the way the early bays' look and how the engine compartment is designed but the roof and upper bunk on the later ones sure would come in handy right now.
Will the later model camper roof that opens the opposite way from my 71 and has the sweet upper bunk work on my bus? If so, where can I find one?
I need an upper bed to save time when leaving for work in the A.M.
Please visit my blog to see current living conditions in my bus, Gretchen.
www.northdakotadan.com |
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Manfreds78bay
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Joined: February 27, 2009
Posts: 330
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 10:46 am Post subject: |
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Hi Dan,
They are not interchangeable. I understand people have done this modification, but there is quite a pit of welding involved. It is not a simple bolt on, sorry to say. |
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airkooledchris
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Joined: January 25, 2005
Posts: 1715
Location: Eureka, CA
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 11:05 am Post subject: |
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Unfortunately you'd be better off just finding a later bay or Vanagon with the full width bed, rather than trying to tackle this big of a project while living out of the current bus.
Aircooled Vanagon's are probably the last cheap full width camper you'll find with an aircooled VW engine. especially the 'country homes' campers, those seem to go for next to nothing compared to the rest of the VW camper lineup.
swapping a highroof would probably be easier than adapting the late westy top onto an early westy.
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Dannyboy14
Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2012
Posts: 36
Location: United States
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 2:34 pm Post subject: Valid points. |
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| airkooledchris wrote: | Unfortunately you'd be better off just finding a later bay or Vanagon with the full width bed, rather than trying to tackle this big of a project while living out of the current bus.
Aircooled Vanagon's are probably the last cheap full width camper you'll find with an aircooled VW engine. especially the 'country homes' campers, those seem to go for next to nothing compared to the rest of the VW camper lineup.
swapping a highroof would probably be easier than adapting the late westy top onto an early westy. |
I know it would be tough to do whilst on the road but I think I can pull it off. I guess the first thin to do would be to make a cover for the hole in the roof if I need to drive whilst in the middle of the swap.
I like the High Roof idea too. Is the "Country Home" the same as the "High Roof"? My only concern is the redonkulous wind here in North Dakota.
I wish some one would construct a tent that would fit under the luggage rack with a lift and lock method for it too. That would be great. Then one could zip the luggage tent to the existing tent and have a ton of room for a bed.
I refuse to buy another bus despite amenities. Gretchen has been too good to me.
Will a later model roof and bed fit? Is it possible? Is the hole in the roof in the same place on both models? |
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busdaddy
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Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 23899
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, Land of the giant flying moose!
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 2:55 pm Post subject: Re: Valid points. |
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| Dannyboy14 wrote: | | Will a later model roof and bed fit? Is it possible? Is the hole in the roof in the same place on both models? |
Yes, no, yes and no. As has been said the roof structure on the later bus is completely different than a 68-73, the pop top will bolt on but there will be no room for a bed up there because the early roof is curved (later roof flat), the only way to use a late Westfalia roof is to saw the top of the bus off at the windows and weld the later roof structure on (simplified description, do not attempt), not easy to do properly and dangerous if done half assed.
What you need is this: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1264860 It's a direct bolt on for a curved roof bus and has room for a nice bed up top.
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Wanted, 68-73 westy OG plaid curtains, singles OK. |
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oorwullie
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Joined: May 01, 2003
Posts: 1993
Location: fribourg,switzerland
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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what's all this about different roofs, curved and flat?
yes, the early westies have an original combi tin top curved roof with slider size opening for upstairs acces, agreed.
the late models have no roof at all from the B pillar almost all the way to the rear end. westfalia fitted strengthened "rockers" to both sides of the roof opening and welded a substantial square section tube across at the C pillar to stop flexing. plus the thick plywood board base for the bed gives some more rigidity.
yes, it's a LOT of work to do a 100% correct conversion but it's also perfectly feasible to simply bolt the late roof onto an early westie and build a bed base over the curved roof. there's more than enough height up there to sleep even the fatter than average citizen........ 
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Dannyboy14
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Joined: January 09, 2012
Posts: 36
Location: United States
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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| oorwullie wrote: | what's all this about different roofs, curved and flat?
yes, the early westies have an original combi tin top curved roof with slider size opening for upstairs acces, agreed.
the late models have no roof at all from the B pillar almost all the way to the rear end. westfalia fitted strengthened "rockers" to both sides of the roof opening and welded a substantial square section tube across at the C pillar to stop flexing. plus the thick plywood board base for the bed gives some more rigidity.
yes, it's a LOT of work to do a 100% correct conversion but it's also perfectly feasible to simply bolt the late roof onto an early westie and build a bed base over the curved roof. there's more than enough height up there to sleep even the fatter than average citizen........ |
If I "simply bolt the late roof onto an early westie and build a bed base over the curved roof." Would their be enough of a hole in the roof to gain access to the upper bunk? Would I have to make a hinged door in the bed? |
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Mountain Minstrel
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Joined: September 03, 2009
Posts: 892
Location: Fresno CA
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Dannyboy14
Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2012
Posts: 36
Location: United States
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| Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 5:57 pm Post subject: Oh yeah. |
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I have seen that thread before but had forgotten about it. I don't have the time to build that right now but if he is selling them yet...I will be a customer.
www.northdakotadan.com |
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Mountain Minstrel
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Joined: September 03, 2009
Posts: 892
Location: Fresno CA
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| Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 2:43 pm Post subject: Re: Oh yeah. |
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| Dannyboy14 wrote: | I have seen that thread before but had forgotten about it. I don't have the time to build that right now but if he is selling them yet...I will be a customer.
www.northdakotadan.com |
If you don't have time to build that, you don't have time to swap tops. It sucks when life gets in the way of our plans. 
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Ken
69 Westy
99 S-10
04 Miata (Sold)
| Desertbusman wrote: | | Maintenance doesn't mean repairing it when it breaks. That's called repair. |
| miniman82 wrote: | Don't listen to him, people from Fresno are retarded.  |
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Dannyboy14
Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2012
Posts: 36
Location: United States
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| Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 7:55 pm Post subject: HMMM |
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Swapping tops seem in theory to be way easier than fabricating a bed from scratch. But, after thinking about it...I think i would run into problems with the canvass meeting up with my roof hole. I might just throw a sheet of plywood up there and be done with it.
I did have time to adjust my valves today. I am very happy about this.
Feel free to check out my blog www.northdakotadan.com |
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