TheSamba.com :: View topic - What to do with Bay Window Bus roof rust?

Mon Jan 01, 2024 3:41 pm

This is my 1972 Tintop bus. A previous owner had some sort of AC or RV roof vent on top at some point, leaving a big hole in the middle. The gutters are rusted all the way around due to sitting by the beach under a tree for a few years before I bought it.

I understand that there are not many parts available for Bay Window Bus roofs, and that would make repairing mine tricky. I can’t find any patch panels for the middle of the roof, nor the corners/corner gutters. I don’t think fabbing them would be an easy task either.

My question is: would it make more sense to cut off the whole roof at the pillars and weld a new one on? I could take this opportunity to put a Westy roof on (cutting off the roof of the donor at the pillars as well), since the whole structure would be replaced. I’m just not sure if this is worth the risk.

I know people will say “sell it and buy a Westy” but I’m simply asking if doing a whole roof transplant is a better option than repairing this one.

Mon Jan 01, 2024 3:49 pm

I have the whole roof off of a 72 can send pics.

Mon Jan 01, 2024 4:32 pm

Welcome!
Any option is better than trying to repair what's there, a roof clip mid pillar is the answer, I'm not sure I've ever seen the entire drip rail missing before, parts of it yes, but all the way around?, impressive!
The bigger question is if the roof is that rotten what's the rest of the body like, sh*t flows downhill, fixing the roof may be the least of your problems.