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johnnyniceguy Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2005 Posts: 293 Location: Minnesota
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2021 8:05 pm Post subject: Re: 1970 Convertible Top Replacement |
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Thanks to all that contributed to this forum.
I cannot believe the how this will help me. |
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Volkstuning Samba Member
Joined: September 14, 2010 Posts: 3 Location: Spain
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Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2021 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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Can anyone help with this part? Thanks |
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sputnick60 Samba Moderator

Joined: July 22, 2007 Posts: 4113 Location: In Molinya Orbit
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rbsurfguy Samba Member

Joined: August 10, 2008 Posts: 1780 Location: Fairfax, Northern Virginia Formerly Huntington Beach, SoCal
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Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2021 4:16 pm Post subject: Re: 1970 Convertible Top Replacement |
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Since I am getting close to attempting to install my top and headliner, I've read through this whole thread, again..(ok 8th or 9th time).
First, was there ever a resolution on what happened to Vince? The thread mentioned no one had heard from him due to to some illness, but it fell off after that.
As I have done with much advice and examples of how to do things from other Samba Members, following their builds, I have printed off pages of things for my own workbook. So what I have done with this awesome Convertible Top Replacement is to cut and paste all of the pictures, instructions, and responses to questions in clarifying how to follow these step by step instructions. I took out all of the comments, questions, and kudos. I now have my Expert Convertible Top and headliner Install Workbook.
I've got this on a Word doc and can also save to pdf. If the moderators would like to post it somewhere I would be happy to send it, just tell me which address to send.
Jeff _________________ 1971 Ghia convertible (Body off rebuild)
2019 VW Atlas 4Motion
2012 Passat-Sold
See my build on The Samba at:
Jeff's 71 Vert Restoration/Reassembly http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6...highlight= |
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Braukuche Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2004 Posts: 11199
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Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2021 4:44 pm Post subject: Re: 1970 Convertible Top Replacement |
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rbsurfguy wrote: |
Since I am getting close to attempting to install my top and headliner, I've read through this whole thread, again..(ok 8th or 9th time).
First, was there ever a resolution on what happened to Vince? The thread mentioned no one had heard from him due to to some illness, but it fell off after that.
As I have done with much advice and examples of how to do things from other Samba Members, following their builds, I have printed off pages of things for my own workbook. So what I have done with this awesome Convertible Top Replacement is to cut and paste all of the pictures, instructions, and responses to questions in clarifying how to follow these step by step instructions. I took out all of the comments, questions, and kudos. I now have my Expert Convertible Top and headliner Install Workbook.
I've got this on a Word doc and can also save to pdf. If the moderators would like to post it somewhere I would be happy to send it, just tell me which address to send.
Jeff |
Best of luck Jeff. I found the Achilles heel of the whole procedure are the crappy aftermarket wood headers which do not conform to the windshield frame and must be shaped to get the requisite gaps. Don’t settle for almost, there is no way to fix any unevenness in the edge of the wood.
Also, the pad must extend from the rear bow to the header and from the edge of one side to the other to get a smooth rounded top. It’s not clear when you get the pad as it looks square… _________________ Go Reds! Smash state!
Retirement is here!
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now
1989 Westfalia |
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sputnick60 Samba Moderator

Joined: July 22, 2007 Posts: 4113 Location: In Molinya Orbit
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Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2021 5:24 pm Post subject: Re: 1970 Convertible Top Replacement |
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rbsurfguy wrote: |
First, was there ever a resolution on what happened to Vince? The thread mentioned no one had heard from him due to to some illness, but it fell off after that.
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This doesn't answer the question, but Vince last visited the Samba on September 02, 2014. You can draw your own conclusion from that given how active and well regarded his contributions have been.
Nicholas _________________ '66 Karmann Ghia Cabriolet...
'65 Porsche 356C Coupe...
2005 Mecedes Benz C180 Kompressor Estate
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Last edited by sputnick60 on Wed Apr 19, 2023 1:05 am; edited 2 times in total |
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rbsurfguy Samba Member

Joined: August 10, 2008 Posts: 1780 Location: Fairfax, Northern Virginia Formerly Huntington Beach, SoCal
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Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2021 5:37 pm Post subject: Re: 1970 Convertible Top Replacement |
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Thanks Nicholas re Vince, I figured what the answer would be but didn't want to assume anything, and I did note it had been around 2013-2014 when he last posted. Sad.
Braukuche, I hear you, I worked out most of the issues already with my top frame and header, for now, my header was an original that I had to do some repair work on, noted on my build thread. I've had to make a lot of adjustments and know I will have more with padding and readjusting the weather strip rubber around the frame. Sure I could pay someone to do it, but as you and many others, trying to do as much as I can. I put a top on it around 25 years ago or so and it didn't come out too bad, didn't have near the experience/knowledge I have now, so more confident in my skills...Hey I got my windshield installed in 3-5 minutes, so....
Jeff _________________ 1971 Ghia convertible (Body off rebuild)
2019 VW Atlas 4Motion
2012 Passat-Sold
See my build on The Samba at:
Jeff's 71 Vert Restoration/Reassembly http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6...highlight= |
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68 Ghia Vert Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2011 Posts: 51 Location: Baltimore Md
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Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2023 11:14 am Post subject: Re: 1970 Convertible Top Replacement |
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Does anyone know if these measurements work for a 68 ghia with Center crank. |
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G Falk Samba Member

Joined: December 15, 2009 Posts: 14 Location: Lancaster, PA
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Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2025 5:45 am Post subject: Re: 1970 Convertible Top Replacement |
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I've been dealing with this same header bow issue as everyone is experiencing when replacing. My '58 original bow was completely unsalvageable. This car has been a long, several year process of rebuilding and as such I have made many parts purchases which I duplicated because I forgot I had already purchased! In this case, I had inadvertantly purchased 2 wood headers from M&T. Well, that was an expensive but worthwhile mistake as the first attempt at installation was a fail with too much taken off, split wood etc.
As it turns out, after installing the second poorly shaped bow, the fix to close the gap was to remove the leading edge from the first replacement bow and glue and screw it to the second. Now it's still a little tight on the ends, but I can continue to sand down until the 2mm gap is correct. But the center is almost perfect now. The beauty here was that the curvature was correct when attaching it to the second bow. A costly but necessary lesson to be able to have the top installed. _________________ '58 black ghia 'vert
'58 amazon green ghia 'vert
'61 Samba Sold 3/27/20
'56 beetle amazon green 'vert Sold 7/19/21
'61 pacific blue ghia 'vert Sold 1/6/24 to FL.
'61 Turkis Standard sold 7/22
‘62 pacific blue survivor ghia sold to HI
'66 Velvet Green Doublecab sold
‘59 cognac ghia coupe
'61 Pacific ghia 'vert 42k orig. miles
'61 Mango Singlecab
'54 Barndoor Deluxe
'54 strato silver beetle ragtop
'58 PGSG Standard |
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