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brookmp
Samba Member
Joined: February 05, 2010
Posts: 349
Location: San Diego, CA
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 Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 2:04 pm Post subject: Where to buy new pop top |
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Hello Group,
Where can I buy a new fiberglass pop top for my '68 campmobile? And, approximately how much do they cost?
Or, is it a better idea to restore and paint the one I already have? It's badly discolored and it "sucks in" when we drive over 40 mph. Is this normal?
Thanks,
Brook |
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Randy in Maine
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2003
Posts: 34890
Location: The Beach
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ned
Samba Member
Joined: June 28, 2004
Posts: 1574
Location: Arroyo Grande Ca.
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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| What Randy said |
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theizzardking
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2008
Posts: 2097
Location: seattle
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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sucks in sounds bad as if the fiberglass has lost it's rigidity, it may be time to find a used one and refurb. it.
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Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin
'71 westie "the wanderer" |
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theizzardking
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2008
Posts: 2097
Location: seattle
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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oh also i think some place in teh uk makes new ones, but don;t quote me on that, there was discussion about new ones being made a year or so ago, i don;t remember the exact details
but here's a link anyways
http://www.camperinterior.co.uk/html/vw_camper_van_roofs.html
_________________
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." - Benjamin Franklin
'71 westie "the wanderer" |
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VWDruid
Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2008
Posts: 1192
Location: Boca de Ratones FL
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 2:31 pm Post subject: |
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3...fiberglass
| werksberg wrote: |
NEW and improved '68 - '73 Pop tops in the near future.....with actual HD gel coat surface and other improvements too.
Yes, you can refinish the FG Luggage rack & Pop tops......but most come out looking worst than when they started!
Luggage rack:
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70 Westy, 2027cc "dual DRLA 40 m140 i55 wjdoc a165 p33 v30 "w100 straight cut 040 polished heads 1.25 rockers 1.5 A1sidewinder supertrapp muffler trans 091 coil SUM-850500 CDI universal svda Pertronix
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
It's not the straight cut gears It's the T.A.R.D.I.S. engine.
wanted Chameleon Circuit |
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Randy in Maine
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2003
Posts: 34890
Location: The Beach
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 2:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Well you learn something new every day around here. I will keep that in mind. They look pretty rugged. Do you do something in the molding process to make them stronger? I of course know nothing about the molding process..... |
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VWDruid
Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2008
Posts: 1192
Location: Boca de Ratones FL
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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you'll have to pm Werksberg for better info but from what I understand westfalia shot fiberglass into a mold and pressed it vs laying fiberglass like on a boat or surfboard.
more info on that link above.
| werksberg wrote: |
are made with a thick white glossy gel coat, unlike the compressed molded stock ones.....
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_________________
70 Westy, 2027cc "dual DRLA 40 m140 i55 wjdoc a165 p33 v30 "w100 straight cut 040 polished heads 1.25 rockers 1.5 A1sidewinder supertrapp muffler trans 091 coil SUM-850500 CDI universal svda Pertronix
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
It's not the straight cut gears It's the T.A.R.D.I.S. engine.
wanted Chameleon Circuit |
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werksberg
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2005
Posts: 2162
Location: Green Valley, AZ
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| Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 1:18 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry for not replying on here as I have been sick all week long and yesterday my computer fried the video card or monitor..... Trying to work on it today but filling in with the phone right now.
My new mold to make the new and improved early pop tops is in the works bug the weather has messed with production on making the mold!
The pop top will have a HD genuine gel coat surface unlike the oem one, it is based on the 70 - 73 with the Added top stiffeners plus during construction .... Proper added reinforcements in the leading edge section to prevent Bowing like the stock one does. And tougher & better monted wood for mounting the camper skirt too!
Stay tuned.....
Not cheap but 100% made in the USA!
JM
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werksberg
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2005
Posts: 2162
Location: Green Valley, AZ
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| Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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Wolfsburg West will have the new fiberglass '68-'73 luggage racks by early next week March 1st and the new matching fiberglass pop tops should be done by the end of the March!
JM
_________________
Werksberg Products....Products that work!
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pkrboo
Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2009
Posts: 512
Location: Lincolnshire, UK
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| Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 10:41 pm Post subject: |
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| werksberg wrote: |
Wolfsburg West will have the new fiberglass '68-'73 luggage racks by early next week March 1st and the new matching fiberglass pop tops should be done by the end of the March!
JM |
what about the later model ones?
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1979 Sage Green Westfalia P22 |
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werksberg
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2005
Posts: 2162
Location: Green Valley, AZ
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| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 9:09 am Post subject: |
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The '74 - '79 Bay window Westy and vanagon westy fiberglass pop top / luggage racks are on the to do list...but Rome wasn't made in a day!
With all the improvements needed to all of them, the master plugs, molds construction and production.... it will take some time. But not impossible. Just this economy makes it hard to shell out the big dollars to get the molds / tools made right now.
The best thing to do will be to make a call to Wolfsburg West, leave your contact information with the year / model and they can gauge the interest in helping me push ahead on the others asap. (951) 549-0525 and ask for Mark or Rich to be on the list!
These are only made in the USA by Americans and not in Mexico or China!
In the future (maybe a year?) we hope to offer full and complete units for you to replace yours or convert a sun roof (or cut open a tin top) Bus to a Westy Pop top conversion.....if the economy returns and there's enough interest in them.
JM
_________________
Werksberg Products....Products that work!
Follow my new products on my Facebook Werks Berg
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werksberg
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2005
Posts: 2162
Location: Green Valley, AZ
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| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 9:53 am Post subject: |
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| VWDruid wrote: |
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3...fiberglass
| werksberg wrote: |
NEW and improved '68 - '73 Pop tops in the near future.....with actual HD gel coat surface and other improvements too.
Yes, you can refinish the FG Luggage rack & Pop tops......but most come out looking worst than when they started!
Luggage rack:
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Please don't try standing on your new FG luggage racks as I'm a professional!
Plus the first part was over made....... 
_________________
Werksberg Products....Products that work!
Follow my new products on my Facebook Werks Berg
Click the below ADs link for products & feedback.
Search "werksberg" on Photobucket for products photos & Please remember to buy "American made products!" |
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ghiastein
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2008
Posts: 132
Location: Kalamazoo, MI
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| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:03 am Post subject: |
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| What about a hard fiberglass cover for the luggage rack to reduce possible wind drag. It would be even cooler with a seal to protect any gear in the usable 4" of space. Kind of like a fiberglass truck bed cover. |
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werksberg
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2005
Posts: 2162
Location: Green Valley, AZ
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| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:21 am Post subject: |
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I didn't want to give this out yet.....but since you asked. I'm working on a vacuum formed white ABS luggage rack cap / covers that will dzus fasten on the sides for what I think will be a water tight fit. Then you could store blankets or a flatten sleeping bag(s) up there....
Maybe by summer time on that one for the early bays first....just money is tight but I'm willing to make them.
The ABS caps will be a better fit than the use of FG and closer tolerances too as if you make the fg thicker in one area, it may not fit on rack properly.
That was another idea I told W West about and they were wondering if there would be enough demand for them.
Maybe also give WW a call on the ABS luggage rack caps too.....more demand, quicker to production.
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Werksberg Products....Products that work!
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Click the below ADs link for products & feedback.
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ghiastein
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2008
Posts: 132
Location: Kalamazoo, MI
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| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:30 am Post subject: |
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Thanks werksberg please keep us and myself in-touch when you start making the ABS plastic luggage cover.
I will be calling WW soon and asking for the luggage cover. |
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WestyPop
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2005
Posts: 1734
Location: SoCal
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| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:41 am Post subject: Re: Where to buy new pop top |
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| brookmp wrote: |
Hello Group,
Where can I buy a new fiberglass pop top for my '68 campmobile? And, approximately how much do they cost?
Or, is it a better idea to restore and paint the one I already have? It's badly discolored and it "sucks in" when we drive over 40 mph. Is this normal?
Thanks,
Brook |
"Normal", as in 'common'... yes!Your description fits the early 1968 Westfalia pop top, which was replaced in later '68 with an improved version. The later '68-'73 version has integral horizontal 'ribs" molded in, vastly improving the fiberglass top's rigidity, ie. resistance to unwanted flexing.
My early '68 Westy's top is of that original style, and when it suddenly "sucks in' or 'pops' back out, the sound is akin to a cannon being fired at close range. (A group of Salvadoran refugee kids I was transporting for a swim at a lake were absolutely certain someone was shooting at us. Sad.) Waiting in my shop is a 1969 top to swap in its place, once minor fiberglass repairs are finished (my German Shepherd chewed on a corner, just to make sure it was OG, I guess!).
The 2nd design tops have no such hyper-flexibility issues, and are a direct re-fit, with 1973 tops reportedly having the best metal hardware of the entire '68-'73 Westy production. Interstate VW near you http://www.interstateusedparts.com/ likely has a good used top for you, and as Randy stated earlier, new seals & hold-downs are readily available. Not a difficult, or even terribly expensive problem to solve.
As far as cleaning, and or painting the tops, there are numerous threads here in which excellent instructions and inspiring pictures are given. 89 different threads were referenced on a "clean poptop" search.
Happy camping, and stress-free travels to you.
_________________
Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
______________________________________
J.R.
68 Westy
(+ others) |
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VWDruid
Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2008
Posts: 1192
Location: Boca de Ratones FL
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| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:01 am Post subject: |
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that be cool I always seen that luggage rack as drag and wonder about some kind of container bolted on to the rack sort off like a bbg barrel.
if I do it i'll spray paint anti tailgating charges on it 
_________________
70 Westy, 2027cc "dual DRLA 40 m140 i55 wjdoc a165 p33 v30 "w100 straight cut 040 polished heads 1.25 rockers 1.5 A1sidewinder supertrapp muffler trans 091 coil SUM-850500 CDI universal svda Pertronix
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
It's not the straight cut gears It's the T.A.R.D.I.S. engine.
wanted Chameleon Circuit |
|
| Back to top |
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|
werksberg
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2005
Posts: 2162
Location: Green Valley, AZ
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| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:26 pm Post subject: |
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| VWDruid wrote: |
that be cool I always seen that luggage rack as drag and wonder about some kind of container bolted on to the rack sort off like a bbg barrel.
if I do it i'll spray paint anti tailgating charges on it
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ROTFLMAO.......
The air drag (plus rusty bars, stuff falling thru bars and tough to place item on the bars...) of the OEM L racks was the main reason I did mine with the full floor like the later models.
.....but you don't need depth charges mount up top to make the bus top heavy.....you already are dripping engine oil on the front of their new cars.....
_________________
Werksberg Products....Products that work!
Follow my new products on my Facebook Werks Berg
Click the below ADs link for products & feedback.
Search "werksberg" on Photobucket for products photos & Please remember to buy "American made products!" |
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werksberg
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2005
Posts: 2162
Location: Green Valley, AZ
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| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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The pop top master plug ready to make the production mold from (if this works with my Iphone as my computer died last sat.!):
_________________
Werksberg Products....Products that work!
Follow my new products on my Facebook Werks Berg
Click the below ADs link for products & feedback.
Search "werksberg" on Photobucket for products photos & Please remember to buy "American made products!" |
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