Grumpy's Metal Work & Hardtop to 21/23

[zuggbug]

very nice work

what kind of spot welder is that?
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SOUTHERN INTEGRITY AIRCOOLERS
58 15 window
56 westy

[Tuned Perfection]

Looks great John!
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www.tunedperfection.com

[VWsArent4Hippies]

Do you plan on making the inner skylights like original in the future?

[Mikee]

[Grumpy's Metal]

[Grumpy's Metal]

ALSO-- HERE is a link to my new facebook page- You should find more current stuff there and in the future I will be sending out promotions out via facebook too

http://www.facebook.com/VwSunroofs?sk=wall

I'm still new to facebook so I have not figured out the cool link yet


John
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John

Have you visited GrumpysMetal.com Lately?

[VWsArent4Hippies]

[Grumpy's Metal]

Hey VwRNt4Hipp- Yes my install is more like barndoor than later vw, but dimensionally the same as original.

Do the install the same as barndoor takes less tooling and less time so I've done it that way.

John
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John

Have you visited GrumpysMetal.com Lately?

[motoroadie]

Grumpy, it was great meeting you today and am thoroughly stoked on what you've been able to do with sunroofs. See you soon!

[Grumpy's Metal]

The welder I have is the HTP versa spot 7000- I actually own three spot welders


here are the new stamped corners for the conversions

Motoroadie-- great meeting you too-- Can't wait to see the bus!

Cheers

John
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John

Have you visited GrumpysMetal.com Lately?

[Jack-In-A-Crack]

[64+65doubledoor]

x2 great work and congrats on getting this up and running ,great to see a small business move forward with new innovations even if its not to everyones likings
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March 55 Wolfsburg bus
march 54 barndoor s.c
58 beetle

[Grumpy's Metal]

Hey Guys, Thanks

I've been crazy bus with the Vwsunroofs.com parts and the conversion kit AND MOVING THE SHOP

We've moved to a larger building-

there are some new photos at

http://www.facebook.com/VwSunroofs

The kit is almost done, I just want to make it as easy to install as possible the better I do my job the easier it will be to install

Thanks

John
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John

Have you visited GrumpysMetal.com Lately?

[captcory]

will you be making corner windows?

[Grumpy's Metal]

[Grumpy's Metal]

Grumpy's Metal has been converting hard top buses to ragtop/ sunroof buses at our shop. We use tooling that actually fits under the hardtop roof producing the same aesthetics of an original 21 or 23

Grumpy's Metal is now producing a conversion kit. Over the next several weeks I will be showing how to install a sunroof conversion kit.

All the exterior metal on this bus started it's life as a hard top from the factory. We modified the metal ( not welded ) to be window openings and the sunroof opening.

here is a picture of a the new assembly ( all parts are interchangeable with an original )

For those of you doing 12 and 23 window conversion I will be including important information to get the assembly to function correctly and discuss window placement, rail alignment and inner window fitment.


The outer skin of the roof will get 4 components add to it.

1. front header panel with 2 windows
2. rear header panel with 4 windows
3. window above drivers door
4 window above passenger door

here is an image of the prototype done over a month ago. We have produced several revisions to make everything fit and look as close to original as possible.

here is the fitment of the front header panel without the bead feature

here is the same panel with the bead feature


Converting a hard top to a ragtop with windows 13 to 21 window conversion.

laying out the roof- here a ruler is used against the door opening ( b-pillar )

here is the line marked on the roof ( Zero Line ) this is the line measurements are made from.

measure back from the zero line, 3 inches- mark this on both sides ( first rough cut line)

using a long ruler or tape measure back 72 inches- mark this on both sides
(second rough cut line)

Also using the long steel ruler, in the drip rail mark a line running down the side of the bus

I use a long piece of steel clamped from one side of the roof to the other to lay out my first rough cut line. ( mark it)

using the same steel piece clamped at the rear, on the 2nd rough cut line- mark it

now all the rough cut lines are laid out 1 front, 1 rear, 2 sides

using an air chisel, cut from one side of the roof to the other along the 1st rough cut line and also the 2nd rough cut line.

roof panel is cut

once the four rough cut lines are cut- middle of the roof panel will still be attached by the enter stiffener

using a wide air chisel blade break free the roof panel, as to not damage the stiffener.

Once the stiffener and roof panel are separated the entire middle section of the roof will be easy to remove
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John

Have you visited GrumpysMetal.com Lately?

[sonnyswords]

I just purchase the conversion kit and I hope to pick it up by end of next month. I will take pictures and document step by step to show others who are interested. I don't have any experience in welding, as matter of fact I just purchase a welder last week. I figure if I can do this then most people who have some experience in welding should have no problem doing this.

[Muggee007]

Ill be watching this really closely as well. I have a really rough clip with pieces of Grumpy's metal that I will be installing in my 64 Kombi. No sky lights. If anyone has any measurements on how to center the hole left to right it would really help me out. I have a month or so before I start cutting but I hope my build thread will show some progress soon.

[mandraks]

[65VW69Stang]

Hell Ya keep them coming the pics I am wanting to finish my bus out that way, making 3 into one, will end up with a 15 window walk thru, and would love to make it 23 window with sunroof, email me with prices with metal and windows and everthing that comes with it, thanks.

[email protected]