Eliminate pop top for canvas slider?

dembus

I'm thinking about removing my pop top (70 Westy) and the upper cot and replacing it with a the large canvas slider. Is this a sin? My top is in great shape except for one piece of bad wood support and the luggage fiberglass is great except for two loose bars. The cot frame is very solid with good canvas (just a little musty). I just like the shape of the body better without the top. Whats my top/luggage rack/cot worth?

Blaubus · Samba Member Joined: October 25, 2003 Posts: 5153

if you are planning to splice in a early ragtop with the metalframe and all, be aware that the roof curvature is not the same on the oldies. i think its a good idea. the bay poptop is soooo heavy, bad mileage no power symptoms. i dont think they should have ever started with that full length boat! the early poptop is nice, but again a different curvature to the roof.

dembus · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 5:58 pm Post subject:

I found a site in the forum that makes an aftermarket slider to fit any size and the guy had it on an x pop-top bay. I saved the site at the office in favorites. I think it was about 900.00 bucks and came in four colors.

jeremysmithatshawdotca · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 6:05 pm Post subject:

Have you seen the pics of humfrydog's project? I think he had a thread going in the rant's maybe.

jeremysmithatshawdotca · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 6:11 pm Post subject:

He did post in the rants, but also in this forum:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=657198&highlight=#657198

Here's a pic.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

dembus · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 6:25 pm Post subject:

Yeah, thats where I saw it and I think he linked to the company that makes them. Whats my good top/luggage rack/upper cot worth???

pawesty · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 6:32 pm Post subject:

jeremysmithatshawdotca · Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2005 3:04 pm Post subject:

I got one from the salvage yard for $50 CDN, for the complete top, including the plywood for the bed, and the cushions, and decent canvas, and this was for a full late westy top, not an early cot one. As pawesty says, I wouldn't plan on financing your new top from the sale of the old one!

Jeremy

dembus · Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 7:42 pm Post subject:

That really was'nt my intent. I was more interested in opinions as to weather or not converting to a canvas sliding top was a good idea. It would be perminant because along with the resto' I would have to fill the roof mountiing holes and create new ones. I have only seen one company that makes one large enough.

waterfordhunter · Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 8:48 pm Post subject:

I'm interested in doing the same to my '70 westy that I'm restoring. Have you heard any info regarding leaking from the ragtop??

dembus · Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 7:03 am Post subject:

Waterfordhunter, Check out streetbeatcustoms.com for canvas sliders. I dont remember reading any claims about leakage or warranties.

TeamSpatula · Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 9:42 am Post subject:

The thing that worries me about the huge ragtop is that you cut out one of the main frame crossmembers in the roof, and I'm not sure what, if any, reinforcement you're getting from the ragtop frame...I guess if your bus already had the belly pans, that would be ok, but if not, it seems like that could cause problems....
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dembus · Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 10:26 am Post subject:

I think we're just talkin' about covering a factory pop-top hole. No cuttin' or altering structure here.

waterfordhunter · Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 12:07 pm Post subject:

I don't intend to alter the roof structure at all. I'm planning on installing the ragtop over the stock sunroof hole which only measures 42"x46".

humfrydog · Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 1:21 pm Post subject:

I was inspired by "wavepimps" bus.He removed his poptop and ordered an exact custom size to fit the opening.for custom sizes its not alot of extra cash.fairly affordable.the frame mounts with studs that need holes drilled, or you can epoxy frame underneath.

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humfrydog · Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 1:23 pm Post subject:

waterfordhunter · Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 4:03 pm Post subject:

Alright, I'm sold . . . a ragtop it is.

humfrydog · Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 4:59 pm Post subject:

tonguetwiztid · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 11:37 am Post subject: roof top cot......

if you do decide to make the swap from a poptop to a sliding top......would you be willing to sell the scissor legs from the end of the cot?? i only have the legs for the middle of the cot. i have a 70 poptop
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dembus · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2005 3:50 pm Post subject:

Sure toungtwiztid. Why dont you PM me and I'll save your Edress and let you know. I'm going to soon be metting with my body shop and I'll make the final decision then. D.


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