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Loyalp15
Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2013
Posts: 12
Location: Alabama
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 Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 8:47 am Post subject: Westfalia Pop Top |
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When recently installing a new canvas for my pop top I noticed that the fiberglass is deteriorating ( it is also stained with dirt that doesn't want to come out). The first solution I thought of was while back I was at an air cooled car show and a guy there had painted his pop top or put some kind of coating on it to make it smooth and look brand new. Is painting or putting a protective coating on pop tops a common thing? And what should I use as a coating?
Thanks |
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notchboy
Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 22461
Location: Escondido CA
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 8:57 am Post subject: |
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You have three choices:
1) If its not to far gone and it needs to be "spruced up" some of us have painted it with Rustoleum White. Its a urethane based paint that will coat it with a protective white paint for sure. But it will do nothing to fix broken or deteriorated fiberglass.
2) Take it to a shop that can gel coat the fiberglass again. Boat shops near you? People that repair that kind of stuff? This is by far the best route in top restoration - but you will pay $.
3) Find a good used one in better shape near you.
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| t3kg wrote: |
OK, this thread is over. You win. |
Jason "notchboy" Weigel
1964 1500 S
1964 T34 S Convertible
1977 Westfalia Camper pop-top |
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71whitewesty
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2010
Posts: 1544
Location: oregon
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 9:45 am Post subject: |
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I used interlux bright sides off-white for mine. Rolled it on and tipped it with a brush. Looks and holding up great after 5 years.
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71 Westy 1600 DP, all stock Bus 1
1970's Snow Trac 1600 SP (sold 12/2016)
1968 Tucker sno cat, sold 2021
1969 Tucker Sno cat 542
2017 VW Alltrac
71 tin top stock 1600 DP (project but runs)
Twin 71 White Westy, Bus 2, that I pulled from a 15 year slumber in a dry eastern WA field in 2015.
1966 Sundial Camper "Boomer" |
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TomWesty
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2007
Posts: 3482
Location: Wyoming,USA
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 10:02 am Post subject: |
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I've heard of many folks having good luck with the interlux. That's what I'm going to do when winter goes away.
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werksberg
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2005
Posts: 2151
Location: Prescott Valley, AZ
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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1968 - 1973 Werksfalia Fiberglass pop top / Luggage rack cure all right here:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1244118
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Stuartzickefoose
Samba Post Whore
Joined: February 07, 2008
Posts: 10350
Location: SoCal for now...
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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Werks, do you repop the late style tops? 74-79?
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notchboy
Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 22461
Location: Escondido CA
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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At 2k - for a 68-73 top is a bit pricey - and no Stew - I don't see a new 74-79 top listed.
I'm all about getting yours and the American dream - but the 2k price for new repop is a lot to pay - Are we banking that the Bay comes up in value? Because that may happen. And your investment on making new tops may pay off?
In a market where people give tops away - getting 2k seems like a stretch. 
_________________
| t3kg wrote: |
OK, this thread is over. You win. |
Jason "notchboy" Weigel
1964 1500 S
1964 T34 S Convertible
1977 Westfalia Camper pop-top |
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werksberg
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2005
Posts: 2151
Location: Prescott Valley, AZ
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| Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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No '74- '79 (might also go into the Vanagon years too) Bus LR / pop tops as that would take another year of my time, $8-$9K in investment of FG plugs, then the ma$ter mold$ and then the costs to produce them.....
These are tons better made than the originals. Hand made in the USA.
But retail buyers see a Fiberglass products and expect we just mix up resins and viola... we have a FG product! 
When I started research which years range to make, most everyone wanted the 68-73's as they have the most problems in their designs. Plus I had 20+ people wanting them.
In the +3 years I have offer them for sale, I have sold 3 sets. 
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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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Loyalp15
Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2013
Posts: 12
Location: Alabama
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| Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 10:51 am Post subject: |
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| thanks for all the replies, ill look into the Rustoleum White and interlux solution. the pop top in that ad looked identical to the one i saw at the car show. |
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DenverB
Samba Member
Joined: July 23, 2012
Posts: 704
Location: Denver, Colorado
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| Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 10:59 am Post subject: |
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I used a marine-grade epoxy on mine after pressure washing and bleaching it. Can't remember the brand, but I grabbed it at my FLMPS (Friendly Local Marine Parts Supplier) for probably under $30 for a gallon.
It's basically the same stuff you would use to paint a fiberglass boat.
It's some uber-strong stuff, too. The drips on my concrete from the job are still there and hard as a damn rock.
Top came out looking damn near brand new, too --except for some areas that could use some sanding and another coat.
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'77 Transporter/camper (Bussy - Reef Blue/Pastel White)
'67 bug (Santos - VW Blue)
'84 Vanagon Westfalia (Pink Flamingo - Pastel White/Pink)
'88 Vanagon GL Westfalia (Frankie Says - Wolfram Gray)
'02 Eurovan Weekender (Green Apple)
'95-'03 Eurovan full campers and weekenders (rental fleet)
'84 -'91 Vanagon full campers and weekenders (rental fleet)
'72 Porsche 914 (Greta - RIP)
www.RockyMountainCampervans.com |
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OB Bus
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2003
Posts: 2541
Location: Ocean Beach in Beautiful BLUE California
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| Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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I used Interlux Briteside on my mossy, chalky and fuzzy pop top. I sanded the entire top, the paint rolled on well and sealed in the fiberglass strands. Bright and shiny.
For about 3 years.
It is once again chalky and delaminating. And Interlux is more like $40/quart at West Marine.
In the next year or two I will be sanding it down once again and going with Rustoleum Bright White oil-based paint.
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Larry in OB
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
69 Westfalia and 2002 Eurovan Camper. |
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notchboy
Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 22461
Location: Escondido CA
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| Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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| werksberg wrote: |
No '74- '79 (might also go into the Vanagon years too) Bus LR / pop tops as that would take another year of my time, $8-$9K in investment of FG plugs, then the ma$ter mold$ and then the costs to produce them.....
These are tons better made than the originals. Hand made in the USA.
But retail buyers see a Fiberglass products and expect we just mix up resins and viola... we have a FG product!
When I started research which years range to make, most everyone wanted the 68-73's as they have the most problems in their designs. Plus I had 20+ people wanting them.
In the +3 years I have offer them for sale, I have sold 3 sets. |
Ahh the old bait and switch dooshbaggery of the ACVW owner. Hype you up to make a thing - not ever really committing to buy the thing Sorry to hear thats what happened in the end. Whenever we had things made for the early Type 3's we took down payments. Then after it's made and distributed - its fun to see the price double, triple for those willing to sell the spares they bought up front. Sucks if you don't have the $ on hand - but then again if you want nice things in life you need to have $ on hand
_________________
| t3kg wrote: |
OK, this thread is over. You win. |
Jason "notchboy" Weigel
1964 1500 S
1964 T34 S Convertible
1977 Westfalia Camper pop-top |
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werksberg
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2005
Posts: 2151
Location: Prescott Valley, AZ
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| Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2015 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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| notchboy wrote: |
| werksberg wrote: |
No '74- '79 (might also go into the Vanagon years too) Bus LR / pop tops as that would take another year of my time, $8-$9K in investment of FG plugs, then the ma$ter mold$ and then the costs to produce them.....
These are tons better made than the originals. Hand made in the USA.
But retail buyers see a Fiberglass products and expect we just mix up resins and viola... we have a FG product!
When I started research which years range to make, most everyone wanted the 68-73's as they have the most problems in their designs. Plus I had 20+ people wanting them.
In the +3 years I have offer them for sale, I have sold 3 sets. |
Ahh the old bait and switch dooshbaggery of the ACVW owner. Hype you up to make a thing - not ever really committing to buy the thing Sorry to hear thats what happened in the end. Whenever we had things made for the early Type 3's we took down payments. Then after it's made and distributed - its fun to see the price double, triple for those willing to sell the spares they bought up front. Sucks if you don't have the $ on hand - but then again if you want nice things in life you need to have $ on hand |
Yep and it's not the first time I have done this as the "nice guy" that I am.
I asked the split Bus crowd (insiders and retail customers) if they would be willing to pay around $1,500 for a brand spanking new Westy small (euro early bays too) FB Pop top, hinges and seal... "Naw, maybe if it was $500 or so yes." And those split Buses are selling for $20K+ as rusted and non running shells? Go figure....
Nick that idea....
_________________
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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notchboy
Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 22461
Location: Escondido CA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2015 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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I would think that the turret top - as a complete unit - tent, brackets and all would be a seller to some degree. Even to overseas buyers that do not hesitate to put new, retro looking stuff on a bus.
Sorry to hear that you got caught in the "ACVW Hobbyist cheap ass bastard" zone ; )
Not all of them - but most of them.
_________________
| t3kg wrote: |
OK, this thread is over. You win. |
Jason "notchboy" Weigel
1964 1500 S
1964 T34 S Convertible
1977 Westfalia Camper pop-top |
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Tcash
Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011
Posts: 12844
Location: San Jose, California, USA
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