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Thoragaverung Samba Member
Joined: September 15, 2018 Posts: 81 Location: Saint Paul
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 4:14 am Post subject: Making pop-top hinges... need a little info |
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HI,
I am making some pop-top hinges, as was discussed in this thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=630622.
I have roughed in the components but need to notch the bars that attach to the poptop roof and the tintop so the hinges can collapse to their lowest point.
My question: how low should these be able to go? I don't have any "real" hinges to compare to. I want to tweak these until their range of motion is identical to the stock parts... then I'll make them pretty.
How low should they go? Can somebody post a pic of the real article at the lowest range of motion?
thanks. _________________ Happy to help, but my advice comes with no guarantees. Use at own risk. |
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Yellow Rabbit Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2005 Posts: 1146
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 7:15 am Post subject: Re: Making pop-top hinges... need a little info |
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Nice work. It looks like yours attach to the top horizontal part of the roof. At least if I am seeing holes in the top edge correctly. The OEM ones attach to the side of the roof. I’m not sure the measurement would be the same. |
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Thoragaverung Samba Member
Joined: September 15, 2018 Posts: 81 Location: Saint Paul
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 7:39 am Post subject: Re: Making pop-top hinges... need a little info |
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The top and bottom angles could be replaced with flat bar if the actual roof I obtain calls for it.
I am in the final stages of negotiating for a nice 1985 manual tin top now. Hoping the owner comes back with a realistic price... _________________ Happy to help, but my advice comes with no guarantees. Use at own risk. |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17112 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 7:53 am Post subject: Re: Making pop-top hinges... need a little info |
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That’s a difficult picture to come by. I measured from the top of my drip rail to the center of the bottom side bolts and it is 4 1/8” on both sides. The camper tin roof has indents where the hinges attach. A tin top won’t have those indents.
Knowing vw, the hinges fold to the point where they won’t go over center. This maybe something that you figure out when you have everything in hand. Nice looking reproduction hinges. _________________ ☮️ |
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Thoragaverung Samba Member
Joined: September 15, 2018 Posts: 81 Location: Saint Paul
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 8:03 am Post subject: Re: Making pop-top hinges... need a little info |
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MarkWard wrote: |
That’s a difficult picture to come by. I measured from the top of my drip rail to the center of the bottom side bolts and it is 4 1/8” on both sides. The camper tin roof has indents where the hinges attach. A tin top won’t have those indents.
Knowing vw, the hinges fold to the point where they won’t go over center. This maybe something that you figure out when you have everything in hand. Nice looking reproduction hinges. |
That's actually all the info I need. Basically then, the top and bottom hinge members have to be parallel when at rest.
Onward and upward!
I am kind of wondering if there''s a way to add helper springs to these. Might be fun to tinker with. _________________ Happy to help, but my advice comes with no guarantees. Use at own risk. |
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MarkWard Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 17112 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 8:15 am Post subject: Re: Making pop-top hinges... need a little info |
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Quite a few have added gas shocks like you’d find on a hatch. They are available in multiple lengths and rates. You can search here poptop shocks. There are also a couple good threads on converting tin tops to pop tops. Good discussions about cutting bracing etc. _________________ ☮️ |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32576 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Yellow Rabbit Samba Member
Joined: August 31, 2005 Posts: 1146
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 8:33 am Post subject: Re: Making pop-top hinges... need a little info |
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Are you also making the front machinism? |
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RoryGirl Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2016 Posts: 783 Location: WestWorld Nanaimo BC
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 9:55 am Post subject: Re: Making pop-top hinges... need a little info |
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I get 5 inches fully closed
_________________ 1991 Double door pop top conversion |
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Thoragaverung Samba Member
Joined: September 15, 2018 Posts: 81 Location: Saint Paul
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2021 1:49 pm Post subject: Re: Making pop-top hinges... need a little info |
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Thanks everyone! For the pic especially.
I think the springs would impact the fabric, I didn't think that through enough. Hydraulics it is. _________________ Happy to help, but my advice comes with no guarantees. Use at own risk. |
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J Charlton Samba Member
Joined: August 24, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: The True North Strong and Free
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Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2021 5:42 am Post subject: Re: Making pop-top hinges... need a little info |
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I'd suggest that you look at linear actuators rather than hydraulics. Way simpler to run 12v to actuators than to deal with hydraulics - easier to program and control as well. _________________ NAHT hightop availability May 18 2023 -
Bend Oregon - for Oregon, California- (7 tot , 3 available), Kennewick Wa (6 tot, 1 available), Small Car Performance Fife Wa. (7 tot 4 avail ), Fairbanks Alaska (1 tot 0 avail)
Future availability TBD : Springfield Mass. Staunton Va, Florida, Colorado, Grand Junction Co., SLC probably late 2024 |
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0cean Samba Member
Joined: February 29, 2012 Posts: 1149 Location: California
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Thoragaverung Samba Member
Joined: September 15, 2018 Posts: 81 Location: Saint Paul
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Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2021 8:17 am Post subject: Re: Making pop-top hinges... need a little info |
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I meant the pressurized lifts, not actual hydraulics... LOL
I'm not lifting a house _________________ Happy to help, but my advice comes with no guarantees. Use at own risk. |
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0cean Samba Member
Joined: February 29, 2012 Posts: 1149 Location: California
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Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2021 10:30 am Post subject: Re: Making pop-top hinges... need a little info |
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Thoragaverung wrote: |
I meant the pressurized lifts, not actual hydraulics... LOL
I'm not lifting a house |
You never know what's going to happen out in the bush. Better be prepared, be prepared.
Sent you a PM. _________________ I'm not a mechanic, I just play one on the internet
Cluster Rebuild:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569920&highlight=
Left for Dead the Resurrection Story Build:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=613669
(Number of Different Donor VW Vans Body Parts Used: 12)
(Number of completely different vehicles parts used: 3) |
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