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Zeitgeist 13 Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009 Posts: 12102 Location: Port Manteau
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2021 7:36 pm Post subject: Re: Has anyone turned a NON-pop top into a pop top? |
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I wouldn't gloss over what a pita it is to swap over a camper interior into a tintop. _________________ Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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rmcd Samba Member
Joined: October 29, 2010 Posts: 1348 Location: PNW - its a dry rain.
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Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2021 9:18 pm Post subject: Re: Has anyone turned a NON-pop top into a pop top? |
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Zeitgeist 13 wrote: |
I wouldn't gloss over what a pita it is to swap over a camper interior into a tintop. |
Drill some hole and bam!
Seriously tho. Installing the poptop and installing the cabinets were some of the most straightforward things I did.
What folks tend to miss is all the other fdup things you need to fix before you attempt the absolute last step of installing cabinets.
Motor. Transmission. Suspension. Steering. Brakes. Wheels and tires. Lights and actuators. Wiring and more wiring. Heaters. Coolers. Windows, gaskets, door functions.
Then the interior stuff. _________________ VW LT40 build. Like a Vanagon but 30% larger in every direction and 40% slower even in metric.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=749359&highlight= |
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0cean Samba Member
Joined: February 29, 2012 Posts: 1149 Location: California
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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2021 6:46 am Post subject: Re: Has anyone turned a NON-pop top into a pop top? |
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If you do do a graph here are a couple things to watch out for.
1. Don't cut the rear section all the way back past the fold down. Cut it on the top of the van near the pop top bracket.
2. Cut above the front a pillers brazen welds. They are next to impossible to cleanly remove or cut through.
3. Make sure your pop top brackets are streight and not to low when to top is placed on. If they are to low, then the top will bend when bolting down the hinge.
4.Drill through all the spot welds and then weld the hole shut. Spot weld remover is a wast of time and money.; just drill, its faster.
There is some picts in my build thread below. _________________ 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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0cean Samba Member
Joined: February 29, 2012 Posts: 1149 Location: California
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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2021 6:47 am Post subject: Re: Has anyone turned a NON-pop top into a pop top? |
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If you do do a graph here are a couple things to watch out for.
1. Don't cut the rear section all the way back past the fold down. Cut it on the top of the van near the pop top bracket.
2. Cut above the front a pillers brazen welds. They are next to impossible to cleanly remove or cut through.
3. Make sure your pop top brackets are streight and not to low when to top is placed on. If they are to low, then the top will bend when bolting down the hinge.
4.Drill through all the spot welds and then weld the hole shut. Spot weld remover is a wast of time and money.; just drill, its faster.
There is some picts in my build thread below. _________________ 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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0cean Samba Member
Joined: February 29, 2012 Posts: 1149 Location: California
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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2021 6:47 am Post subject: Re: Has anyone turned a NON-pop top into a pop top? |
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If you do do a graph here are a couple things to watch out for.
1. Don't cut the rear section all the way back past the fold down. Cut it on the top of the van near the pop top bracket.
2. Cut above the front a pillers brazen welds. They are next to impossible to cleanly remove or cut through.
3. Make sure your pop top brackets are streight and not to low when to top is placed on. If they are to low, then the top will bend when bolting down the hinge.
4.Drill through all the spot welds and then weld the hole shut. Spot weld remover is a wast of time and money.; just drill, its faster.
There is some picts in my build thread below. _________________ 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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Back to top |
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0cean Samba Member
Joined: February 29, 2012 Posts: 1149 Location: California
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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2021 6:47 am Post subject: Re: Has anyone turned a NON-pop top into a pop top? |
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If you do do a graph here are a couple things to watch out for.
1. Don't cut the rear section all the way back past the fold down. Cut it on the top of the van near the pop top bracket.
2. Cut above the front a pillers brazen welds. They are next to impossible to cleanly remove or cut through.
3. Make sure your pop top brackets are streight and not to low when to top is placed on. If they are to low, then the top will bend when bolting down the hinge.
4.Drill through all the spot welds and then weld the hole shut. Spot weld remover is a wast of time and money.; just drill, its faster.
There is some picts in my build thread below. _________________ 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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DLJ Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2008 Posts: 554 Location: North California
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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2021 7:40 am Post subject: Re: Has anyone turned a NON-pop top into a pop top? |
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Only my friends believe me but I have converted 12 tin tops to full westfalias.
My first one took 120 hours! After that things got a little less time consuming.
everyone is right, its the spot welds that take time and patients, but!!
Keep in mind that I did it such a manner that you really have to know wests to see the difference. You can PM me if you need personal advice. |
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