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WVVWFERG Samba Member
Joined: December 02, 2005 Posts: 233 Location: Charleston, West Virginia
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Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 1:11 pm Post subject: "warped" westy top |
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My daughter just bought a 71 Westy. The pop top fits well except in the front. While the middle of the front edge fits correctly (held by front latch) there is a definite "bow" (ie; doesn't fit close to metal top of van) on both sides of the center. Perhaps this is a result of PO towing it behind his motor home and it being wind buffeted?? Anyway, has anyone had any experience in 'reshaping' the fit of a westy top? would a heat gun work to bend the leading edge of the top back into position? Any expierences with this problem and how to correct it will be much appreciated. Thanks. The new top seal came yesterday and I would like to correct this problem before installing the new seal Kim F. Charleston, WV |
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hambone Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2004 Posts: 1617 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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It might just work. Hell, it's already broken so give it a try! |
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MalibuLX3 Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2005 Posts: 821 Location: Rochester, MI
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Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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I'd give it a try. I often see them for sale in the classifieds, although shipping one might be expensive _________________ 1978 Westfalia |
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VWGirl Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2003 Posts: 2462 Location: Powder Springs, GA
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Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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i swear i replied to this and said try the classifieds or a junkyard... i even got PM's about it... hmmm weird... _________________ Without love in the dream it will never come true |
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steponmebbbboom Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2004 Posts: 6390
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VWGirl Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2003 Posts: 2462 Location: Powder Springs, GA
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Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:47 pm Post subject: |
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haha ok... thanks _________________ Without love in the dream it will never come true |
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Homey '71 Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2005 Posts: 231 Location: Bay Area, CA
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Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:17 pm Post subject: |
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Huh, Interesting, I have the same exact problem with my top...Let me know what you find out! |
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VWGirl Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2003 Posts: 2462 Location: Powder Springs, GA
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Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:36 pm Post subject: |
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now i am going to have to go look at my top! _________________ Without love in the dream it will never come true |
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Birdibus Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2006 Posts: 933 Location: Inland SoCal
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Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 6:02 pm Post subject: |
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How about some photos? I'm wondering if the bow described by Kim is the normal gap between top and bus, or something worse. _________________ `
'74 Westfalia Yosemite Yellow
'71 Bus Niagra blue and white |
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VWsArent4Hippies Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2005 Posts: 3079 Location: The Bull City
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Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 6:44 pm Post subject: |
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Check to make sure none of the wooden supports that go around the inside of the top have seperated from the fiberglass. When I got my bus, you couldn't drive without a strap holding the top on for fear of it rattling off. I took the top off, and sure enough, some of the supports were broken. I refiberglassed them all in so good I hope I never have to take them off, cause that aint happening. Slapped some paint on it and it looks good as new. _________________
aeromech wrote: |
in my opinion you don't know shit |
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Homey '71 Samba Member
Joined: April 25, 2005 Posts: 231 Location: Bay Area, CA
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Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 6:47 pm Post subject: |
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My wooden blocks are rotted all to hell...perhaps that has something to do with the problem. Do you have the dimensions of the wooden blocks that you replaced? |
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VWsArent4Hippies Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2005 Posts: 3079 Location: The Bull City
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Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 7:22 pm Post subject: |
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Homey '71 wrote: |
My wooden blocks are rotted all to hell...perhaps that has something to do with the problem. Do you have the dimensions of the wooden blocks that you replaced? |
I didn't replace them. They were just seperated from the fiberglass. I can go out and take measurements tomorrow for you and let you know. PM me tomorrow to remind me. _________________
aeromech wrote: |
in my opinion you don't know shit |
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WVVWFERG Samba Member
Joined: December 02, 2005 Posts: 233 Location: Charleston, West Virginia
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Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 5:53 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the posts. I've owned another 71 bought it in '72) and now have a 75 Westy (plus six other VW's); it's definitely NOT a normal gap (I'm a member of Full Moon Bus Club and the Ohio Valley Tribe, so I see enough early bay Westies to know how it should fit). I can press in (with my hand), and the top goes down to meet the roof, as it should, but doesn't stay of course. So that my daughter can drive it without fear of wind/water maybe damaging the pop top tent, I slipped a piece of foam pipe insulation around the front of the top as a temporary 'fix' (works well to seal and really looks pretty good, surprisingly). Wooden support pieces are good. Looking at the top, from the front, both corners and the middle fit as they should, but on either side of the center, there's a gap about 1" to 1-1/2" high and probably 6" long (plenty big for wind/water to go through). If a heat gun doesn't do the trick, I'll probably check with the local 'vette restro shop to see what they can tell me about "fixing" fiberglass. Kim F. |
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twinfalls Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2003 Posts: 2133 Location: France
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Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 9:45 am Post subject: |
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I had a warped pop top after bumping in a too low parking ceiling.
It had a 3 feet long bulge on the side.
To reshape it straight, I used an alumiinum L section bar, about 6 feet long.
Drilled holes to pop rivet the bar inside the pop top.
Bar inside Westy top, rivets thru bar and Westy top, rivet's puller outside Westy top.
All there is to see, if one notices, is a line of small round rivets. The pop top is back straight and the rubber seal does seal like new.
Another place in front was cracked. A thin aluminum plate and 4 pop rivets made a fine stich.
Aluminum and pop rivets are doing a good job on the fiberberglass Westy top. To succeed, one must use the right drill diameter.
Fiberglass repair with cloth and chemicals is a lot of messy work, it is right to repair holes in boats; But, I doubt it can reshape a Westy pop top.. _________________ Stock 1974 US Westy, AW-A 1800cc dual carbs. Twin Falls is my favorite site on the Churchill river in Manitoba. |
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WVVWFERG Samba Member
Joined: December 02, 2005 Posts: 233 Location: Charleston, West Virginia
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Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 10:47 am Post subject: |
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I thought about trying to "back it" with metal. Looks like a very good way to take care of a side, but a little harder to get the curve on the front. Maybe the way to go. BTW: I have a empi "ball" on my antenna (that I raise to just slightly higher than the fiberglass rack on my 75): In parking garages, if it looks like clearance could be a problem, I go slow and if the antenna starts to bend, I stop. It's saved me twice, to date Kim F. |
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twinfalls Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2003 Posts: 2133 Location: France
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Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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I have the curve on the front, where i put the stich, that has some gap. It is not too bad; I think, the only way to make it perfect is metal backing with a metal bar that has the right shape. Aluminum is not easy to bend, I think I'll use steel, not stainless steel, because I had too much troubles drilling stainless steel tubes for my boat.
BTW: Your celing detector is a good trick; I've seen a truck driver using such a detector to drive a tall load under a low bridge.
I was tricked by a parking garage that looked high enough; Disaster occured at a steep interlevel ramp. I had to deflate all four tires to free the bus from that trap.
At the front of your pop top, there is wood part that is glued under the fiberglass. Mine got partly cracked. May be you have that issue too. _________________ Stock 1974 US Westy, AW-A 1800cc dual carbs. Twin Falls is my favorite site on the Churchill river in Manitoba. |
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sweiford Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2005 Posts: 3
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Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 1:36 pm Post subject: |
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I had the same problem...the center front of my top had an inch of gap. The corners seemed to press down hard at the windsheild post. I loosend up the hinge bolts and slid the top forward an inch and the top seemed to go back to a "normal" shape and gap. I then checked the two metal peices under the front to see if they aligned properly. Looks alot better. The rear center rubber hold down is to long now.
Would like to see pictures if anybody has any. |
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VWsArent4Hippies Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2005 Posts: 3079 Location: The Bull City
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Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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twinfalls wrote: |
I have the curve on the front, where i put the stich, that has some gap. It is not too bad; I think, the only way to make it perfect is metal backing with a metal bar that has the right shape. Aluminum is not easy to bend, I think I'll use steel, not stainless steel, because I had too much troubles drilling stainless steel tubes for my boat.
BTW: Your celing detector is a good trick; I've seen a truck driver using such a detector to drive a tall load under a low bridge.
I was tricked by a parking garage that looked high enough; Disaster occured at a steep interlevel ramp. I had to deflate all four tires to free the bus from that trap.
At the front of your pop top, there is wood part that is glued under the fiberglass. Mine got partly cracked. May be you have that issue too. |
That's the first time i've heard someone say aluminum is harder than steel. There are different grades of aluminum. O graded aluminum is VERY bendable. If you have problems bending that, I feel bad for you. Take a piece of aluminum and a piece of steel and drill a hole in each. See which bit burns up first. _________________
aeromech wrote: |
in my opinion you don't know shit |
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twinfalls Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2003 Posts: 2133 Location: France
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:07 am Post subject: |
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I was not clear. My words, above, are confusing
Aluminum is difficult to bend because bending is likely to break it.
A warped aluminum boat propeller will break if you try to bend it back.
Steel that is obviously harder than aluminum is much easier to cold shape because it can stand much more bending before it breaks.
For some odd reason I had a hard time to drill in stainless tubes. I killed many drills. Is there a trick ( drilling speed, lube, drill bit material ). _________________ Stock 1974 US Westy, AW-A 1800cc dual carbs. Twin Falls is my favorite site on the Churchill river in Manitoba. |
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steponmebbbboom Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2004 Posts: 6390
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Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 5:24 am Post subject: |
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cobalt bits |
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