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blakeck2
Samba Member
Joined: April 10, 2009
Posts: 939
Location: Los Osos, CA
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 Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 12:57 pm Post subject: |
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| aquaboxa wrote: |
| blakeck2 wrote: |
been in both but I prefer the hardtop w/o camping interior. You get alot more room and a full size bed.
Plus I added a roof top tent to sleep people upstairs  |
That sounds interesting! Did you modify the roof surface at all?
And yes, I love the larger bed in my Weekender. |
nope, just mounts to the yakima rack |
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aquaboxa
Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2009
Posts: 96
Location: Upstate NY
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| Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 1:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Nice! Thanks for the replies. |
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Steelhead
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2007
Posts: 1791
Location: Kentfield, CA
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| Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 8:03 pm Post subject: |
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Can I suggest we borrow from MightyArt's playbook and provide a link to one of several previous discussion's about insuring conversions (albeit an older hijacked thread), so that those who want to talk about insurance can do so there, and allow the original poster to continue with the documentation of his cool project?
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2...mp;start=0
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'77 Bay Window / '89 Caratsburg (aka. the Stormtrooper) |
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edgood1
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2004
Posts: 2049
Location: Plymouth, MA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:52 am Post subject: |
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| vwkelso wrote: |
| hows this coming along? |
I haven't had the time to work on it since that last update. Late nights at work and lots of gigs which seem like a second job get in the way.
Hopefully I'll tackle the syncro roof removal over the long weekend. I was super delighted to see that many of the interior spot welds that exist on the westy are not present on the passenger version. It should take about a third of the time to get that roof off than it took the westy's.
Since I only have one "free" garage spot to work in I'll need to plan on getting the donor westy hauled off. I have it stripped down pretty good:
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia powered by Subaru
1963 Panel to Deluxe Bus project :::: (photo album)
'65 Westfalia |
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vwkelso
Samba Member
Joined: September 09, 2005
Posts: 133
Location: Northern Colorado
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:04 pm Post subject: |
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So is this about insurance or top swap?????? WTF I guarentee you can insure that thing NO PROBLEM
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86 Syncro
73 Westy
69 Sand Chariots Vaquero |
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edgood1
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2004
Posts: 2049
Location: Plymouth, MA
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:34 pm Post subject: |
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I've read through MightyArt's other post regarding insurance and I think it would be best to put all info regarding insurance there.
I don't think I'll have a problem with insurance. The van is insured now. I informed my insurance company of what I'm doing, they said they may want to inspect it afterward, which I will do. I don't think I'll have any problem at all. I don't understand the uproar, I'm not hiding anything... what else am I supposed to do??
I see guys driving porsche 356 kits on old beetle chassis. If they can get that insured I should be fine. People make modifications to their cars all the time, much more involved (and potentially dangerous) than mine.
thats the last i'm going to post regarding insurance.
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia powered by Subaru
1963 Panel to Deluxe Bus project :::: (photo album)
'65 Westfalia |
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mightyart
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2004
Posts: 6188
Location: Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 2:09 pm Post subject: |
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Seems like nobody wants to talk about insurance like I'm bringing up a sore subject or something.
Reality sucks, but if your insurance premiums are way high cause you made your own westy then you might as well buy a real Westy.
Where's the savings?
Insurance questions are never a big deal on any other thread. |
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edgood1
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2004
Posts: 2049
Location: Plymouth, MA
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stevey88
Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2008
Posts: 1317
Location: Fremont, SF Bay Area
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| Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 9:28 am Post subject: |
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| mightyart wrote: |
Seems like nobody wants to talk about insurance like I'm bringing up a sore subject or something.
Reality sucks, but if your insurance premiums are way high cause you made your own westy then you might as well buy a real Westy.
Where's the savings?
Insurance questions are never a big deal on any other thread. |
Sometimes it is not to save money. May be it is a van that he wants to keep. Sometimes it is just for fun. Most likely the fun part is the motivation for him.
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Steve
87 Westfalia full camper 4 speed |
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ctp13
Samba Member
Joined: November 01, 2008
Posts: 59
Location: Plymouth CA
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| Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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| mightyart wrote: |
Seems like nobody wants to talk about insurance like I'm bringing up a sore subject or something.
Reality sucks, but if your insurance premiums are way high cause you made your own westy then you might as well buy a real Westy.
Where's the savings?
Insurance questions are never a big deal on any other thread. |
Speeking from quite a few years as a Body and Frame repair person.
Insurance Co's are always looking for a way not to pay . BUT I have NEVER!!! had an insurance CO come to inspect the repairs I have made INcluding Roof replacements.
I HIGHLY doubt you can find one who has. So in anyones defense the Insurance Co's would have to show that they actualy care, Which they can not. Have not and wont. nor do they have anyone in there employ who is qualified to do so. Apraisers are qualified only to make an invintory of broken parts- some are retired Body men but are not hired for their ability to repair anything only their familiarity with the parts.
IN my case I would argue that I used original VW parts IN original VW locations and in there intended way of fastining. IE welding.
Personaly I hate Insurance CO's .
Good luck
Chuck |
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edgood1
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2004
Posts: 2049
Location: Plymouth, MA
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| Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 7:36 am Post subject: |
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5 more hours into the project.
removed the donor's heater core and cut out the swivel seat bases.
also pulled out all the dash wiring... why?... i don't really know. maybe some reusable bits for electrical projects.
cut out the nut plates in the floor for the rear seat and the cabinets.... cleaned out all the tools/bits I had in there... its pretty much a shell now.
Spent some time straightening out the roof skin edges.. lots of bends on the inside edges from breaking spot welds and prying.
I tried removing the rear side glass and one shattered on me. I cut the seal out and with just a little pressure from the inside the thing exploded all over me... kinda scary. It must have already been cracked. I called it a night after that.
Camera battery is dead... lots more pics on it I gotta get to uploading.
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia powered by Subaru
1963 Panel to Deluxe Bus project :::: (photo album)
'65 Westfalia |
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edgood1
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2004
Posts: 2049
Location: Plymouth, MA
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Sir Sam
Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2009
Posts: 1690
Location: Fort Collins Colorado!
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| Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 12:54 pm Post subject: |
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Man this all looks familiar, right down to the cat litter bucket in the van.
Whats the black car hanging out in the background?
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'91 Carat Westy
87' Syncro + '87 Westy conversion coming soon |
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Mofus
Samba Member
Joined: February 21, 2008
Posts: 369
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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Ooh I can't wait to get started. Did you count the spot welds by any chance?
Any tips on drilling out the spot welds. I bought four of the tools from Harbor Freight. I'll probably test a couple welds this weekend.
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'87 Syncro passenger w/ 2.2L Subaru
'10 Passat Wagon (keeps Mrs. Mofus away from my van) |
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edgood1
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2004
Posts: 2049
Location: Plymouth, MA
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edgood1
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2004
Posts: 2049
Location: Plymouth, MA
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| Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 1:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Mofus wrote: |
Ooh I can't wait to get started. Did you count the spot welds by any chance?
Any tips on drilling out the spot welds. I bought four of the tools from Harbor Freight. I'll probably test a couple welds this weekend. |
haha... i was bored (no pun intended). 77 spot welds on one rain gutter, 82 on the other. Not sure about the inside ... a lot.
As for tips... definitely center punch first. Where possible, drill a small pilot hole to guide the spot weld cutter (you dont' want to do this if you need to save the underneath panel). It sounds like more work but it saves you the aggravation of the spot weld cutter walking... which can be a real PIA.
Keep the drill speed low... you may want to test the cutting ability of the spot weld cutter so that you don't cut through both panels... it cuts faster than you expect... also some panels are softer than others, and cut faster.
Do your cutting in small doses... the drill takes its toll on your arm after a while.
I also bought a few of the HF spot weld cutter, but I'm still on the first one.
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia powered by Subaru
1963 Panel to Deluxe Bus project :::: (photo album)
'65 Westfalia |
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Sir Sam
Samba Member
Joined: July 19, 2009
Posts: 1690
Location: Fort Collins Colorado!
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| Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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a good whack with a center punch will keep it centered well for drilling
4 will probably do you, but if any teeth break off make sure you remove them from the cut or your will destroy the bit.
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'91 Carat Westy
87' Syncro + '87 Westy conversion coming soon |
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charlesnj
Samba Member
Joined: May 07, 2006
Posts: 35
Location: Galloway,Nj,USA
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| Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:51 pm Post subject: Nice Job You have me motivated |
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| edgood1 wrote: |
| Mofus wrote: |
Ooh I can't wait to get started. Did you count the spot welds by any chance?
Any tips on drilling out the spot welds. I bought four of the tools from Harbor Freight. I'll probably test a couple welds this weekend. |
haha... i was bored (no pun intended). 77 spot welds on one rain gutter, 82 on the other. Not sure about the inside ... a lot.
As for tips... definitely center punch first. Where possible, drill a small pilot hole to guide the spot weld cutter (you dont' want to do this if you need to save the underneath panel). It sounds like more work but it saves you the aggravation of the spot weld cutter walking... which can be a real PIA.
Keep the drill speed low... you may want to test the cutting ability of the spot weld cutter so that you don't cut through both panels... it cuts faster than you expect... also some panels are softer than others, and cut faster.
Do your cutting in small doses... the drill takes its toll on your arm after a while.
I also bought a few of the HF spot weld cutter, but I'm still on the first one. |
Nice Job you got me motivated again I was hung up on the back area. Your photos got me on track and my roof skin is off. Oh yea. |
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edgood1
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2004
Posts: 2049
Location: Plymouth, MA
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| Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:21 am Post subject: |
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overdue update.
Since my last post I've:
Refinished the propane tank, new valves on the way.
Refinished all of the interior panels.
Refinished the pop top and luggage rack.. this was a real PIA. someone glued the seals on with tons of adhesive. I stripped it down, primed and painted with interlux Brightside polyurethane, replaced all the seals (including the skylight seal), all the hardware with stainless hardware from gowesty, new Westfalia decals. I also had to replace most of the skylight hardware, it was all broken and the skylight had been leaking.
I still have to clean the interior fuzz... i got it dirty when removing the top.
I've also been on the search of a suitable replacement fabric for the rear seat. Sewfine is looking like the best option, but it ain't cheap.
pictures to come...
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia powered by Subaru
1963 Panel to Deluxe Bus project :::: (photo album)
'65 Westfalia |
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westylife
Samba Member
Joined: October 28, 2007
Posts: 409
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
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| Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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Keep up the good work man!!
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1983.5 Westfalia Bostig RG1 |
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my 2002 Pontiac WS6 Trans Am.
