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akyrie
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2010
Posts: 519
Location: Driftless, Wisco
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 Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 9:22 am Post subject: Must I buy the whole WESTY just for the TOP? |
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Hello,
I am a relatively new Vanagon owner with lots of zeal for modification/alterations of my cherry van. So far I have put 10 inch wide Douglas Fir flooring in it, and modified a rear face seat to fit with the floor height altering because of the wood. etc.. I am interested in eventually converting it to a jetta 2 diesal engine. I love this van. My family though has been growing with a new boy just two weeks old. I would like to add the topper to the van that I already have, since I am satisfied with it mechanically and have already altered it to the point I would be losing a lot of work if I started over. I am looking for just the topper, I am not really interested in adding cabinets etc.. but want the extra bed space and the ability to stand up when parked. Where would I look? does anyone have some good sourced for that sort of parting out? Thank you for your help. |
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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 19072
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 9:31 am Post subject: |
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Hello, back. Welcome to The Samba and our addiction. There is someone doing what you are asking as I type this. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=364878&highlight=conversion
You can see to do the job correctly, does require a donor vehicle. Can you buy just a used top and bolt it on? Yes, but you would need some way to access it from inside. You'd need to come up with a bed too that would not keep the top from closing. Do a search on Adventure Wagon I believe. Someone is taking orders for High Tops that might be a simpler project. Cheers |
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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: Wed Mar 24, 2010 9:38 am Post subject: top |
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I'll keep you up to date - there are a number of folks who are replacing their westy tops with high tops - I'm sure that they would be more than willing to sell their westy top. As they become available, I'll put the folks with their redundant westy tops in touch with you.
You might also want to skim the thread New High Top Option http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=395549 for some ideas.
_________________
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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JeffRobenolt
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2007
Posts: 1531
Location: Wisconsin
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crazyvwvanman
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008
Posts: 10470
Location: Orbiting San Diego
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| Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 7:01 pm Post subject: Re: Must I buy the whole WESTY just for the TOP? |
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You can add the top in a weekend with ordinary tools and some handyman skills. No welding or painting. Westfalia once sold kits to do it that way. The upper bed is a little trickier but not part of installing the top unless you make it so. Do the top first, add the bed later.
The important thing is that you need to have measurements for drilling and cutting and the best way to get these is to remove a top yourself from a donor and then take measurement of the holes it leaves.
Mark
| akyrie wrote: |
Hello,
...............
I love this van. My family though has been growing with a new boy just two weeks old. I would like to add the topper to the van that I already have, since I am satisfied with it mechanically and have already altered it to the point I would be losing a lot of work if I started over. I am looking for just the topper, I am not really interested in adding cabinets etc.. but want the extra bed space and the ability to stand up when parked. Where would I look? does anyone have some good sourced for that sort of parting out? Thank you for your help. |
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akyrie
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2010
Posts: 519
Location: Driftless, Wisco
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| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:15 am Post subject: Thank you |
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| I definitely understand that there is going to be some trouble without a donor vehicle right there to measure from... I am still doing the research for this, I wonder if contacting the other people on these forums that have done it before to see if they have the measurements, or paper traces of the operation. Thank you for the advice! |
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insyncro
Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
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| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:32 am Post subject: |
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I have done it, but had the donor sitiing right next to the swapper van.
I prefer having the entire van. |
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edgood1
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2004
Posts: 2151
Location: Plymouth, MA
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| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:35 am Post subject: |
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I wouldn't start any cutting or drilling until you get the donor... or at least have a westy you can use for reference.
What are you going to do with your vanagon while there is a giant hole in your roof and nothing to cover it with? (I ask because that's the situation I'm in right now.  )
be patient, a suitable donor will pop up (pun intended). I spent a good 6 months looking for mine.
_________________
'87 Syncro :: Subaru eng
'63 Samba Conversion ::(photo album)
'65 Westfalia
'65 Bug |
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crazyvwvanman
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008
Posts: 10470
Location: Orbiting San Diego
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| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 8:15 am Post subject: Re: Thank you |
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There are about 22 important holes to drill that must be measured and located correctly from those measurements. The rest of the many more holes to drill are easy since you just lay the parts on the roof in the only way they will fit, tape them down, and drill down through them to make the holes line up, putting each screw in as you go. The size of the roof as well as the irregular contours etc make tracing impractical for most of the holes. Relying on someone else to give measurements would be risky as knowing exactly where they measured from would be critical and the from points are clouded by the nature of the roof. That is why it is best done side by side with the donor roof or by taking your own measurements with clear notes about the reference points they are taken from. You can also do it with a borrowed Westy to take measurements from but you will need to pull the front luggage section off entirely to measure those holes accurately.
Mark
| akyrie wrote: |
| I definitely understand that there is going to be some trouble without a donor vehicle right there to measure from... I am still doing the research for this, I wonder if contacting the other people on these forums that have done it before to see if they have the measurements, or paper traces of the operation. Thank you for the advice! |
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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 19072
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 8:34 am Post subject: |
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| I really like the high top conversion. I looked around their website at the pictures and the FAQ section. I don't know that I would swap my pop top for one on our current van. We live in the south and it is nice and airy with the canvas and 3 windows. But, If I come across a decent passenger syncro, I would definitey consider the high top if I were going to build it into a camper before I went the route I linked to above. |
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jeremysmithatshawdotca
Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2002
Posts: 2530
Location: Edmonton, AB
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| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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| For sure, the high top option looks to be by far the simplest way to go. |
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Syncroincity
Samba Member
Joined: April 15, 2007
Posts: 1557
Location: New York City
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Williamtaylor33
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007
Posts: 1545
Location: Arkansas
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thummmper
Samba Member
Joined: November 25, 2009
Posts: 2015
Location: Meadow Valley, California Republic
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| Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 10:13 pm Post subject: |
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I'm leaving my shop this fall, but when I re-settle, I want to reproduce bumpers and westy tops in kevlar. the labor is almost the same as poly fiberglas, and the material cost is quadruple that of normal 'glas. there should be a conversion kit available eventually, somehow.
would'nt that be nice?
todd |
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Syncroincity
Samba Member
Joined: April 15, 2007
Posts: 1557
Location: New York City
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| Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:42 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, I was thinking of knocking up a few sets of Country Homes pop tops in carbon fiber... Now THAT would look hot! ...(and BE hot inside, LOL). I think the CF would be easier to work than the Kevlar after it's set.
_________________
'86 Syncro CHC Top AAZ Turbodiesel
'04 Passat Variant 4Mo 5MT
Vanagon Build: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=466866&highlight= |
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$1700