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Zeitgeist 13
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Joined: March 05, 2009
Posts: 12115
Location: Port Manteau
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Joshwa
Samba Member
Joined: November 18, 2015
Posts: 810
Location: North Seattle WA
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vw_dude
Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2018
Posts: 42
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 Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2018 1:29 pm Post subject: Re: 97 Eurovan cracks in pop top |
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[quote="Zeitgeist 13"]Here's your best bet for a new top on the LWB T4
I would rather make one myself out of fiberglass than paying 5000$k. |
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Joshwa
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Joined: November 18, 2015
Posts: 810
Location: North Seattle WA
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Zeitgeist 13
Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009
Posts: 12115
Location: Port Manteau
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| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2018 2:28 pm Post subject: Re: 97 Eurovan cracks in pop top |
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Yeah, Reimo makes top notch kit for these vans. I really like the full length tops as opposed to those stupid little cargo carriers up front. There are lots of niggling minor issues I've had with the EVC platform, but the tops were always the deal breaker for me. I'd seriously consider buying one with a Reimo poptop or even a hightop.
_________________
Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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vw_dude
Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2018
Posts: 42
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| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2018 3:34 pm Post subject: Re: 97 Eurovan cracks in pop top |
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[quote="Joshwa"]
| vw_dude wrote: |
| Zeitgeist 13 wrote: |
Here's your best bet for a new top on the LWB T4
I would rather make one myself out of fiberglass than paying 5000$k. |
Be sure to post up how that ends up. |
I worked for a boat maker long time ago. Its doable in garage setting. |
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Broseph Stalin
Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2018
Posts: 433
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2018 4:09 pm Post subject: Re: 97 Eurovan cracks in pop top |
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| danfromsyr wrote: |
exactly, it's because it's a vacuum formed plastic sheet roof
not a layered fiberglass composite.
I cringe when I see people with these tops and roof racks bolted onto/thru the plastic. |
Yeah, one of the previous owners of my '95 EVC had a roof rack and I have a crack. It's a narrow and crooked crack. My plan is cut 1/16" thick x 1.5" wide aluminum bar into sections, aluminum blind rivet the sections to the roof.
I use rivets often to make permanent repairs, seal the holes with quality silicone. I'll use 3/16" rivets with a 1/2" grip range.
Do you think it will work? I was thinking seal the gaps between the riveted aluminum bar sections with Gorilla Glue, then a nice bead of marine sealant on top (and underneath the aluminum bar sections).
I don't care if it's ugly, all I care about is it's effective. |
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jonathannickel
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Joined: September 28, 2015
Posts: 38
Location: Saratoga Springs
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2018 3:09 am Post subject: Re: 97 Eurovan cracks in pop top |
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That should work. Please post some photos when you're done.
Depending on the nature of the crack, it might not even need the aluminum. I've had a number of large cracks in my top for at least 8 years and have only sealed them with 3M Marine Sealant. They haven't changed at all over that time period.
The appearance bugs me and I think that the two piece top is a stupid design so I'm going to replace it at some point. I was thinking of having Colorado Custom Campers make me one but I also like the look of the Reimo clamshell top. |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22670
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2018 3:25 am Post subject: Re: 97 Eurovan cracks in pop top |
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| danfromsyr wrote: |
exactly, it's because it's a vacuum formed plastic sheet roof
not a layered fiberglass composite.
I cringe when I see people with these tops and roof racks bolted onto/thru the plastic. |
 :shock
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.ssS! |
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jonathannickel
Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2015
Posts: 38
Location: Saratoga Springs
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| Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2018 4:37 am Post subject: Re: 97 Eurovan cracks in pop top |
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| The Weekender tops are made differently though, right? |
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Joshwa
Samba Member
Joined: November 18, 2015
Posts: 810
Location: North Seattle WA
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vw_dude
Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2018
Posts: 42
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| Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2018 8:09 am Post subject: Re: 97 Eurovan cracks in pop top |
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On the other hand, why would you bother with replacing it?
As far as I understand, this is just a shell, has no structural value to it, unlike Westfalias roofs. So really, my take is to silicon it or plastic weld it and that should be enough... |
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Joshwa
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Joined: November 18, 2015
Posts: 810
Location: North Seattle WA
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vw_dude
Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2018
Posts: 42
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| Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2018 3:03 pm Post subject: Re: 97 Eurovan cracks in pop top |
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Not sure how fibreglass is reinforced but it seemed to me thar its just fiberglass shell plus lining judging by the thickness.
Anyways. Right now i realised that there is no point to change the top since its purpose is only esthetic. |
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Zeitgeist 13
Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009
Posts: 12115
Location: Port Manteau
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| Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2018 5:10 pm Post subject: Re: 97 Eurovan cracks in pop top |
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I believe there's a plywood sheet in between the fibreglass layers on the Westfalia roofs.
_________________
Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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Broseph Stalin
Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2018
Posts: 433
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2018 2:18 pm Post subject: Re: 97 Eurovan cracks in pop top |
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Did the roof crack repair. I'm satisfied, not ecstatic.
* Pulled the tape off that was on there
* Goo Gone to remove the tape residue
* Isopropy alcohol to prep the plastic
* 3M Marine Sealant 5200
* 1/16" x 1.5" aluminum bar hacksawed into 2" segments, covered with brass sheet
* Sealant laid, then drill 3/16" holes for rivets. Didn't need 1/2" grip range, 1/4" grip range was fine.
* 3M seal the rivet holes, seal the top of the rivets afterwards. |
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pinetreeporsche
Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2009
Posts: 752
Location: Falls Church, VA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 1:52 pm Post subject: Re: 97 Eurovan cracks in pop top |
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| Folks who catch some late-night TV might be acquainted with the ads for Flex-Tape and Flex-Seal (a liquid). (The ads where they cut an aluminum boat in half lengthways, then tape it back together and go out at speed on choppy water!) I've used the 4 in. wide Flex tape on 60-year-old shed, and am thinking of using it on the EVC roof. Strong, and the stickum on it is the stickiest I've ever encountered. Probably worth having an assistant help line it up and get it down evenly, as one false move could stick something in a way you don't want. |
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pinetreeporsche
Samba Member
Joined: June 11, 2009
Posts: 752
Location: Falls Church, VA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 2:18 pm Post subject: Re: 97 Eurovan cracks in pop top |
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| Joshwa wrote: |
| The westfalia roofs are not structural as well... |
In 2 decades owning Vanagon Westys I spent a lot of time on their roofs- mostly cleaning the top itself. At 175 pounds, I've never felt I was stressing the roof, walking gently all over it. Not so my 'new' EV Winnie (I don't dare get on it. It seems like the worst part of the vehicle, The roof of mine has lots of broad white-ish tape on it, and clearly, the support verticles of the cross-roof Yakima luggage rack bars had contributed to the problem. Reinforcing the vertical sides of the top with another layer of fiberglass/ resin and then attaching those verticles with a plate to further spread the load, instead of up vertically right off the horizontal surface of the top might prevent further trouble. |
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Joshwa
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Joined: November 18, 2015
Posts: 810
Location: North Seattle WA
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CdnVWJunkie 
Samba Member
Joined: February 01, 2004
Posts: 1110
Location: Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 5:03 am Post subject: Re: 97 Eurovan cracks in pop top |
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| Joshwa wrote: |
| I must have read wrong. I was meaning along the lines of the westfalia roof no adding structural rigidity to the van. But yeah, the westfalia roof is way more sound. |
I totally concur here. The Westfalia roof feels downright rigid. I've had them off and moved them around the shop. The Winne top is downright flimsy in direct comparison. |
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