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dabaron
Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2018
Posts: 2561
Location: Philly, mang
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 Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2019 7:04 am Post subject: Re: Building a bus for travel in Europe |
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can i come along? i can hold the roof down 
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL Camper
i had no idea i wanted to be a mechanic
"burnin oil and cookin coils" -- Destructo
BiWerks Design, LLC |
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joetiger 
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5078
Location: denver
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| Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2019 8:03 am Post subject: Re: Building a bus for travel in Europe |
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Thanks so much for documenting all of this in detail, Dave. I shall print and memorize before I start mine. Hoping to start wash and trim this weekend.
_________________
Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
www.josephtrussell.com |
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Jake de Villiers
Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007
Posts: 5911
Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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tristessa
Samba Member
Joined: April 07, 2004
Posts: 3992
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2019 11:38 am Post subject: Re: Building a bus for travel in Europe |
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Yeah, that Evercoat 815 is a bear to get out of the tube. Really gives the hand/wrist/forearm a workout! It only took 1.5 tubes for the AW top on my Bay-window Bus for whatever reason, but that top isn't going anywhere. Been 4.5 years and just as secure as the day after installation.
Good stuff.  |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16504
Location: Brookeville, MD
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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: Sat Apr 20, 2019 5:18 am Post subject: Re: Building a bus for travel in Europe |
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Great work David - your van is looking great. A couple of comments / tweaks re your install process
1, When the hole is drilled to start the roof cut out, I do not drill it right in the corner, but rather, about 1n inch inward from the corner. I usually only drill one hole as well. I find that it is more effective in arriving at square corners to "come back" to the first corner from both directions and then to restart subsequent corners right from the end of the other cut. You, or whoever is doing your trim cabinetry will thank you for your square corners and the little rounded bit left if you drill your hole so that the edges are right om the cut lines is a PITA to remove.
2. Do not apply the Evercoat Maxim across the front or rear edges of the van top - as you've noted, although the stuff is a real chore to squeeze out of the caulking gun - it is still pretty runny and if it gets onto the windshield or rear window rubber.... good luck ever removing rubber to replace a seal or window. The front and rear joint between hightop and van should be filled/adhered.sealed with the TigerSeal (white) from the inside of the van- there's plenty of room to get right down to the edge with the tip of the cartridge nozzle. Load up the corners from the inside, front and rear with the TigerSeal (or Sikaflex) . If some of the Tiger Seal "escapes" just let it cure to a soft rubbery state then trim with a knife and pull off.
Resist the urge - knowing now that its difficult to apply the Evercoat because it takes Popeye like forearms to squeeze the caulking gun - resist the urge to buy a pneumatic caulking gun ( long explanation if interested ) or maybe a mechanical battery powered one. I've tried both - the pneumatic one was nearly a disaster, just because it was pneumatic and the gear driven push rod on the mechanical one actually bent under the pressure needed to push - that the motor could easily supply - and the resistance of the piston travel in squeezing out the contents of the 2 internal bags - resin and hardener - equally through the mixing tip. Just get a good hand operated caulking gun - some are way better than others - and a bag of ice for your arm when you're through.
I'm going to cross post this on the Hightop thread as well
Thanks for the great pics - especially of the window spacers and and clamping.
John
_________________
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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shagginwagon83
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016
Posts: 3800
Location: VA/TN
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| Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 7:45 am Post subject: Re: Building a bus for travel in Europe |
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Love photos like this. I think we should make it a forum rule to post a similar photo when you cut the top
Mike (mikemtnbike)
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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dabaron
Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2018
Posts: 2561
Location: Philly, mang
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| Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 10:14 am Post subject: Re: Building a bus for travel in Europe |
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mike has the bass maker!
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL Camper
i had no idea i wanted to be a mechanic
"burnin oil and cookin coils" -- Destructo
BiWerks Design, LLC |
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Snarftin
Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2019
Posts: 1
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Tue May 28, 2019 7:01 pm Post subject: Re: Building a bus for travel in Europe |
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Great info! Super glad to have this as a resource before starting on my NAHT. Thanks!  |
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Cliff@BrownBags
Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2007
Posts: 649
Location: glen burnie maryland
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| Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 6:31 am Post subject: Re: Building a bus for travel in Europe |
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great build so far! I am a new vanagon owner, and actually dont live to far from you. I am in Glen Burnie.
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its not about what you say you will do oneday, its what you do today that actualy means something. |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16504
Location: Brookeville, MD
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16504
Location: Brookeville, MD
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Alaskaberrys
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2016
Posts: 1001
Location: SE Alaska
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| Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 7:40 am Post subject: Re: Building a bus for travel in Europe |
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| dobryan wrote: |
| Just an FYI, I have been off of this project for a few weeks while other parts of my life got attention.... stay tuned. |
What!?! That’s crazy talk! People have life outside of vanagonland...? 
Thanks for the update - I’ll wait patiently....
(...ok...obviously not good at that).
I hope the “other” stuff is all good and going well as can be!
_________________
'91 Westfalia, Bordeaux Red Pearl 2.1L 2wd Auto
'91 T3 Syncro Doka, Escorial Green 1.9L TD AAZ “Gremian” (to provoke, irritate, exasperate, vex...) |
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sanchius
Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2007
Posts: 1452
Location: IN
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| Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 8:53 am Post subject: Re: Building a bus for travel in Europe |
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Hey, Dave
I just realized I may have met your euro-prep Vanagon before when it lived in Colorado.
Was the seller a Land Rover buff with a 2WD Vanagon converted into a Syncro?? Great guy....
If so, it's shown in this pic in this post from Oct 2017 where he was pulling the front end bits off my Syncro wreck.
| dobryan on Mon Mar 05, 2018 7:28 am wrote: |
I just bought a nice 1991 tin top in Denver with the help of the good samba folks. It has some hail damage, is a little scruffy, and the roof is in bad shape paint wise but I think that a NAHT will cover that nicely. And almost rust free.
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The Syncro years (2005-16) - The 2WD years (2017-23) - Westy & WBX rebuild spreadsheet - Sanchius & Tuna: The Video
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16504
Location: Brookeville, MD
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sanchius
Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2007
Posts: 1452
Location: IN
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16504
Location: Brookeville, MD
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shagginwagon83
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016
Posts: 3800
Location: VA/TN
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| Posted: Tue Aug 06, 2019 9:18 am Post subject: Re: Building a bus for travel in Europe |
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Waiting to see that webasto install 
_________________
Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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erste
Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2013
Posts: 1110
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2019 6:10 pm Post subject: Re: Building a bus for travel in Europe |
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| dobryan wrote: |
Continuing the install story from one of my favorite camp spots.
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You don't say?  
Amazing spot.
Just made it through this whole thread. Awesome work! |
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joetiger
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5078
Location: denver
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| Posted: Tue Jan 28, 2020 1:33 pm Post subject: Re: Building a bus for travel in Europe |
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Where are you on the Europa Van Dave? Any updates?
_________________
Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
www.josephtrussell.com |
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